The teacher can be part of the community that helps to guide the child along in the role of life. It is an important responsibility, but it is just one role to be played. Other members of the community may be equally as responsible, although homeschool moms might beg to differ. One recent study showed that homeschool moms are sometimes fearful about teachers and the community overreaching their boundaries. Concerning homeschool moms, the authors wrote, "they are far too informed to allow their children to participate in the manipulation of numbers as they relate to school performance" (Sanborn, Santos, Montgomery, Caruthers, 2004, pg. 27).
The onslaught of data available through the internet, as well as through other media has informed the latest generation with a relatively large amount of information, more so than at any other time in man's history. Students are more prepared to learn than they were in previous generations, and teachers who plan on working in the elementary age classrooms will need to be much more prepared as well. Understanding that teacher's role in regards to providing education, as well as providing socialization experiences will mean that teachers will need to be cognizant as to how the local, the national, and the world-wide views of teaching and teachers are viewed.
Each community will have a profound effect on the social skills and knowledge of the students as they mature. The teacher may be the first substantial outside contact of any nature to these young students. Recognition of the importance of that role will bode well for the teacher who remembers it. Providing opportunities for the students to interact with each other, and with the teacher(s) will help to build the socialization skills that will be necessary for future success. These opportunities can take place in the classroom,...
Keeping a watchful eye on the events in these places is as necessary as letting the students freely participate. Knowing when to step in, and maybe more importantly, when not to step in, will likely be an important issue as well. Teachers who apply judicial wisdom in these circumstances will likely succeed more than fail.
According to Medlin "different people mean different things regarding socialization" (2000) and that might be the most important item to remember when becoming a teacher. Some parents may view with alarm activities that other parents will view with alacrity. Preparing lesson plans and events for a diverse classroom may be accomplished, especially with help from other, more experienced teachers who are willing to pass on what knowledge they have gained. Perhaps a modicum of socialization with other teachers will be even more effective in this case than other aspects of socialization in the classroom.
References
Durkin, K.; (1995) Socialization, The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Psychology, (ed A.S.R. Manstead and M. Hewstone), pp. 614-18. Cambridge, MA: Basil Blackwell.
Medlin, R.G.; (2000) Home schooling and the questions of socialization, Peabody Journal of Edcuation, Vol. 75, No. 1 and 2, pp. 107-123
Romanowski, M.H.; (2006) Revisiting the common myths about homeschooling, The Clearing House, Vol. 79, No. 3, pp. 125 -- 129
Staff, J.; Kreager, D.A.; (2008) Too cool for school? Violence, peer status and high school dropouts, Social Forces, Vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 445 -- 471
Sanborn, R.; Santos, A.; Montgomery, A.L.; Caruthers, J.B.; (2004) Four scenarios for the future of education, The Futurist, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 26 -- 30
Thomas, S.; (2007) Schooling at…
