William R. Mattox Jr.

About the author: William R. Mattox Jr. is a journalist and member of the board of contributors for USA Today. He writes regularly on family issues for major newspapers and magazines in the United States.

On average each week, home-schooled children are involved with at least five social activities outside the home. With participation in these activities, they interact with more people of differing ages, which is more like the "real world." Additionally, homeschooled children identify socially with their family more so than with their peers, resulting in less alienation and isolation and producing higher self-esteem. In particular, home-schooled adolescent girls are less likely to lose self-confidence when their friends don't agree with their opinions.

Most folks who have never met a homeschooling family imagine that the kids are about as socially isolated (and...