Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

A Day in the Life of a Child 'Damaged' by the Modern World

Often I read about how twentieth century living is damaging our children. They are exposed to television, computers, fast living and fast food.... much has been written against these things, especially in home education newsletters. Often I have felt 'guilty' or insecure for not following a Steiner or Montessori based curriculum, or from not protecting my children against the evils of modern plastic toys. And sometimes, although more rarely now, I feel like perhaps I should have abandoned our relatively stress free country life for high powered city living, exposing my children to the plethora of art, craft, music, performance, science, sport, etc., activities and venues readily available there...

Rarest of all, are the occasions I read, in homeschooling circles, of the need to immerse children in all that modern technology has to offer children, to prepare them for a world it is hard for us to even imagine...

So I am prepared to share the story of a child, hopefully brought up in a balanced way. A child some staunch supporters of a more idyllic child rearing method would claim as 'damaged' beyond repair...

Thomas is eleven. He has been home educated since the age of five. He lives in a small country town, on four and a half acres, near the sea. His parents built the house he lives in with their own hands. He helped. The house is powered by solar and wind technology. Thomas is not your average homeschooler - but then, who is?

Every morning Thomas climbs down from his bunk, uses the clivus multrum composting toilet which he prefers over flushing varieties because of his loudly voiced concerns about pollution, and then climbs into bed with his mum for a cuddle and a read. His furry friends are deposited on the couch so they can enjoy the day from that vantage point. No staying in bed all day for Thomas's teddies!

At the moment Thomas is consolidating his reading ability, having taken eleven years to master this complex skill. He is reading tales compiled by Joanna Cole, with authors and illustrators such as Dr Zeus, Maurice Sendak, Arnold Lobel and many others. He discusses the illustrations. He discusses the stories. Even the non fiction ones. He talks about his own experiences. He talks and talks. Mum takes the opportunity to read a couple of chapters from Morris Gleitzman's novel, "Misery Guts". Eventually, after an hour, Thomas vacates the bed, so mum can make it on her morning round of tidy up chores.

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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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