To think a lot of children won't be going back to school?

[DearLiza]

Most people I know, with some exceptions, have been saying how much their primary-school aged children are enjoying being off. I gather they're doing a limited amount of academic work though. It got me thinking, if there is at least one SAHP in the household, maybe some people won't send their children back in when the time comes. What do you think?

A lot of people enjoy having nothing to do, I expect even though the circumstances are bleak, if you could remove the fear of redundancy etc for those furloughed a lot would be enjoying not having to work. It doesn't mean it's beneficial for the person, those children should be learning because it will benefit them in the long term, not sat at home doing largely what they want. Home schooling is a bit commitment, and unless you really want to do it for the right reasons and not just to let your little ones do what they want as they're happier, it's not fair on the child.

I think it's easy at the moment to make claims of how this and that will change and there's lots of people on SM talking about how it's allowed them to reassess their lives and make changes etc.

In reality I think the vast majority of people will return to life as it was before.

Also think that a lot of the home schooling at the moment is an ideal short term gap filler but it's not "proper" home schooling for the long term.

Big*

Well lots of people are about to lose their jobs, so yes there will be more SAHP, though not through choice.

I have a friend who's considering it. Her son always struggled at school. He hated going, didn't like the teachers and didn't cope well with the social aspect of it. He's thriving now, much more enthusiastic and interested in his work and getting really good feedback.

My eldest is already back at school (SN school). It wouldn’t be possible to keep her at home full time, or desirable.

Middle child is doing a lot of schooling (online, full timetable), but would rather be at school for all the extras - music lessons, school play, friends etc. Will go back when schools reopen.

Youngest is getting most benefit from being at home, has some schooling (online, reduced timetable), but he was struggling with social aspects of school, and with the realisation of how his ASD affects him. It wouldn’t particularly benefit him to be able to sidestep that realisation, or the process of accepting himself, but there are some definite changes that could happen at school, and this period of schooling in a relaxed atmosphere has provided me with some hard evidence that small changes can have big effects. He will go back to school, but will engage with it differently, I think (and his teachers will also engage differently with him).

He's thriving now, much more enthusiastic and interested in his work and getting really good feedback.

The difference is if she withdraws him from school she will lose that feedback and support from school. Schools won’t continue to offer distance learning once they’re back open or keep children on roll who are permanently removed.

Oh, meant to say, I’m a SAHM, and always have been (due to various additional needs of all 3 dc)

That's nice, HearMeSnore (good username 😀)

I do agree though, what most people seem to be doing atm isn't proper, planned-out homeschooling.

I too think a lot of people will just return to normal, although some may look into home schooling. But remote learning, which is being done now by the vast majority, is very different to home schooling. The latter requires knowledge of the curriculum, plans, finding/preparing resources and an accountability of the child's learning over a long period of time. Homeschoolers don't rely on a BBC programme of study, or teachers sending out work.

I would assume at the moment some families live in a form of "homeschooling isn't so bad, great to have the freedom and no school run". A lot of SAHM often say they are sad that the holidays are over and they miss their children. But this is not reality and more a kind of surreal bubble.

But if this suddenly turns into normality and you are actually required to do a decent form of learning (even home schooler still have the duty to provide an education) some may find they struggle.

I am not a fan of homeschooling, at least as it is now, without any form of checks and registration. I would fear also that too many families with domenstic problems are pressuring the other parent to home school now and therefore control them even further while so far these children had at least outside adults to be able to spot problems (not that this always worked obviously).

See I was thinking it must be a nice reprieve for children who are bullied etc. but then again, there's the loneliness aspect to contend with, unless they're still seeing their friends most days.

I don't know any child who is not missing school and their friends! I also don't know anyone who is not working at the moment - apart from the ones who were in the travel industry (and my friends have all started to study for further qualifications and not waste their time "off").

If people discovered parents and children love homeschooling, why not.
I don't know any, but it doesn't mean it's wrong for anyone. If you have the luxury to stay home, pay for all the private clubs and groups all local homeschool kids go to, why on earth wouldn't you.

Not for me, not for my kids and their friends, but the concept of homeschool is hardly new.

ReluctantBrit I agree completely re checks. A compulsory medical checkup once a year would be a good start.

