Is it true? Are homeschooled students less likely to adequately function in our society?

Homeschoolers are no less likely to function adequately in our society than traditionally schooled children. By saying this, we simply mean that yes, there will be some homeschoolers who do not fare well in society. There are also plenty of publicly and privately schooled children who do not end up functioning that well in society. Research overwhelmingly shows that many homeschooled children go on to college. They go on to take jobs, they participate in community activities. They lead normal lives and relate to other people in non-deviant ways. The act of being educated at home is not the factor in socially-awkward people. Some people are going to demonstrate non-normative social behaviors regardless of how they were taught.

 

Everyone either knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone with a negative homeschooling story. There is a reason stereotypes exist—someone, somewhere has demonstrated the behavior that makes people question the validity of homeschooling. But, normal personality issues aside, families that gravitate toward purposeful isolation from the culture do not represent the median homeschooling family. Children who grow up in these families, may exhibit either disdain toward or an inability to function within society, but this type of behavior is more the intention of these families and not necessarily a byproduct of home education.