Rev. Dr. Lam

(Religious Advisor of HSA)

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Homeschooling by  Chun Lam

The educational model of “homeschooling” was introduced to me through interactions with Christian overseas missionaries. These missionaries often reside in remote tribal areas where conventional schools and curricula are unavailable for their children. Some tribes even lack a written language, making traditional educational systems unsuitable. Consequently, missionary parents take on the roles of teachers, principals, and school staff, utilizing external textbooks and their own schooling experiences to educate their children. These missionaries learn as they teach, sometimes inviting active teachers to guest-teach for a few weeks, providing a break for the parents and a fresh experience for the children. Most of these children, upon growing up, successfully integrate into schools or universities in their parents’ home countries or in Western institutions.

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During the flourishing period of Western missionary work from the 17th to the 20th centuries, homeschooling was quite common. However, its development among Chinese communities is still in its infancy and requires further growth. This educational model should not be seen merely as a reactive choice for missionary children but as a proactive schooling option. It offers a viable educational pathway for students before they graduate from secondary school, providing an excellent alternative in our diverse, globalized, and postmodern society.

 

Dr. Lai Mei Kei Vivien has personally implemented this model in Hong Kong, a society lacking awareness and understanding of homeschooling. She has worked tirelessly, overcoming numerous challenges to advocate for and realize this educational model for her daughter, achieving remarkable success. This process has demonstrated that homeschooling is a suitable educational model for her daughter’s growth, paving the way for this educational approach in Hong Kong. Dr. Lai’s experiences and related theories and research, published in this book, are expected to lay a crucial foundation for promoting homeschool education in Hong Kong and potentially in the broader Chinese community.