What do I really truly think about schools?

[emmaagain]

In response to a discussion with AbbeyA in another thread, but I can't cope with these Byzantine conversations-go-everywhere thread.

I'll try to be very succinct.

1. Schools are inherently places where people get bullied [it's a feature of closed societies which people have not chosen to enter, like prison. Where outside such societies those who don't fit in with the particular culture can choose to leave it, finding alternative people to mix with, in schools you have to stay in a room with people you dislike day in day out]. If your child is not one of the ones being bullied, you might not notice it, but look around. There is often someone being belittled, whether it is by staff or pupils. Except of course in the perfectly happy skippy schools where it never ever happens (only I'm not sure I believe in them)

1. Schools are inherently and institutionally coercive. The teacher is the authority figure, and right and proper in a room of 30 pupils not all of whom want to do what everyone else wants to do, or even be there. The alternative would be chaos. But I am ideologically opposed to my children spending their days in a dictatorship, however benevolent. (NB I am aware that most will not agree with me about it being wrong to submit children to the dictatorship of adults, at home or at school. I am a libertarian and that's an unusual stance. But I am trying to express my objections to the institution of school and this is a large part of my moral objection)

1. Schools have really weird cultures which don't reflect the world outside at all (asking permission to speak or urinate? Eating on someone else's timetable? Stopping an activity when someone else says it's time to move on rather than because you've finished?)

1. Schools, by definition, cannot enable a child to learn in the most efficient manner, as responsive to their ability and interests. Because there is a national curriculum. Because there are so many children for each adult - there's no way there could be a truly personalised curriculum. Educational professionals do their bets, I know, to respond to the needs of each child, but there's no way they're going to come close to what a parent can do, just by definition.

I'm inclined to agree with much of what you say and I'm a (soon to be ex) teacher. Will now go and find thread you referred to and find out more

well said

good job you're home educating then

old thread (I think)

Those are all the negatives, what about the positives?

I trust your kids share your views?

yes, positives please.

guilt guilt guilt at every turn.

I often get told,

"you're so brave home educating, I couldn't do it!"

I always smile sweetly and say nothing.

What I want to say, but can't because it would sound insulting is:

"You're so brave sending your children to school, I couldn't do it!"

the parent having free time?
what about the parent having to work?

also don't forget some people love school, thrive in that environment, get good results and go on to have a life long love of learning

I AM responsible for my childs learning.
and to the best of my abilities i do what i can.
i have NO free time, i work.

still dont know if i could do it even if i had the balls tho.

You are perpetuating my crippling guilt im afraid to say.

i just cant feel any worse about what must seem to you to be putting my child through hell every day.

to the op, i think you are living in fantasy land.

And what about teacher who love their subject, really understand their subject, make the kids enthusiastic about their subject and understand a wide range of ways of getting children to learn?

and make no bones about it schools are measured on learning nowerdays, not teaching. Even Ofstead see that.

and there is no bullying in my classroom, I simply don't allow it

Please don't tar us all with the same brish.

You'd be understandably annoyed if people made sweeping statements about Home Ed. Oddly enough I feel the same way when people do the same about schools.

yes people, let it all out, all those novel objections

Hi Lyrasilvertongue. I know the answers one ought to come up with, but mostly I don't believe in them.

Truly, deep down? The biggest positive is the free-at-point-of-delivery childcare.

But that's not such a positive from the child's POV.

If one was to ask a child this questin, the answer "because despite those limitation, that is where I prefer to spend 6 hours a day 5 days a week" should be sufficient for a parent to support that child in continuing to be at school. All it means is that the parent then has the moral responsibility for doing their best to minimise the shortcomings AFA the experience of the child is concerned.

i DO agree with the majority of what you say having said all that.
What screams out to me every day where my child education is concerned is "SQUARE PEG, FORCED INTO ROUND HOLE"
I agree

"Free time"

I have loads!
When they are playing with their friends, when they're in the garden, when they're just amusing themselves.

OK so I can't swan around Bluewater 'lunching' with other yummy mummies, but I can't think of anything I'd want to do less!

I have an evening out a week when I go to Salsa and my dh and I often have nights out when FIL babysits.

Evenings I sit and read.

As for "equipment" well we just get our HE heads together and learn to be very resourceful.

"Free time"

I have loads!
When they are playing with their friends, when they're in the garden, when they're just amusing themselves.

OK so I can't swan around Bluewater 'lunching' with other yummy mummies, but I can't think of anything I'd want to do less!

I have an evening out a week when I go to Salsa and my dh and I often have nights out when FIL babysits.

Evenings I sit and read.

As for "equipment" well we just get our HE heads together and learn to be very resourceful.

oh filly where have you been madam?

This thread is in the HE forum. You wouldn't exactly expect a thread there to start with an OP waxing lyrical about the glories of school, would you?

pukkapatch do you have any more specific criticisms to make? Because there's not a lot I can learn from the claim that I'm living in a fantasy land unless you tell me what is fnantastical about it

No, but at the same time, it is a thread that seems to invite some honest debate?

Or Have I miss read it?

So, you've told your kids that the world is a mean, vicious place and they're better off at home with mum.

And I guess they agree with that, because they've got nothing else to go on?

is this thread only for Home Educators then?