To wonder what’s so bad about school?

Probably a daft Q - but homeschooling isn’t an option for many people - as most two parent families work. So is she really talking homeschooling here or does she mean private tutor?

Schools are just not like they used to be.. high schools can be more strict than being in the army.. my school days were lovely.. the teachers were fun.. ( im talking early 70s).. now its all about numbers .. my Grandkids are all home schooled or were.. two are now 18 n 21 and at University.. which is more relaxed and how high schools used to be.

Three children here who have all loved school.

Unusually low intelligence? Surely she would need support in her day to day life?

A lot of adults have trauma from being at school themselves. That's not a word I use lightly. I finished school 2 decades ago yet I can vividly remember some behaviour towards certain children, from both teachers and other kids, that still makes me feel physically shaky. Someone deliberately trying to upset you when you are a child, your parents are not there and you cannot defend yourself, is a particularly horrendous feeling that stays with you.

So yeah I think a lot of these kids when they become parents themselves are hellbent that their DC won't ever have that same experience, whatever the cost.

Sadly I do think kids who love school are the exception not the rule. How can one teacher possibly monitor 30+ kids in a room at all times, every day, and ensure they are all emotionally ok?

Oh I agree, I don't think she's daft at all, I just wouldn't really call her a businesswoman when it's highly unlikely she's actually running any part of her business, her input is unlikely to go beyond maybe offering some design ideas, modeling the designs on her page and carefully maintaining her own public image so the brand stays popular.

There are plenty of LI contestants who have come out and absolutely bombed or embarrassed themselves though so she is obviously more sensible and savvy than the majority.

You also have to remember that Tommy is from a traveller background where children do not attend school
I remember her making a throwaway comment when she was pregnant about how of course the baby would go to school. That’s just what happens.
Somebody will dig that sound bite up shortly and present her with it no doubt

100% this. She/her team have worked out that a post speculating about home schooling will get a load of hits and comments, spawn a MN thread (which will lead some people to look at her insta), probably get picked up by tabloid papers, maybe even a Loose Women discussion or This Morning phone in, if they are lucky. She keeps her views, likes and followers up. Brands still want to pay her lots of money. Happy days for Mollie.

There is also a Very Online home-ed community (which I know is not representative of the whole community) who seem to see part of their mission as advocating for home-ed in every possible space, or because they are monetizing their home-ed content while they don't work a traditional job in order to home-ed. Those people will jump on Mollie's post in order to press their case and re-direct to their own content (click here for my resources!). And so the attention economy goes on.

95% of people send their kids to school with a normal level of anxiety (will they miss me, will someone listen to them if they have a problem) and deep down knowing that their kids will have some tough moments and learn to cope. For 90% of kids, this will be true. We just hear about the 10% who opt out or for whom school doesn't work because their experience is outside the norm. Which is not to say it's not important, or meaningful, or shouldn't be addressed that some kids struggle, and that changes to schooling have increased that number.

If a child struggles with lessons but has good friends and extracurricular times, they'll cope.

If a child struggles with break times but enjoys lessons, they'll cope.

If a child struggles with lessons and break times, each day is torture.

I have 3 children. All have been broken by their education. Not the fault of individual teachers. But the fault of governments (do note the plural - I'm not being political) who think that the answer to poor attainment and aspirations in some groups of pupils is to drag the curriculum further and further out of reach of the low attainers.

What practical use is it for children to be taught about split digraphs? They need to learn to read, and read for enjoyment.

When a year 10 pupil, working hard with no learning disability, in a 'good school' is working at grade 1 in GCSE English and that is communicated to the parents by a report card with no further communication... You've got to think that something has gone wrong.

Fivelegged So John Major, the former prime minister of our great country. only famously had 2 0 Levels. Does that make him "thick" then? I have no idea of MM qualifications ,but I am guessing being an Influencer is probably harder than it appears . She will probably engage a private Tutor anyway . Some Schools are good ,some average and a great deal lacking TBH.I am sure she and her DH are capable of selecting the right HE for their child!

