A mom sparks controversy after removing her 12-year-old daughter from school to homeschool her, raising concerns among educators and parents.
Kat Clark, an Australian influencer from the Gold Coast, has recently decided to homeschool her 12-year-old daughter, Deja.
This choice comes after considering their family’s unique lifestyle and the opportunities that have arisen for both Kat and Deja.
The mom explains the reason for the shift from traditional schooling
Kat, who has a large following on TikTok, hosts a popular podcast called “Basically Besties” with her older daughter Latisha.
She shared her thoughts on why traditional schooling was no longer working for their family.
In the past, Deja thrived in a regular school setting.
However, since Kat transitioned to a new career that involved a lot of travel, the daily school routine became challenging.
“Deja did well in primary school,” Kat said.
“But now, my work often takes me to Sydney and beyond. We found that we had to take her out of school quite frequently.”
This frequent absence from school made it clear to Kat that a different educational approach was needed.
“Deja’s even starting to get opportunities as well now, so 9-3, Monday to Friday schooling isn’t working for us because we’ve found that we’ve had to take her out of school quite a bit.”
@katclark Deja starts homeschooling next year ❤️
Mom took 12-year-old daughter out of school to homeschool her
She embraced new opportunities
Kat believes that homeschooling will allow Deja to take advantage of new opportunities.
Recently, Deja received offers aligned with her interests, and Kat wanted to ensure she wouldn’t miss out.
“We think that’s best for her, just because we don’t want her to miss out on these opportunities.
TikTok takes a lot of time. It’s just what works for our family,” the mother said.
The influencer mentioned the benefits of flexibility
One of the great things about homeschooling, according to Kat, is that it offers the freedom to schedule learning around their lives.
This flexibility means Deja can engage in activities that might not be possible within the confines of a traditional school day.
“If she doesn’t enjoy homeschooling, she can always return to regular school next year,” Kat said. This option gives them both peace of mind.
Kat also wants to support her daughter’s dreams and aspirations
Kat also emphasizes the importance of supporting Deja’s dreams, whatever they may be.
“If she wants to be a doctor or a lawyer in the future, we will encourage her,” she said.
“But right now, her interests lie elsewhere, and we want to help her explore those paths.”
The relationship between Kat and her daughters is very close.
Kat enjoys working with Deja and Latisha, describing it as fun and rewarding. “It’s like working with my best friends,” she stated.
This close bond is a significant factor in their decision to homeschool.
The reaction to Kat’s decision has been mixed.
Many Australians have shared their thoughts online, with some applauding her choice.
One commenter noted that they would support their child if they showed maturity and direction.
Another teacher expressed that it’s important not to force children to stay in a system that does not suit them.
What bothers me more than homeschooling is their frequent air travel.
Kids shouldn’t be exposed to higher sun radiation that frequently, one user said.
She’s going through a registered homeschool program. Many students are educated through the same process every year and are highly successful.
Alternate education pathways don’t equate to uneducated children, the second user wrote.
It’s worked for some and not others. Dropping out of school to do it is the families choice at the end of the day, the third user said.
Ridiculous. Plenty of time for the child to do social media when she’s an adult and finished her formal education, another wrote.
Maybe the mom will do a good job with the homeschooling, but it sounds like she is just using the child as a prop in her “influencer” scheme, someone said.