‘Their dream fields’: Why parents say they homeschool kids

Following the chaotic pandemic era where distance and home education became a necessity, homeschooling enrolments have almost tripled. But what’s driving that increase? And why are homeschool parents now feeling under threat. SPECIAL REPORT

Following the chaotic pandemic era where distance and home education became a necessity, there’s been an almost 200% increase in homeschooling enrolments. But why?

Homeschooling is moving from the fringes to the mainstream in Queensland, with three times as many kids now registered as homeschooled since 2020.

Now the Queensland Government is considering stronger laws of the emerging industry, some homeschooling families are pushing back on their lessons being over regulated, including East Mackay parents Anita and Neil Kroegers.

Originally homeschooled in Vancouver, Anita Kroeger attributes her success as an artist and mother to her upbringing.

“Each of those kids I grew up with, they’ve all gone on to work in their dream fields,” Mrs Kroeger said, pointing to friends who’ve joined film crews or become successful doctors,” Ms Kroeger said.

“We don’t try to replicate school at home but rather foster an environment that promotes a love for learning as a lifestyle.

One Mackay homeschool community has a yearly International Dinner event. Students study a country and brings a dish to share, from that country, for the multicultural feast.

“You have more time to develop the interests you love.”
Anita’s husband Neil went through the Canadian public school system, but said he was won over by homeschooling event in Vancouver.

Seeing the kids of all ages and abilities playing together, he thought it was a world apart from his own childhood experience, and much better.

But they don’t just stick to themselves. The Kroegers partner with other homeschooling families, and different parents lead classes week by week.

They also work towards larger projects together, like international food festivals organised by the children.

Chanelle Steggles is homeschooling in part due to her own experiences with home education. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Beaconsfield mother of three Chanelle Steggles brings her kids to the Mackay Community Garden for their group lessons.

“Homeschooling was such a great thing for me I decided it would be the best thing for my kids,” Mrs Steggles said.

Their average week involves numeracy and literacy on Mondays, science lessons on Tuesdays, group activities on Wednesdays and a larger meetup at least once a month.

“I’m a reasonably structured person, so we have a reasonably structured schooling week,” Mrs Steggles said.

“We can tailor the experience to the individual child and give them that confidence in their ability to learn whatever they want to learn.”

The Homeschool Market is a gathering of friends where the kids have a chance to buy and sell to and from each other.

One Nation MP for Mirani, Stephen Andrew, believes parents are best placed to educate their own children.

“We should have the right to do whatever we want,” Mr Andrew said.

“There’s no one better at educating kids than their own family.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education said its report identified a wide variety of reasons parents decided to home educate.

“The main reasons include the ability to provide more personal, individual learning at the child’s pace, and greater flexibility.”

The Kroegers and Steggles believe new legislation could limit this flexibility.

“We are really confused by this new legislation because we already have to report our children’s progress,” Mrs Kroeger said.

For Mrs Steggles, the concern is being shoehorned to teaching her kids in a way that “just doesn’t work”.

Parents in the group take turns contributing in areas of their strength, with some teaching arts, others teaching maths and some using their unique professions to take children on excursions.

“We need the fluidity of being able to adjust it and get it to suit our individual children, not at a particular subject at a particular time,” she said.

A Queensland Department of Education spokeswoman noted the national curriculum is designed to increase in complexity as kids progress.

For the Kroegers, tapping into their kids real-time curiosity and enthusiasm is what makes homeschooling effective.

“If our kid is showing interest in ancient Greece at Grade 5, we’re going to do ancient Greece when they’re excited about it,” Mrs Kroeger said.

The Queensland government put its homeschooling legislation on pause to allow for “further consultation with stakeholders”.