Home-schooling or traditional schooling?
Although a small population of Namibian parents opt for home schooling, it is slowly becoming a growing practise. The Zone spoke to a few experts and parents who home school their children.
Tunohole Mungoba
Educational psychologist, Marietjie Slippers says there are various reasons why some parents opt for home schooling such as religion. “We can agree that an excellent education is at the top of your to-do list as parents, but going back to why you chose to home school in the first place will often provide the best clue to discovering your child’s ultimate destination. Some parents have religious convictions or needs that are not met in the traditional school setting. In general, public schools do not incorporate, or sometimes even disallow the integration of religious beliefs and morals into the educational environment. For some parents, the Bible is essential in every educational lesson learned,” says Slippers.
She also said some parents are often unhappy with the quality of their child’s current educational system. “Sometimes parents also want to strengthen their family bond and increase time spent together. Many parents feel there is not enough time in the day to build the bonds that families need to provide a happy, healthy existence. Home-schooling is a way to tighten relationships and build love and respect between parent and child.”
The most important reason why some parents choose home-schooling according to Slippers is because the child has learning disabilities that are not being properly addressed in a traditional setting. “Children with learning disabilities and mental challenges, or even physical handicaps, do not always thrive in traditional schools. Even if academic requirements are met, some parents feel that their child is not being taught to the best of his or her potential,” she says. “Or sometimes it could be that your child has been a victim of bullying. Bullying has negative impact on a learner’s education so it is best for some parents to take them out that environment.”
Slippers also explained to The Zone the difference between home-schooling and the challenges that come along with it. “There are various reasons involved like flexibility, parental involvement, personalisation and the learning environment. Firstly, the level of parental involvement is one area in which traditional and home schools can differ greatly. At a traditional school, for example, parental involvement is often limited to things like reviewing homework and attending parent–teacher meetings. With home schooling, parents have many options for being involved in their children’s education as personal as they can get.”
She also adds that home-schooling is often more flexible than traditional schools. While parents have little to no control over a traditional school’s schedule or learning environment, parents at home can set the daily routine and cultivate an effective, nurturing learning atmosphere for their children.
“As with flexibility, many traditional schools can’t offer much in the way of personalization. It’s not that the educators are not dedicated or willing to assist students individually, but it is that the logistics of managing a classroom full of students makes it difficult impossible to do so. As a result, traditional education tends to take a “one size fits all” approach to education, with few opportunities for individualized instruction available. These schools may offer accelerated and honours classes for eligible students, but course selections may be limited.”
Words from a home-schooling parent
The Zone also spoke to Monja Gouws, a parent that home-schools her children. “In the current structure, the only disadvantage to home-schooling is when a parent decides to isolate his or her child. There are so many public and private schools that take in home scholars for sports and various other activities. Not to mention all the other social activities in this day and age for children. Home-schooling is also very flexible and you can work in your own time it is not like traditional school where you are bound to 45 min per period and is forced to work at the same pass as the rest of the other children,” Gouws says.
She also adds that home-schooling is not nearly as expensive as centres make them out to be. “If you pay more than N$1500 per month per child, you are being exploited.” Gouws also tackled the misconceptions that children that received home-schooling will not be able to cope in the “real world.” “These kids learned from an early age to think for themselves and are not being spoon-fed. They are also the ones who ask more questions if something is not understood as the rest. They strive to be better and compete against themselves,” she says.
Gouws warned parents to be careful when choosing a home-school. “Parents must be careful if they enrol into a home-schooling centre. Make sure that the centre is registered at the ministry of education and following the regulations and rules of the ministry. They are mini private schools and use the term home-schooling wrongly,” she says.
She continued to add that “home-schooling does not involve any uniforms, no sitting in mini class rooms, no teachers spoon-feeding children and no judging or comparing of kids.”
Learning is fun and kids love to learn regardless if it is walking, talking, maths, games or reading. This is just how kids are. Young kids believe that they are capable of doing anything. They are born invincible. Traditional schools and sometimes uncaring teachers take this away from kids and causes education and a generation lost for ever.”
Teachers from Manuel Educational College also sat down with The Zone and spoke how their institution helps children that receive home-schooling. Anne Uys, a retired teacher that helps out with Mathematics and Science subjects at the school says their facility offers any assistance to parents who are not well-acquainted with a certain topics. “We are also an after-care centre and we assist from all grades.” Pikkie Olivier says at their facility, they try their best to limit.
Home-schooling Facts:
· Most parents home-school for multiple reasons. The most common reasons were concern about the environment in other schools, academics, and religion.
· Home-schooling began in the 1970s. Home-schooling originated among progressive educational reformers in the late 1970s, and was adopted by evangelical and fundamentalist Christians in the 1980s.
· Perpetrators of severe child abuse often home-school. A 2014 study around the world of child torture found that 47% of school-age child torture victims were removed from school to be home-schooled.
· Home-schooling parents stay up to date on how children learn and grow.
· It's not unusual for classroom teachers to home-school their own children.
· Lots of home-schooling parents are also working parents.
· The high cost of private schools is one of the reasons why some parents prefer private schools.
· Home-schooling is a lot more convenient to flexible scheduling, especially for parents who work from home and those who travel for their jobs.
· There are more opportunities to further challenge your children in a home-schooling environment.
· There is more ability to travel whenever needed or desired.
