Ottawa’s homeschoolers navigate the pandemic

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

When most of Ottawa was forced to lock down last March, homeschooling families were already well positioned in a safer situation. So how are the changes this year affecting homeschoolers?

One misconception is that, in normal times, homeschoolers are home 24/7 and isolated. “In a certain sense, what everyone had to experience during COVID is not typical homeschooling,” says Angie, the chairperson for the Rideau Valley Home Educators’ Association (RVHEA). “Last spring, when we were told to stay at home, that wouldn’t be typical as a homeschooler.”

RVHEA is a Christian organization which supports local homeschooling parents. Established over 30 years ago, the association now includes more than 200 families from Ottawa and the surrounding area.

“The idea was always to be a grassroots organization,” Angie shares. “To this day, RVHEA is very much dependent on the grassroots and the strengths and participation of the members.”

Most homeschoolers spend at least one day a week in a co-op with other students. These co-ops bring the students together for four subjects (one being gym) and other activities such as swimming lessons, music, ballet, and recreational outings.

“Homeschooling taught me a lot about myself and allowed me to get to know my children in a way that I was not able to when they were in school.”

“People have shifted to smaller groups, fewer outings, and [the larger] co-op days are cancelled for now. A lot of big group stuff is not happening.” Yet, the smaller groups and quieter play dates have their benefits. “It has probably gotten my family into gardening more, and my son has developed outdoor skills,” says Angie.

Lisa is a mother of 10 children. Seven of her 10 attended public school until Lisa and her husband became concerned that their children were not receiving adequate education to prepare them for the future. They also felt they were unable to effectively teach the children about their faith while in the public school system.

“We took our kids out of school [and began homeschooling],” shares Lisa. “Homeschooling has been enjoyable, most of the time. It definitely has been a challenge. It taught me a lot about myself and allowed me to get to know my children in a way that I was not able to when they were in school.”

With God’s help, Lisa says, homeschooling better enabled her to mould her children’s characters.

“They are learning about being responsible, keeping their word, being reliable, having self-control, and more. I can more effectively follow through with things like assignments, chores, and discipline.”

Provincial data shows Ottawa’s largest school board had 2,000 fewer enrollments than expected this fall, just in elementary schools.

As the years have passed, Lisa has certainly seen the benefits of homeschooling. Yet, as with so many things, COVID has made homeschooling more difficult. “We rely on being able to be out and do different activities. We are doing our best to keep a positive attitude.”

The pandemic caused large numbers of parents to question traditional schooling. In the last year, RVHEA saw an enormous increase in people inquiring about homeschooling on social media. While their membership rates have not yet increased, it may be that parents are trying to keep their contact numbers down during the pandemic.

Many parents of young children had their child pass on junior kindergarten this year. Other parents kept their child home, opting for virtual learning through the school board. Yet, a surprising number have left the public school system all together.

Provincial data shows Ottawa’s largest school board had 2,000 fewer enrollments than expected this fall, just in elementary schools. Those number are fairly consistent across the province, and homeschooling is experiencing major growth. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association recently reported that preliminary data suggests homeschooling rates have more than doubled this year, across Canada.

Despite the misconceptions around homeschooling, it seems to be increasing in prominence and acceptance in the public sphere.