As a secondary teacher of 25 years, I recognise parents concerns. The desire to control kids’ every action in and out of school has become obsessional . I think it’s the software that makes teachers log every misdemeanour, knowing they’ll be monitored by HTT and disciplined if they’re not punishing enough. Parents then get multiple notifications and the overall impression is of punitive environments. When I started teaching, you had to go to the staff room and look up the parents’ phone number in a big book, then wait for the one phone to be free, if you wanted the head of year to intervene you filled out a slip and put it in their pigeon hole, where it probably stayed! Everyone was much happier and you could have a good laugh with the kids and sometimes a beer with your colleagues after school. Results were good and it was unusual to meet a kid with autism/ADHD or a burnt out teacher whereas now it’s the norm .

Home schooling is a bit trendy at the moment. If you have bright, unproblematic and generally well behaved dc with no particular sen then they will be just great at school, as most dc are.

I think schools are getting stricter. I have several friends who teachers and they all saying things like behaviour is getting worse. One of them (secondary school teacher) even said they are recruiting a behaviour specialist.

However most children do go to school, even though increasing numbers are being home educated.

As a PP has said school is not for everyone. DB failed all his GCSEs twice, left school at 16. Then worked ar Iceland …. But eventually did his A Levels at night school and then got a good degree at a good uni.

Well, I’m not sure whether you’re missing out or not 😂
But mine were in them from the age of three, but they were rubbing shoulders with local footballers children again. I’m not sure whether that’s an advantage or something to hide from.

You’ve got to have a certain amount about you to even put yourself into those positions like Love Island in the first place. I certainly wouldn’t have the confidence to go on it.
But then you look at for example the footballer of what was he called Micheal Owen, the guy that played for Liverpool. His daughter Gemma went on there and She’s done and achieved nothing with her exposure.
She may not be traditionally intelligent, but she’s not daft either

They will have the funds to buy all the services they want and ensure their child has every possible experience going. Home ed doesn't mean a parent teaching their child in isolation or even at all (I make coffee for the team who teach dd I don't teach her at all)

@Mosman2020 my DD is 11 and has just started wearing a blazer and tie and my DS has never had to wear one. I don't know any schools in our small town have boaters.

It’s just such an unnatural environment for little children. We lived abroad where they had a very play based curriculum and my kids just lit up. Having spent years stuffed into blazers boaters and shirts and ties, to be running barefoot on the grass every afternoon having got through English and maths in the morning was so refreshing.

My DD has had loads of opportunities through school that have given her lots of confidence. My DS loves his (specialist) school though that might be because he never has to do academic work.

Agreed, I wouldn't say that at all. Both Molly and VB put more effort in than they likely need to given their wealth so they are obviously committed.

I do sort of understand the school thing tbh, I think people are much more broadly accepting of people, especially children, being seen as individuals now and school does feel like it's forcing them into a cookie-cutter mold.

I loved school myself but I have a 3yo now and I do sometimes think about how she will likely change when she starts school and how she (and I!!!) will cope if other children are not nice to her.

I wouldn’t describe it as clearly having a very low IQ either.

I think it totally depends on the school and the child. Of course it’s never going to be a one size fits all thing but I think with parental support (space to decompress, advice, outside school activities etc), most schools can be fine for most children.

The school both my DC went to start very gently in reception with very short learning times, lots of outdoors play (they have an all weather playground specially for reception only), just spending time building up a gentle routine. I don’t feel my DD has had her spirit crushed at all.

it’s also very hard when looking for schools for a 3 year old who seems tiny (and crazy 😝) and it’s very hard to imagine them
lining up, doing quiet time, reading, learning, story time etc. I’m assuming MM’s DD will go to school September 2027 so a whole 18 months away. A huge amount changes during that time ime.

She's not a 'successful businesswoman' in the traditional sense though - she is just a Love Island influencer who has managed to monetize her image and style, and even her family via her TV show. I don't dislike her at all, but she hasn't built her business from the ground up through her own hard work - she has partnered with brands and now has likely hired a skilled team to run her Maebe brand. I'd liken her to Victoria Beckham and her fashion brand - not saying they don't put in the work but I wouldn't describe them as businesswomen.

For ebery child that hates school, there is another who loves it. It's all relative.