Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

Better Than Average

Often, in my reading on home education, I find the children mentioned are either all very 'gifted and talented' or have some 'learning difficulty'. The latter generally draws sympathetic comments, and an assent that the school system fails to help many such children. The first description, though, seems to echo a common misconception in the community, an expectation that homeschooled children have to do better than average to be 'okay'.

Although statistical research repeatedly demonstrates home educated children rating better on standardised tests, why does the perception remain that they all have to? It seems that anything less than ‘brilliant’ represents a failed home education system, whereas ‘average’ is an acceptable outcome from schools. Home educating parents keenly feel this pressure to perform better than teachers at school. Is it because home educated parents have to ‘prove’ their children are progressing educationally, whereas teachers and schools are by and large unaccountable? Unlike homeschoolers they don't face deregistration if they don't come up to scratch. Or is it the blind faith the community puts in the 'trained' professionals?

Sometimes home educating parents feel that others in the community are waiting for them to‘fail’, and any perceived character flaws observed in the children will be blamed solely on the fact that they are home educated. Some home educated children excel in certain areas, but what about the children that ‘lag’ behind their same age peers, academically or socially?

Home educators agree that the education provided for their children can easily be superior to that offered elsewhere. There are plenty of people in the education system who would readily concur. It is only the people indoctrinated by the idea of one, singular 'school' education system that try to scrutinise home educated children to make sure that they ‘measure up’. Their expectation for achievement is higher for home educated children than for the majority of schooled children.

This places unwarranted stress on home education. We, as home educators, know our children are better off, so why do we need to continuously prove it to anyone? Who are we accountable to after all? Other people, the school system, or our own children? We need to resist the urge to continuously ‘prove’ that home education is as good as, or superior to, school education, as this leads to stressful comparison and competition, and reinforces undesirable stereotypes in the community.

previous page

Page 46

next page

buy this book

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

available from
ALWAYS LEARNING BOOKS

Homeschool Australia SA HE Network Unschool~Kidz! About Beverley Paine

Disclaimer: The information on this page is opinion,
written by someone without legal qualifications.
Always seek qualified legal advice if in any doubt as to your legal position.