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I have just completed home schooling my teenage son, just two months ago. Since grade four, we had studied his lessons together at home. He spent his first four years of school life at a regular elementary school, however, he was very bright in all subjects except math, and without being bright in math and English a child is not considered gifted in the traditional Australian education system. My son was bored with some lessons, spoke in adult conversations which startled some of the children, and was not getting along socially. I realized that speaking to the teachers would not help, and that some other form of education was required. I briefly checked out a Montessori school, but the school fees were too high for me. Home education is was, then.

The lower grades passed easily, my son very proud to be educated at home, eager and able to learn, and enthusiastic in all subjects except math. When we progressed to the high school level studies, things changed somewhat. He was still enthusiastic to learn, but mostly in non-school topics. For example, we might be studying the South American continent for history, geography, and social culture. Then my son would suddenly study a book about China or Japan in his own time. Perhaps he was learning to play 'Greensleeves' on the keyboard for music class, but he would quickly play the Dr Who theme if ever I were not keeping an eye on him! I only had to collect the mail, hang out the laundry, or make a bed in a different room, and he was playing something else instead. I did not mind too much; he was still learning!

Whilst in the lower grades, I was required for the full five hours each study day. Once my son had progressed to high school level, I only had to be there to start each lesson, to answer any questions, provide helpful assistance, and t o supervise. This gave me free time in which to study the next week's classes beforehand, as some of the subjects were a little more in my memory than mind, and others I had not taken at advanced levels. During the final two years, my son developed a desire to work alone. I found this acceptable, providing the work was done properly. He was now fifteen/sixteen/seventeen, and therefore old enough to take on the responsibility. I would set the lessons each week, and then he would read through what he had to do, ask any questions he needed, and do the work in any order he wished, providing me with the results on the last day of the week. He often worked hard for a few days, leaving himself an extra day off, or a three-day weekend.

Suddenly, the agriculture course ran out, the history courses were near their close, he was running into the end of his education. Then, he just had a couple of classics to read and write essays on and it was all over. For the past two months, my son has been entirely responsible for any education he takes. He can read what he wants, research what he likes, and if he chooses, attend a college or university, or even take a correspondence course. Gradually, my teenage boy that I had been home educating had become an unemployed young man.

Learn more about this author, Sande Waybill.
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