· The opportunity to challenge gifted children while maintaining appropriate developmental levels
· The genuine desire to spend more time with your kids as they grow and learn is more visible in a home-schooling environment.
Educational psychologist, Marietjie Slippers says there are various reasons why some parents opt for home schooling such as religion. “We can agree that an excellent education is at the top of your to-do list as parents, but going back to why you chose to home school in the first place will often provide the best clue to discovering your child’s ultimate destination. Some parents have religious convictions or needs that are not met in the traditional school setting. In general, public schools do not incorporate, or sometimes even disallow the integration of religious beliefs and morals into the educational environment. For some parents, the Bible is essential in every educational lesson learned,” says Slippers.
She also said some parents are often unhappy with the quality of their child’s current educational system. “Sometimes parents also want to strengthen their family bond and increase time spent together. Many parents feel there is not enough time in the day to build the bonds that families need to provide a happy, healthy existence. Home-schooling is a way to tighten relationships and build love and respect between parent and child.”
The most important reason why some parents choose home-schooling according to Slippers is because the child has learning disabilities that are not being properly addressed in a traditional setting. “Children with learning disabilities and mental challenges, or even physical handicaps, do not always thrive in traditional schools. Even if academic requirements are met, some parents feel that their child is not being taught to the best of his or her potential,” she says. “Or sometimes it could be that your child has been a victim of bullying. Bullying has negative impact on a learner’s education so it is best for some parents to take them out that environment.”
Slippers also explained to The Zone the difference between home-schooling and the challenges that come along with it. “There are various reasons involved like flexibility, parental involvement, personalisation and the learning environment. Firstly, the level of parental involvement is one area in which traditional and home schools can differ greatly. At a traditional school, for example, parental involvement is often limited to things like reviewing homework and attending parent–teacher meetings. With home schooling, parents have many options for being involved in their children’s education as personal as they can get.”
She also adds that home-schooling is often more flexible than traditional schools. While parents have little to no control over a traditional school’s schedule or learning environment, parents at home can set the daily routine and cultivate an effective, nurturing learning atmosphere for their children.
“As with flexibility, many traditional schools can’t offer much in the way of personalization. It’s not that the educators are not dedicated or willing to assist students individually, but it is that the logistics of managing a classroom full of students makes it difficult impossible to do so. As a result, traditional education tends to take a “one size fits all” approach to education, with few opportunities for individualized instruction available. These schools may offer accelerated and honours classes for eligible students, but course selections may be limited.”
Words from a home-schooling parent
The Zone also spoke to Monja Gouws, a parent that home-schools her children. “In the current structure, the only disadvantage to home-schooling is when a parent decides to isolate his or her child. There are so many public and private schools that take in home scholars for sports and various other activities. Not to mention all the other social activities in this day and age for children. Home-schooling is also very flexible and you can work in your own time it is not like traditional school where you are bound to 45 min per period and is forced to work at the same pass as the rest of the other children,” Gouws says.
She also adds that home-schooling is not nearly as expensive as centres make them out to be. “If you pay more than N$1500 per month per child, you are being exploited.” Gouws also tackled the misconceptions that children that received home-schooling will not be able to cope in the “real world.” “These kids learned from an early age to think for themselves and are not being spoon-fed. They are also the ones who ask more questions if something is not understood as the rest. They strive to be better and compete against themselves,” she says.
Gouws warned parents to be careful when choosing a home-school. “Parents must be careful if they enrol into a home-schooling centre. Make sure that the centre is registered at the ministry of education and following the regulations and rules of the ministry. They are mini private schools and use the term home-schooling wrongly,” she says.
She continued to add that “home-schooling does not involve any uniforms, no sitting in mini class rooms, no teachers spoon-feeding children and no judging or comparing of kids.”
Learning is fun and kids love to learn regardless if it is walking, talking, maths, games or reading. This is just how kids are. Young kids believe that they are capable of doing anything. They are born invincible. Traditional schools and sometimes uncaring teachers take this away from kids and causes education and a generation lost for ever.”
Teachers from Manuel Educational College also sat down with The Zone and spoke how their institution helps children that receive home-schooling. Anne Uys, a retired teacher that helps out with Mathematics and Science subjects at the school says their facility offers any assistance to parents who are not well-acquainted with a certain topics. “We are also an after-care centre and we assist from all grades.” Pikkie Olivier says at their facility, they try their best to limit.
Home-schooling Facts:
· Most parents home-school for multiple reasons. The most common reasons were concern about the environment in other schools, academics, and religion.
· Home-schooling began in the 1970s. Home-schooling originated among progressive educational reformers in the late 1970s, and was adopted by evangelical and fundamentalist Christians in the 1980s.
· Perpetrators of severe child abuse often home-school. A 2014 study around the world of child torture found that 47% of school-age child torture victims were removed from school to be home-schooled.
· Home-schooling parents stay up to date on how children learn and grow.
· It's not unusual for classroom teachers to home-school their own children.
· Lots of home-schooling parents are also working parents.
· The high cost of private schools is one of the reasons why some parents prefer private schools.
· Home-schooling is a lot more convenient to flexible scheduling, especially for parents who work from home and those who travel for their jobs.
· There are more opportunities to further challenge your children in a home-schooling environment.
· There is more ability to travel whenever needed or desired.
· The opportunity to challenge gifted children while maintaining appropriate developmental levels
· The genuine desire to spend more time with your kids as they grow and learn is more visible in a home-schooling environment.
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