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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to get annoyed when a home schooling parent...

278 replies

00100001 · 29/09/2016 10:13

... can't spell?

My SIL home schools her daughter.

But all the time, she is posting "I just thort of a new idea..." or "We just need to get threw this..." or ^"I love home schoolling" etc.

Just makes me twitch.

OP posts:
JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:19

*Maybe they should insist on 5 GCSEs including maths and English for primary school kids

Yeah, right, when they can't even employ teachers with degrees who can educate, write, speak or spell properly? Hmm those degrees aren't filling me with much confidence tbh.

Theoretician · 29/09/2016 11:20

I can mostly spell, but over the last ten years I've noticed there seems to be some sort of communications breakdown between my brain and my fingers. Really extreme stuff. My brain says type "no" and my fingers type "know", my brain says type "to" and fingers type "two." I have to read stuff really carefully before I click post, to find out what my fingers have fucked up.

paxillin · 29/09/2016 11:22

People on here are speaking as if school is the default. 0.4% of school aged children in the UK are homeschooled. One might argue school is the default.

Puddington · 29/09/2016 11:23

I have an acquaintance who homeschools her two children and types like that constantly! Her children always seem so happy so I certainly can't fault her there, but I wonder if it's more to do with the fact that she never makes them do any work whatsoever if they don't feel like it and lets them play the Xbox instead!

(Disclaimer that this isn't a sweepng dig at all homeschoolers etc)

witsender · 29/09/2016 11:25

What I meant...as I suspect you know, is that it isn't the default by law. You opt in to the school system...not out.

LaContessaDiPlump · 29/09/2016 11:26

I agree that mainstream education involves a lot of crowd control. However, the teachers also have far more knowledge than I do about modern teaching theory, they have more patience, they have more emotional distance from their charges (which I think is good for both parties, frankly)..... the list goes on.

I, personally, myself Wink would be shit at teaching my own children. I could probably teach other people's children because they would treat me with that slight trepidation that kids have when they're not sure if you're a psycho or not. I find this trepidation makes them pay attention, which I feel is ideal in a learning environment Grin my own DC OTOH would piss about because they know me and enjoy pushing me to my limits. I WANT my kids to be sent elsewhere and struggle slightly (at least in the short term); I feel the ensuing social development is very good for them and helps them to work out how to navigate the world.

Other people (and their children) are doubtless far better suited to the business of home education than I am!

stitchglitched · 29/09/2016 11:27

We home educate DS and my DP struggles with spelling. If he is doing work with him and isn't sure of a word he will check it, or get DS to. If anything that helps reinforce the correct spelling to DS. Loads of people leave school barely literate anyway so not sure why that is better than dedicated parents who know their child and have the time and energy to dedicate to them.

Original poster
00100001 · 29/09/2016 11:29

I can guarantee the "threw" being used as 'through' is not a typo! Grin

OP posts:
HermioneJeanGranger · 29/09/2016 11:29

School is the default, though. Isn't it something like over 95% of school aged children attend school. The number of children who are homeschooled is tiny.

Original poster
00100001 · 29/09/2016 11:30

and nor is "thort" for thought! Grin

OP posts:
witsender · 29/09/2016 11:31

It is tiny, but ever growing. (For a percentage so tiny it sure attracts a lot of attention.) But legally it isn't the default. Your child is not automatically enrolled at school, you have to choose to opt in.

It has become the default choice by most for a number of reasons, but that isn't the second thing.

JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:33

Actually the number of children being homeschooled is unknown. For some reason those responsible for keeping records of such things, umm haven't been.

JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:35

and nor is "thort" for thought! grin

Well when you see the countless threads on MN defending the use of "Barth" as an accurate spelling of the pronunciation of bath I can understand why your friend is struggling.

Dowser · 29/09/2016 11:36

I went to teacher training college in the 70 s.
I had maths gce grade 4 and a science and an English a level and the amount of students who couldn't pass a basic maths test who were still allowed to be put through as tea teachers was eye watering.

I hope their spelling and grammar was better.

AgitatedGuava · 29/09/2016 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

paxillin · 29/09/2016 11:36

I'm sure we could home educate. I think the kids would break off contact on their 18th birthday.

JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:37

if there were regulations in place perhaps it would discourage people from doing it.

Why would you want to discourage people from doing it? Confused

SeekEveryEveryKnownHidingPlace · 29/09/2016 11:38

Well when you see the countless threads on MN defending the use of "Barth" as an accurate spelling of the pronunciation of bath I can understand why your friend is struggling

That's an argument about pronunciation, in which people are explaining on screen how they think it should be pronounced by using a phonetic spelling - they're not arguing that's how it's spelt!

JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:39

You misunderstand my point seek. I was showing where OP's friend's confusion could be coming from.

ImperialBlether · 29/09/2016 11:41

I would have to say something, OP.

I can understand people home educating when their children are struggling in school due to bullying etc - in that case I can see why parents might do it as a short-term measure.

I've seen tons of people on MN threads, though, who talk a lot of rubbish about home educating - as though only by educating them at home do they learn how to live in the world.

I know some will say they use classes, group activities, etc, but there's nothing to make you do that and the SIL in question seems to think she alone is all her children need - I would completely disagree with that.

Dowser · 29/09/2016 11:42

My daughter home eds.
They don't have formal lessons and they do have an amazing life.
All are very intelligent. The 7 year old is reading and writing. The 9 year old is a bit slower but is getting there.
The 12 year taught himself to read.
They mix a lot with other one ed children.
My daughter takes them regularly to two universities for lectures.

They are gorgeous , bright as button well rounded children .

ImperialBlether · 29/09/2016 11:43

Nobody would say "Barth" is how you spell "Bath"! Those are threads about pronunciation.

JenLindleyShitMom · 29/09/2016 11:44

Nobody would say "Barth" is how you spell "Bath"! Those are threads about pronunciation.

Yes, as I said in the post! Confused

AgitatedGuava · 29/09/2016 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

weegiemum · 29/09/2016 11:45

I know people who are home-schooling because they are Young Earth creationists and don't want their kids learning the sciences that are taught at school. Both parents are degree educated!