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The Forum > Article Comments > Home education grows up > Comments

Home education grows up : Comments

By Susan Wight, published 13/2/2006

Home education has often been very successful in Victoria but this is now under threat.

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Thanks for this informative Home-Education Article.In reply to the last post. There are many factors in the success of Home-Education, two of which you mentioned. Across the board, no matter what style of Education is entered into the two most important factors in a child's success (as shown in the many examples in the article) are parental interest and responsiveness to the child and the parents putting a high value on Eeducation. Both these criteria are most tangibly present in the Home-Education situation. This is backed up by some research by Ken Rowe in the 1980s. One can also see those as the operative factors in the Victorian Government's own research into School Outcomes which shows that across all schools the children in a higher Socio-Economic group always do better. If they do not have parental attention, they may at least be responding to their own parents value of achievement and therefore Education. Interestingly, Home-Education by those in lower Socio-Economic Groups has shown to have better outcomes because those two factors have come into play (apparently Professor Ray's research from U.S.A verifies this).Robyn
Posted by Robyn, Tuesday, 14 February 2006 11:07:14 AM
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Donnie thats a good question, I think the success of home schooling has many aspects. One would be the child having the freedom to learn to think outside of the strait jacket that state run schools places around them. Each child can develope as an individual rather than as a member of a herd, they gain confidence to make individual choices In the schools it is one size fits all. Another reason would be the personal attention they get from the mother or father who is educating them. My experience at school was if you are struggling with the lesson you basically get ignored and the teacher more often than not gives their attention to the brighter students. With home schooling one can not get away with this because the teacher is also the parent who loves their child. My real education began the day I left school and went out into the workforce. If you love what you are doing you will learn whatever you need to learn. The whole world became my school room and I loved it. It is so sad that we consider achieving some credential the prerequisite for a job rather than ones desire and interest to learn by being involved in that field.I think home schoolers take something that is upside down and turn it right side up
Posted by Rogo, Tuesday, 14 February 2006 4:52:21 PM
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Hi Susan,

Thanks for the article. It was interesting to read the success stories in home eduation. I have always considered home education as an excellent form or education for families who consider this the best alternative for their children.

Do you think the reason that the children in your article have achieved so highly is based mainly on the fact that they were home schooled or do you think that these children were also of a high intelligence? It would seem difficult for some of the achievements you have highlighted to have been achieved by children with average or below average intelligence whether or not they have been home schooled.

If homeschooling is the major basis for their achivements - there must be some onus on the homeschool community to indicate to government what homeschooling can do for our nation. Government schooling can only educate 25% of their school populations to a level where they can reach university education - home schooling, according to your article, can actually produce not only university ready student but the top 1% or 2% of educated children.

Was this what you were trying to suggest, Susan. Sorry if my perception is not correct.

Thanks again for the article. It was very interesting.

Regards
Wilma
Posted by wrjam, Wednesday, 15 February 2006 12:26:46 PM
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Good post Wilma.....Good points! I have homeschooled my children at different periods and at the moment I have 3 at school and one on Distance Education. I agree that homeschooling is a great option for motivated, educated parents. But it doesn't suit all and not all children want to be at home with their parents.

Just like in school, the environment at home needs to support growth and development. I am sure the vast marjority of homeschoolers do provide a good learning environment for their children. I do believe that the acheivements of a child are influenced by both a child's intelligence and by their environment. The most important factor, however, is the environment as no matter how intelligent a child is they are not telephathic, they need to be taught and they need to feel validated and good about themselves in order to learn.

Problem with schools is that their standards are very low and they have this one size fits all system. Children are judged on their marks without taking into consideration their environment and therefore many students are not achieving at a level that they would otherwise be able to achieve if they came from a different background or school or environment or were being homeschooled by motivated parents.

I think that the way things are going in the system all children are going to better off being homeschooled and what will happen is those homeschoolers will create a little community that will be like a different school.

The Education system is biased and corrupt and they dont give a damn about the children. If you are interested in what I have found out about the system you can read what I have written here http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/858

If you want more personal details in relation to just how biased and corrupt the system is and want to see some evidence - you can go my my blog called "Education - keeping them Honest". It is being updated all the time http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Posted by Jolanda, Wednesday, 15 February 2006 12:54:39 PM
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Thank you for another excellent article, Susan.
Our family chose home education for two of our four children.
We loved home schooling because learning could be individually tailored to suit the learning style, level, pace and depth required for each subject for each child.
Our methods varied from highly organised to completely freestyle. We were able to sample many subjects and pursue some of them in depth. We studied French in the traditional manner, but also had fun with L.O.T.E. Pot Pourri, which gave a taste of several languages.
We gathered teaching materials from many sources. I wrote some lessons based on the children’s interests. We utilised excursions, community based classes, tutors and mentors.
While homeschooling I was interviewed by scholars preparing Masters and Doctoral papers on the topic of homeschooling. One question was “Is your child experiencing anything while being home schooled that they couldn't experience to the same degree at regular school?"
My reply was “Definitely. Our son is 10. If he were with his age peers in regular school he would not be learning Visual Basic Programming, Psychology, Latin, and Year 9 Science. He would not be reading Tolkien and Arthurian legend and writing 20,000+ word novellas. He would probably not have participated in the environmental study of Sheppard Creek. He would not have as much time for reading for enjoyment and communicating under supervision with friends worldwide on the Internet.
Our daughter is 14. If she were with age peers in regular school she probably would not be studying Year 10 Maths and Psychology nor made the 12 Days of Christmas quilt. She may not have been available to train volunteers to face paint for Daffodil Day”
The children have now both finished their time of homeschooling. Our daughter went on to TAFE, completed a floristry course with a business management component and is now a retail store manager. Our son will study Arts at university.
Homeschooling was successful for them academically but more importantly they seem happy, well adjusted and relate well to people of all ages.
Cheetah
Posted by Cheetah, Thursday, 16 February 2006 4:57:33 PM
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Very true. As a 23 year old young person I have never been to "school" in the traditional sense - my parents taught me at home from the very start.

Today I am studying as a law student, and I don't think that would have been possible without all the benefits and advantages I received from my upbringing as a home schooled student. I sure am grateful to my parents for doing the "abnormal" and doing what was in my best interests.

I say - keep the laws flexible. Parents should be the ones responsible for the teaching of their children. I think this is something the Australian government hasn't quite gotten straight.

JDR
Posted by JDR, Thursday, 16 February 2006 5:01:43 PM
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