Joe Nicholson/The Olympian
Olympia's Aliyah Meena Shanti, who is home schooled by her parents, scored a perfect 800 on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The 14-year-old is enrolled in college courses in chemistry and Latin.

Student excels in home school

ALMA D. SHARPE THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Aliyah Meena Shanti, a home-schooled Olympia eighth-grader, is years ahead of her peers.

For one thing, the 14-year-old doesn't have to worry about doing well on the college preparatory Scholastic Aptitude Test. She has taken it twice.

On her most recent attempt, she scored a perfect 800 in the verbal section and 680 out of 800 in the math, putting her among the nation's top students.

While her parents have rearranged their lives around her education and that of her 11-year-old sister, Meera, they don't take credit for her achievements, academic and otherwise.

"She's done it all herself," said her mother, Ellen Sawislak.

Self-motivated

Shanti has directed much of her own education. At 20 months old, her mom said, Shanti decided she'd play the violin.

"She made an announcement and said that we'd better buy her one," Sawislak said.

They weren't disappointed when they followed their daughter's lead.

Shanti is a gifted composer who plays the violin and oboe with Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia. She sings with the Tacoma Youth Chorus.

At age 6, Shanti was reading Shakespeare. Five years ago, she and Meera were captivated by telescopes and eventually built one with the help of their parents.

Her interest in natural science led her to her job as a docent at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.

She is enrolled in a chemistry class at South Puget Sound Community College and is learning Latin through an extension program with the University of Colorado.

Teacher's role

The key to turning children into captive learners is to pursue their interests, Sawislak said.

"If you take them seriously, it's easier for them to be passionate about learning because they know you will help them find the way," she said.

Shanti, who wants to be a lawyer when she grows up, is quick to admit she's not good at everything: She hates rote memorization, and she doesn't like writing on demand.

Asked if she ever wishes she could go to public school, Shanti is pragmatic.

"I wouldn't have time to do all the things I want to do and go to school," she said. "I don't think I would like it anyway."

What many parents might see as a daunting task has proven to be a satisfying job for Shanti's parents. Home-schooling, they said, allows them to learn with their children, not necessarily to be teachers.

Shanti's dad, David Albert, works for the state. He wrote a book about the experience of home-schooling his daughters.

"And the Skylark Sings With Me: Adventures in Homeschooling and Community-Based Education," is published by New Society Publishers, which he co-founded.

Sawislak, a massage therapist who also does respite care for Alzheimer's patients, said the couple decided to home-school their children when they saw their potential.

They didn't worry that they'd run out of ideas of what -- or how -- to teach.

"Education is our children's business," she said.

"We set the goals with them, but we don't spend a lot of time teaching. We're more like managers."

Alma D. Sharpe covers education for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-754-4226 or asharpe@olympia.gannett.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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