Homeschooling advantage: better socialization

In the context of the recent, vicious beating by a gang of Florida public-school cheerleaders,

a homeschooling friend wrote:

[T]he number one complaint about homeschooling . . . is that our children do not get adequate socialization. Yesterday, there was an article at USA Today online about a high school teacher back east who was assaulted by her students. Last week there was the news of the third graders who conspired to knock out and stab their teacher. . .

My child spends his time at home for the reading, writing, and arithmetic. We participate with other children for art, science, and physical activity. He attends holiday parties with lots of other kids. When there are disagreements among the children, the parents of those involved then take the opportunity to further polish the negotiation and social skills of their child/ren.

So, I’m confused. What is it about public school socialization that is supposed to be better than homeschool socialization? More and more studies are showing that homeschooled children are better prepared for both college and the work force, and hence better prepared for the real world. I guess I’m missing something?

Yes, you are apparently missing much of what goes on in public schools: drugs, profanity, gang violence, free condoms but zero-tolerance for any display of sincere human affection, endless standing in line for one thing or another and — last but not least — mindless obsession with football and standardized testing. All of these activities — to hear it from public school apologists — help those heads full of mush get ready for the “real world”. What a reality! No wonder their reality is such a dreadful mess.