Abstract:

Most educators would be familiar with education provided children in specific agencies such as “schoolhouses”. These agencies could be a one-room school building in a rural setting or it could be massive multi-storied school building in an urban setting. Minimal education is mandated in Canada for all children aged 5 years to 16 years; however, many children complete their high school diploma as a minimum level to obtain entry level employment or acceptance to post secondary education programs. During the past eighteen months, during the COVID pandemic, many parents lost their jobs and all schools were closed. The expectation came that parents would teach their children at home. How effective this approach was has yet to be determined and is not part of my presentation. The COVID pandemic elicited one type of homeschooling, however, on a regular basis there are many homeschooling endeavours across Canada.

In Canada education is funded by the federal government but the provincial governments maintain jurisdiction of education in each province. Each province sets up a provincial curriculum through its ministry of education. The ministry of education sets rules and regulations for education entities, including for homeschooling. Homeschooling is readily available to allow parents to provide education for their children.

Objectives:
1. Provide a short introduction to home schooling;
2. Discuss why home schooling is;
3. Describe how home schooling meets Saskatchewan laws and regulations regarding education of children;
4. Share home school projects, experiments, and documents

Methodology:
Quantitative enquiries are used to identify numerical success and to measure monetary success. Qualitative methods are used for narratives, case studies and success stories.

Objective 1: Introduction to “home schooling”.
Home-based education is an educational program:
a) provided to a child who has attained the age of 5 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
b) that is started at the initiative of and is under the direction of the parent or guardian of the child.
c) in which the child is receiving instruction at and from the home of the child.

Objective 2: Discuss Why home schooling is.
Numerous reasons exist why parents prefer to home school. Reasons can be religious, child safety, control of content as examples.

Objective 3: Describe How home schooling meets Saskatchewan rules and regulations.
Parents may choose to accept the responsibility to personally direct the education of their children; it is expected that they will provide a sound educational program as outlined in the Education Act 1995 and the Home-Based Education Program Regulations, 2012. Home-based educators are supported through a variety of educational services.

Objective 4: Share home schooling projects, experiments, and documents.
Copies of the children’s intents to homeschool and year end reports will be provided.

References:
[1] Public and Catholic School Boards: Homebased Educator Hdbk February 2021 with hyperlinks.pdf (rcsd.ca)
[2] Home Based Education - Regina Catholic School Division (rcsd.ca)
[3] Home-Based Education | Regina Public Schools

Keywords:

Homeschooling, pedagogy, projects, experiments.