A homeschooler adrift…
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: Announcement on 9 Oct 2009.
PUBLIC TALK
A Young Man and the Sea
By Ethan Tan
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2009
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: Kota Kemuning Buddhist Center (KKBC, BMSM Shah Alam)
26 (2nd Floor) Jalan R31/R, Shah Alam, Malaysia
Directions: See Google maps
KV and Wai Leng Soon of MALHEN have invited 18-yr old Ethan to talk about his homeschooling experience.
Ethan has been homeschooled by his parents all his life and he’s spilling the
beans on the only upbringing he’s ever had – unschooled, unsocialised, and
deprived of “an environment to associate with other children where they will learn to
communicate, understand different kind of people behaviour, concern for others,
live with others, handle relationships and etc..” (in the words of some
concerned parents)
Early this year, he applied to join a missions exposure programme on board the
ship LOGOS HOPE, which was then berthed in Denmark. He flew to Denmark on his
own and spent 6 months traversing the seas and 11 European cities. In this
presentation, he talks about being a homeschooler and how his experience abroad
impacted his life.
Everyone’s welcome.
His parents are understandably nervous.
5 Comments so far...
Freda Lau Says:
9 October 2009 at 2:00 pm.
All the best Ethan! Wish we could be there … our support is with you too (besides your family’s).
MT Says:
9 October 2009 at 2:33 pm.
LOL! “Unschooled, unsocialized, and deprived….” That’s hilarious. How could his parents possibly have subjected Ethan to such incredible deprivation? Obviously I note this tongue in cheek as the practical experience and peer reviewed research evidence exactly the opposite. Wish I could be there for the talk.
MT from the USA where 2 million are being unschooled, unsocialized, and deprived….and out performing 80% of the population. I’m literally laughing out loud as I type this.
On a more serious note, talks such a these are crucial as ‘enlightened’ nations such as Germany, England and Denmark are clamping down on these high performing students with a very heavy hand.
Pei Yin Says:
15 October 2009 at 7:02 am.
We missed this wonderfully interesting talk! 
Did you guys video this or is this available on YouTube or something?
DAVID BC TAN Says:
17 October 2009 at 12:36 am.
Hi Pei Yin,
I think someone did video the talk, but I’ll have to find out. Sorry you were not able to be there.
David
Shirlee Sim Says:
3 December 2009 at 6:43 am.
Dear David,
I have a nephew who practically grew up in our home; that is staying with my sister and my mom, and only 1-2 days a week goes back to the parents. Hence my writing this email to you.
My 5yr old nephew is hyper-active in his kindy school. On a one-one-basis , when at home or with his teacher during tuition, he is ok. But put in a class and ask to do work in class, his teacher’s comments are that he seem lost. 1st year at kindy they commented he is autistic so we took him to doctors but was diagnosed as only hyper active and NOT autistic.
2nd year, change of teacher and my sister start teaching him an hour a day. He has improved alot. His kindy do not have sports or such activities incorporated into their curriculum; classes are in the classes mostly. Drawing and such likes.
At home – he watches the kid’s channel and his english is good. He is good in drawing, black and white but terrible with painting colors, only wants to mix and match to see what colors turn out. Recently he started to play with 2 older boys, neighbours – even if though there is a language barrier and when they break off to go back, he will tell me “i miss him” and his tears will fall. When talk about Sunday school he said he dont like the kids (same church as in the kindy), he wants to go ‘adults sunday school’.
When asked why he said its because he is slow.
I cant see anything wrong with him, except that he is a hyper active child. He welcomes school outings very much (I am really interested in your Lat camp).
I am thinking of homeschooling but unfortunately neither parents or me and my sister are capable of teaching him the national curriculum.
Can you offer some advice?
Sorry for the long email, but my nephew is sensitive and we are at a lost what to do with him.
Thank You
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