by Lyn Loxton, – Home Education Network 2005
If you have found your way to this article, chances are you are having an unhappy time at school. Maybe you are being bullied, or are bored out of your mind or are just plain angry that your life is being wasted in the schoolyard. You may think you are a failure because teachers have said so and you may be failing exams at an impressive rate!
Chances are you are so angry and tired that you may drink more alcohol that you should Or have tried drugs more than once. There are probably even times when you begin to wonder if life is worth living……many of us do at some time.
First of all – you are NOT a failure – it is the school system that is failing you. You are an incredibly unique person and schools as they are today simply cannot cater for individuality. They have a set curriculum and set standards because this is the only way they can teach large groups of kids at once. This forces the kids to act the same and think the same and it also forces them into competition with each other both in an academic sense and a personal one. No room is left for individual thoughts and talents to be expressed or encouraged to a high degree. This is just the ways schools are and the only way they can ever be. If you wish to find out who that person inside you really is and if you wish to give him/her a shot at a real life for a change, maybe it is time to take off in another direction.
Unknowingly, you have already tried homeschooling for 5 years.
Firstly, the term homeschooling is actually misleading. School is what happens at school and only at school – education is what you can give yourself at home and out in the real world. The correct term therefore is home education or life education because it is from living life that you will find the education that is right for you.
Most of you have been in schools for so long now that you have forgotten what it is like to teach yourself about the wonders of the world and about the things that you are passionate about. In the first five years of your lives before you started school, you did nothing else but learn and wonder through the natural built-in curiosity that nature has endowed upon us all. This curiosity about life is our kick-start to learning how to survive in this world – how to walk, talk, eat, drink, run, write, read, operate the video remote and use a computer. For all of these things you didn’t need or have a curriculum or a qualified teacher in each subject. You just had the confidence and ability to teach yourselves what you needed to know. So you see, home education is not something that only hippies and whackos do, it is the way we were all meant to learn. Schools have only been around for 150 years or for three generations but in that time we seem to have entirely forgotten this!
If you had not been trotted off to the schoolyard at 5 years of age, you would have kept on learning in this way. You would have taught yourselves (with your parents guidance of course) to read and write, and to add and multiply and a million other interesting things just from day to day living because all these things are a part of our world. They are easy to learn when you are ready and don’t take up much time at all. At 5 you may not have been ready for these things, preferring instead to build Lego cities, or castles in the sand or painting works of art but at 10 suddenly a great interest in Egyptian mummies, or Harry Potter or War machines or algebra would have you scuttling down to the library to haul out great tomes on your favourite subjects and who knows where you would have ended up! This freedom to learn what you want, when you want is home education. This type of learning will happen all your life – apart from the 12 years that you are in school! For these years, most of what you learn will be controlled by others.
By the time many of you reach secondary schools, and particularly by mid way, you are often tired, angry and resentful. Resentful of the control others have over you, of pretending to be someone your not, of pressure to conform and pressure to succeed, of bad teachers, bullying, senseless homework about things that bore you to death. You have been in the schoolyard for so long now that you have not had the chance to observe the adult world and how life works in it and therefore you have not really had the chance to decide what you would like to do with your life – you have not had the opportunity for sampling.
In our society today, the school system is very powerful. It is drilled into us that we MUST attain the right pieces of paper if we are to make anything of ourselves – if we are to succeed and make pots of money (most people see this as success unfortunately), or if we are to realise the careers of our dreams.( Don’t forget as well, that the types of careers pushed by schools and society as the ultimate proof of success are often not really the ones we truly want for ourselves but are seen as the cool way to go. Its perfectly OK as well to join Greenpeace and help the natural world in its fight for survival, or to become a parent, or a truck driver or a friend lending a helping hand to neighbours or less fortunate communities around the world.)
Unfortunately, even after years of blood, sweat and tears, and you have the magical piece in your hand, there is no guarantee that you will find what you want. You may still have years of study ahead of you if you are lucky enough to get into the course of your dreams – if not – what then – extra study or a dead end job just to make ends meet.
During this time, many of you will fall by the school wayside. Deep unhappiness with your lives and feelings of utter despair and failure in the eyes of school people can end up in alcohol and drug abuse, behavioural problems, depression and sadly suicidal thoughts and actions. Your life is very precious, you only have one chance to live it and you must realise that you are quite capable educating yourself in the way that makes you happy and content with your life. You should be the master of all your learning. You should be the one in control because only you know you.
