Are there any benefits of Primary school that HE can't usually provide?

[carolinecordery]

Hello all, I haven't registered my DD for Reception, which she would be eligible to start in September.
I was just wondering if you thought there were any benefits of primary school that HE can't provide. What things are good about primary school that are only available through attending?
I'm planning to HE and am convinced of the benefits of doing so, but want a rounded picture. It's easy to think of loads of things that would be, relatively, a bit crap about primary school, but is there ANY really good reason to go? DD's non-resident dad would rather she went.
Thanks, Caroline

"Seeker, I don't mean to sound condescending but do you really need me to tell you what children learn between birth and adulthood."

No I don't. But it was you who said that you wanted to HE so your child can learn. I was wondering what in particular you meant.

Seeker, I meant so they could learn what I stated above without the bureaucracy and pre determined level, subjects and time in which to learn.
I don't think teaching is so important and not really necessary for one to learn.
I don't want to institutionalise my dd and allow a government to determine what she learns.
This isn't a decision I am coming to without conducting research into how people learn, a subject I am interested in irrespective of any decision to HE

I don't want to institutionalise my children either. Or allow a government to determine what they should learn!

There have been some ill-advised comments from both sides, and I think this thread is now achieving very little.

Can't we just respect one another's choices, without descending into petty squabbling? There are positives and negatives of both, and obviously we are all unlikely to agree on exactly what those are, or whether they exist at all.

What Im trying to say and yet again theres always this intent on mumsnet to read more into things than what the op suggests is that my ds is accepting,he doesnt 'get' people being unpleasant for the sake of it,he has 2 older brothers and is no angel he can hold his own with his knowledge of bad language and rude jokes but he doesnt get the 'bullying and the way other children perceive differences.

Why is that so bad?? and why read more into it than I intended.

But why is that anything to do with HE?

I disagree that teachers aren't important. There is absolutely a place for self-directed learning, and my dd spends a lot of time teaching herself about things that interest her. However, I think there is definitely a place for carefully targeted input from a teacher alongside this - I just have to think about the way in which my dd's creative writing skills have come on in leaps and bounds as a direct result of the feedback and guidance that she has had from her teacher. I'm not suggesting that a HE'd kid couldn't get that feedback from somebody other than a teacher, but I do think they need the external input from someone.

"There have been some ill-advised comments from both sides, and I think this thread is now achieving very little."

Just for interests' sake- what were the ill advised comments made by people who aren't he ers? And why are you using the term "sides"? This isn't a battle!

Seeker was that question for me?

If so I think in schools children learn how to find their place and there is inevitably the teasing/bullying and children all pick up on it whether they join in or not,we have posts on here about children who insist on wearing jumpers on very hot days to fit in we have posters on here who talk about their dc being alone at playtime etc etc because my ds3 hasnt gone to school and learnt these ways,he just gets along with things.

Exactly seeker, it has nothing to do with HE.

cherrycake, I think most of us do respect each others' choices - all of us want the best for our kids, and if I thought that HE would be the best option for my dd, I'd do it, no question.

But the OP asked a question, and some of us have responded with what we consider to be the positives of sending our kids to school. It's fine if people disagree with that, but somewhat ridiculous when they start suggesting that their kids are more honest, more tolerant of different races etc...they are kidding themselves if they think this is somehow a result of HE!

It ought not to be a battle, but it certainly would appear to have descended into such. Which is a pity.

I'm not going to quote any comments I thought ill-advised, if you cannot spot them for yourself, and I refuse to be drawn into argument.

As you were.

But nickschick, we are assured by HE-ers that their kids mix regularly and socialise normally with other children, and yet they are also supposed to be immune from the normal experiences of finding their places in a group? Sorry, but I don't buy that.

Jinsei and Seeker, seems like you have some issues in allowing people to know they are/have made the best choice for their children in H.ed.
Do you secretly wish you had the opportunity?
If you have no intention then why continue to argue the point with other peoples reasons and beliefs. If you know your decisions are right well good for you.

SigaSiga Mon 04-Jun-12 18:03:0
Bit low to have a dig at spelling and grammar btw

I think if people are planning to Home Ed, then at the very least they should have a good command of the basic skills their child will need to develop. It seems entirely reasonable in these circumstances to pick up on the fact that a poster who is mocking a school-educated child as inferior to the poster's home-educated child is actually not able to write accurately themselves.

Why shouldn't people question things? That's how these boards work. The issues jinsei and seeker have posted are sensible responses to comments people have made. You seem to have an issue with people who dare to question your posts?

I have no issues with people choose in any sort of education for their children. But I do have issues with people making them for spurious reasons- and dissing other people's choices in the process!

No issues with people being secure that they have made the right choices for their children morethan. Just a few issues with those who are so smug about their assumed superiority.

And no, I don't secretly wish that I had the opportunity. What an odd assumption.

Obviously, I do have the opportunity, but I choose to send her to school instead. HE might well be the best option for your kids, but it would be absolutely wrong for my dd, and would not offer her the kind of education that I want for her. There is plenty of tine outside school to pursue the aspects of HE that we do find appealing in any case!

Iamsherlocked.
When my dd started in reception there was a large label on a box stating "Roll Play".

Actually, I'm with you on that point morethan. My dd's teachers have all been wonderful but her reception teacher's grammar was questionable at best.

Just to add another angle - I believe ex-teachers are amongst the most common home educators. There are good reasons for this. I am an ex-teacher who home educates. I am an English teacher and I can assure you that I have a good command of the basics.

Interestingly, my teacher friends have been incredibly supportive of our decision to home ed. They know what really goes on in schools. It is the people who 'think' they know what schools offer who tend to be the most anti home ed.

(stir, stir)

I also agree that many teachers' grammar/spelling is appalling. There is a good reason for this. Many are young and a product of our modern education system. They are poorly educated themselves (I used to teach with a guy who had a third in his degree but was deemed as knowledgeable enough to teach his subject), these young people often only last 5 years as teachers before they quit due to stress and are then replaced by the next young and cheap teachers etc etc etc

People can spout on about the brilliance of school (and there are many children who would do brilliantly in the worst school) but I have the teaching and home edding experience to know that home education wins hands down. All of the benefits of school and none of the negatives.

... so there!

Wolvesdidit. I like your style, say it how it is, lol.

Surprisingly enough the level expected at various stages is one of the main reasons we are looking at H.ed. This along with ofsted criteria and bureaucracy etc.

I have never met a teacher who didn't know the difference between Hippocrates and hypocrites. Or one that didn't know the difference between 'their' and 'there'.

I think both HE and conventional schooling have their benefits. And to be honest, I tend to be of the 'each to their own' thinking. But the zealous fervour of the Home Ed camp gets tedious very quickly. So you HE - so what? Are you only able to feel comfortable about your decision if you can denigrate the school experience absolutely? It's very striking that those who are trying to point out some of the benefits of schooling seem much more comfortable acknowledging that HE has its benefits too.