Time for a
High School At Home:
Real Education By Ken Noster
photo courtesy of the Bishop family
As high school years approach, home schooling parents tend to be assaulted by concerns: •
How will my child get into university or college?
•
How will my child gain the credentials to earn a comfortable salary?
•
How can I possibly teach high school?
I
n this article, I intend to outline some of the ways that a student can “qualify” for post-secondary institutions, but I want to do so with the understanding that there is something greater available. Today, some employers require that their employees have a provincial high school diploma. A number of college programs list a high school diploma as an
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entrance requirement. In itself, a provincial high school diploma doesn’t mean very much. It is possible to receive a diploma with a minimum of skills and with poor attitudes and values. However, what a diploma does indicate is that the student “didn’t quit” school, but had the perseverance to continue through to graduation. The employers and institutions who look for a diploma before
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looking any further want to avoid “quitters”. In some cases, it is possible to convince the personnel officer or the registrar that the home schooler is not a “quitter” by virtue of your own evidence, sometimes it is not. Getting a provincial high school diploma doesn’t require attendance at a school; nor does it require the use of government resources. What it does require, is that the student complete the learner requirements of certain courses in Alberta Education's Programs of Study. This may be done using resources of the parents’ choosing, and on a schedule set by the family. The “associate” school board or private school has the job of evaluating the student and registering the credits with AB Education. The minimum
provincial testing requirement is that the student write diploma exams in English and Social Studies. Sounds simple? Well, it is simple if you were planning on following this type of education anyway. The question is, does this approach furnish the best education for your child? The ability to attend university is another concern parents face. Interestingly, this is where we are seeing the greatest change. Over the past twenty years, many small to medium-sized universities have fashioned entrance policies for home schooled students. Generally, they require a recommendation from a Facilitator and English 30 or equivalent (proof of literacy). Large universities, such as the U of A, handle entrance on a mass scale and are