But What About Socialization? Answering the Perpetual Home Schooling Question: A Review of the Literature
Product Description
“But What About Socialization? Answering the Perpetual Home Schooling Question” uses hard research, facts, and home schoolers’ experience to answer questions and counteract myths about home schooling and socialization. In this remarkable book, Dr. Susan McDowell presents a comprehensive look at this key issue in home education, and addresses many topics, including: · Just What Is Socialization? Looking at the Multiple Meanings Behind the Question
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This is not a terrible book. Although the author is clearly quite superstitious (Christian), and some of the reasoning reflects the logical breaks there, this is a worthwhile read.
However, covering the same ground far better is, “The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling,” by Rachel Gathercole:
The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling
Rating: 2 / 5
The major section of this book is just what I wanted: a listing of research studies which have been conducted to explore homeschooler socialization. In most cases she includes the abstract from the actual study, and then maybe a description of the study in more lay terms. You don’t have to wade through the text to find the study information–the study information IS the text!
Great resource for those who want to get to the bottom line.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a fair, but not great book. There is a decent recounting of studies relevant to the topic of socialization of homeschoolers. For some reason, however, the last year covered is 1999, even though the book was published in 2004. I would guess that there have been more studies in the last ten years than the previous years, and that recent studies have been better designed on average. Also, the writing style is fine, but not great.
I would say that if you could acquire this book used for a couple dollars or less, it might be worth acquiring if you want something to loan out to concerned friends/family. But, if you are willing to spend more than that, I would check out The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling, which I rate as 5 stars. Also, if you’re looking for socialization information for your own reassurance, check out HSLDA; their information will be a lot more up-to-date, and free.
Rating: 2 / 5
How I came to read this book: I have been hearing about this book in homeschooling circles here and there but had never seen it. My local public libraries did not have a copy of it available to borrow so I bought it from Amazon and I finished reading it.
I have homeschooled my children since birth, my oldest is eleven years old and my other child is eight years old. I didn’t really need to read this book but was curious what it said and if it is a book worth recommending to struggling homeschooling newbies or to doubting relatives.
The author, Dr. Susan McDowell is a researcher who has conducted studies on homeschooling. She wrote that since socialization of homeschooled children seems to always be a concern that people have, she decided to review of all the studies on the topic and to sum it all up in a book with just socialization as the topic.
In the Introduction and from the author’s biography I learned she is married and childless. Since most authors of homeschooling books are homeschooling parents themselves I wondered why she was interested in this topic at all. I learned that her interest in this topic stems from her work doing research about homeschooling and what she has learned about various people and groups of people always doubting or worrying about the socialization of homeschoolers. By the end of the book it is clear that Dr. McDowell trusts the research and she feels strongly that the socialization issue has a good body of research and that despite differences in the studies, all the studies come to one of these two conclusions: that homeschooled students are either better socialized than schooled kids or at worst, homeschooled kids have the same level of socialization of schooled kids.
Although the author stated that she wants to let the research speak for itself (in the Introduction) she does dedicate one chapter to share what various homeschooling parents have to say about their experience and opinion with homeschoolers and socialization. These people range from parents with homeschooling websites to published authors to homeschooling parents who also work for HSLDA.
One chapter also addresses “what is socialization” but I felt this mere two page chapter (three if you count the end notes page) was anemic. An entire other book could be written on the various ideas and interpretations of what `being socialized’ means. That weak chapter is one reason why I’m not rating this book as 5 stars out of 5.
The majority of this slim volume consists of summaries of all the studies about socialization and some studies about homeschooling in general which also addressed socialization as just one component. The studies are organized chronologically from oldest (1985-1999). The book was published in 2004. The studies are interpreted in layman’s terms for the most part. I thought that the author should have explained up front what “self-concept” was (although Wikipedia will help those who don’t know, like me).
It was convenient to read summaries of the research and to have the study names and dates rather than only hearing `through the grapevine’ what the research says. For that reason I am glad I bought and read this book.
The last topic covered in this book addresses the National Education Association and their anti-homeschooling stance. The chapter covers the what their stance is, why the author thinks they seek to hold homeschoolers in a negative light and how they are already negatively affecting homeschoolers.
There are numerous references in this book to provide study information and source information.
This book will be helpful for new homeschoolers worried about the topic of socialization. It also will appeal most likely to men who love statistics and who like to rely on `what studies show’. A mother convinced of the value of homeschooling whose spouse is doubtful should buy this book and make her husband read it.
This book could be placed into the hands of prying and worried relatives of homeschooled children (although my experience has shown me that most who are vocal about opposition to homeschooling know little about it AND are closed-minded to hearing real information and often seem unwilling to even consider that their fears may be unfounded).
Perhaps also this should be placed into the hands of the Pediatricians who express concern about homeschooling yet who love and place a lot of stock in what research studies show.
At full retail price this book is still cheap so one can’t complain of the pretty low page count.
If you want more information and opinion on this topic, in 2007, another book with just socialization of homeschoolers as the topic has been published by a homeschooling mother which has more pages, more opinion and experience shared titled “The Well Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling” by Rachel Gathercole. I have purchased that book and it is in my ‘to be read’ book pile.
Rating: 4 / 5
As a homeschooled child, age 15, I bought this book because I am currently writing a research report on the benefits of homeschooling. As a high school homeschooler, I am often faced with the question: “What About Socialization?” asked repeatedly by my friends, public-schooled peers, and even members of my immediate family! When I bought this book and read it, I felt like throwing it at every person who has ever asked me that question. This is an amazing book that tackles the issue used against homeschooling and turns it into a well-researched review of what socialization truly is and how it is yet another benefit of homeschooling. So, really, even if you are just curious about this subject, BUY THIS BOOK. It is worth 120 pages of your time.
Rating: 5 / 5