Socailization

I am always amazed at this question and actually feel embarrassed for the person asking it. Historically the primary goal of public schools, the reason they were instituted, was to educate the poor so they could get a job and take their place in society. The middle class already had private schools and apprenticeships, and the wealthy were tutored privately at home.  The purpose and goal of school is to educate, not socialize. However, many will respond that for them socialization is even more important than education. At this I ask the person if they have ever met a child who went to school that was poorly socialized? Does this mean the teacher or school isn't doing it's job? Of course not, school is to educate not socialize.  Then ask them to describe a well socialized person. At which point most interrogators fumble around trying to describe something to which they've never really given much thought.  I eventually tell them that to me a well socialized child can carry on a conversation with someone regardless of age, race, gender etc. How is the child who is sitting in a class room of children his own age quietly listening to the teacher getting any socialization let alone better socialization than a homeschooled child?  What about the common bullying problems, are these examples of good socialization? The mere definition of family is "a basic social unit".  My children learn to interact with others in the home as well as through everyday interactions with adults whether it be a neighbor, someone in the grocery store, the librarian, zoo keeper, or a friend.  My children interact with all age ranges of children from babies to teens as well as their peers through church, sports, clubs and other activities that are available.  They spend time with a variety of people and variety of ages which builds their confidence and social skills. This idea of socialization is new and reaOur founding fathers never went to school to be socialized and historically speaking were all quite successful in spite of their lack of socialization.

Socailization

I am always amazed at this question and actually feel embarrassed for the person asking it. Historically the primary goal of public schools, the reason they were instituted, was to educate the poor so they could get a job and take their place in society. The middle class already had private schools and apprenticeships, and the wealthy were tutored privately at home.  The purpose and goal of school is to educate, not socialize. However, many will respond that for them socialization is even more important than education. At this I ask the person if they have ever met a child who went to school that was poorly socialized? Does this mean the teacher or school isn't doing it's job? Of course not, school is to educate not socialize.  Then ask them to describe a well socialized person. At which point most interrogators fumble around trying to describe something to which they've never really given much thought.  I eventually tell them that to me a well socialized child can carry on a conversation with someone regardless of age, race, gender etc. How is the child who is required to raise his hand to speak sitting in a class room of children his own age quietly listening to the teacher getting any socialization let alone better socialization than a homeschooled child?  What about the common bullying problems, are these examples of good socialization? The mere definition of family is "a basic social unit".  My children learn to interact with others in the home as well as through everyday interactions with adults whether it be a neighbor, someone in the grocery store, the librarian, zoo keeper, or a friend.  My children interact with all age ranges of children from babies to teens as well as their peers through church, sports, clubs and other activities that are available.  They spend time with a variety of people and variety of ages which builds their confidence and social skills. This idea of socialization is new and our founding fathers never went to school to be socialized and historically speaking were all quite successful in spite of their lack of socialization.