To think home education will surge in popularity after this?

[Julyalready2020]

I realise lots of people aren’t able to home ed- or wouldn’t want to in a million years! - but for those who’ve considered it, AIBU to think there will now be a rise in them taking the plunge?

Time off school - without the school run, stress of homework/bullying, tests etc... kids able to pursue their own interests and lead a more relaxed life - maybe this will appeal to some?

For context, I don’t home educate (beyond lockdown!), but have considered it in the past and will again if the return to school doesn’t go well... I do also think school (esp in its present form) doesn’t suit all kids.

Not something I would ever consider long-term. I can see how for some such as in very rural areas or small islands it might be preferable, always assuming there is adequate broadband.

It's forced me to review. I was always scared of homeschooling but now I've done it, if things continue next school year as they did prior to lockdown this year I wouldn't hesitate now. Preference would be to find a school more supportive but at least I know I could now cope with the interim

I don't cut my own hair, or service my own car, or fix electrical faults in my house because there are experts who can do a much better job than me, and so i don't teach my own children, much as i love them. I imagine a lot of people feel the same way

Quite. I don't know why people get so offended on here when you suggest that as a parent you don't think you have the skillset to teach your child or that you don't care or aren't "parenting" correctly. Am I a bad parent for not cutting my son's hair for him? Of course not.

And of course a parent can teach, they have done so for centuries before formal education was extended to those who were not rich or privileged yes of course they did, that's why we had really high literacy rates before the Education Acts of the late 19th century. Oh wait...

@Julyalready2020

That sounds kind of the opposite of home education *@RandomLondoner*!

I know it's not what has traditionally been meant by home education, but surely it has an even better claim to the name, in that it's more like traditional education, but delivered at home.

I don't think the main point of home education was supposed to be the parents delivering it, that was just generally the only practical means.

If you could have private tutors come to your home, that would (for those who don't care about cost) always have been the better option. Now the better option might be available, cheaper, online.

(Having a live-in tutor is one of the oldest ways of being educated in England, one explanation of the origin of the term "public school" is that they were developed as the cheaper alternative to that! They were "public" in the sense that they were open to any member of the public willing to pay, in contrast to "private" tutors who belonged to a particular family. Who would have thought Eton was invented for the relatively poor, who couldn't afford private live-in tutors.)

I can see how for some such as in very rural areas or small islands it might be preferable, always assuming there is adequate broadband.

I live in zone 2 London, just outside zone 1 in fact, but complying with some mysterious property of geography, all but two of the 15 nearest private schools are between 50 and 60 minutes away on public transport, regardless of their actual distance as the crow flies. So even for me, an online school would have some attractions, as it would give 2 hours a day of extra time.

I might be exaggerating slightly, as some of the central London schools (e.g. Francis Holland) are maybe only 30 to 40 minutes a way, but they aren't on my shortlist.

My fear is that the number of real home educators (who are engaged and provide an education) will stay the same, but there will be more so called home educators that -either because they can’t be arsed, or because they are fear motivated but overwhelmed- can’t provide an education. these kids are screwed for life .

For some reason, I seem to have only short-listed (long-listed?) schools that aren't inside the Circle Line.

I've loved having the kids home and all in all, it's been brilliant. But we're just not into homeschooling. It just wasn't great for us. I didn't enjoy it and neither did the kids. And I say this as a child who was homeschooled for a year by my mum (who had been a headteacher and secondary school English teacher). I thought I'd do really well with it, but I struggled ver lockdown. I'm not a teacher. I don't have the gift. And I'm not going to pretend that I can offer to my kids (even with online resources) what their teachers do. No way can I offer that. Plus, my kids go to an amazing school.

It’s not just about the educational stuff, though. It’s all the other benefits of the school environment. It’s the sports, the music, the teamwork, the projects, the house competitions, the school plays, the clubs, the sense of community -and most of all the friendships- spending 8 or so hours a day with their peers, which is so important

“Not to mention the extreme importance of gaining social skills, interaction with peers and the freedom of having a playground/different setting to explore other than home each day. No way!“

In response to the above comment, home Ed kids still gain social skills! We don’t lock them up at home 7 days a week. In fact when we started the hardest thing was the sheer amount of activities and groups available to us. It was tempting to attend every one and never be home. We have a better balance now. My kids socialize with a huge variety of people in a wide variety of settings.

