Not a parent but curious

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I'm really interested in education and what's right for a child rather than what's right by the parents and/or local authorities. I'm not a parent but I know that when I do have kids I'd prefer to take an approach more centered around the child, be that HE or formal schooling.

But at the moment I'm just very curious about HE, I've met a few HE kids before but have never looked into the 'system' much and now I'm starting to look I'm wondering if my local HE group would mind me contacting them and maybe tagging along on some events or something just to see what they do.

If this were you or your group, would you mind a relatively odd young woman tagging along or poking her nose in? Would I be better avoiding doing it and just researching it more via the internet?
I don't want to offend anybody or make them feel that I'm studying them and their methods. I'm genuinely just curious, especially after spending so much time volunteering in schools and disliking the formality of the systems in place there!

[ommmward]

If you were in my area, I'd grab you and get you to come and play with do important educational activities with my children on a weekly basis. Best way to learn about HE is to make gingerbread with my offspring while I have a break

Just email your local list and watch the offers to meet up flood in

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Hi PorphyrophillicPixie
I agree with Orm, if you lived near me, Id invite you round for a chat - and a crawl about playing a game or read a story to my kids.
I love talking to interested people about our approach to HE.

[LauraIngallsWilder]

You might have to prove to people you arent a hairy arsed trucker first though

[ommmward]

ooh, lauraingallswilder, are you prejudiced against hairy arsed truckers????

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

ommmward: I'd find that great fun lol Especially if I got permission to do some 'educational' volcano exploding too ;)

Riven: Not yet, but definately in the next year or two (depending on when we move out and how soon we get married as that's a prerequiste for OH!) and I'd definately like to consider HE! It's why I've started to think more about education types now and seeing hows it done before I get to the point of needing to think about it more seriously.

Laura: I'm very interested in the different approaches which is why I want to contact local parents who do HE, especially to see the differences and how it benefits the children and the families as a whole But I'm still worried about coming across as a nosy parker (which I am actually... )

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I didn't see that comment! I promise I'm not a hairy arsed trucker ;)

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I've found a noth essex yahoo group but they don't want anybody to join unless they are HE'ers themselves so I'll respect that, just wondering if anybody knew of other groups? I googled and found a Clacton one but all of their sites are down or not there anymore? I'd expect Colchester to have something but can't find anything. I know that there are HE'ers around here because of the controversy with the schools and them being in the papers

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

*north

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Porph - I am its true very prejudiced against hairy arsed truckers (MNetters are in general I have noticed!) but I believe you arent one!

The trouble is all the email lists I have come across for HE make the same stipulation about you being a parent who is already HEing or about to, in order to join the list which is a shame but I can understand why.

Maybe there is an Essex MNetter who HEds who would like to meet up and share the HE joy with you - might be worth a try?

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I feel very stupid now lol I'll browse through my MN local and see if anybody is up for enlightening me

[LauraIngallsWilder]

Nooooo dont feel stupid! I think your attitude is great - an open minded/interested opinion on HE is definately a good thing
I will be interested to read about what you find/discover!

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I'll be interested in what I find out too I'm so curious now, really want to see how it works and will spend some time browsing this part of MN now! I'm such a big advocate on children learning through play and through everyday life as opposed to the formality in classrooms, especially for under 6/7's, and I know that I would have benefitted a lot more from HE throughout highschool if given the chance but I can see the pros and cons of formal education as well so I'm looking forward to seeing what I can learn and using that knowledge to help me at work and when I have my own kids

[FlamingoBingo]

Come and play with my children, Porph Bit far from you though, sadly.

I have to say that I wouldn't see a problem with anyone interested in HE coming along to one of our meets. I can understand them not wanting you to join their HE list, but just coming to a meet to talk to HEors? Seems a bit mean-spirited to me.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

I must admit that I don't blame their not wanting any non-HEors in the lists, not with the media that HE gets. I think the problem with it is for those thinking of switching to HE but aren't sure on the area, they'd never have anyone in the area to speak to about it before the switch and therefore potential HEors wouldn't know of local people doing the same and wouldn't get to meet them or find out more firsthand iyswim?

