NATIONAL NEWS - Increasing numbers of parents nowadays look to the option of home-schooling to intervene decisively in the education of their children.

They decide to take full responsibility for the further education of their children in their homes, and by themselves. If asked why, they would offer any number of philosophical, religious, political, educational and other justifications for this drastic step. Homeschooling is becoming a popular option for parents of children who have learning problems, and who struggle to make progress in public schools.

Parents of dyslexic children, and parents of children who have been diagnosed as being ADHD, ADD, or with other problems that prevent them from making grade-appropriate progress, are likewise, beginning to show an interest in homeschooling as an alternative to mainstream schooling.

In many public schools today, the educator, especially in the foundation phase, is faced with a classroom of learners that reflect the diverse demographics of South African society in respect of its historical social, economic and educational inequalities.

Your average classroom may very well consist of the following groups:

1. A small head: Consisting of the faster, 'gifted' learners;

2. The body: The largest group, consisting of the slower, average learners to whom the educator directs most of her/his teaching, time, and energy. Most lessons are also pitched at the level of this group;

3. A tail: A smaller group, consisting of the repeaters, the ones with learning and/or academic difficulties; the ones who just cannot stay with the pace, despite the educator's best efforts. In some unfortunate cases, this group is the body.

Somewhere, in such a class, sits the dyslexic learner, the ADHD and the ADD learner.

Parents, who have the means, financial and otherwise, who have examined the child's progress reports, and who have assessed the ADHD, ADD, dyslexic child's future prospects in a mainstream school, may be swayed to examine the phenomenon of homeschooling more closely.

Is it really better for a child with ADHD or other disorders to be homeschooled?
If your child is diagnosed as ADHD, make sure you work closely with the teachers; link up with other parents of children with ADHD, and read widely about the condition so you can speak with authority about the condition.

Must I register as 'homeschool'?
Yes. Registration is with the provincial Department of Education on a prescribed form. However, there are certain conditions that must be satisfied before consent is considered. If parents wish to de-register after a year or two of homeschooling, the WCED must be informed and will give permission for re-entry into the public school system. 

A main-stream school can't refuse to accept your child after being home-schooled. A public school may assess the learner upon return to public school, and then, in terms of the school's professional assessment instruments, place the learner at the appropriate grade level.

Some of the advantages
• The parent is fully in charge of the child’s development: intellectually, socially, emotionally; physically and ethically.
• The parent determines the pace at which the child learns; what he learns in each learning area; when he learns and when he plays; and how he learns: meaning, the teaching strategy best suited to the child.
• The dyslexic, ADHD and ADD child has strengths as well. The parent at home-school has the opportunity to develop the child’s strengths and interests.
• The child’s emotional safety is secured at home.
•Ina 1-on-1 home-school situation it is possible to be more productive. It ispossible to cover more of the curriculum in the flexible time-table of homeschool.

Some of the disadvantages
• If you want to do homeschooling, you should be well-schooled yourself. The curricula have changed substantially since you were in grade 2, or 8.
• Taking full responsibility for your child’s education at home is no different from taking full responsibility for your child in main-stream school. If your child under-performs at home, who do you turn to?
• A parent must be assigned full-time to educate the child at home. It may place strain on the parent, if there are other children also home-schooling, or in main-stream school. It stresses you physically and emotionally. Lessons need to be prepared, work assessed, research done, records kept, etc.
• The child may be deprived of socializing with friends, as she/he would have been able to do at school. What about the benefits of competing, participating in a team sport that a main-stream school offers?
• Homeschooling can become expensive. You will have to buy your own books, or work from the internet, compiling your own notes,all which takes time, and saps your energy.

For more information the parent may contact the WCED at deon.louw@westerncape.gov.za

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