Oliver Kent is a thirteen-year-old student, but he doesn't go to school. He's homeschooled. His dad is his teacher and teaches Oliver at home.
"People always ask me the same questions," says Oliver. "Things like ‘What time do you have to get up? When do you start? When do you finish? Do you like it?' They don't understand(理解) homeschooling, but I love it! I can get up when I want to, and I have lessons at different times every day."
"Dad doesn't work. I study at home with him, and we sometimes go to museums and talk about what we see. I have a swimming teacher because Dad can't swim. I'm in a football club, too. I have English, math and history on the computer. Dad teaches me art and the other subjects."
Homeschooling is popular(受欢迎的) in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and many other countries. But Brazil, Greece, Cuba, Turkey and 24 other countries say "no" to homeschooling.
What about friends? "People often ask me that question," says Oliver. "I have lots of friends. Most of them go to school and that's the right thing for them. My friend Ella is homeschooled by her mom. We can discuss(讨论) things about homeschooling. Other people don't understand, but for us it's normal."
Does Oliver think he is different from other thirteen-year-olds?
"No. I watch the same things on TV like other children. I play the same games, I worry(担忧) about the same things and I eat the same food! I learn the same things. It's just that I learn them in a different way(方式)."
