A Saturday in Hobart

Hobart turned it all on last Saturday! A day FULL of fabulous, free and (of course) educational stuff to do. After all what isn't educational for a 2 and 5 year old?

In the morning, St David's Cathedral opened it's bell tower to celebrate it's 75th birthday. The calves climbed 127 steps to see the view over Hobart and feel the tower sway. They were able to watch the bells being rung and learn about how it all worked. The largest bell is 2 tonne - quite impressive to a 15kg two year old!

After that we strolled down to the waterfront only to stumble across a huge procession of motorbikes of all descriptions. I think every awe-inspiring, grunting bike in Tasmania must have been there! As any motorbike is the love of the youngest calf at the moment (especially the orange ones), we oohed and ahhed surrounded by more leather than on a herd of cows.

Then off to the day's next adventure - the highlight of this wonderful day.

Any of you familiar with the work of the Sea Shepherd, will know of their ship the Bob Barker. Those of you who don't know, the Sea Shepherds are those crazy guys chasing whalers out of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. They have managed to save 1000s of whales during their seven years of campaigning and actually succeeded in stopping them completely last season. The Bob Barker was docked in Hobart for refueling as it does and was giving guided tours.
The calves had the amazing opportunity of seeing the whole ship, the mess, the lounge, the bridge, the decks and the eldest calf even sat in the captain's chair and looked out the window with binoculars in search of whales. She also decided to take her book on the life of a humpback whale and had it autographed by the crew.
Such an amazing opportunity, we did the tour twice (wonder if they noticed)?

The eldest calf has had lots of time this week to watch old episodes of whale wars and talk about what she learned through the experience. Something Paul Watson said that resonated with me below.

"It isn't governments that change things, passionate people do" - Paul Watson

And, just as a side note. The Anglesea Army Barracks had their 200th anniversary on Saturday. We missed their open day with all the above going on but were treated to a death-defying aerial display over Hobart all day.

So thanks Hobart. How we love and worship thee!

Seizing Opportunity in the Park

Yesterday, the calves and I went to Park Day with our new Home Ed. group. We loved Park Days in our old group and we are quickly coming to love them in this group too. 
I love the unpredictability. 
We know where, but we never know exactly what we will get up to. 


Last week we went to a park near a big old cemetery and ended up wandering around looking at all kinds of things whilst getting dive-bombed by a pair of plovers with a hunger for human blood. 
Despite the constant attack,we had a great time! Free to follow along with whatever comes up whilst enjoying the company of friends. 


Yesterday at a different park, the kids discovered two olive trees covered in fruit. After playing with the fruit and watching the boys cover themselves in the dark purple juices, the calves decided to pick some olives to eat. We quickly discovered they were absolutely awful! 
Gagging away, a lovely lady (whilst giggling at our stupidity), shared her knowledge of how to cure olives and prepare them for eating. 
The calves, inspired, rallied their friends and filled a bag with at least 5 kilos of olives! 


It was lovely to watch these kids talk about gathering them and what to do with them. The cooperation was beautiful...."I'll go up high and drop them down"...."I'll catch them in my hat"...."I'll get another bag from mum". 
They didn't need the adults to tell them what to do or how to behave, they just got on with the serious business of seizing the opportunity.


The kids came up with the plan to each take a share home and investigate how best to prepare them. When they were all ready, we would bring them back to another park day to share and compare.



Today, after watching some videos on Youtube, and researching online, we have managed to sort, wash, split and soak in brine at least 4 kilos of them! 
Great fun! And I have learned right along with them, just a little about a wonderful and ancient skill. 


This simple activity, that stemmed from the kids interest and the seizing of an opportunity is what Home Ed. is all about. For us anyway.
There is nothing special (or weird) about this activity or us. Families everywhere do things like this...when they have time together that is.


That's all you need....time together, and freedom to seize everyday opportunities. The 'learning' just happens!

"We'll see You in a Year"

As it turns out the meeting with THEAC was relatively painless. The lady stayed for two hours, we bombarded her with all kinds of examples of what we do and why and she left happily after assuring us we would achieve 'full registration' (whatever that means). 


Before her arrival, I spent the whole morning cleaning the house, despite my husband's assurances that she is not assessing our ability to clean. Of course, seconds before her arrival time, our new puppy decided to deposit an almighty disgrace at the front door! Bloody dog!
Still we managed to clear it up before answering the door...hope our red faces and hesitant grins or the strong smell of disinfectant didn't alarm the poor woman.


Our eldest calf hit her the second she walked in with her handwriting book, her favourite reading book and a bunch of things she'd been working on, feeling entirely annoyed that she seemed more interested in talking with her father and I than to her. 


We showed her little fish, we talked about the why and how, we traded stories and experiences, she shared some information on groups and where to access resources. There were no prying questions, no assumptions or threats. She didn't walk around the house with a clipboard and red pen. 


"See you in a year?" - deal! 

...If only everything could be so simple.

The meeting looms

Well, we have used up our new arrival grace period and 'the meeting' appears imminent.   Of course, I am talking of the meeting with the representative from THEAC.....

