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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

277 replies

DearLiza · 26/04/2020 10:46

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?

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 27/04/2020 18:49

Schools cant continue like this - both mine and DH employers have been very understanding about the fact that we need to work our hours around each other and trying to homeschool but certainly far less is being learnt than at school

From listening today I think the Gvt will be looking at sometime in June for England

Redwinestillfine · 27/04/2020 18:49

Very much depends on the kids. My ds would love to be homeschooled. He's not really settled at school and is loving being off, and had come in leaps and bounds with one to one attention. My Dd would hate it. She'd be fine academically because she's a worker and loves learning but she needs the social connections. Irrespective of that I don't know any one income households so not sure who would be teaching them! We're muddling through because our works are being pragmatic about how much we can get done when schools are shut. Long term would be a different story.

Rosebel · 27/04/2020 18:49

No I agree it wouldn't work. I was just thinking in theory it sounds good but as I said I can see why it wouldn't work in practice.

Hakunamatta1 · 27/04/2020 18:52

I love having the children home during the holidays but this isnt a holiday!!! The eldest is having to do full school work but at home she is only KS1 but they have sent ALOT of work home and she is having to do it all with me being her teacher 😂 poor child. She is benefitting from the one on one system at home but school is the place she needs to be. With other children, learning through others her own age. This isnt sustainable, I cannot teach above ks1 age it's all too confusing hahah

MrPickles73 · 27/04/2020 18:57

I don't think homeschooling as a parent's lifestyle choice should outweigh the child's right to an education and socialisation. Granted a minority homeschool because they cannot get a decent education at school (for various reasons) but where we live there is a majority who homeschool as a lifestyle choice. Only its their choice and not the child's.

MrsOosh77 · 27/04/2020 19:00

Subjectively, Home schooling and distance learning are two different things.

My child is definitely distance learning. Age appropriate work is provided by school, I'm merely an overseer, making sure the work happens.

Home schooling is different- the home schooler must gather resources and follow a loose national curriculum and deliver the learning to the student.

I work in education and would struggle to home school (effectively) my child.

Without other students to bounce ideas off, in my opinion, home schooling can have a very narrow perspective vs the multi faceted view that a classroom can bring.

Saoirse7 · 27/04/2020 19:04

Oscar'sDaddy

Not sure why you're planning to take 4-6 weeks holidays from teachers just because sone people are currently treating this as a holiday.

Tessabelle1 · 27/04/2020 19:11

Annamaria14

What you're describing is not home schooling, that's done by parents to the childs pace and usually has very little structure. Learning is fluid and doesn't strictly follow a curriculum. What you've described is remote learning, the same as school, a teacher, a curriculum, a timetable etc. It's just the classroom is at home.

Windowboxgardener · 27/04/2020 19:13

I would homeschool if I could but what is happening now for us is not home school. Can’t choose what or how we learn, can’t go on outings or club meetings, can’t vary the pace or difficulty level. It’s distance learning, with most of the disadvantages of home schooling and not many of the advantages.

Uptheshard · 27/04/2020 19:18

Fuck.no... ineed them.to go to school. I.need to work !

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2020 19:19

I think unless your kids are too young to have an opinion, or there are issues such as bullying or additional needs etc. then trying to keep them off when all their mates are back is going to cause major issues in most homes.

I also think many people saying the kids aren’t going back are doing it out of selfishness, they like not having the school run, homework etc, and many like being able to not go to work, especially if they are furloughed and getting paid for it.

So for them the longer they can get paid to stay home the better, and keeping their kids home enables that. It’s the “I can’t possibly come back to work, the schools are closed” thing. Most of them aren’t even home schooling their kids properly. It’s an hour or two a day and go play on the x box stuff.

Ultimately though, when it comes to it, the kids will nearly all go back and normal life will resume.

Annamaria14 · 27/04/2020 19:25

@Tessabelle1 I disagree.

I have friends who have done full remote learning from home, and they call it home schooling.

What is called Home schooling in the States IS remote learning. And has always been remote learning. They have full schools online.

Tessabelle1 · 27/04/2020 19:30

Annamaria14
But that's not what home schooling is in the UK, disagree all you like Hmm

Hanywany · 27/04/2020 19:31

I homeschool all of my children, I have 4 all different ages, ds 11, ds 8, dd 7 and ds 2 and having a teacher/ school putting work online or sending home is definately not homeschooling! It takes planning and preparation and patience and tbh its not for the faint hearted or the not interested! Mine have been to school and hated it, I took them out of school and haven't looked back, they are happy, clever, sociable, confident, loving, caring little souls that are interested in everything including what's going on in the world and there surroundings! School for my lot seem to suppress all of that!

trilottie · 27/04/2020 19:31

We've home educated for a few years. This isn't home education. (Home educators do not 'home school' which sounds like you have to replicate school at home) we are enjoying all the extra free stuff though. I was home educated myself and have a degree and can socialise with people so please don't say we are all introverted idiots.

trilottie · 27/04/2020 19:33

Also I hope lots of people are realising that they can home educate and it's not hard and it is beneficial for their children. We have a thriving HE community in our town, come and join us!

CallmeBadJanet · 27/04/2020 19:37

I don't think life will go ever go back to "the way it was before". The pandemic is going to change literally everything - economy, employment, health, politics, consumerism, art, housing, society, volunteering, family life, technology.

Annamaria14 · 27/04/2020 19:43

@Hanywany that is great! I hated going to school aswell - it is not natural for children. That is why there is so much bullying there, it is a completely wrong environment to nake children be in all day

Bluntness100 · 27/04/2020 19:45

I don't think life will go ever go back to "the way it was before"

I’d bet you good money it does, and relatively quickly too.

Annamaria14 · 27/04/2020 19:45

@callmebadjanet.

I agree.

The way we were before was not normal. It was not working at all.

We will move forward to better things, work, school and the economy

Delta1 · 27/04/2020 19:48

I completely agree with you @Bluntness100
Things will not change perceptibly.

shinyredbus · 27/04/2020 19:48

Not me - mine are begging to go back to school and I can’t wait!

Sadie789 · 27/04/2020 19:58

So much damage is being done to children with this lockdown. For some kids school is their only sanctuary. It’s a safe place with structure, support, social activities and where they know they will be fed. It horrifies me to think what will be going on behind closed doors over these weeks and months.

For that reason alone the institution of school must stand. It must be the norm. It must be mandatory for all children, as it has been for the century preceding.

The idea that adults will see school as optional for their children going forward is a very dangerous territory.

IndecentFeminist · 27/04/2020 20:23

@Annamaria14 you're being very States-centric. In the UK home schooling is nothing like you describe. Yes, some (very few in my experience) do use an online school for distance learning, but the majority define their own learning and resources...hence the discussion that what is currently taking place in most homes is not home education in the truest sense.

And even in the States, most home ed families I know define their own way if learning. Yes, in some states they may have boxes to tick curriculum wise, but how they learn it is up to them.

Notenoughchocolateomg · 27/04/2020 20:31

Both my children are loving not going to school-anxiety issues and one asd. Youngest hates homeschooling too but would rather be here than back at school. Eldest communicating with friends via online gaming, struggling emotionally though in general. Both will be going back to school when it is re-opened. I hate homeschooling with a passion, but they need to get back to their routine of school life, not just because I'm slowly losing my mind Grin