Freedom for children to grow

[badgermind]

I have today written to my MP using the words below to express my opposition to the proposals for home education contained in the Children Schools and Families Bill which has its second reading on Monday 11 January.

Freedom for Children to Grow

Education Otherwise on the proposals

Letter organised by Brighton home educators - please sign if you

Comments

[madda_gaska]

Speaking as someone who did go to a private school for part of my education, they are an extremely mixed bag.

You're by no means guaranteed to receive a better education or to be in a nicer environment. Indeed, the only thing that is guaranteed is that you will be paying more money.

I think the key is not necessarily which school the kids go to but their attitude- unfortunately I went through school with the attitude that the teachers were there to help me learn. If I'd treated them as obstacles to learning and fought until they actually let me work at the level I should've been then I might've been much better off (education-wise) now.

I think your point regarding the social environment is the most significant benefit of schools- despite the rampant hatred of anything deemed abnormal (be it appearance, aptitudes (except in sport, where excellence appears to be seen as acceptable), or attitude).

In my view, the most important thing is to make sure the child in question realises that school is a tool- and one that may not be best suited to them. They should be encouraged to get the most out of it they can, but not to let it hold them back (which it will for anyone with a modicum of ability, even if only by not putting pressure on them to do better).

However, I do agree with Robin's arguments against this home-schooling plan- specifically:
1. Abuse is the domain of social services. LEA officials might report suspected abuse but they should not be the ones determined to find it (even where it might not exist).
2. The majority of the powers granted to the LEA are very arbitrary in how they are interpreted. A given official could cause trouble for a given home-schooling situation simply due to a personal bias.

As for bullying... yes, I think that most schools just don't have a clue how to handle it. All they do to deal with it is keep pointing out that bullies are victims too. Boohoo for them, they can go be a victim of a car accident as far as I care.

Funnily enough, despite agreeing with you on the social thing, I met most of my friends outside of school and the school system left me with a lot of long term damage that will never be fully undone... but I'll agree anyway!

S