Home education and the desire to teach yourself everything about life, is still where you left it when you were five. It is probably still alive and well. Think about the passions you have now. It might be competitive horse riding, computer programming, animal breeding, web design, fashion design, dirt bikes – whatever it is – you can bet that all the knowledge you have acquired about your interest has come from your desire to learn about it and not from school. You are still educating yourself and you can keep on doing this in whatever field you choose. Many of you though may have lost sight of this ability to self-teach after years of controlled learning but it will come again with time. You have to trust that it will happen and give yourself all the time you need. Once you have found your focus and your goals in life, there are many options to choose from. I will give the tertiary options for Victoria Australia at the end of this article but for all states and countries there would be similar options.
The one major downside you will find is that your parents and most other well schooled adults in your lives will be mortified with the thought of you leaving school at this stage. They will tell you that you will end up jobless, unqualified for anything useful in life. It is not their fault – they have been taught to believe this and for them no other option is possible. Maybe you could ask them about all the things they have learned since they left school, all the life changes they have made, the computer skills they have taught themselves, the business they have started up, the house they have decorated, the old car they have remodelled, the law degree they have just started at 45 – all without a curriculum and schoolyard. Maybe they will get the idea!
Another thing you could do here is to write down all your thoughts about your aims and goals in life and your reasons for wanting to leave school and try something else. This may give your parents the chance to quietly absorb what you are trying to communicate to them. Most parents sincerely want only your happiness, and in the end may become your greatest supporter. You just need to give them a chance to get used to the idea.
Whatever happens, you can home educate at any age – you don’t need to enrol in anything, you don’t need the permission of the Education department to leave school, especially if you are 15 and over, your parents don’t need to oversee your learning in any way although many of them are very happy to help you out in any way they can.
By the way – millions of teenagers through-out the world are teaching themselves at home and they have had no trouble in getting into any University of their choice and taking up the career of their choice. We have published results from a world-wide study about the effectiveness of home education on this web page. You might like to take a look at this one. Home Schooling Works and invite your parents to as well.
You can do your VCE from home if you wish to have that piece of paper. Many careers do not even require this, so once you have decided to pursue something, have a look through a VTAC guide and see what requirements you need. If you need Year 11 English or Math, you can do this through CAE or AYCE (See website) or TAFE or teach yourself through books and ask for a special entry exam.
There are many doors open to you if you know where to look – it is up to you to start beating paths to them and opening them up for yourself and for others to follow. School is but one option – if it doesn’t suit you, for your life’s’ sake – try something else. I can assure you that you won’t regret it.
Recommended reading
Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Lewellyn. This book is a worthwhile read if you can get hold of it. Grace explains how it feels to leave school, how to explain yourself to your friends, maybe even indeed take them with you. She explains the lack of freedom you have in schools and what to do when you are finally out. She also looks at many different subjects and gives you ideas of how to get started in many different careers.
You can purchase the book through Amazon.com new or used books through this website – go to Recommended Reading. While you are there have a read of John Taylor Gatto’s Curriculum of Necessity – might put into perspective all of those issues with school and why it is so important to leave. John has been a teacher for 30 years and knows how you feel.
Talk to Home Educated Teenagers
If you would like to talk to the kids that are doing it, you can connect with them through aislinn@optushome.com.au Please title email ATTENTION HOME EDUCATED TEENAGERS.
A lot of these kids have left schools at various times in their lives, others have tried it for a while and still others have never been.
Talk to Home Educating Parents
If you wish to call and talk to someone about your choices or Home Education in general, you can phone 9517 7107 and someone will call you back. If your parents wish to talk about it also please get them to ring.
Hi Mandy,
Home education doesn’t have to be difficult and making contacts with local home educators can give you the support and ideas to help you do it. Our magazine and website are also full of helpful resources, inspiration and advice. There are lots of events, activities and camps that can help you out. You don’t necessarily have to run ‘school-at-home’. Education can be about exhibitions, excursions, and following your teen’s interests. You may also want to look at Distance Education or the AYCE programme – detailed in my answers to others posts here. Or feel free to email me for more information at robwight@optusnet.com.au
Apologies for the late reply – I’be been unwell and have fallen behind with keeping up with comments.
Regards
Sue
My University professor once said, “being schooled doesn’t always mean you are educated and there are many that are not schooled are educated”. You can always get a good education from family, community, from friends although most often we go to school to be educated, and in this time of world development online schooling.
I found your website very useful. My son 16 has just been told he will be kept down this year- year 10. I’m not surprised as he was absent quite a bit due to illness which led to other stresses and depression. (not admitted by son though)…..
