the brilliant things about home education.

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

Ill start!

world book week. other threads on other sites on mn panicking/moaning about the dressup things for going into school. Phew! no more of that faff.

no more being called in cos DCs had a meltdown yet again (sn).

the dreaded schoolrun/parking/school gate mums.

being 'persuaded' to fork out your non existant cash to pay for trips/food/workshops etc etc.

bloody sports day.

assemblies and xmas plays which would all freak DC out.

being able to go places while all the other kids are at school so museums/parks/playplaces/libraries etc are not choc a block with noisy screaming sweaty kids.

ah, bliss.

anyone else? anything else?

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

I what way can "bloody sports day" be seen as a positive comment?

[morethanpotatoprints]

twelve

My dd didn't particularly like sports day. I'm not puching the air because it caused her no distress.
I believe the sports day gave the OPs child considerable upset and caused meltdowns.
I am lucky I haven't had to experience this, if I had I would be punching the air with joy at not having to go through it again.
Choosing the right education isn't a competition with others, and what is right isn't right for another.
If you have the right atmosphere for your child you are lucky, there are many opting for H.ed or being forced to H.ed because the present environment isn't good for their child.
Please let them celebrate the positive changes for their children.
I am pleased I have no more school runs, because the area was quite frankly an accident waiting to happen. I was scared for our safety on several occasions. Should it matter to my pleasure that Joe Bloggs at school x hasn't experienced this, or can I be happy?

[juule]

If you or your child don't have to suffer the negative (for ops family)effects of "bloody sports day" then surely that's a positive.

[Nocomet]

Sometimes HE would be wounderful.
eg. No run ins with the school's new medical officer, who is an unbelievable jobs worth.

[Spiritedwolf]

^My kids had a specialist art teacher at primary school, with a degree in Art and Design. On warm days they would have lessons in the woods or organic school garden, use the potter's wheel and kiln, or sketch the horses and deer they could see from the playground.
It's lovely that our school had wonderful resources and qualified expert teachers to teach them the basics or real techniques and inspire their creativity.^

That sounds idyllic Twelve what a great educational experience for your children - though its a little off topic as it took place in (what sounds like an exceptional) school. I didn't attend such a school and the chances of my DS being able to attend such a school are pretty dire. Our LA is about to slash the budget for specialist art, music and PE teachers for primary schools almost in half (and not from a very high starting point) that will leave 9 teachers to teach art, music and PE (~ 3 per subject, not 9 per subject) to 8,538 pupils across 53 schools in a large rural county. I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like an individual student or class would be getting much specialist teaching time to me, certainly half or less than they do at the moment.

I hope that if we HE my son we will be able to give him many more opportunities to be artistic, musical and active than he would be able to get at school.

I'm also keen for him to learn at his own pace and have the time to pursue his own passions. I want him to have time with the family and time to go out and explore the world outside of school. There's quite a lot of stuff I dream about doing with him and yes, if we end up sending him to school I'll try and squeeze it into his weekends and holidays, when he isn't exhausted.

Just wanted to say how lovely it is to hear all your great experiences of HE. Its great to hear the positive side of things. I notice none of you listed the intellectually stimulating challenge of explaining your educational choices to all and sundry. Presumably this gets wearing after a while.

[anchories]

If children cannot cope with other children at 6, how are they going to cope with other young people at 16, 26, 36....?

Are there anyone on here or who is lurking that has children past being a student?
What are they doing?
Are they self employed?
Are they employed?

[MavisG]

I got such a wave of happiness today that I was messing about on the common with my kids, & felt so lucky we were able to do this on a school day.

There are disadvantages to HE, chiefly that most other children are in school, but it's the overall best option for my (nt) 5yo and our family atm. We all choose the best options we have available for our families, don't we? And anyone who thinks in terms of 'mundanes' is very rude and blinkered. All kids are magical. Lots of schools foster this magic. Maybe one day we'll find one for our children but today was just perfect.

[saintlyjimjams]

Twelve - the OP pointed out in the OP that her child has SN's. it doesn't take that much imagination to see that the things she's listed (as not having to deal with anymore) are going to be big issues for a child with SN. Yes it's great you have a perfect school for your child (as do I - pretty happy with the 3 schools my children go to) but if you want to get irate & annoyed direct it as the system that fails so many children with SN.

My eldest son goes to a wonderful special school - has been there for over 8 years now - but his first year & a bit of sch

[saintlyjimjams]

Schooling was in mainstream where they failed him repeatedly & made him very stressed & unhappy. They knew so little about SN they couldn't even see what they were doing. 8 years later I still celebrate getting him out of that school - we were lucky that we had an excllent special school option - not everyone does.

[Martorana]

It's difficult, isn't it?. Many of the things that the OP listed as good things about HE because she doesn't have to do are things that I would list as good things about going to school! When you find something that suits your child and makes them happy it's very hard not to evangelize about it and think that it will suit all other children too. For example, my children are both very musical and love being involved in the Scouting movement. Sometimes I forget that I can't extrapolate from my sample of 2 to all children and that singing in a choir and going on night hikes is many people's idea of hell. I meet many HEers in the course of my life and some are fanatically evangelistic about it in a way that could certainly make you feel you were failing and damaging your child by letting them go within 10 miles of a school. All happy HEers are enthusiastic about it- because it is a choice they have been able to make that they feel has been fantastic for their child. And even this can feel uncomfortable for someone who has not thought about or isn't in a position to make that choice. And there is certainly sometimes a feeling in the HE community that anyone can do it-and a public front that it's as easy as falling off a log. Which it isn't. Most successful HEers put loads of time and energy into it- however effortless it looks on the surface.

