Home-schooling at Desa Amal Jireh
Posted by DAVID BC TAN under: News on 14 Dec 2009.
Here’s another report in the STAR on Desa Amal Jireh (Desa Charity Village or DAJ) a home for underprivileged children in Broga near Semenyih. Children who did not previously have a chance at a proper education are given one. It’s commendable work and worthy of every support. Do check out the news report, and take a look at the photo and its caption:
“Classroom setting: It may be home-schooling but students at the Desa Amal Jireh Home School observe school hours and are suitably attired for studies”
While I am delighted at the good work that DAJ is doing, I cannot understand why the centre’s operators and the reporter (who should have at least put in a modicum of research) insist on calling this HOMESCHOOLING?
Surely one purpose for the acquisition of knowledge is to clarify meaning and enlarge one’s understanding. Words are important, and that’s why what they mean and how we use them have far-reaching consequences. When definitions are misapplied it does little favour for the cause of homeschool; worse, it simply confuses the public, spreads misinformation, and completely misrepresents parents who are really homeschooling by educating their own children at home.
My previous post on DAJ and ‘homeschool’ may be found here.
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