Home Education

From HomeEdWiki

What is Home Education?

The Home

Although it is often referred to as 'Home Education', it doesn't have to take place in the home. Usually it means the education of children that have been withdrawn from 'institutional' schooling.

This could take place in the home, the wider community, at museums/farms/zoos/libraries, and a whole host of other places. Often the home is the base and the family is the context for any education that goes on.

About Education

There are many educational philosophies. There are probably as many philosophies on how to do home education as there are home educators (in the same way as there are as many nationwide school curricula as there are nations that have them).

So, the style of education that goes on in each family is different and depends on how the family wants to learn together. Some of the factors that can be considered are:

• Do the parents structure most of the activities or do they simply go with whatever their children want to do?
• Is a curriculum or set of workbooks bought from a supplier?
• Is there a focus on a specific religion or world view?
• Are certain 'subjects' or areas of study considered more important than others?

Generally the reason for choosing a specific path or type of education is based on some view of how children learn the things that they need to learn in the best/most efficient way. This is the educational philosophy that the parents use to decide on their approach in Home Education. Other reasons for choosing a specific path or set of resources may be financial, time pressures or the advice (maybe even pressure) of other parents.

Some of the pages on Philosophy and Curriculum will help if you are currently assessing the style of home education that you would like to follow.