Not sure what conclusion I'm coming to- except that I don't mind anyone listing things they don't have to do now they're not at school any more as positives for HE- particularly if their child has additional needs. There are things about school I would be delighted never to have to do again, believe me! I could live without the "clip their wings""free spirit"exam fodder""herd mentality" "mundanes" type comments, though. Perfectly possible to have one without the other.

[IncognitoErgoSum]

Tue 11-Mar-14 02:36:53, anchories wrote:
If children cannot cope with other children at 6, how are they going to cope with other young people at 16, 26, 36....?

My DD (undx but with ASD behaviours) could not cope with other young people at 6 (or 14). HE allowed me to work with her on social aspects of life. If she went into a melt-down, we could withdraw from the situation until she was ready to handle it. She could deal with 5 or 6 periods of 1-2 hours per week in children's groups. 30 hours in school would have been too much. She also learned self-knowledge and the ability to withdraw herself from overly stressful situations.

Are there anyone on here or who is lurking that has children past being a student?
What are they doing?
Are they self employed?
Are they employed?

She obtained a law degree from a Russell Group uni last year, went on to do a five-week TESOL course and is currently teaching English in China. At uni and in China she has been complimented on her ability to work in a team. To me, that is more important than the degree - that is what I knew from a very early age was going to be the thing we needed to work on.

[streakybacon]

That's fantastic Incognito - great success for your daughter

[Martorana]

Such a wonderful story, incognito- you must be bursting with pride!

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

saintlyjimjams thanks for REading my op properly as that's exactly it, d for those contributing.

as for the others yes this IS a pop at the schools (not all schools surely) that my SPECIAL NEEDS DISABLED child had to endure (I didn't know I could HE till last year) and suffer so much trauma, as did I with all the having to deal with her meltdowns and put downs by those involved as she wasn't getting theright things she needed.
this site is HOME ED, not schools, we are talking about home edding.

im wondering if anyone else (the naysayers) have special needs children who are damaged for life not only by their disabilities but they way they've been treated by those who are in authority as they are the experts and us mums aren't ffs.

my DCs a different child now without all the hassle of school that doesn't affect others of course, but we have found HEdding a saving grace.

any child doing well at school, fine, well done, but its not for everyone, hence this site and this thread.

[Sparklyboots]

I've said this elsewhere but I'll say it again, I really like the way HE lets you trust the child, trust their desire to be sociable and informed. It's such a positive view of children, one I think really chimes with the young people I know.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Sparkly

This is something I hadn't considered, but yes, it is a positive view.

I am not half as worried about dd wanting to gain knowledge, become independent and sociable. I see it every day and it's become a way of life now that we just take for granted.
I'm not worried about Maths or English or anything else. I trust she is getting all the support she needs and know that we can revise the situation whenever we like and more often than not we will find things are just fine as they are.

[Sparklyboots]

We spent a lovely afternoon in a glorious national garden, enjoying the sunshine with another 15ish home ed families. DS climbed trees in a massive gang of mixed aged children and DD took a frisbee to the face crawled about being gorgeous and getting cooed at by the other parents and kids. We sort of did fractions when the food came out, but only out of necessity. I think I may have caught the sun slightly. Twas lush, such a great day to be HE.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Sparkly

That sounds great, there aren't many H.ed kids in our area but when the weather was nice we were out and about a lot more. Then dd gets to play with friends when they have finished school so she still gets to socialise.
Today is cold and there's no sun so we are mostly indoors apart from shopping.
Today she has done all practice, listened and watched Maria Callas in various Opera roles and sang along to MC's version of Ave Maria. Just before we finished I heard The Hebrew Slave music, doesn't half lift my spirit.
This afternoon dd is doing Maths, English and whatever else she chooses. Probably more music.

[stilllearnin]

Trust is an issue I come back to time and again too. It grows and grows. So at the moment I am trusting that my son is right in applying to go back to school! He described home ed to the admissions person as being a massive respite for his mind and body to recover. That is a positive!

[FavadiCacao]

The brilliant things about He

The ability to tailor the education to the individual child, catering for his/her specific needs, abilities and aptitude.

The opportunity to enjoy more time with your child/children.

The freedom to choose a curriculum (or not )

More time for extra-curricular activities and social gatherings.

These are the main advantages I have come across. Ds is Home educated, he had specific (and in places complex) needs that MS schools could not address at least not without the convoluted and stressful route of statementing. Ds left school very aware of been different (often bullied because of ) and frustrated with both his physical and learning difficulties; he is now (13) an articulated, confident boy who has achieved in many sports and academically thriving (studying 5 GCSEs).
Dd was schooled throughout and is now in FE.

[KatharineClifton]

The most brilliant thing about home ed is my children are no longer crushed by a system that is designed to 'baby-sit' my children while I am out being a productive economic unit.

After 3 years away from that revolting system they have all the confidence in themselves that they had before they entered it. They are able to learn independently, choose what they learn and when. They don't need to be scheduled to learn, they do it because they love it.

Best decision I ever made was de-registering them. Worst decision in retrospect was ever sending them to school for the 6 long years they were registered.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Choosing subjects and topics that aren't on the curriculum as part of your school day. Not having to take time to do these things on top of a school day. This for dd has been the best thing about H.ed
being able to fit school, music practice, hobbies and play into her day and not being totally exhausted at the end.

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

this morn we sat in the garden and did a study on birds and nature. nice and quiet, a cup of tea, fresh air and a calm DC.

then did some arts and craft with twigs and bits wed found in the garden.

lovely.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Oh, how lovely.
My friend gave dd a book about different birds and lots of colourful resources from birdwatch from the RSPB, might be worth a lot if your dc show a continued interest.

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

morethan that's an idea, thanks.