To wonder what’s so bad about school?

[graygoose]

This is from a Mollie Mae post that popped up on my feed (not a follower but she pops up) saying they were viewing schools for her daughter and she was concerned about how strict it seemed and she didn’t want school to crush her spirit. And that she’s considering home schooling. Almost all the comments agreed that they are worried school will crush their child’s spirit and are anxious about their kids starting school and advocating in favour of home schooling.

Now, we all know the algorithm creates somewhat of an echo chamber but I was surprised at the sheer number of parents who are so anti-school (not education but anti-bricks and mortar schools if that makes sense). I’m genuinely curious if this is an increasingly prevailing view? If you feel this way, could you elaborate?

My DD is a toddler so obviously not in school yet!

Most schools are underfunded and have children with behavioural problems. I’m not surprised people are anxious about sending their kids to them. My own DC is a completely different person since starting school and reverts back to his happy self during the holidays. If I could afford to I probably would look at alternatives.

Academies are pretty bad around here and yeah, they can ruin the whole education experience completely.

I feel conflicted. As a parent of a similar age dd, I get the feeling of not wanting to crush your child’s spirit but it’s also naive. They’re so full of wonder at that age and it’d be nice for them to have a life where they can run wild in the forest all day, build dens, and create art with trees or whatever, but it doesn’t exactly prepare them for the real world. Classroom learning isn’t for every child and I wish school could be more of a balance between some kind of forest school & classroom learning. Most of us don’t have that option though. Mollie Mae is minted though so if she feels like that she probably shouldn’t be looking at ‘normal’ schools

Doesn’t relate to the school system really, or suggest she has a low IQ generally. Maybe that discussion belongs on its own thread.

I wouldn't listen to anything from "influencers" who want engagement above all. Pushing home schooling seems to be a bit of a trend at the moment. Not bashing parents who do it for well thought out or valid reasons.

I teach primary in a really nice, holistic school and my DS is very happy in reception in a lovely , caring school. I think school is positive for the majority of children.

I know she is real, I am saying everything on SM is fake and likes encourage views but may not be from humans, so the only reason anything "goes viral" is because bots want it to. The more people debate rubbish on there the more it distracts from actual local issues, for example. People are like sheep and herded into seeing what other "people" have liked and assume it is good.

DC1 is in reception and loves it. Runs in each day and comes out happy.

When the time comes for secondary school i’ll be fully researching their anti-bullying policies.

Reception is very play based and lots of schools have forest schools. Not exactly the same I know!

However most parents couldn't offer that kind of experience for their kids day in and day out so it's irresponsible imo when influencers push homeschooling.

😂👍

It's a political sub-news story being pushed for political tactics.
Not debating schools aren't working for a lot of kids, but the home schooling rise has been increasing alongside SEN needs, which is the story that gets ignored when people making money off bots and likes decide to jump on the bandwagon.

I wouldn't let someone of MM low intelligence levels influence my decision!!

I wouldn't let someone of MM low intelligence levels influence my decision!!

I totally understand her concerns as I was also worried about this. My DD is very creative and loves to explore and discover things without feeling tied it. She’s now 13, we were very lucky in that she went to a wonderful primary where she thrived and they encouraged her creativity. Big relief to me as there was no way we could home school…. Now to secondary and it’s absolutely awful for so many reasons. A lot of negativity from senior leadership team, a big focus on STEM subjects and from a more pastoral perspective, all the hard work done in primary to encourage kids to stand up for themselves and be assertive gets completely undone in secondary, you just get a detention for even suggesting no I did not do/ mean / say that…. She now hates school with a passion, reluctantly goes in where in primary she was also sad to miss a day if off sick.

No, you said bots act it, write it and like it. So if it’s a bot acting and writing it… then it’s not molly mae. Which is silly, because she is an actual human who posts on social media. She is not a fake bot

I'm not anti-school by any means but having watched my daughter go from a kid who loved school to the point she wished she could go at weekends, to a child frequently exasperated at best and yes, crushed, by the way adults treat children in schools and the inconsistent application of rules, I'm not going to criticise anyone for considering their options.

Watching your child's light dim because of school is a horrible experience. Parents are right to weigh up what is best for their child.

I’d assume they are looking at private schools where behaviour standards are high (or children are asked to leave) and they usually focus on academics especially as children may be aiming for selective schools later.
Culturally child’s dad is traveller heritage so girls especially wouldn’t be in education long. His half brother’s siblings are home ‘educated’ (Paris Fury’s children)
They obviously enjoy foreign travel and it’s easier if children not in school.
By crush spirit I’d take it to mean they don’t want child to have to follow instructions and be treated as one in 20 etc. We had a new rainbow’s mum very upset her dd had been told off (child had been very mildly told it was time to pack the colouring pencils away) apparently that was negative and mum thought she should have been able to do what wanted not fit in with the other 23 little girls - they had finished activity and it was time to tidy up and join circle. All very standard but mum wasn’t happy and child left.

For ebery child that hates school, there is another who loves it. It's all relative.

She's not a 'successful businesswoman' in the traditional sense though - she is just a Love Island influencer who has managed to monetize her image and style, and even her family via her TV show. I don't dislike her at all, but she hasn't built her business from the ground up through her own hard work - she has partnered with brands and now has likely hired a skilled team to run her Maebe brand. I'd liken her to Victoria Beckham and her fashion brand - not saying they don't put in the work but I wouldn't describe them as businesswomen.

I think it totally depends on the school and the child. Of course it’s never going to be a one size fits all thing but I think with parental support (space to decompress, advice, outside school activities etc), most schools can be fine for most children.

The school both my DC went to start very gently in reception with very short learning times, lots of outdoors play (they have an all weather playground specially for reception only), just spending time building up a gentle routine. I don’t feel my DD has had her spirit crushed at all.

it’s also very hard when looking for schools for a 3 year old who seems tiny (and crazy 😝) and it’s very hard to imagine them
lining up, doing quiet time, reading, learning, story time etc. I’m assuming MM’s DD will go to school September 2027 so a whole 18 months away. A huge amount changes during that time ime.

I wouldn’t describe it as clearly having a very low IQ either.

I do sort of understand the school thing tbh, I think people are much more broadly accepting of people, especially children, being seen as individuals now and school does feel like it's forcing them into a cookie-cutter mold.

I loved school myself but I have a 3yo now and I do sometimes think about how she will likely change when she starts school and how she (and I!!!) will cope if other children are not nice to her.

Agreed, I wouldn't say that at all. Both Molly and VB put more effort in than they likely need to given their wealth so they are obviously committed.

My DD has had loads of opportunities through school that have given her lots of confidence. My DS loves his (specialist) school though that might be because he never has to do academic work.

It’s just such an unnatural environment for little children. We lived abroad where they had a very play based curriculum and my kids just lit up. Having spent years stuffed into blazers boaters and shirts and ties, to be running barefoot on the grass every afternoon having got through English and maths in the morning was so refreshing.

@Mosman2020 my DD is 11 and has just started wearing a blazer and tie and my DS has never had to wear one. I don't know any schools in our small town have boaters.