In school we were socialising for 6+ hours a day, every day, plus any time after school or on weekends, alongside our school work. We also had hundreds of peers that we could make friends with if we wanted to.
Compared to that I'd absolutely say homeschooling (even with occasional events and activities) is quite isolating.
> In school we were socialising for 6+ hours a day
In school you spent 6 hours each day on recess/lunch break? Because I'd argue that in most classes, you aren't exactly supposed to be socializing, but rather, you know, following the class you're in
Classwork alongside your peers is still part of socialising. You're still sat next to other kids, engaging in class discussions with the other kids, working on projects together with other kids all through the day.
The problem with supporters of schools is that you have a very idealized view of what's happening there. I get it, you had it good - but you shouldn't ignore that there's a pretty significant amount of kids who don't fit into the system. Nobody wants to cancel schools completely - just different options for kids who aren't going to thrive there.
When I sat next to other kids there weren't discussions, there was fighting and stealing my stuff and teachers not reacting because they sat me next to the precious ones who couldn't do anything wrong so "they keep an eye on me" - and then punishing me for my missing stuff. When we had to do projects I was the only one working and the other kids ignoring me on purpose - but somehow that was my fault too and I got a bad grade because "it was supposed to be a team project".
Fuck schools. It's not my fault I was born with ADHD - and if you force me into the school then it's on you to learn to deal with it. But that's not going to happen - and thus homeschooling is the way for my children.
Why is it so great to force children to socialize for 6+ hours with people they might hate and who might hate them? Especially in an environment where the adults are so undernumbered they can't possibly keep track of what's happening - and sometimes they participate in the hate towards specific children too?
With homeschooling, the parent sees what's happening and can protect their child. Nobody will protect them at school - especially if the school lies to the parents to save face/protect teachers. And nobody will ever pay for the destroyed family relationships this produces.
Yeah, and by 'protecting' them from uncomfortable social situations, how are they going to learn to deal with them? Growth comes from discomfort, trying to constantly protect them is harmful.
Bullshit. One thing is uncomfortable - and that happens during homeschooling more than enough, so that's how you learn to deal with it. Another thing is leading a kid to suicide and/or homicide with the uncomfortable. That's way too much, and it's caused by the teachers not protecting the kids, since they simply don't care and sometimes it's fun to them too.
How is a kid supposed to learn to deal with the uncomfortable situations when everything they do is shut down and punished by a teacher but they don't care about the actual problem and it's perpetrators? How is a 7 year old kid supposed to stand up to the teachers?
Compared to that I'd absolutely say homeschooling (even with occasional events and activities) is quite isolating.