Thousands of Queensland children have been pulled out of the classroom to be home schooled by their parents, new figures have revealed.
Data from the Department of Education and Training show the number of home-schooled students has more than doubled over the past five years from 891 in 2011 to more than 2,300 this year.
The spike in this legal alternative to formal schooling is being driven by parents who say they are frustrated with the state’s education system, and by those wanting to shield their children from bullying.
Karalee woman Heidi Conway became an “accidental” home school mother when she took her 12-year-old son Matthew out of a private school in May last year.
“He had a lot of anxiety, mood swings and anger issues,” she said.
“It would just get too much for him.”
So she pulled him out in Grade 6.
“I said, ‘what are you glad about most about coming home?’ and he said ‘No more chaos, Mum’,” she said.
“And his whole body changed, he was calmer and happier.”
Her youngest son Joshua was also struggling, so he joined his brother at home.
Both were temporary moves, but Ms Conway said within two weeks they loved it so they just kept going.
‘I would not have it any other way’
Mum of four Glenda Kamppi has a similar story.
She was forced to pull her son Jalen out of Grade 1 due to severe anxiety.
“He was crying and then started playing up and it was affecting his school work because he was not fitting in,” she said.
“A good two weeks at home and he was just back to his normal fun-loving, very helpful bubbly personality.
“Not angry any more.”
As well as Jalen, she now home schools her daughter Lyla May, 7, and Josiah, 6.
Hannah, aged one, will join in when she turns five.
“It is a big task but I would not have it any other way now,” Ms Kamppi said.
“They are more themselves, able to explore more, calm and relaxed and free to be kids.”
Government needs to take notice, education lecturer says
Queensland University of Technology education lecturer Dr Rebecca English said the unofficial figures of home-schooled children were a lot higher than the Government’s numbers.
While parents are supposed to register with the education department, many do not.
“[There are] maybe up to 20,000 families in Queensland alone who are home schooling,” she said.
“The parents I have spoken to are very, very happy and really enjoy the experience.
“I am finding parents say for them it is about diversity and the school system just isn’t able to cater to diversity.
“Or a child has been bullied and their needs are not being met as they struggle with subjects and don’t have a teacher or teacher’s aide … to assist.”
She said detractors criticised home-schooling parents claiming it had a negative effect on children because of a lack of socialisation.
Dr English said it was time the Government took notice of the fast-growing trend.
“I think we need to start looking at this as a legitimate choice,” she said.
“It is enshrined in legislation that parents are able to choose the education for their children.”
The Queensland Government said the numbers were still small when compared to the half a million students in mainstream schooling.
This post originally appeared on ABC News.
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