Parliament has been debating a Bill which could make major changes to the Education Act.
The proposed changes include making home-schooled students sit the same tests and curriculum as their state schooling counterparts.
It was due to go through its third reading in Parliament yesterday, but was put on hold pending further consultation.
The proposed changes had worried the home-schooling community, who felt they would disadvantage those who needed a different approach to learning.
Samantha Kerr, 14, of Milton, said being home-educated helped change her approach to learning in ways she could not have imagined.
She was delighted the government had decided to pause its plans, because ‘‘it would give us a chance to talk to them’’.
‘‘I went to school until the age of 10. By then, I absolutely hated it.
‘‘Everything was too hard, the teacher never had enough time to get round to helping me and every day was a constant routine of anxiety, dislike and depression.
‘‘I would beg my mum not to let me go.’’
She said her parents slowly noticed the changes in her demeanour as they began home-schooling.
‘‘When we first started home-schooling, it felt strange at first not having to wait for the teacher to have time to see me.
‘‘It was so much more enjoyable. I got to play outside with my siblings pretty much all the time, and I felt so much joy and freedom.
‘‘I found joy in the new-found freedom of learning.’’
Samantha said she worried if the changes went ahead her anxiety would return.
‘‘Introducing tests won’t help my case, and I know there are plenty of home-schoolers who feel the same.
‘‘Testing would bring unnecessary pressure and anxiety. For me, it would take away the joy in learning that I’ve found and create worry and hopelessness. It wouldn’t help my education.
‘‘As a perfectionist, seeing bad marks from tests I don’t want to do would make me so frustrated. The joy of home-schooling is that we can build a curriculum around me and not make me fit the prescribed mould.’’
Representatives from various organisations of Dunedin and Otago’s home-schooling community gathered at Memorial Gardens in Mosgiel yesterday to contemplate the announcement.
One parent said the initial announcement of the changes had hit the community like ‘‘a ton of bricks’’.
‘‘None of us were even aware any changes were being made.’’
Taieri MP Ingrid Leary said the removal of the Bill’s third reading from the order paper yesterday gave some breathing space regarding potential changes to home-schooling.
‘‘However, the government could still ultimately continue its overreach regarding home-schooling, given that Education Minister Erica Stanford has said she will consider home-schooling in future legislation.’’
