While most Australian families are only just getting used to the idea of schooling at home, for the Anderson family it's business as usual.
The Mandurah family is one of 3827 families in WA who homeschool on a permanent basis - not because of COVID-19, but because of the flexibility it brings and a myriad of other reasons.
After spending several weeks homeschooling due to her daughter, Amelia breaking her leg Mandurah mother Linda Anderson realised that education was more than what could be taught in a classroom.
"It was the time when bullying and unpleasant behaviours were starting to creep into her age group and we didn't want that for her," Mrs Anderson said.
"We were nervous about homeschooling the first year but after receiving a great education department moderator's report in year eight we relaxed into subsequent years of learning.
"We have not looked back," Mrs Anderson said.
According to Home Education WA, parents decide to homeschool their children for a number of reasons including:
- Bullying
- Sensory processing disorders
- Struggles with transitioning to high school
- General lack of satisfaction with traditional schooling
- Flexible learning for travel, social or other reasons
- Unpreparedness for full-time schooling at pre-primary age
- Beliefs their 'gifted' children will prosper with more personalised teaching
The Anderson family chose to homeschool as the flexible learning allowed Amelia to follow her passions of dragon boating, business, photography, ukulele, volunteering, reading and writing.
"Amelia has learnt so much by following her interests and passions.
"She has been able to dedicate herself to her sport of dragon boating and is a double world champion having traveled to Europe and Asia to attend competition at age 14 and 16.
"Amelia has also almost finished a Cert three in business, which she is doing online.
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"It would have been very difficult to achieve all of this while being in the school system with the commitments of homework and exams," Mrs Anderson said.
With many trialing homeschooling for the first time due to COVID-19 this could see many more Australian families choosing to teach their children from home in the near future.
