Lortie's original conception of the apprenticeship of observation was one of conservative schooling practice and negative impact on teacher learning for school change. Schooling practices have changed in the 60 years since the original research that established the apprenticeship of observation as launch pad to teaching, changing prospective teachers' experience of schooling. This article shares the experience of one pre-service teacher who never attended school, having been home educated. The absence of an apprenticeship of observation in schools highlights the need to better understand the growing diversity of experience pre-service teachers bring to initial teacher education. This one pre-service teacher's experience raises the need to explore Lortie's conception in the context of contemporary school experience and the impact on learning to teach. Challenging the acceptance of Lortie's view to pre-service teachers' prior experience and the impact on learning to teach has significance for all teacher education programs.