to ask if you would consider home education?

[SundayBea]

Have read a lot of articles recently on how the numbers in home education have 'exploded' and it's on the rise by 80% a year apparently. I know of three families I think quite highly of, two of whom are ex-teachers whose children have never been to school and their children seem to be having an exceptional upbringing and education with so many fantastic experiences and opportunities. Also know of two other families who have withdrawn their children from school because of problems with their respective schools and I'm less certain of how successful it is going to be for them. Also know of several colleagues and DH's cousin who have DC under 5 who are debating not registering them when the time comes. Is this a big thing now or is it just coincidence I know of so many families like this? I was just wondering what the general consensus was.. when I mentioned socialisation one of my ex-teacher friends showed me the Facebook group she is in for her local home education community and I was amazed at the plethora of groups, classes, meet ups and outings with hundreds of members.. just for her local county! Have been debating with DP what to do about schooling at private school is unfortunately out of the question on our current salaries.. I'm now feeling like I've discovered a whole new option I hadn't considered? Sorry if this is rambling, only getting a 5 minute lunch break today!

"No way. I would be useless - far too crabby and I struggle to get my kids to put their shows on."

I always had the opposite problem- I couldn't stop them putting their bloody shows on!!!

Some children are not "school shaped" for whatever reason, and home education can be brilliant for them. But no, I wouldn't home educate unless there really was no other option.

I probably should have mentioned I am not in the UK.

We always planned to he our children, just had first dc and still getting ready for it in a few years.

I wasn't unhappy at school, I just felt I could do it better with my own kids.

I wouldn't because teaching is something I am terrible at and don't enjoy.

I find 'school' people can be really, really judgy about HE, without much (any?) experience of HE kids

BUT

doing HE, I found a lot of people who were really, really judgy about people who chose to send their kids to school

(a handful of HE parents used to say the most awful stuff about school and school children- after a bit I learnt not to tell people I wasn't planning to HE mine long term)

I think there's a discussion to be had, definitely- which is why there's 100+ posts on here. But being snippy about other people's choices on the basis of your own prejudices really doesn't add anything ime

Well, I probably would if for example my child was so distressed by school that their mental/physical health was really suffering. But I would probably explore other options first.

Yes some HE parents don't seem to realise the innovative teaching methods that the best schools use now, and think it is just like when they went to school.

I think HE can be good for kids, but it can also be very bad. It depends how it is done and what the motivation is.

Only if I had run out of options.
The different adults in schools, and interaction with other children, got so much more out of my children because they show a different side and unlock different talents.
I wouldn't want to give up work.
I think it is a way of life and the child has to be central and not something that you 'fit in' among other priorities.

True cleaty it is a huge mistake to project your experiences and feelings onto your child.
I know 2 children at the moment who started in September and are so enthusiastic - they couldn't wait to get back after Christmas.

Yes I would, preferably short term. DD had an awful time at her old school and we moved her luckily -for me- she loves her new school.

I've never really had a HE be directly unpleasant about my openness about being essentially forced to HE due to the lack of suitable school provision for DS. But I do think there's a whiff of judgment because they chose this option. I can quite categorically say that if DS could cope he'd be in school because I would have liked the opportunity to pursue retraining and a decent career. That said I have never experienced the strenuous judgment and unpleasantness from a home educating parents that I have experienced on here and in RL from parents that took the school route. I don't know why that is. I've been on the end of some real viciousness and insults from them. Being labelled "weird" is low on the scale.

No, not unless it was the only remaining option.

Personally, I think that there are many things included in a good school education that are impossible to replicate at home so it's not an experience that I would willingly take away from my dc.

Like a pp said though - if it was for a finite short term period (6 months or a year) then I would be willing to do it. We've considered travelling for 6 months, and home schooling would be the only real option - but this is the only case I would willingly do it in that I can think of.

I am in favour of parents retaining the right. We could never persuade our mother (a teacher) to do it. My son is in the sixth form now with a previously home educated boy who presumably wanted A levels and university hence back in a school.

Actually, in my experience HE parents can be incredibly judgmental- every positive about HE being phrased as a criticism of school- talk of drones and sheeple and "palming children off"..........

Oh god yes Nicki, to all of that.

You know in four years of home educating I genuinely have never come across that kind of attitude , I am sure it happens but I have come across way more parents who are worrying and questioning whether or not they are doing the right thing. Usually I the age group around 10 - 12 when the children aren't small anymore and it gets a bit more challenging.

Just watch this thread for a while, Nicki- it won't be long!

Perhaps it's just on MN then Nicki - but there does seem to be an attitude of 'HE give the individual child what they need and provides a more nurturing environment, whereas school is a sausage factory'

I don't think being judgemental about education is exclusive to HE/School though. It seems to me one of those topics that people constantly feel the need to be judgemental about the decisions other people make to justify their own, probably mostly to themselves.

It's HE vs School. It's Private vs State. It's Catchment vs Out of Catchment.

I get it because my kids go to the local high school as opposed to trying to get them into a "better" (according to OFSTED - this time) school in another part of town. The fact I decided the local school is better for MY family is seen by some as a criticism of their decision to try and get a place in the other school.

Parents are very judgemental about other parents. Education is just another element of that.

I always knew I wanted to HE and as it turned out DD really isn't 'school shaped' so it's worked out great for everyone. I'm not the slightest bit judgemental about other parents choices though, their kids, their decision. Do get a lot of raised eyebrows and parents of kids who are in school telling me how wonderful their school is and asking if I don't feel DD is missing out but I accept it's still seen as unusual where I live so it's water off a ducks back tbh.

I think it's because the minority (private schools, HE) tend to justify their decision by denigrating the majority - as if they've discovered some educational holy grail that others could also access if only they cared enough/had the correct priorities.

School was an utter hell hole; for MY child. My other child, also has ASD, is in mainstream and thriving. Some kids just don't fit, they can't and never will be able to. I admit I do enjoy an article or study criticising the education system because it helps me to feel good about the fact that I home educate but I would never wholesale slag off or judge anyone who chooses that system because I am using it and dd is getting a lot out of it. There's criticism on both sides but I reiterate that I see it more from people who choose school. That is my experience.

I believe there's huge, rabid criticism of main stream schooling and I suppose I have come across it but it's always been in places like extreme FB groups in America. Never in RL.

I am all for it as an option, because some children are not suited to school.
I am very wary of the parent who does it for reasons of their own, having weird views of 'sausage factories' ( not sure why they have so little faith in their child) or because they project onto their child or they want to censor everything etc.
I think that it should be properly monitored, because a desire to do it doesn't mean that you are any good.

Oh, yes, I forgot "sausage factory". And "one size fits all".

I have the visits and am in contact with my local LA but I am lucky in that I still have the same LA contact and Ed Psych who knew my son in school. So they know him and how difficult it was for him and while I am sure they'd love to get him back to the old routine I know they can see how well he is doing. His Ed Psych admits that she can't believe how far he has come given the challenges he faces though she'd never come straight and say it was the best thing for him.

So they can see that my methods are working and that he has tons of social contact and classes and workshops with professional instructors. Without that good relationship though I can see from prejudice I have experienced elsewhere why people might not wish to be regulated and for now legally they do not have to be.