This article appeared in The Sunbury Telegraph and was reproduced in Otherways 115.

House with Study: A New Meaning

Class in, it’s home sweet school

For Sunbury’s Brown family, the world is their classroom and every minute is a chance to learn.
The 10 children, who range in age from one to 18, have been home-schooled by mum Karen since birth, in what she describes as ‘a holistic approach’.
With no set texts and no time constraints, the Browns are allowed to learn at their own pace and pursue their interests.
Mrs Brown said she decided to home-school her children when her eldest, Bonnie, was in grade 1 because, unlike most parents, she looked forward to her children being home on school holidays.
The arrangement also saved the large family money and the hassle of getting to and from school each day.
‘I did a lot of research on the internet and at the library before I decided to take the plunge. With homeschooling you wake up in the morning and the whole day is a learning activity, you never really stop,’ Mrs Brown said.
‘There are no limitations put on the children.’
She used every opportunity to teach children, with regular visits to the zoo and camps with other local home-school families.
Even a trip to the supermarket was a lesson in economics.
‘You can relax a bit with homeschool and ease into what you do. The children are free to do what they want to do and they can spend a lot of time on things that really interest them.’
Once taught the basics, the children often surprised her by learning on their own. ‘If children are given the facilities to learn, they will actually do it pretty much on their own,’ she said.
“They never cease to amaze me. We’ll be driving and they’ll read a sign on the road and I’ll think, where did you learn that word? I never taught it to you.’
The children were actively involved in Guides, Scouts and karate, enabling them to socialise with other children.
The two eldest children had part-time jobs and 18 year-old Bonnie was pursuing a career in dollmaking.

Learning Without Pressure

Clarkefield resident Colita Scott believes home-schooling gives children more freedom to grow.
The 36-year-old home-schooled her eldest daughter Madelaine, 13, during her primary school years and continues to home-school her other children, Hailey, 10 and Arthur, 6.
‘Most schools are pretty much baby-sitting. I don’t know how most teachers can provide adequate teaching to 30 students. A teacher cannot love your child as much as you love your own.’
Ms Scott said her children had learned social skills through interacting in community activities such as art, piano and swimming lessons.
Madelaine now attends author John Marsden’s school Candlebark in Romsey, a decision she made herself.
‘We supported [the decision] because they have small classes and are not structured like a regular school.’
‘Madelaine is motivated and self-directed. She’s well socialised with a wide variety of ages.’
Ms Scott said her choice to home-school her children came after meeting other home-schoolers and seeing ‘how they’ve grown in their life and how they interact with other people.’
‘They don’t have the attitude you see in a lot of teens or peer pressure as they are used to being with other adults.
‘There’s a lot of pressure on children – it’s being put on them by school. They don’t get to experience their own choices.
‘A home-educated child has more freedom to decide what they want to do with their lives.’ Ms Scott said her children mixed with other home-schooled pupils in the area a couple of times a week through activities organised by the parents.
‘The main reason for home-schooling is that teachers cannot provide what your child needs and parents have a better idea of that.’