Learning in the Absence of Education

Essays on Homeschooling

© Beverley Paine

The Ups and Downs of Home Education

I was once asked to list the 'ups and downs' of home education by someone contemplating doing it. I tried to be as comprehensive as possible, and like most things in life there are always good and bad outcomes, and attitude definitely colours our view on what happens. Overall I am very happy with our choice to home educate. When I become down and dismayed I am always lifted up by the thought that no matter how bad home education may become in our home, it is still way ahead of what is on offer in schools!

What I like about home education:

• Freedom to do what you want when you want to do it. Control over your own life
• Time! Time to do all the things you can think of - no one is putting restrictions on your time except yourself!
• Flexibility. Lots of it.
• The opportunity for parents to continue their own education, especially about how learning really happens. This is very empowering for parents crippled by their own schooling experiences. The thought that if I can do this, which is radical in the eyes of everyone I know, what else can I do?
• Home education is very enlightening - a change in perspective, fresh perspectives.
• Intelligent teachers. April has found she often knows as much as her teachers at school about the subjects she has chosen. Being able to select your own teachers - and these aren't restricted to just people!
• No weekends. For us home education means both parents are at home all the time (developing alternative incomes) and this means everyday is either a work day or a holiday! This gives tremendous freedom for time management issues, except, of course, now that April is at school we are restricted by that. It also means we can access educational and recreational venues without the crush of the general population on weekends.
• Family closeness. Living with each other everyday has meant we have developed a lot of co-operative behaviours. We live with compromise daily, and this has bred tolerant attitudes. Having children who are our friends.
• The opportunity to learn naturally, and to learn about learning and learning processes! Living in a learning laboratory, the likes of which researchers in education would be very jealous of! Being at the cutting edge of learning theory development!
• Having a happy and loving family, where each member supports and loves each other. A family growing up in a 'bubble of love'. Fostering trust, co-operation, the ability to compromise.
• No discipline problems, no bullying, no drugs, no peer pressure to conform.
• Personal responsibility. As each person is responsible for their own learning this has spilled over into all areas of our lives. As a result we are all maturing nicely!
• Having friends who are great supports for us when we are having a 'down' time.
• Solidarity between diverse groups with differing philosophies on the issue of family rights. The ability to divine our own path in life, think up our own thoughts and act on them - J home education encourages this!
• Independence and interdependence - really understanding these things.
• Ability to tailor education to truly individual learning styles and needs.
• Millions of resources (people, places, things) to access, most of them free!
• No school uniforms, no stupid rules.
• No unnecessary waste of resources such as paper and photocopied worksheets.
• Getting involved in promoting home education, running workshops, newsletters, seminars, and meeting interesting people.
• Helping others develop their own confidence to home educate their children.
• Watching my children grow into strong, healthy, assertive adults, not in any set or prescribed time frame, but at their own rate.

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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

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.