You are exactly right. Despite the social "gaps", home-schooled kids are frequently better mannered and make better eye-contact.
A little anecdote: We carpooled to swim practice with several families whose children attend public school. The other kids only started saying "Thanks for the ride" after hearing my children say it to their parents for about six months. (My kids attend private school.)
Did I tell you that Tom was beaned in the head with a rock by a boy down the street, who'd decided Tom wasn't "cool"? Two weeks ago Sunday, Tom turned up at the door looking like something out of "The Lost Battalion." Buckets of blood.
Anoreth called Fire and Rescue, and I gave Tom a towel and had him lie down in the yard. Fortunately, it was only a cut on his scalp, but we were stuned until the paramedics arrived and cleaned him up.
The paramedics called the deputy sheriff, and I walked down the street with him to show him where the rock-thrower lived. When an older sister (16-ish) answered the door, she said, "Mom, it's the police! Danny must have done something really bad this time!" We weren't sure the parents would take responsibility for their son, but as I was leaving, the mother was asking the deputy to come inside and scare the boy out of his wits!
Very good!! Yes, even children are aware of social gaffes and lack of social skills when presented with good ones. Good job!
TaxRelief points out:
"Despite the social "gaps", home-schooled kids are frequently better mannered and make better eye-contact."
You are right. I'd never thought about the eye contact thing. That implies some nasty things about public school. There's much to said against massing children together without a LOT of adult leavening.