Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

A Day at Home with the Paines ....
(continued)

That is their day. They dry the dishes if we ask them. They do some chores on Saturday morning. We rotate a list of jobs between all of us - this lets us all have a go at cleaning the composting toilet! They get involved in our gardening work, including planting hundreds of trees. Most of the time they do their own thing.

But what about me? I love to write, and spend a lot of time on my computer. If I am not writing for the local homeschooling group, I am working on my first novel, or a permaculture correspondence course, or homeschooling booklets. I have only just started writing seriously this year, after trying to give myself permission for twenty years! For some reason I didn’t see it as legitimate work.

Sometimes I get motivated to do some cooking, or gardening. I love to do these when I want to. We all go to work, usually gardening together. We live on a very low income, and would like it to get lower (reduce our consumerist wasteful ways). I like to balance outside activity with my word processing. I love growing trees for the Free Tree Scheme and for our property. I enjoy practicing and learning more about permaculture. I love planning and designing and organising. I am finding some paid work giving home education workshops. Life is busy and full.

In the evenings, since I banned myself from regular TV viewing due to ill health, I read. I sometimes wonder if there is anyone out there allergic to TV? I suffer from chronic allergies, which dull the everyday enjoyment of life, and I am finding nine hours sleep not quite enough anymore. I am slowly working my way through books I bought 15 years ago! Robin often does computer 'housekeeping', which Roger watches attentively and offers advice and information.

April turns on the Simpsons (the TV is in her room) and the boys watch that. Sometimes they watch more, sometimes she does alone. We were never big TV watchers. We love videos though, and can easily spend $5 a week hiring them! Sometimes we will all play a board game, but they turn into bored games if played too often, too frequently!

Generally we all do our own things, coming together for preparing the evening meal, and good conversation and having a good time. We share a lot, sharing our experiences, talking openly and honestly. Life changes its focus regularly, and is often dependant on season (beach in summer for example, tree planting in autumn, gardening in spring).

It is a good life, and we wouldn't trade it for any other. We are masters of our own universe at present, and we love it.

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

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