Socialization and homeschool

When my wife and I decided to homeschool our children, and one of the concerns I heard was "what about their socialization?

Socialization (definition):
noun 1. the activity of mixing socially with others.
"Socialization with students has helped her communication skills."
2. the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.
"Preschool starts the process of socialization."

We were not so concerned about this.  

My main concern was over the content of the teaching and the philosophy that the school material and the individual teachers would try to promote.

Children should learn their social skills primarily from their parents and maybe grandparents.  If parents do not provide a good example and try to instill proper behavior around others, I think it will be more difficult for their children to have good social skills.

Children can still have contact with other children through siblings, other relatives, neighbors and friends.  They also can have interaction with children at church.

Other children can often have a bad influence on your children.  There is usually pressure from other children to do things you know you shouldn't.

Kids in school are a varied bunch of immature characters.  I made some friends in school, but we didn't always get along.  Kids can be mean and form their little cliques.    Few kids are able to stand alone when the group is doing something they shouldn't, and I think this is a real concern for parents who want to instill certain values in their children, for they are under the pressure to adopt the behavior of the group of kids they are socializing with.  That pressure often involves some alcohol drinking, drug use, premarital sex or pornography, vandalism, and just rebellious behavior.  The socialization of the public school makes this easier to participate in, because so many are doing it.  I saw it all going on back in the mid 70's, so the need for socialization by the public school doesn't interest me. 

The majority of children in school have little or no exposure to the Bible, and that includes teachers, so don't be surprised if your children become even more alienated to spiritual things.  The public school is not a place for Christian education, but it makes it more difficult when the teaching has a subtle philosophy that is antichristian.