Home Schooling

Adian is turning six soon. We plan to have a (surprise) wee birthday bash for him next month as this gonna be his first time celebrating with his close relatives in Malaysia.

Adian seems to enjoy his life in Malaysia. Not to the fullest though but I know he’s trying his best. He is learning new things every day. He’s keen to learn and speak Malay but somehow or rather, doesn’t always get it quite right..:)  He always say, “I know how to speak Malay yesterday but when I go to sleep & wake up next morning, I forget about it”.

Yesterday I taught him to say One, Two & Three in Malay i.e Satu, Dua & Tiga. He pronounced it very well & that makes me really ecstatic. Later that evening I asked him again what’s the Malay word for One, Two & Three & he confidently said  “Yi, Er, San”!!! OMG, he speaks Mandarin now. He must have gotten it from watching the kids’ programme “NI HAO KAI LAN”….!!

Me and hubby are currently in dilemma whether to send him to Private/International School (in which the fees is extremely high) or Public School (which will put him in a tricky situation as his command in Malay language is not that fluent, and together with other factors which I prefer not to mention them here). He, and wee Aaron too, can barely speak Malay no matter how hard they try.

Adian undergoes homeschooling under me, and most of his learning sources come from UK syllabus I got from his previous school in the UK and also children website activities (mostly from UK) and also US.  We like having the opportunity to choose these (educational) ourselves because homeschooling is not about ignoring other learning experiences and the systems they adhere. For us, it’s about making personal, appropriate, sensitive and positive choices for the betterment of your own family. As for now, we are very happy and satisfied with his current development and hope this kind of open education can be regarded as good as the one utilized in any schools in Malaysia (public and private).

Quoted from US Article - http://www.educationnews.org/parenting/number-of-homeschoolers-growing-nationwide/ :-

“College recruiters from the best schools in the United States aren’t slow to recognize homeschoolers’ achievements. Those from non-traditional education environments matriculate in colleges and attain a four-year degree at much higher rates than their counterparts from public and even private schools. Homeschoolers are actively recruited by schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Stanford University and Duke.

Nor do homeschoolers miss out on the so-called socialization opportunities, something considered a vital part of a traditional school environment and lacking in those who don’t attend regular schools. On the contrary, those educated at home by their parents tend to be more socially engaged than their peers, and according to the National Home Education Research Institute survey, demonstrate “healthy social, psychological, and emotional development, and success into adulthood.”

How I wish home schooling is much welcomed in Malaysia. Although home schooling is considered legal here but because of (somehow) the strict requirements imposed from Ministry of Education, the results of doing homeschooling often prevent families (and children) from obtaining official approval and endorsement from the government.

Why homeschooling has less value than normal education? Why can’t we seek knowledge in the age where knowledge can be easily acquired and learned (if you know how to) without leaving the safe environment of home?

We find this scenario very sad and troubling, isnt’ it...:(.

[caption id="attachment_330" align="aligncenter" width="161"] Adian hunny, you're so awesome.... love, mommy[/caption]