Having received a phone call from a complete stranger who will come to our house, meet the calves and "have a chat" about our programme and our education philosophy.
The question is do I mind? ....hmmm....not sure really.

I am not a lover of regulation and supervision of what I deem basic human rights, the right to freedom, the right to choose, the right to live the way you want.
There is far too much of that in modern life already!

I include the right to take responsibility for your children's education in that. 

But, and it's a big BUT, would I feel the same way if another home educating family had very different views from my own? Would I feel the same way about a very religious family or a very secluded family for example?  

Is regulation in some form necessary?

I'll admit I do not know the answer to this question. I believe children have the right to a quality education. I believe families have a right to privacy.....

I hope that the meeting is about support, providing access for families to the kinds of resources and facilities that schooling families receive. I hope it's not about judgement and results because that is opposite to our philosophy of learning.

The polite and distant stranger merely said she wants to see examples of literacy and numeracy.
There are many....I could literally bury her in a pile of samples of learning and living with literacy and numeracy that are apart of everyday life around here.

Will that be right? Who knows? 
I wonder about her experience? What has she achieved in life that deems her our superior, our assessor?  The whole idea of it makes me uncomfortable.

Still, I shall not put the cart before the horse, we shall wait and see...

And then of course, I will blog about it.

A day in the Gardens

Ah! There is nothing better for me than a day with my family in the Botanical Gardens or in the country surrounded by beautiful nature. 


The feelings of peace and serenity I get are totally replenishing.


Had an amazing day today in The Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart. What an incredible place to spend the day, endless things to learn and enjoy. 


Today the calves explored a veggie garden and a herb garden, touching and smelling everything. We went to the fernery and the Japanese gardens. 
AND we went to a SubAntarctic room housing samples from Macquarie Island, Australia's most southerly island, complete with icy winds and seal grunts!


The calves found a swarm of bees building a nest and sat down to have a picnic in the sunshine and watch. The elder calf had happened to bring along a book on honey bees thinking she may chance upon some in the Gardens, so we all read about bees and the unusual dances they do to communicate. The calves invented their own dances to communicate their different ideas too.


We discovered a heated wall that was used in the original gardens to grow fruit that didn't agree with the colder Tasmanian climate, we saw an original Wardian case and learned about the discovery of greenhouses. We also spent time talking about an amazing traditional style kitchen garden that is being revamped to meet today's eco-friendly ideas.


We rolled around in the grass and yes, even hugged some trees. 


Glorious!


And there was a school group there too, small groups of kids running around at full speed trying to find the answers they needed for their worksheets. One group ran up to the bridge in the Japanese Gardens and shouted back "It's not working" to his classmates in answer to some question or another. I thought to myself as they thundered past, 'well at least they're collaborating', but then another child shouted "Don't give them the answers! Miss ... said it's a competition"! 


As we were leaving, we saw this group of children lining up by that amazing wall I mentioned, the groups were taking turns in reporting back to their friends what they had learned. 
I couldn't help but giggle to myself when I wondered how many times they had to listen to their friends report "It's not working"?....No sweetheart...it isn't.


Honestly? Is this the best we, as educators, can come up with? What a waste for those kids!

MONA

There is an amazing new museum in Hobart called MONA. An eclectic collection of modern art and historical artefacts. We had a lovely morning at this museum today exploring. The calves had their own i-tour guides and showed me how to use them properly, including discovering an interactive map and managing to locate the games feature?
The museum is set in the centre of a small vineyard and has a brewery, a restaurant, cafe, gardens and hotel.
Fantastic! Love museums! Love wandering around them with the calves watching them take it all in.


Glad to say there were quite a few kids there.
There's something particularly brilliant about watching kids and modern art, especially the interactive kind. The elder calf notices all kinds of things I don't, she sees humour in exhibits and laughs aloud. She gets scared and expresses disgust when she feels it too. I enjoy watching her reactions.


So, MONA, we will definately be back and if you're ever in Hobart...

An Island in the Sea

Connection is important, isn't it?

Being connected... to the world...to your community...to your friends.
Leaving one home and moving half way across the world to another left me feeling disconnected. 
It would most people I imagine.

I expected to feel a homecoming, as though, instantly, I'd returned to where I belong.

But the feeling I get?

It's more like...familiarity...a fondness for times past.
Has Australia changed or have I?  
Maybe both.
I still love it here, it is beyond beautiful!
Especially here in Tasmania.

The rest will come with time I suppose.

But it has taught me something about Home Education. And about myself.
I crave the connection, the connection with others who see the world as I do. With others who value what I value.
It's hard when, in your social network, you are the only one who feels a certain way. You're an island in the sea. Especially when it's about something so important, your kids and their future for example.

The Home Ed. community is strong and supportive but hard to find at times. The  connections take time.
In my experience of travelling, one year is a good marker. It takes a year to estalish some friendships and find your way around. To feel at home.
I miss the connections of my Home Ed. group in HK more than I anticipated. I am sure I will find those connections again.
Whatever it is that motivates you, when you find others who share your passion it fills you up. Renews your energy, revitalises.

I am definately in need of some of that!




I will treat them tenderly and cherish them because I know their value.