Homeschooling is a highly debated topic. Some view it as a perfect way to nurture a child’s growth, while others criticize it, claiming that the lack of traditional socialization makes it harmful. They argue that homeschooling leads to isolation, absence of mandatory testing, and insufficient oversight—concerns often used as reasons to regulate or even prohibit it. These arguments, however, are not only debatable but are often based on misconceptions.
In the reality of public schools, children are placed in large classrooms with over thirty students and a single teacher for hours each day. Their schedule is tightly controlled, with limited breaks, and their meals are strictly regulated. Whether this resembles a strict institution or a school environment is up to interpretation. One thing is clear: public schools often prioritize structure and control over addressing each child’s individual needs. This approach does little to foster genuine socialization, as it primarily emphasizes conformity and obedience rather than personal growth.
In contrast, homeschooling offers the flexibility to create an environment that truly meets the needs of the child. For my family, socialization played a central role in our education. My extroverted mother made sure we engaged in activities that helped us build communication skills and interact meaningfully with the world around us.
From a young age, all of us were involved in sports—playing, coaching, or umpiring. These experiences taught us the importance of teamwork, persistence, and resilience. When you’re facing a high-speed ground ball in baseball, you quickly learn the value of collaboration, or else you suffer the consequences. My two brothers and I spent over twenty-five years immersed in sports, accumulating hours of experience and learning valuable life lessons along the way.
In addition to sports, we participated in a homeschooling co-op, which provided a variety of classes and group projects. Although I didn’t always enjoy these co-ops, I now recognize their value. They exposed us to people of all ages and helped us develop the ability to work with different age groups—a skill that has proved invaluable in adulthood. In college, I interacted mainly with peers, but I also learned to engage with professors, staff, and students of various ages and backgrounds. The ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages is a skill honed over time, and homeschooling provided an excellent foundation for that.
As my brothers grew older, they joined speech and debate competitions, gaining public speaking experience that most adults never encounter. They traveled across California, competing in parliamentary, extemporaneous, and team events. Their exposure to public speaking helped them develop the confidence and articulation to address large audiences and think critically on their feet.
Meanwhile, I pursued a different path: I became involved in a rescue and mentoring ministry that focused on rehabilitating horses. Working closely with professional horseback riders, veterinarians, and other experts, I learned the intricacies of horse ophthalmology and how to ask scientific questions. This experience not only sparked my interest in science but also allowed me to mentor troubled youth and guide them through difficult moments in their lives.
Homeschooling, in our case, was not just about academic lessons but about learning how to interact with the world, manage responsibilities, and collaborate with people from all walks of life. Socialization in homeschooling is not limited to interactions with peers but extends to a broader spectrum of experiences that nurture a child’s personal and social development. Through sports, co-ops, and real-world experiences, we developed a deep sense of community and communication skills that public schools often cannot provide.