Dry beans and rice

                                             Homeschooling and Socialization:
                                      The dry beans and rice of government rations
                                      by Crystal Morningstar (aka Stacey Bourdeau)
   One popular response to the sharing of the intention to engage in homeschooling is the assertion that a child needs "healthy socialization". That is a need that exists for people who do not have healthy inner social interactions going on within themselves. They project that need onto their own children as well as those they influence. This projection is an assault upon and crippling of a child's inner socialization, creating in them a need for healthier outside social interactions.
   When healthy inner socialization is occuring within individuals, adult or children, outer social interactions become more of a life enriching and enhancing experience. an occassion for sharing their inner rejoicing. It becomes the candy to a steady diet of fresh fruits and vegetables homegrown in our gardens of a life lived self-sufficiently rather than the daily diet of dry beans and rice of government rations on which a bare-bones existence is occuring.
    Being a foreign or forgotten experience to the majority, healthy inner socialization is simply not comprhended and therefore accepted as a possibility/option to many. They deny it's potential existence and feel it appropriate to force their need onto everyone else's children. In similar fashion, many of those experiencing healthy inner socialization cannot comprehend a need for outer socialization and strongly resist the assertion that there is a great need for it prevelant in society. They attack public schooling. I, and I am sure I am not alone, accept some people need the dry beans and rice of government rations while others only need the candy of a steady diet of fresh fruits and vegetables. Frankly, the idea of what would happen to us all should all those in need of government rations... and thus control... were suddenly let out of school is frightening. And equally frightening is the prospect of how destructive it would be to the fruit and vegetable crowd if they were forced to enroll their children, crippling any chance of society continuing to benefit from the few self-sufficient families out there inspiring others to self-sufficiency. Presently there is a need for both institutions, home and public schooling, in my opinion. And, of course, the intermediate options are vital to those undergoing transition.