In my article about Jerry Wilson Education Platform from his 2010 Gubernatorial Election, I talked about the importance of curriculum reform. If Public Education is going to serve us it needs to be reformed. In the absence of that, or possibly as a more structural reform of education, there are many resources becoming available to facilitate education at home, whether through Home Schooling, or as after-school (or post school for Adults) supplemental education.
http://freeindependentsun.com/republic/true-education-reform-jerry-wilson-for-governor-of-oregon/
It is possible to create a solid curriculum at home and with the use of community resources. Martial Arts classes can be great Physical Education (some school districts even allow students to be exempt from P.E. based on Martial Arts participation). Music and Art classes can be found within a community. Sports as well can be found within the community. With the help of the following resources and the general approach they take, a home school education can be just as social and productive, if not more so, than public or private education.
In addition to community resources, there are many software resources that help facilitate automated, or assisted, education for students and adults.
Math and Science
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is an website tutorial program, with automated testing, hundreds of instructional videos and progress tracking system for your student. It offers the ability to bring Math and Science education to anyone in the entire English Speaking world. While there are a couple politically motivated sections (mostly based on prevailing economic theories), the majority is non-biased science and mathematics education.
Sal Khan at Gel 2010 (founder, the Khan Academy) from Gel Conference on Vimeo.
Typing
http://freeindependentsun.com/technology/dvorak-less-stress-more-efficient-worth-the-effort/
There are many typing training programs on the Internet. I’d recommend to transition to the Dvorak type set and begin training in that (or start your student off with it, never having to “relearn” off of QWERTY). In addition, if you can afford it, grab a TypeMatrix Keyboard. This, in addition to Dvorak, will make both you and your student a more efficient typer (and reduce carpal tunnel syndrome).
http://freeindependentsun.com/technology/the-keyboard-of-the-future-typematrix-2030-review/
Language
I recently published an article on a few techniques and resources to use for at home language education. It involves a couple articles written by Tim Ferris in which he breaks down the basic structure of language, and the 100 most used words, to get anyone started on learning any language. In addition, I show how to immerse yourself in a language by incorporating music, film and video games from that culture into your everyday life.
http://freeindependentsun.com/technology/home-immersion-how-to-learn-a-new-language/
Tutoring
There are a number on tutorial websites, where tutors sign up to offer assistance to students around the world.
Gardening and Farming
Outside of the Internet there are a lot of valuable resources for complete “home based” education (non-institutionalized).
You can find a number of farms in your area through WWOOF-USA. While the site is dedicated to finding long term on site interns, many farms will except student interns as well. I’d suggest finding a local farm and asking them if your student (or you yourself) can work out a time and day to come by for regular learning/helping. The Farm is a great classroom, with water retention teaching gravity and physics for example. In conjunction with a solid science and math education, students can directly apply what they learn on the computer to what they learn on the land.
For Further Thought
Gameful
Gameful is a network of game developers creating games for the goal of making the world a better place. Many of these games are educational games. This could be a great forum to lobby game developers to create games for your educational needs.
PLATO
PLATO was a now defunct military computer network develop to facilitate education and training. The idea would be great for the development of a modern system and network designed to teach the youth of the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PLATO_%28computer_system%29
Jack Wagner is the Editor of The Free Independent-Sun. Born in Sonoma, California and currently residing in San Francisco, Jack set up The Free Independent-Sun on July 4th, 2009, after sleeping in and not making his usual trip up north for his hometown festivities. He figured he'd do something revolutionary to make up for it. In the Summer of 2010 Jack registered Seraf Media with the City and County of San Francisco as a Sole-Proprietorship. He is dedicated to articulating the finer points of the Revolution in order to bring about a Global Renaissance and Abundant World Economy. He also isn't afraid to get his hands dirty transplanting succulents. 
