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HSLDA Warning: Doctors Told to Monitor Socialization in Homeschool Patients

National Publication tells Doctors: ‘Monitor Socialization in Homeschool Patients’

Homeschool families nationwide may face more questioning from their pediatricians because of recommendations in a recent article in Contemporary Pediatrics, a national publication for doctors who treat children.

The November, 2006, article was entitled “What you need to learn about homeschooling.” After a skeptical but not wholly unfavorable discussion of homeschooling, the concluding paragraph urged doctors to be “vigilant” in “monitoring” the socialization of their homeschooled patients. But it did not recommend they monitor the socialization of public school children.

This unequal treatment indicates that the authors believe the myth that homeschool children fare worse in socialization than children in public school. We are aware of no studies that indicate this is true. However, there are several studies that indicate just the contrary—that homeschool children are better socialized than public school children.

Home School Legal Defense Association Attorney Scott Woodruff has written the authors to ask if there are any scientific studies that support their decision to recommend monitoring of homeschool children's socialization. Woodruff also requested that if they can produce no such studies, that they publish a follow-up to their article.

Meanwhile, at least one Indiana pediatrician came away with his own conclusions. Shortly after reading the article, Dr. Robert Dershewitz of Munster, Indiana, wrote an article for the January 28 copy of the Times of Northwest Indiana in which he stated:

“Currently, it would be difficult for one to mount a convincing argument against home-schooling because what is known, though not definitive, suggests home schooled children do as well as, if not better than, conventionally schooled children.”

An Indiana HSLDA member reports that their family has consulted Dr. Dershewitz for several years. Perhaps it is because of this first-hand experience watching homeschooled children grow up that he has a more favorable view of homeschooling. The fruit of home education—well-adjusted, happy children—is powerful testimony that homeschooling works.

Other Resources

“What You Need to Learn about Homeschooling”

NWI.com, January 28, 2007—Your Child's Health column by Robert Dershewitz:
“An Introduction to Homeschooling”

Personally experienced this!!

12:25, 2007-Feb-21 .. Posted by gokings13

We switched eye doctors 2 years ago because my eye doc took it upon herself to start asking my youngest some very strange questions!!
Like: "Have you broken a bone lately" "Have you had to go to the emergency room lately" and other questions like this, that have NOTHING to do with 'eye health'.
The eye doc always looked at me with a "crooked" eye and always wanted to talk about our "home school"........and I mean beyond "wow that is interesting".

My oldest had to have her arm x rayed this past summer. She was 15 1/2. The nurse asked me to step around the corner ((as I thought she was about to push the X ray button)) and when I did she looked at my daughter and whispered "Is there any chance you are pregnant?"
My daughter looked at her in horror, and said, Um NO.
But the nurse was "sneaky". That really ticked me off.

My kids are 16, 15, and 13 and ARE NOT allowed in the exam room alone with the doc. OR the ER or anywhere for that matter. "Big Brother" is becoming to invasive.

Laura

WOW~

01:28, 2007-Feb-21 .. Posted by wannabeone

I know what you mean. I took my oldest daughter - who just turned 19 - to the ER a couple of months ago for pink eye (ick!). When I stayed in the room with her while the Dr examined her, he made a slight remark concerning why I'm still in there with her. I told him that, "first of all, it's not really your concern but if you MUST know - yes, she's 19 but she's NOT 21 and she is STILL under my husband's and my covering of protection; also, we don't know YOU from Adam. I don't know what YOU might want to do alone with an attractive 19 year old young lady. As her mother and protector, anything you have to ask her will be asked in front of ME."

I know this "sounds" harsh when it's being read, but it really came out calmly but firmly and the visit went well. There was really no rebuttal he could come up with -- ESPECIALLY when she's covered by OUR insurance! HA!

Blessings, Kim Wolf<><

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04:20, 2007-Feb-23 .. Posted by Patti

Thanks for visiting my blog. It is always nice to get acquainted with a new friend.
About this HSLDA alert...I received it as well and was just blown away. But did you read the one last week, about a family in Michigan that was investigated by a social worker for abuse. The abuse consisted of their children eating their cheerios dry, only allowing their children to listen to Christian music, and that the only socialization their children received was through church!!! By this social worker's mind, I guess I am guilty as well...probably lots of us in the blog community are too.
Blessings,
Patti

Edited by Patti on 2007-Feb-23 at 04:21