Shirley Erwee - Homeschooling: The Primary Years

Published in 2015 by Struik Lifestyle
(an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd)
Company Reg. No 1953/000441/07
The Estuaries, 4 Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City 7441
PO Box 1144 Cape Town 8000 South Africa

www.randomstruik.co.za

Copyright in published edition: Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd 2015
Copyright in text: Shirley Erwee 2015
Copyright in photographs: Shirley Erwee 2015
Copyright in cartoon, : Rico Cilliers 2015
Copyright in cover image, iStockphoto/Christopher Futcher

Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holder of the cartoon on , and to obtain permission for its use. The publisher would be grateful for any information for future reprints or editions of this book

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, digital, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and the copyright owner(s).

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this book at the time of publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors or changes that may occur after publication.

Please make sure that you always have the correct, up-to-date information before making decisions that could have lasting consequences.

This book is intended to provide competent and reliable information regarding the subject matter covered. However, it is sold on the understanding that the author and publishers are not engaged in rendering legal, professional or educational services. If legal, educational or other expert assistance or advice regarding the implications of using this material is required, the services of practising professionals should be sought.

The information, ideas and suggestions contained herein have been developed from sources, publications and research which is believed to be reliable, but cannot be guaranteed insofar as they apply to any particular situation. The authors and publishers specifically disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred directly or indirectly from the use or application of any of the suggestions or contents of this book.

Acknowledgements: Much of the information contained within these pages has been taken directly from relevant Internet websites. Numbered references and footnotes have been used to indicate when a topic is quoted directly from the source.

A large portion of the content has also been sourced from South African online homeschooling community networks. I thank the consultants and parents of the homeschooling community for sharing their wisdom, comments, testimonies and experience for the benefit of others.

Publisher: Linda de Villiers
Managing editor: Cecilia Barfield
Editor: Gavin Barfield
Proofreader: Bronwyn Maynier
Indexer: Gill Gordon
Design manager: Beverley Dodd
Designer (Cover): Monique Cleghorn
Designer: Randall Watson

Reproduction by: Hirt & Carter Cape (Pty) Ltd
Printed and bound by: DJE Flexible Print Solutions, Cape Town

ISBN: 978-1-43230-368-6

This book is dedicated with love to my family, fellow-travellers on our unique family adventure.

Some people are pack-rats who gather and keep a lot of clutter. Ive discovered that Im a data-gatherer. When Im passionate about a subject, I read and research and collect as much information on that topic as possible to share with others, in the hope that it will help them to become better informed. As the saying goes, if you dont know your options, you dont have any!

Many of the ideas and information contained in these pages are not original and are not my own, although they feel like my own, as they have become part of my experience and beliefs. They are ideas and practices that I have learned from years of reading and researching home education, discussions on homeschool forums and from other home educators.

Ive tested many of them in the laboratory of my home and family and, in some instances, I have seen and heard about the results of various others in the homes of others.

Wherever possible, I have provided the sources and resources I have referenced.

These pages are also peppered with many quotes I collect them, too as well as comments and testimonies from bona-fide South African home-educating parents. I would like to thank all those who have permitted me to share their wisdom and testimonies for the benefit of others.

Finally, I would like to honour my mother, who always encourages me and shows such interest in our homeschooling and my work.

HOMESCHOOLING IS A FAMILY ADVENTURE

Homeschooling is a growing phenomenon across all ethnic groups in South Africa. The thousands of families who choose to educate their children at home are part of a growing trend worldwide.

More and more concerned parents are choosing this option as an alternative to government education, which is in a crisis, and to private education, which can be very expensive and above the means of all but the wealthy!

While there are many parents who choose home education from the start, there are also large numbers who find that the school system is not working for their children, and they desperately need an alternative.

Both local and international research has shown that, in general, South Africas school system is failing. For parents who realise that their children are aboard this sinking ship, homeschooling is a lifeboat that can save their childrens education from potential disaster!

Although there are no accurate statistics on home education in South Africa, support groups both online and in local communities are growing in number. It seems that families from across the rainbow nation are bailing out and choosing to educate their children at home.

While families are being fragmented by modern culture, home educators are brave agents of social change they are redefining education and re-establishing the boundaries of work, school and family life.

They are finding a unique way to blend their daily responsibilities and activities to suit their aspirations for their families. Their homes have become laboratories in which they experiment with ways of working, teaching, learning and living life in this technological age.

They are braving criticism, questions and the scepticism of outsiders who dont dare to veer away from the status quo, while their family navigates the challenges of discipline, relationships and the practical work of education in their homes.

Homeschooling is not the educational route that most of our society follows, so those who choose this option often feel that they are setting out into uncharted territory, like ancient mariners on a voyage of discovery or modern-day survivors in a lifeboat to mix metaphors!

They are choosing a different lifestyle for their families than previous generations, and feel as if they are hacking a new route to adulthood for their children.

This book explains how all kinds of families, from single-child and single-parent families to large families with children across every age group, can successfully overcome the potential obstacles they may face.