© Beverley Paine

My friend Nancy recently introduced me to the the term "Family Directed Education" because it covers all the many ways education can be attained.

I've met people over the years that have strongly chastised me for calling what we do 'homeschooling' because they object to the use of the word 'school'. We're not a school, we don't do school-at-home, so why call it homeschooling? However I don't mind using that term because it is well known and accepted.

Home education captures a wider audience than families teaching their children at home. It's used in the adult education industry. It has also become accepted as meaning parents teaching their children at home and is the term that seems to be preferred by educational authorities and governments around Australia.

Unschooling is an approach used by many, but doesn't capture those that use traditional educational methods and curriculum materials. It's not a generic term that can be used for all families teaching their children at home. Other terms, like child-led, delight-directed or natural learning, are useful for some families but not all.

Family-Directed Learning says it all. The emphasis is on learning as family -everyone in the family learning, and having some say over the direction and content of the educational process. This happens in all homeschool households!

Family-Directed learning is directed and controlled by the individual family, as opposed to an authoritarian and coercive government institution. The means materials and methods can be changed, combined, modified, or designed for the current needs of the learners. Using this term is inclusive of any of the vast range of opportunities for learning available: whether through using a prepared curriculum, trade books, field trips, tutors, co-op classes, apprenticeship, volunteer activities, or a specialty school.

That's why I like Nancy's suggestion to rename homeschooling Family Directed Education!