Edpsy 387
Computer Uses in Education
Jim Levin and Cynthia Carter Ching
University of Illinois CTER
An Adventure in
HomeSchooling
What happens when a father decides to teach his kid at home?
..............................................................
Introduction
This page has been created in attempt
to share some insights from my
experiences as a home schooled
student. At the age of 10 I was a kid
with a growing contempt for school.
By the age of 12 I was I had completely
given up and in the words of my father
I was, "failing to take failing seriously."
From an early age I had grown accustom
to my parents, having once both been
educators themselves, taking a hand in
shaping my progress as a student. At
13 I proved unfazed by promises of
prizes, threats of punishment, or pleads
of hopelessness. Drastic behavior called
for drastic measures.
I received the pictured letter
from my father in summer before I was
to entered 8th grade and hence began an
adventure in home schooling. The year
that followed was and still remains a
great source of inspiration for me.
Ironically, a girl who hated school yet now
an educator myself, I still take cues from my experience as kid schooled at home.
Introduction
This page has been created in attempt
to share some insights from my
experiences as a home schooled
student. At the age of 10 I was a kid
with a growing contempt for school.
By the age of 12 I was I had completely
given up and in the words of my father
I was, "failing to take failing seriously."
From an early age I had grown accustom
to my parents, having once both been
educators themselves, taking a hand in
shaping my progress as a student. At
13 I proved unfazed by promises of
prizes, threats of punishment, or pleads
of hopelessness. Drastic behavior called
for drastic measures.
I received the pictured letter
from my father in summer before I was
to entered 8th grade and hence began an
adventure in home schooling. The year
that followed was and still remains a
great source of inspiration for me.
Ironically, a girl who hated school yet now
an educator myself, I still take cues from my experience as kid schooled at home.
Dear Gillian,
Sincerely,
Dan Riley, Founder and Headmaster...
and teacher...
and teaching assistant...
and head coach...
and cafeteria help...
and custodial staff...
and school crossing guard.....
For audio interview clips conducted a year after the home schooling experience
click on the following links to see what teacher/ father Dan Riley
and student/ daughter Gillian at 14 had to say.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the Dan Riley School for a Girl, I'd like to welcome you for our
1991-92 school year.
You should feel very proud of yourself for being accepted at the DRSG since we are very selective in
our enrollments. Unlike less discriminating schools that accept students from anywhere else in the world, we don't even accept applications from anyone else. We choose our students, and we chose you to be our one and only student.
We're all looking forward to your arrival for the first day of classes on September 5 and to what promises to be a rich and rewarding experience.
Sincerely,
Dan Riley, Founder and Headmaster...
and teacher...
and teaching assistant...
and head coach...
and cafeteria help...
and custodial staff...
and school crossing guard.....
From the Horses Mouth
For audio interview clips conducted a year after the home schooling experience
click on the following links to see what teacher/ father Dan Riley
and student/ daughter Gillian at 14 had to say.
He Said
She Said
What conclusion did you come to in the end? What was the best part of home schooling?
Is home schooling the answer to our educational What was the most important thing you
problems? learned?
What kind of changes did you see over the year? What was the biggest gain for you?
Coming Soon!
Interviews 11 years later. What happened after the year of home school ended?
What were the repercussions? What do they have to say now looking back?
Created by
Gillian Riley
Last updated July 2003 E-Portfolio