We had always intended for our children to go to school, a school that was good for them. Not for its reputation or location, but that would fit our boys. After retraining from an engineer to a teacher, I began to see that this was not achievable.
This time last year, we had paid a deposit to a local independent school to secure a place for Alex’s educational future – a prep placement for 2015. I was happy with what the school had to offer in terms of a well-rounded curriculum and extra opportunities, but I still had doubts. It didn’t feel right. Not for us. So whilst Alex was in kinder 3 mornings per week, I checked out every government school in my area. This was a very stressful time for me, with a baby too as I felt like this decision was critical to Alex’s happiness. note I said happiness and not future. I can’t predict the future, I have little control over it. A school has less, so why would I worry about that. I can however ensure that my kids have the environment that promotes and prioritises their mental well being (happiness).
So, we got to term 2, and my husband and I are pretty sure that homeschooling is a viable option. So what do I do? Get online and go crazy over methods. I decide we’re going to be project based learners, and it will be all about what Alex (and eventually Daniel) want to learn. but f course I’ll make sure the curriculum is covered. And guess what, Alex is a very strong personality and he was not for this method. It’s Alex’s personality that lead me to conclude that school is not for us. No thanks.
So, then I read more and more about unschooling. We’ve been attachment parents, practicing gentle methods and so this was a natural graduation (excuse the choice of phrase there). So all that was left to do was let go. Let go of the few limits that we as connected parents have. Mostly TV and food!
But what of kinder? Well, Alex loved kinder which was play-based and he had made some good friends there. So we decided to keep it up, though we didn’t go to every session. Especially as we started to look to finding other home-ed families. Then one day in term 3, I turned up for collection and was told that Alex had been in time-out. I couldn’t believe it. It seems that this easy going for 2 terms place where Alex felt safe had become a factory for turning out pre-preps. It was now all about rules, and control. The control of the adult. I felt awful, there was no way I could send Alex back to a place where he didn’t feel safe. I thought it was going to be difficult for him, to stop going as he always enjoyed it. But do you know what? He didn’t say anything at all. Not a word. One day as part of our late night conversations I asked Alex about missing kinder, his reply : “going to kinder was your idea”…..
Since then we’ve been deschooling, mostly me of course.