On the HEM Networking discussion group, longtime advocate and Texas homeschooling mom Susan Smylie, who was interviewed for HEM in 2007, shared a reference to homeschooling from an unexpected source. On Monday, Susan wrote to others on the HEM Networking group:
Dean Koontz is apparently a fan of homeschooling (I don’t think he has kids–not mentioned on his bio):
From Relentless (his newest book). The story is told in the first person by Cubby, who is married to Penny. Penny’s parents are demolition experts, survivalists, quirky and interesting. Cubby and Penny are on the run from horror (a pattern in Dean Koontz stories) and have visited her parents to stock up on weapons. They have an uber-genius son–six years old and doing Einstein-type work. (working on time travel and the like). Here is the homeschool quote:
Eyes closed, I sad to Penny, “Sometimes I worry about Milo. At the stronghold, I realized you had a childhood like his. Homeschooled. No friends your age. Your world limited to family, a kind of isolation. What were the negatives of a childhood like that?”
“None,” she said without hesitation. “Growing up in a loving family, with parents who have a sense of humor and common sense and a sense of wonder–that’s not isolation, that’s a wonderful haven.” …. “More than a haven, It’s a sanctuary, where you can decide who you are are, what you think about the world, before the world tells you who you are are and what you ought to think of it.”
Obviously, most of us don’t isolate our kids the way he describes here–there were/are reasons she and her son have that isolation. But, look at how Koontz turns even that criticism of homeschooling into a good thing. The passage goes on a bit longer, with her talking about how she would not be the artist she is if she’d had earlier formal instruction. Was a nice little surprise to find in this book (that otherwise does not mention homeschooling at all–it is just obvious their son has to be homeschooled, he is smarter than pretty much everyone else on the planet.)
best wishes, Susan Smylie
Tags: Dean Koontz, homeschooling, homeschooling families, homeschooling reference, reasons to homeschool, Susan Smylie
Surprise, surprise! Who would’ve thought an author as popular as Koontz would have something that positive to write about homeschooling? Thanks for sharing!
Wow. Warms my heart. I may actually attempt to read Koontz, now.
In addition to the additional financial burden of home schooling, another disadvantage of home schooling involves the development of social skills. Most home schooling parents are glad to get their children out of the not-so-positive social environment of age-segregated classrooms, but this means that they are now responsible for the social development of their children. Social skills are learned through everyday interactions, such as trips to the supermarket, libraries, malls, parks, church, field trips, and visiting with neighbors. These ways alone are not completely sufficient for teaching a child proper social skills. All children need to learn how to have relationships with their peers, and home schoolers are sometimes at a disadvantage in this area because they do not have as many opportunities for forming friendships. This is not necessarily a problem for most families, but it takes more effort for home schooling parents to be diligent in making sure their children have ample opportunities to be with other children.