Reaching Higher
Homeschool News
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First Home Education 'Storm'
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| Just days after our previous newsletter, reporting about bad weather predicted for homeschooling in SA, the first ‘storm’ struck.
On 11 February 2014, the Western Cape Department of Education released a draft policy on home education to Cape Home Educators and the Pestalozzi Trust.
You can download it at here.
There was an immediate outcry among home educators across the country as the policy denied parents their constitutional right to choose the form of education in the best interests of their children. It also insisted that the state’s values be taught to home educated children – an infringement of the right of parents to raise their children according to their own religious and moral values.
It gave all power to the head of the department of education, who would approve curricula, require regular assessments, monitor children’s progress and have the right to withdraw the registration for homeschooling should he wish.
It required that parents justify their reason for choosing home education, keep attendance records, keep records of regular assessments and a portfolio of the children’s work.
There were many other points of concern.
Home educators sent emails of concern and protest to their local DA(Democratic Alliance) councillors nationwide, since the Western Cape is a DA-run province. Emails were also sent directly to the WC Department of Education.
The email campaign caused a significant stir. DA councillors were soon passing the concerns of “disgruntled voters” up the ranks and by 14 February, just 3 days later, an announcement from the Department of Education stated:
“The document currently in circulation on Home Schooling has no formal status. It has not been seen by the Minister, the Head of Education or any formal structure within the WCED. The document has been withdrawn with immediate effect by the Head of Education and the WCED apologises unreservedly for any concerns which its appearance has caused.”
So, the email campaign was successful, but the heavy weather is far from over.
Subsequently, Donald Grant (Minister of Education in WC) stated that the WCED would wait for the new national draft policy, due in August 2014, before drafting a new provincial one. In other words, the DA is likely to follow the ANC’s lead on policy for home education. This is not a good thing as the ANC intends to gain greater control over the homeschooling movement. The Minister of Education herself has suggested that we can expect 'strong pressure' from government over the next 3-5 years.
Therefore, at a meeting of members of Cape Home Educators at Camps Bay on 22 February, a steering committee was elected solely for the purpose of representing home educators and communicating with government.
It appears that the withdrawal of the draft policy was just a pre-election strategy to pacify the home educating electorate, because between 03-07 March, in newspapers across the Western Cape an “Important Notice” with a subtitle FACTS ABOUT HOME EDUCATION was published by the WCED for the third time, (previously in 2010 and 2012) repeating some of those same unlawful restrictions as in the withdrawn policy.
We’d like to repeat what you can do in this stormy climate:
1. Get connected and support homeschooling organisations that represent our interests
2. Know the law and stand up for the right to educate our children at home
3. Overcome your fears and renew your mind
4. Exercise your faith in your Heavenly Father and pray for our nation
Motivate other home educators to do the same. You are welcome to forward this newsletter in its entirety to your support group.
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| Seminars for Home Educating Parents
We believe that it is crucial for homeschooling parents to re-educate themselves and learn about the dynamics of home education. Most of us have only ever experienced class-room based learning and so this is the model that many homeschoolers use in their home, often to the detriment of their homeschooling experience.
Do yourself and your family a favour and attend one of Martie du Plessis’ home education seminars when she is in an area near you.
Consider the cost an investment in your children’s futures. Martie is a qualified remedial therapist and home educator who has been counselling families for many years. She offers objective advice on different types of curriculum to suit the needs of individual families and the unique learning styles of the individuals that make up the family.You can book a family consultation too.
Click here to see when Martie will be offering a seminar near you:
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Create a vertical wall timeline
We recently created a new wall timeline, using a fax roll, on which to compare South African history and US history from 1450 onwards. Our timeline goes from 1450 to beyond 2000.
1. Roll the fax paper out onto a clean floor. Weigh it down with books so it won’t curl up.
2. Starting at the edge of the paper, using a pencil, mark off increments of 20cm for every 50 years, starting at 1450.
3. Cut the timeline off the fax roll once you have passed 2000.
4. Using a long ruler, draw a vertical line down the middle of your timeline
5. Using a marker, label every 50 years: 1450, 1500, 1550 etc
6. Plot your important dates and events. Add picture discs or thumbnail pics to highlight people or events as shown in the image above.
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| South African Art Series for Children
For many years, SA home educators have struggled to find age appropriate materials to use to help their children enjoy Art Appreciation.
World renowned artist, Pablo Picasso proclaimed: "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls."
Here is a series of ebooks for children:
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