[iambateman]

I was homeschooled for 8 years and this schedule sounds very familiar, except it was surfing and working a part time job for me. School does not need to take 8 hours to be effective.

As far as socialization, I’ve been asked this a hundred times: “so...like...how do you talk to people when you’re at home?” Now, I understand they mean well. But for someone who just implied their superior social capabilities, they sure seem rude and unsocialized. ;)

[winchling]

It's also worth pointing out that the social environment within most schools is far from ideal.

[ekianjo]

Most schools are just like jails: you are forced to be there, and forced to be there with people who don't want to be there either. A good recipe for disaster as soon as the group becomes large enough. And don't expect the guardians/educators to do anything when someone picks up on you.

[ultrarunner]

> And don't expect the guardians/educators to do anything when someone picks up on you.

Well that's not entirely fair. I know of several situations (including my own) where students were punished for fighting when attacked by other students. You can't say that's not "doing something", I guess.

[Matticus_Rex]

It's "doing something," but it's doing something stupid, which isn't better.

[badpun]

Social environment _anywhere_ is far from ideal. I've felt that school gave me great training at recognizing and dealing with assholes. I was more of a sensitive kid and if I was isolated from school (and the playground), I may not be able to join the society later on - the state of it it would've been too much of a shock.

[winchling]

Yes, we don't really know what a good social environment for children looks like.

But it does seem obvious that being forced to associate with brutes is unpleasant, demoralising and inconducive to academic learning. By the same token why not teach people to deal with pain by tapping them daily with hammers?

We also have to factor in also that many people will become brutes as a result of this forced association, like the way criminality incubates in prisons.

[badpun]

Academic learning is not nearly as important as good socialisation (dealing with brutes etc.) IMO. For most people who are not smart enough to get a good, competitive office job (like software engineer, doctor etc.), those years in school seem largely pointless, apart from learning basics like literacy, algebra etc. And even for academically gifted, life without social skills must be worse than being an under-performer in a sub-optimal job. Hell is other people, and social skills is how you deal with them.

[winchling]

But again, what about the people who become bullies and brutes as a result?

The way we learn to get along is through a combination of shared challenges and by trying to emulate people we admire. Not being locked up with Bane seven hours every day.

[badpun]

That's fine for learning to get along. Many relationships are antagonistic though, and dealing with a bully in school can help with dealing with an abusive spouse/family member/boss/colleague later in life etc. There are bullies in adult life too, they're just more subtle.

[jonny_eh]

It strikes me as similarly naive as "If you're not religious, how can you be moral?".

It turns out that humans are innately moral and social, outside of extreme situations.