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| SOCIALIZATION!!! The biggest red herring of all. |
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| "Red herring" is and old saying that means "to turn suspicions aside" or to fool someone. The fact is that a red herring is nothing more than herring that has been cured by smoke, a process that changes the color of the flesh to a reddish hue. The herring is intended to be eaten after such curing but dog trainers learned long ago that a dog that gets a good whiff of red herring will lose any other scent. Social engineers have used socialization as a red herring in education for many years, if we can get people talking about socialization they might forget about education. Why is it that the first thing my visiting teacher wanted to know was how I could possibly give my children the SOCIALIZATION they needed. This is the most often asked question I receive (same for you right?) and is possibly the most misunderstood aspect of home learning. |
| Modern theories presume that children must have interaction with a group of peers of the same age to acquire social skills. By contrast, we believe that extensive peer contact during childhood causes undesirable peer dependency, and negative role modeling. |
| Brigham Young said "We can guide, direct, and prune a tender sprout, and it inclines to our direction, if it is wisely and skillfully applied. So, if we surround a child with healthy and salutary influences, give him suitable instructions and store his mind with truthful traditions, may be that will direct his feet in the way of life." 9:248. Discourses of Brigham Young, p.209 |
| Young children are especially more likely to be influenced by the majority than to be able to be a light or example to them. Children who receive their educations outside the home are prone to accept their peers' and teachers' values over those of their parents and church leaders. The also tend to worship sports or music idols instead of learning to model behavior based on the examples of scriptural-heroic men and women. |
| Some advantages of freedom from negative peer pressure can be self-confidence, independent thinking, the ability to relate to people of all ages and better relationships with family and our Father in heaven. Godly principles of interaction can be taught, demonstrated, and reinforced at home by parents and siblings. Children can learn needed social skills by interacting with siblings, adults, and other children under their parent's supervision. |
| Young people who have had this type of training have adjusted very well to adult life and are strong individuals with less need for peer acceptance and dependency. |
| Dr. Brian Ray president of National Home Education Research Institute confirms that numerous studies have found that home-educated children are well adjusted socially and emotionally. |
| Tom Smedley also wrote a Thesis for his Masters Degree about home schooled children and socialization you can read about it by clicking on the star below: |
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