Posted by Liz:

My name is Liz Naylor and I am writing to you from Halifax N.S. I am writing for two reasons.  We have two sons; an eleven year old and one fifteen, both homeschooled (and rather 'unschooled') all their lives. My fifteen year old son, Julian, has had a passion for dance; ballet/contemporary, for many, many years. This passion found him leaving his home in Halifax, last August, and moving to Montreal  to train professionally at École Superieure de Ballet Contemporain de Montréal (ESBCM). He began his first `schooled`adventure last Fall, at  the Pensionat St.-Nom-de-Marie, a french catholic private girl`s school in Outremont, the academic partner of ESBCM. Well, that was the antithesis of `unschooling`!!!

Being an unschooled, anglophone, 14yr old boy, in a Fracophone, catholic, private girl`s school, did not work out for my son. ESBCM, the dance school, has been very supportive and actually suggested he be homeschooled. So as of March, we cobbled together what can only be described as a long distance 'homeschooling' structure for our son.

There is my story (in short form) and here are my two questions. Julian will be returning again in the Fall to ESBCM. He dances every morning and it is during the afternoons that we `think outside of the box`and get creative. I would like to find out what activities might be available for him to participate in, or if there are some other 14-16yr. olds in your homelearners community that he might meet. His passion is the performing arts. He wants to be a contemporary dancer/choreographer. This Spring, he discovered the performances offered by the Cultural Centres in Montreal. He attended two performances and intends to attend as many as possible come the Fall. I have suggested to him that he inquire about volunteering at one of these centres. He is thinking about approaching the NDG Cultural Centre. So if you know of any other adolescents with similar interests, we would like to be introduced. Julian is coming home tomorrow for three weeks, but will return to Montreal for the month of July.

The next item is accomodation. He has been boarding with a couple who take in out of province/country students attending dance schools and Language Institutes in Montreal. He lives there full time and receives three meals a day. Sadly, this couple is no longer able to take in students and we need to find him accomodation for next year. He trains from Sept. to May, and returns for training in July.  I am putting out the word to every avenue I can think of, in the hopes that we find something for the Fall. Perhaps you know of a family who has taken in students? ESBCM is located near Laurier Metro Station. His tutoring sessions take place at the Lansdowne Tutoring Centre (Decarie and Queen Mary Road).

We, Julian's parents, both grew up in Montreal and we have some family still living in the city and just outside. Unfortunately, our family members are either too elderly, live in the suburbs, or are too young to be able to accomodate him. They are very supportive and do see him on a regular basis.

There is my  story. We never know where our parenting adventure will take us and to whom we will find ourselves reaching out, but here we are.  If you have any information for us, we would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Liz Naylor - liz.naylor@ns.sympatico.ca