Teacher Resigns to Homeschool Daughter After School Bus Route Cancellation
A teacher from Hawkes Bay has made the difficult decision to resign from her job in order to homeschool her daughter after the cancellation of a crucial school bus route. This situation has sparked discussions about the impact of transportation cuts on rural families and the challenges they face in accessing education.
Key Takeaways
- A teacher resigned to homeschool her daughter after the cancellation of a school bus route.
- The Ministry of Education reviewed and cut several rural bus routes due to low student numbers.
- The teacher expressed concerns about the social and educational impact on her daughter.
Background of the Situation
KC Jordan, a dedicated teacher who specialized in play-based learning for children with learning difficulties, found herself in a challenging position when the Ministry of Education announced the cancellation of the bus route that her daughter used to travel to Sacred Heart College in Napier. The route, which served the small community of Te Pōhue, was deemed inefficient due to a lack of students utilizing the service.
The cancellation of the bus route was part of a broader review that affected 290 routes, with 39 being cut or amended. Jordan's daughter had been commuting approximately 43 kilometers, which equated to an 80-minute round trip by car. The loss of this service left Jordan with no choice but to resign from her teaching position at the local primary school to take on the role of a full-time educator for her daughter.
The Impact on Education
Jordan described the situation as a "nightmare," emphasizing the unfairness of losing a long-standing service that had been integral to their community. She expressed her concerns about the social interactions her daughter misses out on by not attending school, stating, "She misses their social interaction at school, one-on-one with different teachers for different subjects."
Starting her new routine, Jordan now drives her youngest daughter to Te Pōhue School before returning home to assist her eldest with online learning through the Te Kura platform. She noted that adapting to this new method of education has been a struggle, particularly since it is not an ideal way of learning for her daughter, who is accustomed to a traditional classroom environment.
Challenges Faced by Rural Families
The cancellation of the bus route has not only affected Jordan's family but has also prompted other families in the area to consider relocating. Jordan expressed her reluctance to leave their rural lifestyle, stating, "I shouldn't have to uplift, you know, our rural life to go somewhere where we're not happy."
The Ministry of Education has stated that the changes aim to address inefficiencies in the school transport network, but many rural families feel the impact of these decisions acutely. The criteria for receiving ministry-funded transport assistance require a minimum of eight students using the bus, which often excludes smaller communities.
Conclusion
The decision by KC Jordan to resign from her teaching position to homeschool her daughter highlights the broader issues faced by rural families regarding access to education. As the Ministry of Education continues to review transportation services, the voices of affected families like Jordan's are crucial in advocating for equitable access to education for all students, regardless of their location.