To think Home Education should be made illegal

[Viviennemary]

I would like to see a ban on HE except perhaps in a very very few cases and with good reason and under strict supervision.

I think it's probably because it's not the norm and already gets a lot of criticism, so HE parents are naturally on the defensive and not wanting to give the naysayers any more ammunition.

I don't that's "a staggering" level of entitlement. Home educators pay taxes like everyone else. Also, there's no legal requirement to "co-operate" with the LA and provide evidence. Parents are legally responsible for making sure that their children are educated. The LA should only intervene if they suspect that children parents aren't following the law

However, were these things you called entitlement said by the same person? Home educators don't all have the same opinions about everything.

Yes, I often change the subject because doing something against the “norm” is always going to stir up opinions and feelings and it’s nice not to receive unsolicited feedback where possible! I’ve never asked my friends what they think as I made this decision for my child. It’s working really well, and she is very well adjusted, so why not carry on?

Yes YABVVVU until state education is sorted universally my children will never go back into it, having been monumentally failed by it. They are not home educated but I believe parents should be given a choice to opt out. Of course there are awful situations but teachers/social workers were all aware of poor Sarah long before she was home educated.

And in my experience (of just one child), Home Education is tough! IMHO, if it’s done well, then it takes a huge amount of dedication, planning and funding. Your child has to want it and be making a conscious lifestyle choice, with adult guidance. All of that can weigh quite heavy as when you do get your annual check paperwork through, it focuses your mind! For us, the benefits outweigh the negatives and school will always be an option.

It is in very poor taste that Sara’s awful case is being used, in many cases, to stir things up for Home Educators. She went to school. Teachers did the right thing. Nobody listened.

People who feel attacked tend to defend themselves, that's human nature. And if you are in a minority you tend to feel more attacked and thus mount a more vigorous defence. If you've made the same decision as most of the population you probably don't feel the need to convince other people (or yourself) that you've chosen the right thing, but if you have made a decision that lots of people criticise you for, often in very stereotypical ways I can see how that would contribute to you becoming quite entrenched in your views.
Also, I don't think most of us who choose mainstream schools really make an active decision to do that. We may spend a lot of time and effort deciding on which school but most of us went to school, our parents and grandparents went to school and the default position is that our children will go to school. It's "normal". Whereas most people who choose HE are making an active decision to do something different and they often have compelling reasons for that and more strongly held beliefs on the subject. I don't think many of us actively choose school because we are opposed to or have had bad experiences of HE (there are exceptions of course but I don't think it is common). You need a reason to reject the norm. Most of us aren't passionately pro school in the same way as many HEers are passionately pro HE/anti school. I'm not saying that's "right" as it stands to reason that there must be pros and cons to HE just as there are to school, but I don't think it is particularly difficult to understand why people who have made what is often a big and fairly controversial decision tend to focus strongly on the positives. Maybe if we mainstream schoolers we're a bit more understanding of their position we could have more balanced dialogue ?

perhaps the parents should assessed as to their ability to provide a well rounded, balanced education.

A Relation home schooled through
primary. For various reasons it couldn’t be continued into secondary. At the start of secondary school they had a science test,”to see what they knew”! The relations child came top of 150 children. And my relation said! “But I did not do much science”.

her children are wonderful, resilient, really well thought of in the secondary school.. but perhaps my relative is exceptional
Home ed can be far better than the state system, but depending on the parents it could be a disaster,

Yes, but I WAS a home educating parent for many years. I saw a lot of miserable kids and parents and I was still shot down by then for daring to talk about the negatives.

I couldn’t give a shit about home ed anymore as I no longer do it

But Some of them can’t even be honest among themselves.

We pulled our DD out in late year 9, best thing we did for her, being bullied, beaten up did nothing for her
she sat gcse a year late, took A levels, now in last year of university.
she works PT and has done from 16
if she had been left in the crap school, I dread to think what would have happened
so until you walk in someone’s shoes like mine, sod off

What's it to you how other people educate their kids? At least they're being educated! Which can't necessarily be said for many kids who actually attend 'school'...

Hmm...and should all children be supervised at weekends and in the evening too? And how about the dodgy teachers? Perhaps they should have 2 teachers to every class to make sure the teachers are supervised. Oh and grandparents, aunts and uncles homes, in fact shall we just get kids to wear bodycams so they can be supervised 24/7?
How would you feel if someone wanted to supervise you taking care of your own children?! Jeez 🙄🙄🙄

As a home educator, I think you’re being incredibly ‘unreasonable’ tbh

Yes, I know. Which is why I said there are exceptions. You're obviously one of them.
But people who feel marginalised tend to hold strong views, and most of the HEers I know do feel marginalised.* I *think that is the reason why some aren't willing to acknowledge drawbacks.

Home ed children don't miss out any of the things listed by posts above in my experience. Not one.

They are "socialised", they have close friends, go on trips, are completely "visible" to other professionals through classes they take and their registration with GP, dentist, optician, etc.

EHE (elective home education) is bespoke private education. Children can have more opportunities than their school-based counterparts, personalised support, tutors who are individually picked by parents for their specialism and progress which outstrips their age because of resulting quality provision. Locally, our EHE community also does more sport than any of the local schools we checked.

Local authorities already have duty to monitor, advise and enforce standards with home educated children. Ours most certainly does.

I can't see the rationale to stop such a rich, personalised and highly successful route through education for those families who commit to it.

As for Sara Sharif, her death has nothing whatsoever to do with EHE.

SOME HE children have close friends. Seeing Drs and dentists is always listed as HE children having contact with professionals, but it is pretty worthless. Most children go to the dentist once or twice a year for a quick check up. Most children rarely see a Dr, and when they do it is a 5 minute consultation with a GP for a fairly minor health issue or seeing the nurse for a vaccination.

Absolutely agree.

It's exhausting juggling home ed, therapies, medical appointments, house work, parenting, working evenings and getting to groups.

Much easier if children are at school for parents but in our situation I would rather home ed than have a child who is suicidal and everything that entails. Which was also pretty exhausting and impossible to get the LA to give any of the needed support.

So for some.of us we have little choice

What about your other child/children?

Yep. I’m in the same situation.

I have too, and we live in a city with a massive home ed community, and only stopped very recently.

I disagree with a lot of anti home ed views on this thread but I cannot in good faith say that the majority of home ed parents I know personally are doing an excellent job of educating their children. Not the ones doing it for philosophical reasons.

I find the evangelist types tiresome. Maybe it is because I have been involved in home ed for over 10 years and have seen it all before, maybe I am a realist and can see there can be issues and that it isn’t helpful to deny they exist.
Yes it can be amazing and kids can be well socialised and get a great education, My own dc have thrived and I have met loads of great children and parents at groups and workshops. However I am also aware that there are children at home with a parent with issues that mean they don’t leave the house, children who don’t leave their rooms, parents who pull their children out of school and don’t provide any education because they think the LEA will send work for them because they can’t be bothered or are unable to do even the most basic of research into their responsibilities.
There are also many parents who actually don’t want to be home educating but feel like they have no other option, I feel dreadfully sorry for this group because not everyone has the desire of ability to provide a well rounded full time education.

You can feel positive about something overall but admit that it isn’t perfect,

Here we go again with the nonsense that kids at schools mix with 30 kids and that's it.

Yes

I would support the government paying for exams for HE children, if the local education authority were able to assess the level of the child's academic ability so they could judge whether it was fine to enter them for particular exams.
Children at schools do not get entered for exams if their academic ability in the subject is too low.
Maybe a mock exam test?

I also frequently see posts from parents on home ed groups that are barely literate which has always worried me.