Update (Winter 1999)
In the Summer of 1999, Gayle's two younger children became bored and felt that they needed more structure and more friends. So she enquired at the local schools, and was able to register them for September 1999. Her daughter was very happy at the local primary school, and said that what she liked best was 'having' to do worksheets! Her son M found himself bored at secondary school, with too much homework and little new material. He liked being with other children, but did not like the bullying and other unpleasant aspects of a large school. In mid-November both he and his sister decided to return to home education. After some discussion of GCSEs, and structured vs unstructured learning, the family decided to use the European version of the ACE curriculum, which they had used previously.
Another update (Summer 2000)
Our days vary so much that I don't know what a typical day is any more!
Today we dropped one guest off at Heathrow, and then visited the Tower of London with our South African friend who is leaving on Sunday. After the Tower we went on a boat ride down the Thames. I guess they learned a lot of stuff they didn't know before, but I can't think what. T did the navigating as always. M generously used his money from his paper round to pay for part of the Thames trip. They played cards in the car (is learning about which card games require the least space considered part of HE?).
Yesterday we took both friends on a local tour and lunch. The day before we left the children behind and went to Bath for the day! (Apparently they watched television most of the time). On Sunday we sailed around to the Isle of Wight and had a picnic on the boat then bought ice creams in Cowes. Is this beginning to sound like a holiday itinerary?!
Our typical day is supposed to go like this:
Everybody showers, gets dressed, helps themselves to breakfast, etc. At around 9am we sit down and do some Bible reading and discussion. We are reading through Revelation at the moment, having had our imaginations spurred by the Left Behind series of books.
After we have prayed together each child does work in whatever books they have going at the moment. Most of them are currently ACE as we are heading in the direction of the NCSC certification. I work with them sometimes, sometimes not. Some things we do together, and sometimes somebody needs help or encouragement. I do email, desk work or telephone calls in-between if I can. After they have finished they play we have lunch (again usually help-yourself), watch TV, play computer games or playstation, and often we go out shopping or visiting.
On Tuesdays a few other HE people come around for a craft day. I do woodwork with the 12+ group. They have just finished a lovely Opitec clock, but it did take a few weeks. The younger ones do something crafty then we have lunch and chat/play. On Fridays we try to get together for either swimming or ten pin bowling.
The trouble is that this plan is almost invariably interrupted by something better, especially having so many visitors at the moment. We are supposed to read together at night but have only managed twice in the last two months!
Further update (Spring 2007)
Wow, a lot has happened over the last few years.
Home Education is all over and done with!
T went to college to do his A levels in Film, Media, English and Psychology (which he later changed to Music Technology). He then worked for a year to save up for a trip around the world. He visited a few places in the USA, Cuba, New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China and then took the Trans-Siberian express to Moscow. The one place he seems keen to go back to is Russia! He is now completing his first year at University studying Media and Film with Politics. He is changing the politics part of his course (which is says is deadly boring) to Philosophy next year, which will effectively add some time on to his degree course. I don't think he knows what he wants to do after that, possibly go on to taking a Masters and then PhD, or perhaps go into journalism of some kind.
M went to college to join an apprenticeship course. The college course was disastrous due to lack of staff and other problems at the college, so after a year he quit and is now working for Honda doing an apprenticeship in Parts Management. He is, at least, getting paid! He has bought himself a Yamaha R6 motorbike and has recently returned from a trip to France with some friends.
C is now at Richmond College (she started her A levels a year early), studying Media, Film (well, after all the fun her brother had, she wasn't going to miss out!), Graphics and English. She is loving it!
As for me, well, my hypnotherapy / psychotherapy practice in New Malden is thriving and life is good. See www.timica.com
I don't think I will ever regret our experience of home education. Sure, it required dedication and hard work, but isn't that what parenting should be about? I am SO proud of the children. They have learned that they are only limited by the choices they make and their attitudes to life, and are using that knowledge to their advantage.
Looking back at some friends and other experiences, I don't think home education is for everyone. I do think you need to have sorted out your 'stuff' and get along well with your children. What I mean by that, is that if you are carrying around anger, rejection, hurt or pain from the past then this is likely to be triggered in your home life, especially as a parent where you have such close emotional links. If this is not dealt with, you could be causing more pain rather than less. Just a thought - and worth mentioning as I have seen it happening on the odd occasion.
Other approaches to home
education:
Heather - Henrietta
- Jane - Kathie
- Paula
- Sue