As parents scramble to figure out schooling and childcare arrangements for the fall, one of the central themes arising in my conversations with families across the country is that making sure their children have social interactions is paramount.

I’m in agreement that’s an important consideration. But what’s haunting for those who think traditional schools will provide good socialization opportunities—or have always provided that—is how far off their perceptions are.

The student perspective

Children, it turns out, also want to have fun with their friends. When Clayton Christensen, Curtis Johnson and I revised “Disrupting Class,” one of our core arguments was that having fun with friends is one of the most important priorities in students’ lives.