Proving it can be done in Australia

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

11 Dec 2006 10:11 AM

A comment made in response a recent homeschooling post really spurred my curiosity this morning. LEC23 said

Many of the kids are taught by radio in Australia or go to boarding schools, but my friend decided to homeschool.

I had to know more. Apparently, school at home is not an original American Idea. In places like Australia and even Alaska, when geography makes traditional classes impossible, creative and inventive ways to educate the masses has been found.

In Australia, School of the Air is the solution to the distance problem. The first on air lesson was in 1950 and by 1956; there were 12 schools on the air. Today over 1000 students are served. Adult on air education is quite popular as well.

While early students used pedal radios to connect with their teachers, School of the Air is currently evolving into "School on the net". In May of 2000, 12 students have to see their teachers for the first time via a trial satellite teaching system. Currently, the Education Network Australia, affectionately known as Edna, makes it possible for students to learn online.

While Australia's model of distance education is hardly homeschooling, but a closely related cousin to School At Home, I could not help but think how lucky these kids were to have such a relaxed system of education. The shame is they probably have no idea about just how lucky they are.

FYI: School at home is becoming quite popular in the United States as public schools try to retain control over homeschoolers and homeschooling. This effort has resulted in programs like K12. Many homeschoolers argue that using public school at home will slowly take away the rights of those who want to homeschool on their own terms. They feel that by accepting public services, and then the government will have the right to dictate that religion cannot be taught during "school" time, and that objectionable materials will be introduced. Others feel that the program is set up for failure to prove that homeschooling does not work.

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Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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LEC23 (216) 12 Dec 2006 03:01 AM

Thank you Andrea for reading my comment on your article. I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it was of some benefit. I read with interest your FYI at the end, about School at Home and how public schools are attempting to retain control over homeschoolers and homeschooling. The homeschoolers argument of using public school at home will slowly take away the rights of those who want to homeschool on their own terms is well justified as the rights and the individual techniques adopted and eventually the method and who can homeschool will be dictated by public school.

I personally see this as nothing more than a blatant act in the controlling and dictatorship of the whole of the education system and of dictating who should have the right to homeschool their children, whilst in fact giving themselves a nice little pay boost if they could accomplish it. What homeschoolers should ask is what are the real motives for public school at home to want this control? Are they doing this voluntarily without any additional increases in pay or bonuses? What cast-iron guarantees do they offer and if their methods are used, would they be personally liable for failure or detriment caused to the individual? I think not......... The only motives it seems is that of control and personal standing, possible career enhancement and financial gain.

Andrea Hermitt (5512) 12 Dec 2006 06:51 AM

You're welcome LEC23! Looks like you fall on the side of the Suspicious veteran homeschooler. On days when I feel tempted by the public school at home offer, I will come back and read your post!