School, it all just seems a bit too much of a commitment!

[Sonriente]

I'm just wondering if I'm the only person who is finding having to take the children to school every day a bit much?
I couldn't wait for them to get to school age and now I'm finding that suddenly I'm not the one in control. You hand them over, they disappear in, pop out again at 3pm and mostly I have no idea what's gone on.
And they go every week day for the next 11 years.
I want a stakeholder meeting, a consultation, a project management plan....
I want to be the one running things again! Will I get used to it?

In addition to the school runs and the feeling of lack of control and involvement, we also seem to have the added task of mountains of homework, especially on the run up to SATs!!

We need home to be home and school to be school, yes a little educational play around numeracy and literacy but do we really need to bring the school structure into our homes??!!

Saracen - I hear what you are saying but what is the alternative? I don't think realistically many people could have (or would want to have) their children at home with them. I was home educated for a while due to circumstances. My mum was actually a trained teacher and while it was fun I don't think I learned an awful lot (I learned more from the fact that we happened to be living in Nigeria at the time!). If we want our children to be prepared for the competitive world out there (which is what it is, whether we like it or not), surely the best thing to do is to put them into the hands of professionals?

If you are saying that school is fine but that the structure should be different, smaller class sizes etc - well wouldn't we all love this, but where is the money going to come from?

Maybe the answer is to set up your own small school (what are they called? Free schools oe something?).

Another mum who loves home ed here. It's been a breath of fresh air for us. I have the greatest respect for teachers as professionals (I could never manage 30 children at once!) but I believe I can home ed effectively because I'm a professional parent and I love my DS and DD . I used to believe that I would be ok at home educating because I've got a degree but actually that's tosh. I've seen how many parents who have no formal training/qualifications tap into all the resources available now and their DC really flourish. It's a lovely relaxed way of life with plenty of academic and social stimulation, depending on how much suits the individual child.

@strandednomore: I agree, the questions you ask are difficult ones. There is no easy cheap solution, nor any solution which will suit all families.

I do think it is useful for parents to be well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives available in order to make an informed choice. In terms of finance, lifestyle, and difficulty, I find home educating is similar to having a parent stay at home with children in the early years. It isn't possible or desirable for everyone, but it is an option which appeals to many.

Those parents who find it an enormously painful wrench to return to work when their children are small will often explore alternatives in some detail to see whether there is any way to change their situation. Likewise, I think parents who don't feel right about sending their children to school at four may feel more comfortable about their decision if they know either that there is no realistic alternative for them, or if they have looked into the alternatives and have decided that the benefits of school outweigh the disadvantages.

Sending a child to school should be a conscious decision based on what's right for the whole family. For some people it is. But for a great many, it is simply something that happens to them without a decision having been made. Some of my friends describe having been swept along with the tide, sending their kids to school because it was "the done thing" and then feeling a vague sense of dissatisfaction.

Having a choice is a powerful motivator. I can remember work situations where I was very unhappy, but I always knew I had a choice of leaving. Sometimes I left and sometimes I stayed, but I never felt trapped.

Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm trying to make the point that it's good to know the facts about school and the alternatives, and to give it plenty of thought, regardless which choice a parent ends up making. That might sound patronising, but I really do think school is accepted too readily by many people who might prefer home education.

Saracen - beautifully put! It's exactly like I feel, like I'm doing something because it's what every one does. But I don't believe it is the best way to learn or the right age/ hours.
I've done so much reading/research the past few days and I'm seriously considering giving home ed a try.

I'm terrified of being one of the minority walking against the tide. But from what I've seen a growing number of people are taking the home education route as an alternative to both state and private education.

I've also realised that I could keep working part time, which might just save my sanity.

Thanks Saracen that's very interesting. Personally I wouldn't have the patience but some sort of co-operative where a group of parents worked with a small group of children, perhaps each taking a day or a few hours a day - and concentrating on areas they are good at - might work.

But I would also always be worried about not covering all the basics - I went to a very "hippy" primary school which was great at teaching us about yoghurt making, singing puff the magic dragon, bird watching and mushroom hunting (really!!) but hopless at maths. Hence I struggled with maths all my life and only just scraped a CSE Grade 1. There are some things which our children need to be taught well. Maybe bring in the professionals for some of these things a couple of days a week (I'm on a roll here - although am perfectly happy with my dd's school!).