To date, homeschooling research has focused mainly on homeschool educators' perspectives.Heeding homeschool learners' voices is essential for trustworthy understanding of the homeschool context. This article reports findings regarding one homeschool learner-participant's views and experiences from a qualitative, multiple case-study of four homeschools. Findings concerning the mother are presented as context for the learner's meaning-making. Homeschool educators and learners were interviewed concerning their discourses and perspectives regarding their respective homeschools. Projections were used, exploring participants' meanings at a deeper level, and three sessions of non-participating observation in each homeschool. The views of the homeschool learners and their homeschool educators corresponded somewhat, but also indicated important differences. The homeschool educators in the study appeared convinced of acting in their children's best interests, yet often without accommodation or awareness of their particular needs. On a conscious level, the homeschool learners bowed to the educators' wishes and did not communicate their needs or feelings. On a deeper level, lack of congruence occurred between homeschool educators' and learners' views. This is discussed from a bio-ecological perspective, thus with due regard both for developmental factors and the entire context of each homeschool. We consider implications of the findings for homeschool practice, further research and policy.

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Agtergrond Kindermishandeling is 'n sosiale probleem met verreikende gevolge. Ernstige onderrapportering van gevalle vind plaas, en geen studies kon opgespoor word wat die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks van die probleem ondersoek nie. In hierdie studie is gepoog om die profiel van die slagoffers van noodlottige kindermishandeling in die Suid-Vrystaat te ondersoek. Metodes Alle kindersterftes van kinders van tien jaar en jonger is uit die register van sterftes by die SAPD-(Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens-)lykshuis, Bloemfontein, geïdentifiseer. Hierdie sterftes se verslae is vir gevalle van noodlottige kindermishandeling geëvalueer. Irrelevante verslae is geëlimineer totdat 'n groep moontlike gevalle van noodlottige kindermishandeling verkry is. In gevalle waar daar twyfel oor die oorsaak van dood was, is 'n kliniese assistent in Geregtelike Geneeskunde geraadpleeg. In sommige gevalle het die assistent aanbeveel dat 'n geskiedenis uit polisieverslae verkry moes word. Indien gevalle nie op so 'n wyse bevestig kon word nie, is dit in die sogenaamde 'grys area' ingesluit. Negentien gevalle is geïdentifiseer en vier is in die grys area geplaas. Resultate Uit die 19 gevalle was die meerderheid vroulik (14). Die mediaanouderdom van slagoffers was twee jaar. Die slagoffers toon 'n eweredige verspreiding t.o.v. ras. Geen patroon kon geïdentifiseer word in die jaarlikse en maandelikse verspreiding van sterftes nie. Die meeste van die slagoffers, 73.7% (14 van 19 gevalle), was van normale massa, en geen slagoffers het aan 'n wanvoedingsiekte gely nie. Hoofbeserings was die algemeenste oorsaak van sterftes (63.2%), gevolg deur veelvuldige beserings (21.2%). Gevolgtrekking Indien dokters bedag is op die tekens van kindermishandeling, kan gevalle vroeg geïdentifiseer word. Sodoende kan 'n beduidende verlaging in mortaliteit en morbiditeit bewerkstellig word.