Home schooling club gives parents major role in education

Home schooling club gives parents major role in education

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Education starts at home, but not all parents can be good
teachers.

The Morning Star Academy (MSA) in Setiabudi, South Jakarta,
blends institutional education and homeschooling in an attempt to
provide parents and children alike a valuable learning
experience.

With the goal of becoming effective teachers for their own
children, a group of 20 parents established the homeschooling
club in 1994 to meet the needs of their children's education.

Over the years, the homeschooling club attracted more parents
and eventually classes for grades one to six were opened in
September 2002.

"People are hungry for education alternatives. Homeschooling
offers such an alternative for parents as the program requires
their involvement and commitment," said MSA principal M. Harwanti
Siregar Wowor.

She said the homeschooling program had 400 students at
present, including 100 in kindergarten, 200 in elementary school
and the rest in junior high school and high school.

Harwanti said parents were required to teach their children at
home but also were encouraged to join their children for classes
held three times a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the building in
Setiabudi.

"In this way, parents will get a picture of how to teach their
children at home," she said.

She said the children would not be confused because there were
similarities in the way the parents taught them at home and how
they were taught by the teachers at the school.

The homeschooling program also offers special programs for
children with learning disabilities such as dyslexia and
hyperactivity.

"Each child is different and children with special needs will
not be happy in a formal school setting.

"I got this idea (institutional education and homeschooling)
when I visited Oregon in the U.S several years ago," Harwanti
said.

Dona, a mother of two, said there were several advantages to
homeschooling her children. She said that not only did her
children learn a lot, especially with their lessons at school,
but she was also learning a lot and refreshing her knowledge.

"I also understand that my children may have fewer friends
since they have a limited number of schoolmates due to the
homeschooling. Therefore, I encourage my children to be more
proactive when they meet new people," said Dona.

Harwanti said the homeschooling program covered various
subjects, including English, history, science, mathematics,
Mandarin, sports, music and art.

"We also encourage students to take exams provided by the
government if they plan to study at local schools or
universities," said Harwanti, adding that MSA also offered
classes in Bahasa Indonesia, civics and other subjects covered by
the national exams.

MSA students also take the Stanford Achievement Test yearly,
and if they continue through to the high school level they can
earn a diploma accredited by the Franklin Classical School.

"Children are the future of this nation, that is why we have
to do everything possible to give them the best possible
education," Harwanti said. (004)