@Julyalready2020
Sorry for this late reply. To answer your question; it varies from child to child and day to day. They grumble sometimes at having to do the more formal maths and English stuff but overall they are pretty motivated. We tend to do short focussed tasks in things like maths and English. You can achieve so much at home in 20min. If it’s something they enjoy more they’re more motivated obviously.

Despite my passion for home education I don’t think it’s for everyone at all. It is a big commitment in a sense but I certainly do not spend hours planning curriculums as one poster suggested. Far from it. A lot of what we do flows week to week and sometimes day by day according to what they’re currently interested in or what we’ve been up to as a family. HTH

Yep I definitely don't think home education would suit all children.

Some children can dislike the following :
it’s the sports, the music, the teamwork, the projects, the house competitions, the school plays, the clubs...
As they would not enjoy doing those things in a school setting.

To add, obviously they may enjoy some of the above but in the school setting, it is vastly different then choosing for yourself exactly what's suits you.

*myself 2020,

They are no more screwed than the larger no of kids that the current educational system doesn't educate properly and who leave school with little or no qualifications.

Kids in that group already either go vocational, find a job that suits them or go to college, training courses and apprenticeships.

Why the worry that it happens in home ed but no mention of the overwhelmingly large no that spend years going to school, only to leave with no education?

It's a worry in both places.

That's to myself2020

Not everyone can afford to give up work to Home Educate, can they.

Not everyone is married to a CEO's superior's superior or a top football player
whereby they stay home and Educate their kids. Some of people have no choice and just have to go out to work. It's certainly not a viable option for a single mum who has to take a job as soon as her child is three years old, is it.

God no.
Definitely not for me. I already cant do bits of my DDs maths.
They prefer going to school and I like them going to school.
If other families find they prefer home ed then that's great I can see how it might be preferable for some people.

To add, obviously they may enjoy some of the above but in the school setting, it is vastly different then choosing for yourself exactly what's suits you.

Perhaps, but the reality is that doing these sorts of things in a school setting with a large number of other children (some of whom they mightn't like or have much in common with) really helps them to develop the social skills to succeed later in life.

Awwlookatmybabyspider

I know 7 single mums who work and home educate.

How is that possible. Are they super human.

And without doubt the vast majority structure their lives differently due to a reduced income, whether married or single.

50% are probably the traditional dad works a decent job and mum stays at home. But even then some of these mum do work from home or run home based businesses.

Then there is all different ways from both the couple working part time, single parent working, night working, working evenings, even a mum who works full time and whose parents take children to activities and she does lessons with them on evenings and weekends.

Childminders who home ed are well loved as the children can work together and go to activities together whilst in their care as they are already part of the home ed network.

Awwlookatmybabyspider

Its very possible because home ed does not mean 6 hours per day of formal education.

My friend with 6 children worked 20 hours over the evening book keeping and doing typing and admin. Every day was spent with the kids. Not super human but definitely hard work. She is the extreme as had 6 kids.

However my other friend works a professional medical job 3 days per week and home ed the rest of the time. Her daughter goes to home ed childminder but I'd now getting older so a good network kicks in as your home ed friends take your child to activities and clubs on days you are working.

There are so many ways of doing it. Both women mentioned are/were single mums. However friend with 6 children is now in a relationship.

Nope, no way, not a chance, no...

My older DC listens better to any person other than me, Dad is the next least listened to. Teaching her at home is not going to work!

Any petitions to increase teacher (especially EYFS) salaries and I'll be signing.

I'm also lucky enough that all of our home schooling was to limit boredom not actually 'keep up' as relocation and age cut offs has meant she restarts school from scratch in our new location. Still not planning any voluntary home schooling periods!

I think it would be a shame as school teaches you so many life lessons and skills.

@flirtygirl its definitely a worry in both. I just want to point out that a fear motivation for home education isn’t necessarily a good thing. Home education should be a choice FOR something, not against something as it does require motivation, ability and a network. not everyone (wants to) have that

@NeverTwerkNaked what online school do you use?