I've emailed a person who organises stuff in Southend, but there are no websites or anything about people closer to Colchester which is a shame.

[CardyMow]

It's why I haven't made the final step to HE, as it seems impossible to find out what's there in your area (I'm Colchester too) before you actually HE, and DS2's dad refuses to LET me HE until I can show him all the groups/meets etc thast I'll be able to access. Leaving me in a bit of a catch 22 situation...

[SDeuchars]

This is not necessarily the case. I mod the Yahoo! list for N Wiltshire and we regularly add people who are just looking.

Loudlass as you are actively looking to start, I would think that you'd be very likely to be accepted. FYI, the latest EO contact list has 90 families in Essex and the Essex local co-ordinator can be emailed on [email protected].

[SDeuchars]

I've just checked the Dec EO newsletter (my Feb one has not yet arrived) and there are monthly meetings in Colchester plus others for specific activities. There is an email newsletter available from the local contact.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Loudlass: I think it's fair enough to want to know before you do it, I certainly would like to know what support I'd be getting locally before making a big decision like that. I hope that you manage to find out smoe more before you start!

[CardyMow]

Essex is a very large county. 90 families doesn't sound that many...When I can't drive, how many of them are likely to be within public transport reach of my local area?? But then, monthly meetings in Colchester does sound like there must be a few here...

[pooter]

There is LOADS of stuff going on in Colchester and surrounding areas. My DS is only just 3, so i just go to the toddler meeting for those intending to do it, but i know that when he is a bit older we could be out virtually every day doing stuff like streetdance, science workshops, yoga, drumming, crafts, chess etc etc, and that isnt including all the trips the groups make.

Im not actually part of the HE scene at the mo but i do know that if you were seriously thinking about it, you should get in touch with the EO coordinator - as listed above.

I think we are all feeling a little worried about the Badman report, so perhaps not as open and welcoming as usual.

As for ppixie having a nose - for us, there is nothing to see! We are just a normal family doing toddler type activities - the difference being we intend to carry on doing whatever he feels like when he reaches school age. I have LOADS of books about HE, so if you ever come to a MN meet up i can let you borrow them. It's hard to 'see' learning taking place in an autonomous setting - and i do have occasional 'wobbles' that we are doing the right thing by our boy, but I just have to trust that learning will occur, and be more valuable for being instigated by him than anyone else.

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

pooter: Where on earth do they do all this and organise it?! This is one thing that amazes me about HE families, how much the kids do during the school day which would be partially run by an outside company (dancing and things).

Pooter: I keep getting told that

I am curious about another thing now: Do any HE families have nannies from anybodies knowledge? I'd be really keen to nanny for a HE family, especially if I were to HE myself at some point. Either that or I'd like to take up some outdoors instructing which would require me to have a nanny for my own children whilst I work. So do Nannies/Mother's Helps/Au Pairs and HE-ing go together?

[Tinuviel]

We have a 'nanny' but she is a friend through church as well. She only comes in on Fridays when we are both at work. She keeps an eye on them while they finish any work they haven't got done Mon-Thurs (we are structured); does sewing and cooking with DS2 and DD; and keeps an eye on DS1 while he cooks tea for all of us. She then takes DD to dancing, where I pick her up and take her home before going back for DD and then running around like a lunatic trying to get everyone to activities (Friday night is quite hectic!) and pick up DH.

The boys are old enough now to be left for an hour or so while DD is at dancing and DS1 has tea ready to serve when we get in.

She also irons the children's clothes which makes her a star!

[PorphyrophillicPixie]

Haha, I love how ironing makes anybody a star on MN Looks like I may have to offer nannying work "and ironing" and see if that gets me anywhere

[lilyfire]

We home ed and have a nanny one day a week as well, when we are both at work. She takes the boys to a home ed group if its on, or to the park, a museum, cinema, swimming or whatever if its not. We know families who have nannies for more of the week than this, even full-time. Seems to work well.