Research worldwide has shown that parental involvement in a child’s education is the single most important factor for success, in whatever way we measure success. If a child is in school, this means that parents talk and read to them in evenings and weekends, take them on outings, answer their questions, listen to their concerns, and ensure they take part in parental activities connected with the school.
Home educating takes this a stage further. Parents take full responsibility for their children’s education rather than sharing it with a school. In countries where it is legal, some universities and employers prefer home educated students to those who have been through school, because they are – on the whole – better motivated, and more able to think for themselves. Home educated students have the confidence and abilities to ask questions where necessary, without embarrassment,. When their choice of career or studies are related to their chosen interests, they enjoy the process of learning for its own sake.
Sadly, in a few countries of the world, including Cyprus, home education is not legal. Some families educate their children at home anyway, either in ignorance of the law, or because they believe it is more important to raise their children in this way than to follow the law. While they are often ignored by the authorities, they run the risk of being taken to court, and fined. Thus many families move abroad: to the UK, in some cases, where home education is legal and increasingly well known, and where there are support groups for home educators in almost every town.
Naturally, it is vital that a child be educated rather than sent to work in the fields, or closeted in the kitchen. This is why Cyprus introduced compulsory schooling laws in the middle of last century, rather than (as is the case in most of Europe) compulsory education laws.
But in the 21st century, with a mostly literate society, and the abolition of child labour, it makes no sense to forbid families to take responsibility for their children’s education, if they have the ability and desire to do so. We don’t require children to eat all their meals at restaurants; we don’t insist that they must be in hospital for every illness. So why should they learn all their lessons in schools?
Home educating takes this a stage further. Parents take full responsibility for their children’s education rather than sharing it with a school. In countries where it is legal, some universities and employers prefer home educated students to those who have been through school, because they are – on the whole – better motivated, and more able to think for themselves. Home educated students have the confidence and abilities to ask questions where necessary, without embarrassment,. When their choice of career or studies are related to their chosen interests, they enjoy the process of learning for its own sake.
Sadly, in a few countries of the world, including Cyprus, home education is not legal. Some families educate their children at home anyway, either in ignorance of the law, or because they believe it is more important to raise their children in this way than to follow the law. While they are often ignored by the authorities, they run the risk of being taken to court, and fined. Thus many families move abroad: to the UK, in some cases, where home education is legal and increasingly well known, and where there are support groups for home educators in almost every town.
Naturally, it is vital that a child be educated rather than sent to work in the fields, or closeted in the kitchen. This is why Cyprus introduced compulsory schooling laws in the middle of last century, rather than (as is the case in most of Europe) compulsory education laws.
But in the 21st century, with a mostly literate society, and the abolition of child labour, it makes no sense to forbid families to take responsibility for their children’s education, if they have the ability and desire to do so. We don’t require children to eat all their meals at restaurants; we don’t insist that they must be in hospital for every illness. So why should they learn all their lessons in schools?
No comments:
Post a Comment