LORNE – It’s back to school for Kirstan and Samantha Smees, but that’s not as typical as one might expect.
Sure, they bought their school supplies and even some new outfits, but they won’t be wearing them on the school bus. Instead, the Lorne residents will be learning their lessons in a small room in their own home and their teachers are their parents, Eric and Darlene.
“The first year we did it I was scared to death,” said Darlene, who has been home schooling her children for the past four years. “But I see our children thriving and they are actually farther ahead in their studies than most children.”
The Smees’ school year runs for 35 weeks from Sept. 1 to the middle of May. They have the same Christmas vacation and March break as public school children. School starts at 8:30 a.m. sharp and finishes at 1:30 p.m. five days a week. They usually take about a half-hour for lunch.
“We work through storm days,” she said. “I’ve asked them if they want to be off that day, but they want to finish by May so we keep going.”
Darlene said her two girls attended public school for a few years, but she could see a real change in their behaviour and attitude. She presented them with the option of home schooling and they all agreed to give it a try.
She is registered with the Chignecto Central Regional School Board and uses curriculum from Bob Jones University. The girls, who are going into grades 6 and 7, do standardized testing throughout the year to ensure they are meeting schooling requirements.
“They have the option every year if they want to go to public school or be home schooled and so far, they’ve chosen to be schooled at home,” she said.
Darlene, who is a hair stylist by trade, said the children aren’t the only ones being home schooled. She spends about six hours a week watching curriculum DVD to get prepared for the lessons.
She said one of the most important keys to home schooling is structure. The Smees have a room set aside in their home which is strictly used as a classroom. Cooking classes are taught in the kitchen of course, but the rest of the work takes place in this room.
The Lorne resident said she doesn’t answer the phone during school hours and her husband Eric helps her mark papers. If the children have a project to present, they usually do it in front of him. Subjects include history/geography, book study, unit study, math, English, spelling, copy work, music and gym.
She said “life is gym” but the children are involved in extra-curricular activities at the YMCA and play on public school basketball teams. She said they also plan field trips where the students do some volunteer work in the community. From September to December, they will be taking goods to a local seniors home. If all their lessons are complete at the end of the week, the girls get to have a “fun Friday” activity where they can take part in a fun event.
Darlene said she has heard comments in the past about home schooling and how it shelters the children too much and doesn’t let them interact with other people their own age.
She said this is why the girls take part in church and community events, sports and other activities outside the home. They also plan regular visits with other children in the county who are home schooled. She said she is in contact with about 10 other families who are home schooling their children and anyone interested in taking on the task is welcome to contact her.
“The first thing is you have to love being with your children and you have to have obedient children,” she said. “You also have to be dedicated.”
Darlene considers her family blessed and says her daughters are developing into well-rounded young adults. Kirstan has already made up her mind that she wants to earn a degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music to be a piano teacher while Samantha wants to work with animals.
“It’s such a joy to be with family,” said Darlene, adding her children have a real desire to learn. Learning is actually not a big burden.”
