Another way to learn?
Home-educating mother Molly Ashton has drawn together home educators from across the United Kingdom to share their expertise and experience in a new book. She hopes it will both answer questions, and serve as an invitation to a different way of life
'Why homeschool when there is a perfectly good school down the road?'.
This is the question I asked, with genuine curiosity, when I came across my first home schooling family. That was over two decades ago, and since then God has brought me on my own journey, gently challenging my established thinking, revealing new understanding and giving me the courage and conviction alongside my husband, to home educate our own four children.
Home education, which is what homeschooling is generally referred to in the UK, leapt centre stage into our lives during the lockdowns. While what was asked of parents then is completely different to the experience of home education generally, families across the nation nevertheless had a taste of “doing school” at home. For many, this was a tough time (and I take my hat off to you for rising to the challenge with absolutely no preparation). But for a few it was a light bulb moment where they saw a significant change in their children and stepped out into their own home education adventure.
Our oldest two children are now young adults studying at university, and I could not be more proud of who they are and thankful for them. In our early days of home educating I was immensely grateful for the wealth of resources which winged their way across the Atlantic and offered me much needed advice and inspiration.
But as the years have passed, I have sensed that home education has come of age in the UK. We have our own small but expanding group of second generation home educators, many home ed graduates and a growing body of research. While many of the principles of home education are the same worldwide, the UK has its own distinct landscape in which we live and learn. Thus the concept of a multi authored book, drawing on the wisdom and experience of UK home educators had been bubbling for a while and Another Way to Learn? - Discovering the Beauty of Home Education, published in September, is the result.
This book was written not only for those already home educating, but for all who are curious and would like to know more. It is both solidly practical and beautifully inspiring. It doesn’t shy away from some of the grittier questions; financial implications, educating children with additional needs and the challenges of home educating as a single parent.
Although statistically mothers do most of the hands on teaching, the role of fathers is vital and we have a chapter written by a dad, to other dads.
There is a candid chapter about one family’s transition from school to home, and a medley of chapters which draw us in to this delight led and freeing way of learning. Many Christians are stating their concerns over RSE as primary reasons for withdrawing their children from mainstream school, and I was thrilled to have a couple much respected for their insight, wisdom and political understanding to write the Afterword. I would commend this chapter alone to you as I believe it is crucially relevant to all our children, whatever our educational choices.
All of us who have contributed have experienced the exhilarating highs and soul searching lows of home education, and also the many ordinary days in between speckled with beauty and laughter in the midst of the mundane. It is a book we trust will answer many questions, but it is also an invitation to a different way of life.
One where you have the freedom to choose what fills your children’s minds; one which will lead you along meandering paths where you can become immersed in the beauty of the natural world, the richness of good books and delights of soulful conversations. It will take you to the vast plains of freedom to explore, question and develop critical thinking skills. It will at times take you to cliff edges where you will need to take a leap of faith and know that your Heavenly Father is there to catch you. Sometimes you’ll be misunderstood and this can be lonely.
Other times you’ll enjoy a depth of friendship which only those walking a shared journey against the flow can experience. You will undoubtedly be stretched in your faith, but you will also know the profound satisfaction of giving your children a Bible-based foundation to their education and the joy of learning alongside them.
The decision to home educate is a big one, but ever increasing numbers of parents are considering an alternative to mainstream schooling. If as you read this, the desire to give your children an education from a Christian worldview is rising, but home education is simply not for you, then I’d urge you to consider one of the growing number of independent Christian schools across the nation. There are some links on the resources page of our website.
I hope your curiosity is piqued enough to explore a little more. If so, take a look at our website. It has a summary of each chapter, some background to the authors and a useful resources page. The book is available from here or from any other book retailer. Or why not order it from your local library?
My prayer is that Another Way to Learn? will be an encouragement to all who read it, as we boldly and beautifully build up the foundations of the next generation.
Do you have a view? Share your thoughts via our letters' page.
Baptist Times, 23/11/2022