Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

Children Learning At Home The Permaculture Way!

"The core of permaculture is design. Design is a connection between things ... It's the very opposite of what we are taught in school. Education takes everything and pulls it apart and makes no connections at all. Permaculture makes the connection ..." Bill Mollison, 1991

"We can think of ourselves not as teachers but as gardeners. A gardener does not 'grow' flowers; he tries to give them what he thinks they need and they grow by themselves." John Holt.

Education has become a monstrous bureaucracy, no longer serving the noble cause of enabling and empowering individuals. It serves itself, more concerned with its own survival than almost anything else. Can anyone truly say in what 'direction' education is heading, and who or what is accountable or responsible for what, in the name of common good, is imposed in the most undemocratic way on our young people.

I have drawn on the strength and wisdom of the above men, John Holt and Bill Mollison, for the inspiration to follow my heart, and do as they have done; turn my back on tradition and convention and forge a new path, a new way drawn out of the collective wisdom of the ages and of mother nature herself. I've done this in order to offer my children a 'natural' education. I needed to reject what the 'education system' would force upon my family, and choose instead to keep my children at home, where they could grow and learn in a natural way.

Because permaculture emphasises the connections between individual elements in a system it fits beautifully with the natural learning approach in home education. Instead of 'giving' a child an 'education', I look for what the child needs, what elements I can bring together to help fulfil those needs, and I joyfully accept and capitalise on those wonderful bonuses a permaculture approach always produces!

Although I have an overall design or plan held in my mind, I focus on what is happening now. I have never been able to understand the mentality of worrying about a child's university education a decade before it is even likely to happen! Kahil Gibran said it most eloquently when he spoke of our children being like "living arrows ... sent forth" into the realms of "tomorrow", which we cannot visit, or even presume to know what it will be like.

Permaculture offers us a set of principles we can use when designing. I have never considered these limited to landscape planning! I believe them to be a design paradigm for living. Offering our young people the opportunity to learn in their own homes is a wonderful way to help them understand their place in the natural world. It discourages feelings of disconnection and isolation, and builds a natural social life, from the centre out. It allows the child to socially unfold from the egocentric toddler, into the co-operative family member, and then comfortably and confidently into the social world of family friends, before finally choosing to participate in society with self esteem and confidence intact at whatever age is right for the individual.

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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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written by someone without legal qualifications.
Always seek qualified legal advice if in any doubt as to your legal position.