I don’t think I know any parents who are enjoying their children being off so even if the children are enjoying it (again a lot that I know are struggling) then I can’t see them doing it for that reason. If parents are worried about their children getting ill or bringing the infection back home then ok but they shouldn’t keep them off just because the children are happier otherwise they’d never go back as what is currently happening is not the reality of home schooling and these parents won’t continue to have work sent home for them.

I don't think many can call what they are doing 'homeschooling' and if they actually had to provide an education to their children they would struggle. Long term it is not in the best interests for most children when the parents are not equipped to educate them to a level where they can function as adults.

My DD is having a whale of a time at home, but will be equally thrilled to return to school when the time comes.

Majestically you're probably right re. most parents not being equipped to provide a full education. I always wonder how home educators manage, for example, GCSE level science experiments.

I’ve home educated. And apart from the social side, days out, groups etc, what we are doing now is exactly like what we did when we home educated (up to year 5). Home educators don’t have to follow a curriculum, so actually can go with the children’s interests and enthusiasms. DC entered school ahead of where they were expected to be so doing what they wanted obviously wasn’t damaging.

A lot of home educators do IGCSE (no coursework element) or enrol on a college programme if the dc want to access the facilities of a science lab. A lot do buy equipment for home though. And a lot of areas have collaborations where home educators pool resources dearliza

I think the first few weeks after the schools open will be like the week before lockdown where lots of people chose to keep their children home despite not having to. As long as those parents don’t expect online and home learning support to still be provided then that’s up to them. There are unfortunately a significant minority of parents who are desperate for their children to be at school despite home being the safest place for them and the fact that they are capable of keeping them home.

I think it disproportionately affects the poorer households.
Those households who live in a small flat, and cannot easily go out without using the communal areas (lifts / stairs / fire doors / entrance area), and who may have a walk to the nearest open space.
Without socialising for play dates, the lockdown can seriously affect very young children.
Many households do not have the means to do home schooling.
Some households will have parents (one of both), who have been laid off, furloughed, and no income).
Parents who are working at home, will be struggling to work, and look after their children at the same time.

If Ds2 was younger I would seriously consider it (he’s going to secondary school In September). He find the it much easier to concentrate at home and is really enjoying it.

DS1 would love to be homeschooled as well. But he goes to learn how deal with people. So I probably wouldn’t homeschool him.

I spent the week before the school's closed doing everything I could to prepare for home schooling. I'd never done it before but knew the school closures were obviously coming so I did the best I could to organise lessons and activities.
We are following the curriculum for excellence with maths and English, and we're working through 60 second histories with supplementary material. They are both doing an online typing course and online Spanish. We're doing geography topics, and our usual music practice.
It's so much work. I'm having to overnight to keep my business afloat. This isnt a good long term plan for me so I will be sending them back.

I’ve home educated. And apart from the social side, days out, groups etc, what we are doing now is exactly like what we did when we home educated (up to year 5). Home educators don’t have to follow a curriculum, so actually can go with the children’s interests and enthusiasms. DC entered school ahead of where they were expected to be so doing what they wanted obviously wasn’t damaging

I'm glad that worked for your DC, but I've known DC who entered the school system late because they were being homeschooled following their interests, enthusiasms, too, and they were well behind. One was 9 and couldn't even read; mum didn't want to fight about it with him.

I'm sure a few people will decide to home school long term, but I can't imagine it'll be significant numbers. Right now isn't a good representation of what it would be like, of either the pros or the cons. As people have said, there would be no remote learning long term, but on the other hand home schooling doesn't normally involve social isolation, either. If you chose to never send the kids back to school it wouldn't be like now, forever - and, crucially, their peers wouldn't all be doing it too.

I keep wishing I was a SAHM at the moment, which I never have before. It's lovely having more time with DS, and I'd always previously thought being a SAHM would be just as hard work as working but I keep thinking now how unbelievably, luxuriously easy life would be right now if I could just look after DS and not WFH too! BUT: the sun has been shining, DH is also around (we work in shifts so care for DS alone, but we do have lunch together every day which is lovely) and, most important of all, I am actually still working, so I'm madly busy but not bored, and getting paid. It's a nice fantasy to think about never going back but it's delusional to think that I'm getting a 'proper' taste of what that might be.