How do unschoolers turn out? (2014)
The typical retort to home&#x2F;un-schoolers is about &quot;socialization.&quot; The article addresses that here:<p><i>What stood out, he adds, is that “many more said they felt their social experiences were better than they would have had in school.” Sixty-nine percent were “clearly happy with their social lives,” he says, and made friends through such avenues as local homeschooling groups, organized afterschool activities, church, volunteer or youth organizations, jobs, and neighbors. In particular, “they really treasured the fact that they had friends who were older or younger, including adults. They felt this was a more normal kind of socializing experience than just being with other people your age.”</i><p>For me, the last bit about having older and younger friends is something dearly missing from the typical school experience. Regimentation by age is present nowhere else in life, and I think it hinders lots of people straight out of school.<p>Aside from not having friends your age, &quot;adults&quot; are also made to be the enemy through the power imbalance in a typical school. This makes it a bit harder to adjust to the real world in a subtle way that many take for granted. Early career professionals should be drawn to the most senior members of the organization to get the most knowledge they can, before that experience retires out of the company.