The best teachers are those that respect children’s individual learning styles, passions and interests, and care deeply about their health, well-being and development. And parents who home educate, believe as devoted and attentive parents, they are naturally placed to continue educating their children beyond the start of compulsory schooling age. Home education can offer a life-style that builds and strengthens relationships within the family.
A practical and successful alternative to school-based education for children, home education embraces learning within the whole community. Students regularly access libraries, educational and cultural institutions, parks, zoos, markets and shopping centres, sports and recreational clubs, religious facilities and much more. Home educated students aren’t restricted to learning at home… The world is their classroom.
Legal responsibilities
The regulations and laws governing home education differ in each state and territory. Parents are advised to read and familiarise themselves with the sections relevant to home education provision in their relevant Education Acts.
By choosing to home educate, parents accept the legal responsibility for planning, implementing and evaluating their children’s educational experiences.
Usually they are highly motivated individuals who believe that the education of children is primarily the right and responsibility of parents. They take this role very seriously and continuously educate themselves in order to maintain high educational standards for their children. Parents typically find that being involved in all aspects of their children’s development is personally enriching and fulfilling.
Flexible and adaptable learning
No two families home educate the same way. Each tailors their curriculum to suit the needs of their individual children. Learning programs typically reflect such factors as family values, beliefs, interests, learning styles, and available resources. Home education can also embrace ‘blended learning’ which may involve part-time school attendance, accessing distance education courses, or e-learning, using a variety of educational programs available on the internet. This ability to be flexible with the delivery of education is a cornerstone of the success families experience as home educators.
How families begin home educating often looks very different to what they are doing a year or two later: the books, materials and approaches used continually, adapt to the emerging needs and styles of each individual child, as well as the changing conditions in family and community life.
Adaptable, responsive and resourceful, home education is capable of delivering the best education possible. Some children leaving school rejoice in the increased responsibility for their own learning immediately, whereas others take a few months to adapt to the different pace, emphasis and motivation of learning at home.
Although many families follow a schedule, they find it isn’t necessary for children to work through every page in each textbook, or to sit at a desk and do assignments for three or more hours a day to learn effectively.
In addition to lessons, children learn through conversation, play, hands-on activities, completion of family and personal chores, and the freedom to pursue hobbies, interests and passions at length.
Daily routine
A typical day usually includes time spent reading, a couple of hours working on assignments or unit studies, free or structured play, chores, some kind of physical exercise, most of which will include social activity, either with parents, siblings, friends or members of the local community. Some families concentrate learning activities into two or three days each week, leaving other days for family activities and educational excursions.
Networks
There are tens of thousands of home educating families in Australia. They come together to form supportive networks which cater to the educational and social needs of their members. Groups offer support and companionship for parents and children, as well as regular social and educational excursions and activities, concerts, dances, sports days, and camps. Home educating students enjoy many extra-curricular activities available to children in schools. Far from being socially isolated, studies repeatedly demonstrate that home educated children exhibit high levels of social skills and integrate easily into a variety of social situations.
Recording development and higher education
Families maintain student portfolios that record educational and developmental progress. Home educated graduates are able to access tertiary education and choose a variety of pathways to satisfying employment which suit their individual needs and personalities. Students can enter university by direct application or through entrance exams; others complete high school certificates or vocational courses through school attendance or distance education; some complete TAFE courses; and some start their own businesses or remain vital members of their families’ businesses. Home education is a proven pathway to successful, full and satisfying adult lives.
Home Education AssociationParents are encouraged to contact the Home Education Association for support and information from experienced home educators. The Association provides an online Resource Directory to help families link with others as well as find suitable learning materials. Through Members quarterly magazine Stepping Stones for Home Educators, home educators can share their experiences. The Association’s monthly newsletter keeps members informed, with news items, resource listings and information about educational competitions, events and activities.
If you are considering home education in Australia, visit the association’s website for more information: www.hea.asn.au,or phone 1300 72 99 91 or email secretary@hea.asn.au . The Home Education Association will be exhibiting at the School Education Expo™ in South Australia on 28 & 29 May 2011.
About the author:
Beverley Paine, a pioneering member of the home educating movement in Australia, continues to offer her practical experience and advice to prospective home educating families. In 1989, she began the newsletter South Australian Home Based Learners and, in 1995, started the Fleurieu Home Based Learners Network. Her experience includes working with children from toddlers to adolescents in both school and home learning situations. In 1986, Beverley and her husband, Robin, began home educating their three children. She manages the Home School Australia suite of websites, writes and produces books for Australian home educators available through Always Learning Books and is a committee member and editor for the Home Education Association of Australia.
If you are interested in Home Education, you can meet and chat with association members at the forthcoming School Education Expo™ on 3 & 4 September 2011 at Sydney Olympic Park.
|