I am a journalist writing an article about home education. It is interesting to hear the range of views. I am neither for or against home education, but I think it is something many people don't know alot about. I am particularly keen to hear from home educators in the Illawarra region of NSW, but others, please reply
My questions are:
Why did you choose home education?
Do you plan to continue right through high school?
What kind of response do you get when you tell people your children are home schooled?
What kind of resources/support networks do you have?

thanks

I am wondering if anyone has been in my situation before and can offer some advice on how to appeal an application for home schooling. I have two children in their first years of school. I am a divorsee and my ex-wife has custody of the children. I see the children every second weekend. My ex wife has applied to home school the children. It is my ex-wife's opinion that home schooling will benefit the children as it will provide 'love' - something that she sees the NSW school system as not providing. It is my opinion that the children should have a loving and supportive environment at home and have all of the opportunities school provides. To apply for home schooling in NSW only one parent has to agree and to my knoweledge it appears that there is only an initial inspection of the learning environment. It is my concern that the learning environment at home is too small for the children and often untidy. Once approved, this will not be inspected. My children currently enjoy school, but of course think it would be great fun to spend all day with their mum. As I only spend every second weekend with the children, I am worried that they will have a very one sided upbringing, and I will not be able to contribute to their education as much as I have in the past. For example, going to parent teacher evenings and athletics carnivals, helping with school projects, talking with the kids about heir friends at school, etc. I am not against home schooling when two parents are involved in the education, however I am sure most of you can imagine how helpless I feel in this situation right now. I would appreciate any advice.

Hi, I would like some help, my 15 yr old step son suffers from an O.C.D preventing him from attending school. He has been attending a distance ED organisation but has never really gained any joy from, or be comfortable attending. We recently advised the Government Org. that he would no longer be attending but were told that he must until he attains the age of 17yrs. I hold a certificate iv in training and assessing, and instruct, train and assess on law enforcement issues including firearms, plus communications and other general certificate requirements. Is there an option to allow me to provide the young man's learning needs. He is a fine, intelligent young man who simply needs extra assistance and not be labelled as an incompetant or someone who will never have a normal life which has been suggested in the past.........can you help me, help him please. We would be grateful for any suggestions.......Kev

Can someone please give me some statistics for outcomes in educational social and spiritual arenas for children who are homeschooled.
I find it very difficult to assess since only 0.2% of children of primary school age were enrolled this way in the late 1990s and the figure had been tapering off from a high of 1544 children in 1994.

Knowing a small group of children personally with good outcomes is quite different from assessing the likely achievements of children whose home facitity and resources as well as parent ability to teach is likely to be vastly different.
Great as the idea is there does need to be some assessment of children's progress at say ages 7,9 and 11 in relation to similar aged child cohorts.
Please give me some guidance in research material which is up to date and relevant.
Lupus