Our Homeschool Story

by Andrew Phillipson
(UK)

Why Did We Choose Homeschooling?

Like many families that end up home-schooling, we had been blessed with a youngster who just didn't fit into the school system. Our daughter is uncommonly kind, in tune with the natural world, highly intuitive and full of love. These things, while blessings and gifts, also made her vulnerable in school. She was bullied as result and we ended up home-schooling twice after as many attempts to settle in the school system.
Our Home Education Journey
We live in North Devon, in the southwest of England. A small alternative school for 11-16 years of age was active here at the time. We tried it and it was OK but closed after we had been there 3 years because of financial issues. We homeschooled through to college age, using distance learning packages. She starts University next week.
What did I learn?
  • A child that feels safe will do well.

  • A child that feels approved of and validated will do well.

  • Give your child space and freedom. Work with what they are most interested in and then fit in the essentials like literacy and numeracy around that.

  • Homeschooling is easy up to age 11 if you go with the flow.

  • Relax and go with your instincts.

  • Give your child what you have, share your own skills, it will be enough, and good enough.

Many blessings,
Andrew

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Sep 17, 2022
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starstarstarstarstar 		Such A Reassuring And Encouraging Homeschool Story
by: Sonya

Thank you so much Andrew for sharing your story with us. I am sure that reading your words will give more Dads the encouragement they need to see that they are good enough.
I very much agree with what you say about following your instincts and trusting your child because quite frankly much of the accepted educational wisdom is really just a product of the realities of trying to organize a mass education system and keep order in far-too-full classrooms. As you write about your daughter, I recognize so many of those sweet, kind, intuitive and sensitive children who get lost, and sometimes crushed, by a system that is not designed for them.
I also very much agree that up to the age of 11 most children will learn pretty much all they need to know just by encouraging their interests - as you put it, by going with 'the flow.' Research by people like Dr Alan Thomas confirms this; he found that children can progress at the same rate as at school simply from what they absorb in everyday living.
One thing you have left out of your story is your own courage in following your instincts and doing what is best for your daughter. Well done; it's not easy stepping away from the path that we are all supposed to follow and, in the minds of most, 'risking' your daughter's future. It's always wonderful to hear the truth - that your daughter has thrived. Best of luck to her as she starts University.

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