I too have always believed that a full immersion into all different kinds of cultures is important, and I have always taught respect for cultural differences in my homeschool classrooms and public school classrooms. My longing for a rich cultural and educational environment is drove my choice to homeschool my son - because I knew from first-hand experience that he was going to get a very narrow educational viewpoint at his local public school.
I find it abhorrent that many teachers now only have permission to "teach the test" - it leaves no room for deeper learning, especially when it comes to the tapestry of cultural experiences that can be found outside the classroom.
Homeschoolers are a very diverse bunch, and they are not all just about "social isolation". Dig a little deeper - I think you might be surprised by what you find!
"is drove"
Dang, I need more coffee!
"I find it abhorrent that many teachers now only have permission to "teach the test" - it leaves no room for deeper learning, especially when it comes to the tapestry of cultural experiences that can be found outside the classroom."
If only public school teachers would "teach the test" once in a while. They spend all their time on political correctness and fail to teach writing, mathematics, history and reading.
My freshmen college students can't write a coherent paragraph or understand simple ratios. They all have high self esteem, however, and expect at least a grade of B for anything they produce. If they don't get one, the common reaction is to call mommy and get her to complain to the Dean. At least once a year, we experience the lawyer/parent/Dean scenario with a student who can't find the time to attend 50% of the classes and can't understand the F.
If anything, the homeschoolers I know are incredibly outgoing. I have had a little girl come up at an SCA event and just sit on my lap as her mom introduced herself to me. The only "awkwardness" I might see is they don't have as many inhibitions and some don't keep space. Instead of sizing up potential playmates, they just get in there and play. This is how my daughter make friends. She will look for the kid on the playground who looks lonely. Every time we go out she makes a new friend within half an hour.