Two problems with this. First: This is America, and it's nobody's business how parents choose to socialize their kids. In bygone days, it was not uncommon for kids in rural areas to grow up having never met anyone of a different race, religion or economic "class." There's no evidence that this was either harmful of helpful in forming their personalities or world views. Second: It's presumptious to make the blanket statement that homeschoolers are never exposed to "others" who "aren't like them." Where's the data or evidence supporting this opinion? Most homeschoolers are deeply involved in church activities that participate in missionary and community service work. The evidence I see is that homeschooled kids are able - at a much earlier age - to negotiate the complexities of the adult world. The idea that this makes them somehow deprived or defective is a blind prejudice. What we've come to know as "teen culture" didn't even exist before the 1950's, and there's no evidence that this new development in Western culture has made the world a better place.
True. But parents should recognize that there is value in socializing day after day with people who are different, and that there is a price in removing their children from it.
In bygone days, it was not uncommon for kids in rural areas to grow up having never met anyone of a different race, religion or economic "class."
I believe they were called country bumpkins or rubes, who (when visiting cities) were often noted for their difficulty of interaction with people who were different.
It's presumptious to make the blanket statement that homeschoolers are never exposed to "others" who "aren't like them." Where's the data or evidence supporting this opinion?
I didn't make that blanket statement. I simply noted that it is not uncommon, based on personal observation, for homeschool parents to be overprotective, to the detriment of their kids (sons, more often). And the tendency to over-protect seems often to be concentrated on the people who home-school for religious reasons. It's not a blanket statement -- but from what I've seen it's true more often than not.
You seem to be saying, BTW, that there's no value in the "socialization" that a classroom environment can provide. That's simply false.
Please note that I'm not using this as an argument against home-schooling per se. I'm simply stating that pulling a kid out of the class-room is not without cost. (And heaven help the poor kid whose home-school parent is incompetent -- such situations do occur.)