Ayla
28-08-2008, 03:00 PM
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22657338-5007190,00.html
Trend in home schooling
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
Paul Weston
October 27, 2007 11:00pm
THOUSANDS of students are being pulled out of Queensland state and private schools to be educated at home by their parents. The home schooling revolution is being driven by parents looking to shield their children from bullying and undesirable teenage peers.
Home education is a "lawful alternative" for students of a compulsory school age, but Education Queensland sets out strict guidelines. Those wishing to go to university have to sit a special tertiary admissions test.
Homeschooling Association of Queensland president Robert Osmak estimates more than 22,000 children are now being home schooled in the state.
This is double the figures obtained through a government working reference group in 2002.
"I'd say the majority of parents are moving to home schooling out of despair," Mr Osmak said.
"Their children have been terribly brutalised. They've been beaten up in the school yard on a regular basis."
Mr Osmak said the mother of a teenage Brisbane student had contacted him this week after her son was hit from behind, pushed to the ground and had his head smashed against the concrete at a state school.
"The thug was only suspended for three days. Nothing is being done to protect the children who are being hurt," he said.
Mr Osmak said he had written to Education Minister Rod Welford seeking a meeting to discuss some of the complaints by parents to him and streamline access to home schooling.
Mr Welford declined to meet with Mr Osmak, but indicated Education Queensland was providing information to the families and recognised home schooling was a "legitimate option" which parents could apply for on behalf of their children.
In a lengthy letter to Mr Osmak, Mr Welford wrote: "Please be assured that my department takes issues of bullying, harassment, violence and discrimination seriously. Schools have codes of student behaviour and behaviour management programs for developing respect and safety towards others."
Mr Osmak, a former teacher with 23 years' experience in the state and private system in Queensland and overseas, has home schooled his nine children.
"Two of them are in business, one of boys is employed and three of the girls are at TAFE. The two youngest are still being schooled," he said.
Valma Cronau, who heads a Gold Coast support group, said hundreds of home schooling families met regularly for social functions.
She said one of the reasons for home schooling her children was to teach them Christian values.
Other factors included removing them from peer pressure, and contact with drugs and "political correctness".
To ensure students are being taught properly, EQ requires parents to apply for home schooling on behalf of their children and be granted registration.
For continued registration, a parent is required to provide an annual report.
Trend in home schooling
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
Paul Weston
October 27, 2007 11:00pm
THOUSANDS of students are being pulled out of Queensland state and private schools to be educated at home by their parents. The home schooling revolution is being driven by parents looking to shield their children from bullying and undesirable teenage peers.
Home education is a "lawful alternative" for students of a compulsory school age, but Education Queensland sets out strict guidelines. Those wishing to go to university have to sit a special tertiary admissions test.
Homeschooling Association of Queensland president Robert Osmak estimates more than 22,000 children are now being home schooled in the state.
This is double the figures obtained through a government working reference group in 2002.
"I'd say the majority of parents are moving to home schooling out of despair," Mr Osmak said.
"Their children have been terribly brutalised. They've been beaten up in the school yard on a regular basis."
Mr Osmak said the mother of a teenage Brisbane student had contacted him this week after her son was hit from behind, pushed to the ground and had his head smashed against the concrete at a state school.
"The thug was only suspended for three days. Nothing is being done to protect the children who are being hurt," he said.
Mr Osmak said he had written to Education Minister Rod Welford seeking a meeting to discuss some of the complaints by parents to him and streamline access to home schooling.
Mr Welford declined to meet with Mr Osmak, but indicated Education Queensland was providing information to the families and recognised home schooling was a "legitimate option" which parents could apply for on behalf of their children.
In a lengthy letter to Mr Osmak, Mr Welford wrote: "Please be assured that my department takes issues of bullying, harassment, violence and discrimination seriously. Schools have codes of student behaviour and behaviour management programs for developing respect and safety towards others."
Mr Osmak, a former teacher with 23 years' experience in the state and private system in Queensland and overseas, has home schooled his nine children.
"Two of them are in business, one of boys is employed and three of the girls are at TAFE. The two youngest are still being schooled," he said.
Valma Cronau, who heads a Gold Coast support group, said hundreds of home schooling families met regularly for social functions.
She said one of the reasons for home schooling her children was to teach them Christian values.
Other factors included removing them from peer pressure, and contact with drugs and "political correctness".
To ensure students are being taught properly, EQ requires parents to apply for home schooling on behalf of their children and be granted registration.
For continued registration, a parent is required to provide an annual report.