Why limit our children’s education to what schools have to offer?
Schools promise to provide our kids with the best quality education available, but have you noticed that they fail to guarantee achievement of this for all students?
And when the results come in, as they do frequently, paraded in the media with headlines such as “sharp and sustained decline in standards”, “worst-ever results in digital literacy”, “bullying hitting alarming levels”, the usual excuses tumble forth: disruptive behaviour, lack of funding, teacher shortages, inadequate teacher training, increasing number of high needs, problems at home, economic disadvantage.
For me, failing to provide my children with an education was not an option. It wasn’t something I was going to leave up to chance, and by the time we had kids it was obvious that too many children were being failed by the school system.
I didn’t want my children in that number.
To a homeschooler, failure is an unacceptable outcome. We continuously search for better and more successful methods, resources and outcomes in our homeschooling practice.
If something isn’t working, we can’t overlook or dismiss it. Learning problems are not left to fester indefinitely. We have to fix it. Our kids are depending on us to help them. That’s our job. The buck stops with us.
And it should be with teachers, but the system can’t accommodate every student this way. It’s not designed to. And perhaps that’s an impossible expectation anyway. I personally don’t think they should make promises they can’t keep, and be up front with parents with their messaging about what schools can and can’t deliver.
I also think it is unfair to impose school methods of instruction on homeschooling families too. To have an expectation that children learning without school will use the same methods, resources and tools that they already know don’t work for all students.
Because for most of us, as homeschoolers we soon find ourselves compelled to find a different way to educate our children, one that is responsive to their individual learning needs and styles. The “one-size-fits-all” classroom and school curriculum approach rarely translates smoothly into the home learning environment.
Creating an education based around personal and family interests, hobbies and passions is worth exploring: matching what and how and when our children learn to their intrinsic motivation to learn.
Immersing ourselves in living life — exploring, investigating, discovering, experimenting, creating and collaborating, doing and learning things together — is a complete education in and of itself.
We still learn from books, do courses, access specialist teachers who are passionate about what they are doing.
The difference is that we get to choose the resources we use, constantly adapting them to suit our immediate learning needs, and consciously weeding out those that don’t match or meet our expectations or don’t produce the results we seek.
The educational resources available to us as home educating families are infinite and amazing, many of them free.
Why limit our children’s education to what schools have to offer?
Want to learn more about home education? Download this simple explanation which you can share with family members and friends: Home Education.
Ready to take the first step to educational freedom for your family? Start here:
April, from Always Learning Books, regularly updates her huge list of websites offering free educational resources. Every month or so I add another Free Resources Newsletter to my Members Vault. We’re not the only homeschoolers collating and promoting the huge range of free educational resources: check out
I’m dropping Notes most days and would love to connect with you that way — you can add a comment or like. Don’t forget we can keep the conversation going on any of my posts by adding a comment there too.
If you’re homeschooling in Australia, don’t forget to download my FREE Resource Directory for a bumper list of educational and curriculum providers and suppliers, as well as comprehensive guide on getting started how to register as a home educating family.
Whatever your approach, your lifestyle or education philosophy, I’m here to support you. Take what you need, leave the rest. I want you to lean on my experience because I’ve leant on others — we are in this together, growing and learning from each other!
That’s all for now! Until next time, Beverley
“For me, failing to provide my children with an education was not an option.” I applaud you for saying that part. I am glad you advocate for your child’s right to a proper education.
Beverley, this is so true. Three kids... three completely different approaches. What worked for one would have been a disaster for the other two. The one-size-fits-all thing never sat right with me, even when we started with traditional school. You're always educating the child in front of you, not the idea of a child. 🤍