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Homeschool Australia
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Responsibility, Delegation and Accountability of Educating Children
© Beverley Paine A recent discussion turned to the issue of responsibility, delegation and accountability in the education of children. One speaker felt that not all parents wanted to, could or should, homeschool their children; to which John Angelico replied: "Ducking it by dumping the job onto someone/thing else doesn't actually absolve us of the responsibility - you can delegate a task and the authority to complete it, but you can't delegate a responsibility. You have to hold the other person/thing accountable for the job you delegated to them." My experience has shown that it's much easier to accept full responsibility and go it alone than to try and persuade school teachers and principals that what they are offering just isn't working with my child (or the other kids in the class). Millions, no billions of dollars (Euros, pounds, whatever) are spent annually on education in school. It doesn't make sense that the school system of education can't achieve quality education for ALL students. No-one - individual or government - has yet been able to hold the public school system accountable. Most parents of schooled children I talk to are aghast and deny it when I tell them I think that the success or failure of their child's education is their responsibility. If I'm pestered and feeling fiesty, I like to ask them what they are doing to ensure their child receives the quality education the school system promises. How do they know their children are learning everything they need to know? How does the curriculum provide for quality social interaction? How does the curriculum provide for integration with the local and wider community? What programs are in place to facilitate successful tranmission from school to tertiary education or employment? Do you personally know the school pastor, or are aware of the school's pastoral care policy? What would happen if their child breaks a leg at school? It's amazing how many parents simply hand over the care and well-being of their children to total strangers and a system of care they know little about... My conclusion is that most people really don't care and can't wait for their children to grow up. I guess that's why they call it a 'hurried childhood'. I am also amazed at how many people are willing to face the constant and frustrating challenge of battling entrenched and hostile attitudes from schools, yet are unwilling to take the homeschooling path. Homeschooling for six months is enough to empower parents and students to tackle the educational system assertively, ensuring better outcomes for their children. As an emergency 'bandaid' to difficult problems, homeschooling has much to offer those parents who will ultimately opt for school. The perception that homeschooling is difficult and that we all need to make a lifelong committment to it undermines it's potential to offer a real alternative to all families. And that's exactly how the educational authorities want it to remain!
After 20 years of being a contact and support person Beverley no longer takes phone call or email inquiries. Please join one of her yahoo groups if you want to know more about homeschooling or have a question.
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Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.Beverley wrote Getting Started with Homeschooling in 1995-97 and since then continues to write books and booklets on home education. She balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of writing on a variety of homeschooling subjects. Beverley maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home. In 2007 Beverley joined the HEA and became a committee member in 2008: she also edits and produce the HEA Newsletter, HEA magazine, Stepping Stones for Home Educators, annual Resource Directory and other HEA publications. If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for the Homeschool Australia Newsletter or visit her Facebook page.