I am considering home schooling him to repeat year 10. Its not that he doesn’t know how to do the work he just didn’t do it!! Anyway he is quite a bright kid and sometimes he is a little too street smart from having a few untoward friends, who are now in juvenile detention so he has learnt the hard way in that sense. If you can offer me any advice or point me in the right direction of how to go about all this I would be very grateful. My son is a good kid, he’s just got a lot to deal with in his young life, as his dad is disabled my son and daughter both take a lot on board.
Many thanks,
Kathy Lukic
Hi Kathy,
There are lots of options available to young school-leavers. Depending on how supportive your school has been and how aware they are of the problems your son has faced, they may be willing to approve him for distance education and he could then complete year 10 -12 that way if he wished.
You also might consider the AYCE programme, VCE through TAFE, the CAE or a neighbourhood house. The AYCE programme and neighbourhood centres involve only part-time attendance and completing the work at home independently.
For futher details of these options see our Alternatives to VCE page
Once he has a year 10 pass, he would also be eligible to use OTEN which is a distance education school based in NSW. They have HSC which is the NSW VCE equivalent. Details are also on the Alternatives to VCE page.
It is also possible to bypass VCE and go on to further education and careers (e.g. your son could just get started on open university units. He’s bright, he could handle it.) See Studying through Open University.
You may find The Teenage Liberation Handbook helpful also.
All the best finding the right thing for him,
Sue
Hi Susan, I’m inquiring about home schooling for my 14 year old son. My son has never been in trouble at school, never been expelled or in a fight at all. It seems some of the problems caused by other students have piled onto his shoulders. My son is not a small boy, but he is a lot smarter than he thinks. I pulled him out of school before exams this year. I have heard nothing from the school at all. I guess they are just happy he is gone. My son isn’t an A grade student, but in the weeks leading up to exams I helped him study and he was actually excited to go back and show the teachers what he had learnt at home, from the texts supplied. My son didn’t know the difference between a coma and a bracket. There is something seriously wrong with our education department. I am hoping not to have to send him back to public school. Please can you help me? I have no idea where to get the information from. Do I need to qualify in some way to be able to continue his education at home? All the information i can get my hands on would be great.
Hi Michele,
Home education is legal in every state of Australia although the legal situation varies from state to state. In Victoria, it is relatively simply. You don’t need to qualify, just register with the VRQA and can then home educate in any way you choose. Links for legal information for other states can be found here
There are many resources available (see resource roundup) – especially on the internet and you can pursue learning in the direction of your particular interests. The Teenage Liberation Handbook is very inspiring in terms of what can be done in this way.
There are lots of teenagers home educating and it doesn’t have to mean limiting your children’s opportunities for the future. They can still go on to university or TAFE or get apprenticeships etc. The Teenage and University sections of our website contain details on options for teenagers moving on to further studies.
Distance Education is another option but the eligibility criteria is quite limited – basically you need to live a certain distance from a school or have a medical reason for non-attendance. Unless you meet one of the other eligibility categories, you really need your son’s school to push for him to be accepted into the program. Distance ed is basically the same curriculum as school, you just complete the work at home. If your son has found the work boring, this may just transfer the problem to home. However, using distance ed does allow kids to actually get on with the work and it can be completed in less time than that spent sitting in the classroom – especially with how much time is lost trying to control the class and confiscating mobile phones and so on. It also enables one-on-one assistance from the parent and, in many cases, kids go ahead very quickly with someone to explain things to them whenever they get stuck.
Another option is the AYCE programme. There are several campuses around the state which run out of Yea High School. Again, it is the regular school curriculum but only involves going to school one day a week. The environment and attitude is much less school-like and lots of home ed kids use it as a transition from home ed to further education. You can do year 7 – 12 there. More details here and contact details as follows:
Telephone: (03) 9758 6604
Facsimile: (03) 9758 6510
Address: Racecourse Road, Yea 3717
Website: http://www.yeahs.vic.edu.au
Email: ayce.yhs@bigpond.com
AYCE Program Leader: Mrs Annette Scales
All the best with finding the right option for your son. Feel free to email me with questions or for more information. I can be reached at editor (at) home-ed (dot) vic (dot) edu (dot) au
Apologies for the late reply but Happy New Year.
