High School & Distance Ed.

Havn't done the big lap, but having a daughter in year 11 now and two sons who recently completed yr 12 I would not consider it. They will have plenty on their plates study wise which would detract from their enjoyment of the trip, and many subjects have substantial laboratory/practical elements which could not easily be completed on the road. I also know that access to their teachers when they had problems with their subjects was important.
So much can hinge on year 12 I would not risk it.
Just my 2 worth.

Graham

Hi Ian,
I studied high school via distance education centre (WA) in 1991-1992.

We werent travelling, but had no access to a Senior high school without hosteling which my parents could not afford.

I am sure schooling has changed since then, and more so now, is computer/internet based.
We had to post everything off and wait for replies etc. I had no assistance from web based info that is around now.
With todays technology, surely all work can be emailed through and perhaps even skype for calling.
The down side might be for them having to dedicate time for schooling and studies when some brilliant travelling/sightseeing might be done for the rest of the family (only for the parents?)
I am sure learning on the road, is more value than in the classroom, others may disagree, but for a dumb kid who failed at school, Distance Ed was a big growing up time. The biggest learning curve was travelling afterwards.
If you have to alter your plans slightly or stay longer in one place to accomodate the schooling of the kids, I wouldnt have thought its not that big a deal when you look at the big picture.
The kids are obviously included in this discussion and are obviously not concered about the 'friends' situation that many teenagers are, if they are part of the discussion.

So many courses now are web based or internet based, perhaps just investing in a good mobile internet package might be a sound move.

Good luck in your decision and travels. Your kids will thank you for it afterwards....

As an ex high school teacher I suggest that years 11 and 12 would pose difficulties by Distance Ed while travelling. It is quite a battle for students living at home without all the distractions of travelling and the communication problems involved. Yes internet access is a huge help but many of the best places to visit are out of reception for phone and Internet
Quite a bit depends on how keen and talented the students are and what subjects they wish to study. You really need to start with serious discussion with their current school and with your state's Distance Ed people to find out what is involved and what they recommend.
The trip would be a great experience for the kids. If this is the only year you can take the trip you could consider giving the kids a year's leave of absence from fulltime school and drop the pressure on them a bit. I doubt that any normal Year 11 or 12 student would be able to enjoy travelling and keep up the senior high school workload. Rather than risk disappointment and failure you could consider a year spent doing some supervised preparation work for a reasonable amount of time each week. Their school could probably help with setting this work, as should Distance Ed. The kids would have a better prepared and more experienced and mature approach to senior studies on return. A year's delay may seem a lot now but I have never known a senior student to be disadvantaged by being a year older in Year 12! Their friends won't really all disappear and their results will be better!
Good luck. Lynne
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Hi Ian
Sorry to be so negative but its the wrong time in their lives to be travelling full time. Should have done it earlier they need their study time. Then they are off to work so it looks like you left your run too late for the family lap. In a couple of years you and your wife can do it alone. Distance ED only goes to year 10. It is not set up for people travelling. It is set up for people that live in isolated areas or children with medical issues like mine and have the same mailing address that is utilised all the time, which is a problem while travelling we tried it. I have home tutored with Dist Ed so know from personal experience. I know of some people that have gone and bought books and have started their own curriculum's and in my opinion unless you have been a high school teacher or have home school all their school lives it will fail. My childrens school has a lot of home schooled children come in at year 9 or 10 to make sure they have the correct skills.
Before I finish how long was your plans of the Lap going to be that makes a big difference too. We have done half the lap but has taken over 11 years who says it has to be done in one year.
Sharon

My daughter's half way through yr 12. NO WAY would I take her away.

Apart from the schooling aspects it's the time of life when they form their strongest relationships with other students and start to feel their way in society. A big part of this time at school is the co-cirricular activities (in our case dancing and cheerleading) which can't be done on the road. Having a stable home where they can bring friends and familiar surroundings for social outings is also very important.

This is quite apart from the fact that for a young miss, camping is just not cool! ;-(

Hi Ian,

I am speaking from experience, we decided back in 2008 to tour this great land of ours we have 3 children - the 14yr old son decided he didn't want to go (mates ect are just SO important at that age) so he had the option of staying with his bio father for a while - this turned sour very quick and we flew him to Kununurra (this is where we were at the time) he went to school (so did the girls) whilst here. We then opted to do Distance ed with all 3 kids Jake doing yr 10 - it became SO hard we would spend 3/4 of the day just keeping up with the lessons, then Jake had to do a LOT of on line lessons so we HAD to be in internet range.

We as a family decided to finish the trip early and put the kids into school - Jake is now repeating yr10 (the distance ed curricullum is different to rest of QLD schools - don't know about other states).

You can check out our blogg at http://www.travelingoz.webs.com

if you have any other Q's please email me at carolinehys@yahoo.com.au

Cheers
Caz

Hi Ian,

Seems some great replies to the forum thread question and some people there who have 'travelled' and have the kids in that age bracket.

Some good 'real life' experience there from the replies.

The gereral consensus seems to be to wait till school is over, (sounds like just a couple years anyway) and then some great travelling without the kids.
Perhaps you may have a very close knit family, and want to share the experiences together, or perhaps a burden could also be taken off your plate with waiting. You will know your own circumstances and situation.

Perhaps a 'serious' discussion with the kids, explaining the realities of studies, or even the advice of speaking with their school/dist ed centre and more info gathering. Maybe the excitement of a year travelling round is clouding better judgement on yours and your kids, or maybe taking the extended break and have them join full time school again after a year or two is also a great option.

Only you know your circumstances.

It seems though, as I briefly touched on, that at that age 'friends' are a big input and a big influence.

From my own experience, dist ed was a big growing up time, had no one else to rely on and in my case, no one else to blame for bad grades, (which suddenly became good) and the travelling afterwards was an even bigger leanring curve on its own. 14 years away from Aust.
Each persons situation different, I moved out (kicked out) of home at 17, put myself through school last years of school, worked fulltime at the same time, left Australia at 20, travelled a large part of the other continents. Returning home in a few months with 3 houses paid for and a year or two more of travel round Aust in the planning.
Not too bad for a dumb kid that failed at school.

Have met many families making some serious overland treks and admit though that their kids were of the younger years.

Surely Ian,
Not a decision to be taken lightly, but what ever decision you do undertake, will be the right one without regrets.
In note to the family above with the 14 year old, perhaps they cut short their trip, but many people dream or talk of it, without actually doing it. At least they tried, they never failed, they gave it a good go. Thats the Aussie mentality, "give it a go".

Sorry for waffling, some great advice from families who fit both criteria, good luck with any decision and wish you all the best.

Thanks for the replie's people.
We did think it was going to a bit to much to juggle every thing and
make sure he get's a good go at his education.
Its was just a thought.
will stick to original plan,will wait till he's done.

Cheers Ian.

Hi Ian

My parents chose to postpone holiday plans until we finished school. Our trip grew from Mum and Dad debating whether it would be to Queensland or New Zealand, and it eventuated into almost a year doing a big global lap, and camping around the UK and Europe. This worked as a family for us, after which we went on with careers, social life etc. The family time together travelling was a wonderful experience and education on its own, but we had completed our year 12.

Unlike my parents who chose to take us - we waited until we could escape from our children - but they are pleased to see us go, and don't want to hide in our caravan!

Motherhen