Canaries in the Coalmine
Exploring Australian Teachers’ Homeschooling Decisions
We are thrilled to announce the publication of Canaries in the Coalmine: Australian Teachers Who Homeschool Their Children, a compelling new book by Dr. Rebecca English and Gemma Troughton, published under the Education Studies Collection by Lived Places Publishing.
This insightful work addresses a critical question: How can the dual identity of “teacher” and “parent” influence the decision to homeschool in Australia?
Meet the Authors
The authors bring direct experience and academic rigor to this topic:
- Rebecca English is both a qualified teacher and a homeschooler, currently serving as a Senior Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology.
- Gemma Troughton is also a teacher and homeschooler, and works as a sessional Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology.
Delving into Alternative Education
Canaries in the Coalmine explores the lived experience, pedagogy, community, and identity surrounding this educational choice. The book is based on interviews with Australian educators—spanning early childhood, primary, and high school levels—who have chosen to home educate their own children.
Through these interviews, Dr. English and Ms. Troughton explore how the educators’ professional experience shapes their understanding of themselves as both teachers and parents. The research delves into the specific reasons for following an alternative education path, the different approaches utilized by home educators, and how they navigate the contrasts and differences from mainstream education.
Key subjects examined in the book include schools, curriculum, and the pressing issue of teacher crisis. The contents include dedicated chapters exploring the difference between homeschooling and traditional school, examining “school choice,” and discussing the “tipping points” that lead teachers to remove their children from traditional environments.
Broader Implications for the Education Sector
Beyond personal stories of pedagogy and parenting, the book invites readers to consider the wider implications of this movement. The decision by professional educators to homeschool their children raises important questions about what this choice means for schools, the community, and crucially, the mounting teacher shortage.
This book is considered ideal reading for a wide audience, including:
- Students and practitioners of Education and Sociology.
- Teachers.
- Policy Makers and Education Administrators.
- Home Educators, Parents, and Guardians.
Accessibility and Availability
We are proud to announce that Canaries in the Coalmine is an Open Access title.
The book, which has 180 pages, will be available in all formats, including Paperback (ISBN 9781916704640, priced at AUD 49.99 & USD 34.95), Ebook (EPUB, ISBN 9781916704657), and Ebook (PDF, ISBN 9781916704664).
We encourage everyone interested in alternative education, teacher identity, and curriculum reform to read Canaries in the Coalmine!
