Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

Thoughts on Spelling
(continued)

It is interesting to note that only those people who can spell, and spell well, are usually the ones to make the largest fuss about the need to spell well. Many of these are university graduates, well versed in the education system and happy with its elitism. This has the effect of making the less than perfect spellers feel inadequate. Not a good scenario. Many people get by in life quite comfortably with less than perfect spelling. And nowadays, with emphasis placed on service industries providing employment opportunities, access to services which can produce professional documents are readily available. The need for all people to accomplish perfection in many basic traditional learning areas is diminishing.

However, spelling is a prominent issue in schools, and is often quoted as a determinant in whether students are considered literate or not, especially by the media. It certainly is an emotive issue. As a society we judge our children's academic performance more on their spelling ability by a certain age than by anything else. No matter what schools try to do to correct the appalling literacy rate of young school children, they will get it wrong according to popular thinking. Different approaches come and go almost every decade or so, and still spelling remains an issue. Literacy is still quoted as being at the lowest rate ever!

I believe this is because schools and teachers are continuously trying to teach a skill, spelling, long before many children are capable of mastering that skill. It seems so much easier for many children to accomplish this skill after eight years of age, if they haven't been confused by fragmented, reductionist approaches by then. The ones who can master spelling sooner, will, if spelling, reading and writing are valued in their homes and school environments. Valued, not 'pushed'.

Perhaps it is time for home educators to try different approaches, and to document them, to let others know that the entrenched school dominated way of learning is not the best, or only way, that learning happens. After all, most of what we do in our home learning environments is prompted by direct feedback from meaningful learning moments, not from rigidly adhered to curriculum frameworks or teaching methods. We are lucky to be able to practise truly flexible education in our homes.

Educational researchers and theorists all over the world are looking for examples of ‘best practice’. Perhaps if we, as a group or as individuals, recorded our children’s learning, and published our methods and outcomes, we may contribute to the entire spelling debate in a positive, child friendly way.

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More than 60 essays covering a wide range of home schooling concerns and issues, such as late readers, value of play, socialisation, learning maths, part time school, and thoughts on testing. Learning in the Absence of Education is an intimate and honest look at day-to-day homeschooling life spanning several years. Includes articles on learning maths, reading and writing, spelling, socialisation, part time schooling, fathers and homeschooling, value of play, grading and testing, coping with stress and illness, and much more.

"These essays are the real life experiences of a long term home educator and activist and make inspiring reading... a valuable resource for all those interested in home education.... What I particularly appreciate are the personal day-to-day stories that are so specific in the incident or outcome These are essays written over time that reflect natural learning (read life) as it really happens.

I really enjoy Beverley's writing style in this book. It is very direct, sometimes even challenging the reader. She tries to be scrupulously honest always so we read of advantages and disadvantages of whatever topic she is discussing. She will also point out the ideal situation and how she thinks she falls short. Sometimes she is self-deprecating; sometimes she glows with enthusiasm for their successful lifestyle. There are touches of humour and sometimes wry cynicism.

Hopefully this book will answer many people's questions and fears about natural learning. It is all in here: how right it feels when natural learning is working well, what happens when we have insecurities ourselves, and the results so far. By presenting the natural learning case in this essay style, Beverley has been able to reflect the different moods, the ups and downs, that make the book a valuable resource for all those interested in home education, whatever their current style."
Janine Banks, home educator, Qld

ISBN 1876651016, 128 pages... $22.95

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