Kind regards
Susan
Hello Susan, i have found your web very interesting,
I am concerned for my son who is only 10, and feels like a misfit, his behavior has become withdrawn, and the teacher changes al ot in his class room , I am not the only parent who is considering home school as an option, I am fearful for my son , as I want him to shine … the class have been told on many occasions that they will amount to nothing, my son was singled out last week and was told Fred you have mental issues …what has happened Susan to raising our babies in a loving class environment … So sad ..
this class has fallen below average, do you think it is possible to raise my son’s academic level through home school and to rebuild his confidence.. any feedback much appreciated
Hi Chelle,
Many parents find they can bring their children’s academic level up quite quickly at home with some one-on-one attention.
I will send you some information via email.
All the best with your decision.
HELP
My son is 14 in year 8 with adhd, since starting secondary school I’ve had consistent problems, with his behavior and the school, which only seems to be interested in his bad behavior and not his education. I’ve had him in programs to help him deal with his anger outbursts and such. This has helped but the teachers and other students still treat him like a trouble maker, which makes him upset and he will still have outburst of aggressive behavior when really pushed to limit resulting in suspensions. This year he has hardly been to normal school, he is rather smart,particularly with maths and science and does enjoy school when it goes smoothly for him. The school has asked me to change schools but he has a twin sister and I pushed to keep him there.I have rang other schools in my area but they don’t want him and the 2 schools which will take him have a bad reputation and my son flat out refuses to go to them.I’ve thought of home schooling but I don’t feel confident with myself to teach him due to lack of eduction myself. I would appreciate any comments, help or suggestions for my son as I’m desperate for him to receive the education he is entitled.
Regards Karen
Hi Karen,
Home education is certainly an option for your son and may suit him quite well. I’ll email you some general info.
Other options worth considering:
Distance Education – http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/ The eligibility criteria is basically that you live a certain distance from a school or have medical reasons for non-attendance but there is a school recommendation category that you may fit into if your son’s school will support an application for him – which it sounds like they would. The advantages of distance ed are that it gets your son out of the school environment without you having to come up with curriculum etc. The disadvantage is that it is basically the same curriculum as school so if he was bored with that, it may just move the problem to home.
The AYCE Programme – Basically the same curriculum as school but attendance only required once a week. There are various campuses around the state – contact them for details.
Big Picture School – If you have one nearby, it may be worth considering.
TAFE or online TAFE might have a course that is of interest to your son.
Open University could also be an option – the only requirement is that you are 11 years of age or older.
All the best with finding the right option for your son. Keep in mind that many very intelligent people just don’t fit into school. This doesn’t make them a failure – sometimes they just need to get out of school.
Hi,I’m 15 and currently a student,but I hate school and really want to leave is there any possible way of doing this without having to get a tutor that would cost a lot of money? Please I need help urgently!
Hi Crystal, I have replied to you by email. All the best with finding the right option for you.
Hi, My name is chelsea and i am currently in year 10 and i am absolutely hating it, so me and my parents are considering home schooling or distance education, the only problem is we cant find any inforation on how much it costs or where to get text books and things like that i urgently need help (also i read some where if you do home schooling you cant recieve your year ten certificate, is that true?????)
Hi,
I am emailing to make an enquiry for my son to be home educated,we live in south west, Western Australia,
My son is in year 11 and has struggled over the past 6 years with alot of bullying we thought maybee year 11 and a new school might help but bullying has continued, My son also struggles to keep up with the work at hand, he can do it he is just not a fast worker, he also loves to do thing hands on, he is currently doing work expereance as a diesel mechanic and loves it so i would like him to continue with the work expereance, can you help me with any info, thankyou
Hi Bronwyn,
I think the best thing for you to do would be contact the Home Based Learning Network in WA as they can give you local info on options available for students your son’s age whereas the info we can give you is more applicable to Victoria. Contact them at pres@hbln.org.au
Hi Chelsea,
Distance Ed requires you to meet their eligiblity criteria. check their website to see if you do http://www.distance.vic.edu.au/ Distance Ed will give you a year 10 certificate.
Home education is something different – you register with the VRQA and then source your own materials. You can use books you had from school, buy from a local supplier or use the internet, it is up to you and will depend on which subjects you wish to pursue. Home ed does not give you a Year 10 certificate but you don’t necessarily need one. Many home ed kids just go onto Open Uni (no prerequisites) and then normal uni. You could do this now instead of year 10. The minimum age is 11.
Other options to consider TAFE, TAFE online, the AYCE programme (normal school curriculum with attendance once a week – see http://www.home-ed.vic.edu.au/2009/05/04/ayce-program-yea-high-school/), ANIBT http://www.home-ed.vic.edu.au/category/teenagers/ or OTEN http://www.oten.edu.au/oten/index.html