Sample Homeschool Learning Programs

Robin and I spent two weeks carefully discussing and considering what education meant to us, both as individuals and as parents before we began home educating our children. It was important for us to work out what we wanted to achieve by educating our children at home. This meant teasing out a definition of education that we could build a solid foundation upon. This philosophy formed the basis of our core beliefs about education and it's purpose.

© Beverley Paine, 1997
(first published in Getting Started with Homeschooling Practical Considerations)

Paine Family Home Education Curriculum: Philosophy, Goals and Aims, 1986-2005

Philosophy

Children are naturally curious and eager to learn. Their love of learning and ability to think creatively will only be fostered when they are able to learn at their own pace and follow their own interests as much as possible.

Children learn most effectively in an environment that provides honesty, trust, love and security. In a safe, secure learning environment each child is able to make choices about themself and their learning with increasing skill and confidence.

Responsibility and self discipline are best learned by real experience and by emulation of good example.

Unhindered by social and peer pressure to conform and in the absence of unnecessary competition children are able to develop stronger and more positive characters.

Education is an integral part of life and learning is not to be seen as a separate task. Learning should occur in the real world as much as possible and be viewed as an on-going life long process. All learning should be relevant to each child so that it is seen to have purpose and interest to the child.

Awareness of self is learned first within the family unit, gaining confidence and a sense of responsibility, which can be gradually applied to the wider community and in a variety of social settings when the child shows as readiness for this.

Caring, sensitive, responsible parents know best their children's strengths, weaknesses, interests and sensitivities. If the parents are willing to take the responsibility, time and interest to facilitate the education of their own children then those children have available to them the opportunity to learn in the best possible way.

Aims

To develop self-awareness, self-confidence and self-worth; respect and consideration for others and the environment we share and live together in, both as a family and in social settings.

To develop an ability to work and play effectively and co-operatively with people, evolved out of an understanding of one's self and abilities.

To be able to confidently express and communicate thoughts, ideas and opinions clearly using different media.

To be able to formulate their own set of values and to be sensitive to the values of others.

To be able to act responsibly, independent of direction, with purpose in a confident and assertive manner.

To be able to draw on knowledge and skills gained in a range of areas; to ask critical and constructive questions and use imagination and reasoning in devising responses and developing plans for action; to apply ethical standards and judgements in assessing situations and taking action.

To understand there are many different ways of knowing and understanding the world, and to be tolerant and respectful of other perspective's, to develop cultural and personal awareness.

Statement on Socialisation

Socialisation is a natural development in the education of children given that the above philosophy and aims are enacted and pursued.

Children learn social values and skills by example from a wide cross-section of people - first in the home as personal values are built and secured, and then in the wider community.

In an environment where children are trusted and valued, children can discover their abilities and natural talents, and are able to challenge themselves, promoting growth and development according to their own time frames, adequately pacing their acquisition of social skills to suit their own developing personality.

As parents sensitive to the needs of our children, we see our role as facilitators of opportunities to allow our children to follow their own social learning programs, guided by observation of, and discussion with, them.