I home educate - my DS has never been to school - AMA

[OvertheUnicornRainbow]

My DS is almost 13, always been home-educated and is thriving. Ask me anything

I have a degree and masters in Psychology, a PGCE, and a Youth Work Diploma. I also forgot to add in 4 years of primary teaching.

Just out of interest, as we are querying each other’s qualifications - what teaching qualification do you hold?

OvertheUnicornRainbow - I have something to always put a big question mark on home schooling. It's for DC to learn and understand diversity, that different people have different opinions, that often there is no right or wrong approach to problems/ how we live. Learning all kinds of interpersonal skills in regards to people that are not compatible or DC simply don't like. It's something that can only be experienced/ taught by mixing with very different people from all walks of life. As you would have in a school setting.
Because I feel, with home schooling you take all of this away. What is your opinion?
(Yes you probably join your DC in some clubs -sport, arts whatever - but that in itself has already filters out the less affluent children and the ones with zero interest ...)

I'm finding the whole idea that HE kids can go to museums midweek and it's so much better then rather hard to believe.

At my DCs' (state) school there are several outings a term to various museums and they attend workshops on those trips that are just available to the the class on the trip and not the general public. When on these trips there are lots of schools attending and the museum, place of interest, etc handle all of the school classes visiting that day perfectly well with a good schedule, worksheets, activities, talks and discussions.

The school always ask for a few parent volunteers to accompany the class (due to ratios and travelling using London public transport) and I have been on many of these trips over the years (4 DC).

I have taken my DC to these places during the school holidays, weekends, half term etc and those additional facilities are just not available.

So rather than show and EWO what decent home schooling looks like, you'll decline a visit based on your own preconceptions @TheTwilightZone. That's a sound plan

@Shineynew - so no training in home-ed - makes sense. And your question about teaching qualifications just shows how ignorant you are, I'm afraid. As has been said there is a reason you see so few home-ed families.

It's impossible to train in home Ed. This thread has proved how differently people do it.

How can people become less ignorant if you won't let them visit?

You’re kind of proving my point OP.

Just out of interest, as we are querying each other’s qualifications - what teaching qualification do you hold

You don't need teaching qualifications to home ed. Surely you know that in your role.

I'm finding the whole idea that HE kids can go to museums midweek and it's so much better then rather hard to believe.

The museum's are quiet midweek when schools are open. Of course it's better.

@Ylvamoon - my DD is at school - the DC in the catchment do not come from all walks of life. My home-ed DS definitely mixes from a much more diverse group - all walks of life, rich, poor, country living to city living, all ages and sexes. Much more diverse than the 30 DC in my DD's class. I do agree that my DS's peers don't really include those with zero interest, though. Not all home-ed activities are expensive, еither.

@Shineynew - how so?

You don't need teaching qualifications to home ed. Surely you know that in your role.

And do you provide healthcare services and dentistry to your children as well?

zonkin the additional learning is available to everyone visiting a museum - if they are publicly funded/ free even more so!
Just plan your visit, approach them before and tell them what you /DC want to see and learn about. The more specific you are the more successful you will be in getting a 1:1.

Thanks for doing this AMA. Can you describe a few days last week for your DS - what were his days actually like? (I’m trying not to say “a typical day” as I expect you’ll say the point of HE is there’s no such thing?).

@zonkin - yes, that was the point I made to all those saying they take their DC to museums at the weekend - it is not the same thing, atall. Going midweek when it is quiet is by itself better. You get to see much more - get 1:1 attention. Going on a home-ed educational visit without lots of schools is much better too and of course home-ed DC have much more opportunity for these trips. They happen infrequently at school.

zonkin those workshops are also available to home educated hildren. Some museums hold regular workshops for home educators and sometimes home educators will organise and arrange specific workshops at museums too.

And do you provide healthcare services and dentistry to your children as well

Nope. I choose a good dentist and health care provider. Not so easy to have that choice with the varied and limited choice of school provision. Thus I do a better job of it myself. The rest, I outsource 😉

I totally see the appeal of home education. I don't think I could do it justice myself, personally, but I fucking hate mainstream education and pretty much everything about it.

@Shineynew...more ignorance I'm afraid. I am a nurse, though so some healthcare, yes. So you tell me...why am I home-educating my DS?

Also going to a RG university is not the be all and end all of everything. I both went to one myself and used to work for one and the amount of utter dolts who passed through...well, let's just say there are clearly a lot of private schools who are excellent at polishing turds.

OvertheUnicornRainbow - thank you for answering my question. I agree, some schools have limits in social interaction. My DD went to a small village primary school. But she is at a large secondary now, and it is her social learning journey that sparked my question. It is so important to be able to interact with as many different types of people (that includes teachers!) as possible.

@Hercwasonaroll - tbf we've got enough to do without needing to train EWO! People have all sorts of problems with EWO as they are usually so ignorant and provide no support, whatsoever. So why would someone accept a visit?

Of course people can train in/learn about HE. It's what all parents considering HE do so shouldn't be beyond a EWO!!

@Ylvamoon - depending on where my DD goes for secondary she may become more limited (grammar) or meet a more diverse set (comprehensive). It is important, I agree.

So the HE kids can go to the museum/places of interest workshops too. How does that differ from mainstream education? One of the pro HE arguments on this thread has been that HE kids can go to museums midweek. But that's not different to mainstream schools. They regularly go on these trips. So it's not a plus of HE.

Show them what you do and how well you do it. Otherwise all they see are the crap cases and assume all HE is like that. It sounds like a cycle where good HEs decline visits, EWOs only see rubbish and therefore based on their experience, think HE is dire.

I seriously considered HE when mine were smaller and I had my summer born only go part time initially. I genuinely love the school holidays and can completely see how living life like a long holiday is very attractive and enjoyable in many ways. We do a lot as a family and visit lots of different places, libraries, exhibitions, museums and events. I can see that for younger children the learning opportunities through these events are varied and they're not necessarily missing out by not being in school.

All that said, as mine have got older I can think of so many reasons for not HE. Mine absolutely love being part of something - they take part in plays, harvest festivals, choirs, Christmas plays and assemblies that I just couldn't replicate at home. I also strongly feel that being exposed to all sorts of people with very different life views and experiences to us is important and again, just cannot be replicated by me.

I think everyone makes the choices they feel are right at the time and you sound v happy with your decision.