Meeting the Davis Family: A Case Study Examination of Values Education and Home Schooling

Abstract

This research examines values education of a home schooling family operating within Australia's education system, including a comparison the National Values Education framework. Home schooling as an alternative form of education is growing rapidly around the world, with current analysis suggesting that there are ten to twenty thousand children undergoing home schooling in Australia. Many parents choose this alternative education out of concern for the values being taught to their children. Research has reinforced the current priority being given to values education as an essential part of effective schooling, also the primacy of the home in values formation, and the importance of home and school working together. The aim of this study is to investigate whether home-schooled children are able to identify and enact values they have learned as part of their education, if there is a values system that has been passed between parents and children, and if the values education of a home schooling family fulfils the requirements of the Australian Government. The methodology chosen to explore this phenomenon was a case study of the Davis family. It was found that values education situated within home schooling did not disadvantage children. The results showed that values, as an educational goal and outcome were a high priority, intentional and fulfilled the requirements of the Australian Government. Also, the study confirmed that values education had real life and significant impact on the children of the Davis family. This research will be valuable not only for bridging a gap in literature, but also in attempting to focus attention on the need to understand the phenomenon of home schooling from all aspects, including values education.