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While for many parents home schooling may seem to be the optimal way to educate their children, this method raises questions and can delay many important aspects of socialization. I would not choose this form of education for my children.

In my work at a small liberal arts college, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with a number of students who had been home schooled through high school. My observations, which when discussed with other members of the administration seemed to be validated, led me to feel that home schooled students entering higher education were at a disadvantage socially.

I am certain that in most home schooling situations, parents have the best interest of their children at heart, and look to follow a curriculum that offers academic advantages in future endeavors. I can also appreciate that many parents choose home schooling as a mechanism by which to protect their children from some of the more troubling trends prevalent among today's pre-teens and teenagers.

However, my personal experiences have shown that while some parents are very successful in presenting concepts and preparing their children for higher education, these students, when placed in a more inclusive environment, do not thrive as they should. I believe this is because home schooled students have limited exposure to diverse populations and opinions.

For instance, I worked with one home schooled student who came from a very conservative household. Interested in broadcasting, he developed a conservative talk show for the college radio station. A local reporter doing a story on college talk radio programs asked to sit in on the show one afternoon. I arranged the sit in and an interview with the student broadcaster. On my way home that afternoon, I fought the urge to return to the college to scold this student as I listened to him degrade this reporter on air, for first being a woman, and next for being an African American. Now this was not typical conservative radio, in which minorities are sometimes challenged for political views. These were direct personal insults.

While this is certainly only one instance, it became very clear to me as I interacted with this student that he had not been taught respect for diversity, was led to believe in strong stereotypes held by his parents, and was never truly exposed to anyone whose lifestyle differed from his own. His attitudes were not of his own making they were passed on by a well-meaning parent who insisted he be home schooled.

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