How do you reply to comments about lack of regulation?

[SevenReasonsToSmile]

Just curious what people's stock answers are to this question. I get annoyed when the first thing people query when I mention HE is why/how is it not regulated? What does my child's education really have to do with the LEA and why should I have to prove myself? I try to not show my annoyance but this tends to make me mumble and not really know what to say.

Thanks

Something along these lines:

"Educating children is similar to parenting them. In law, parents are assumed to be competent unless there is reason to believe otherwise. Just as you wouldn't expect regulation of your parenting, it doesn't make sense for home education to be regulated.

Nobody comes round to each child's house annually to check that their parents are doing a good job of bringing them up. Likewise, there is no need for inspectors to check up on home education."

and if they say "but schools are regulated" then my response is

"That's because schools, like childminders, are not the parents. They are providing a professional service, so they are subject to inspection. The law recognises the parent as the natural carer of a child and also the primary educator of the child. The child would only be removed from the parent's care, or educated elsewhere against the parent's wishes, in an extreme situation."

Excellent, thanks saracen.

And to follow on from this, how many mothers have a food Hygine certificat, how many kitchens are inspected by inviromentel health?

...but then I do occasionally get flummoxed entirely when someone says that actually they believe parents SHOULD get inspected regularly, that everyone should have regular mandatory home visits from Health Visitors, and that professionals are in a better position to know how to bring a particular child up than the child's own parents.

It takes a lot to leave me speechless, LOL, but that way of thinking is so alien to me that I can't begin to fathom how to respond.

Fortunately only a few people seem to have that opinion.

Take the opportunity to explain to people that HE is a movement but also it is a family function, whereas the school is an institution or organisation and is regulated because the taxpayers want some authority to oversee that the programs apply to all children in the same way. But point out that Family is a totally different thing with a different role.

So ask these people who ask you questions ?what is the aspect of regulation they admire in the present state of affairs? what % cannot read properly at school? why does it happen after all the regulation which costs the taxpayer?

If I like the person then I will have a good only chin wag about it with them and tell them what we do and why, if I don't I say MYOB!

The fact is that there will be a tiny minority who will claim home ed as a cover for abuse/neglect etc, I have someone near me who leaves her dd most of the day on her own at home, she's not allowed out to play and is basically cooped up inside 80% of the time. I fail to see how she is being home-schooled whilst her mum is half hr away in town most of the day!!

Whilst its true other parents are not inspected- being present as school is deemed enough as they are in daily contact with other adults who would hopefully pick up on any problems, whereas in home ed, who sees the child? the child I refer to disappeared for months-if in school this would of been investigated after a few days/week, as it was no one saw her till a few weeks ago, after I told someone of my concerns.

I thought part of the point of home Ed was lack of regulation?

If you cbe to go into the excellent suggestion already given, just say "well exactly. And aren't we all glad of that!" That then means they would have to try and justify their opinions rather than question yours.

I'm a teacher, and kind if in 2 minds about whether education should be compulsory. Making it illegal to employ children is obviously for the benefit of children. But a lot if formal education is for the benefit of society as much as the individual.

Can I ask a question of you home educators please?

Are there any systems the LEA use to ensure that DCs actually are being educated? Not trying to stir things up, OH has told me to 'tell them we're HE' so that we can have a few months off when we relocate. I told him the LEA do inspections etc.

the LA may make informal enquiries if they have reason to believe an education is not taking place-but case law tells us (paraphrasing) that if the LA make enquiries, we would be sensible to respond.

However the choice of how to give information is always the parents.
Some people do choose to have a home visit (and sadly some are still duped into doing so by LAs who don't tell the truth)

But very many choose to send in written information instead.

Schools are inspected to report to parents about how well they are doing, and to show value for money for the tax payers buck.

I didn't need to have someone else tell me how well the children are doing, I could see that for myself all the time-and I didn't take any of the tax payers buck!

And yes if there is a welfare concern about any child, I would report my concerns-but schools don't keep children safe -as witnessed by this recent most tragic case....and all of the bullying suicides etc

I have never thought that it's my job to justify the law. I just shrug, say that's the way it is, and don't get into conversation about it.