Has anyone here heard of the home ed review?

[ailbhe]

I've written something about it in Who Teaches Whom. I did honestly try to give it my most charitable interpretation but at some point in the next few days I expect I'll post something else too. I do feel that if I want anyone who agrees with the review to listen to me I can't point out its worst and most damaging flaws, which hurts somewhat.

Comments

[ailbhe]

I want (generic) you to acknowledge the existence of a set of people who are harmed by school and for whom school is not appropriate.

I assume that if (personal) you and your parents felt that school, though not without its downsides, was the best space for you to do the things you do at school (learn stuff, express self, interact socially, etc), that it was. I know several people who benefited from school and also an awful lot of people who actively enjoyed it. I don't disregard the existence of those people or claim that their experience was misperceived or self-deception. Why should I?

I have repeatedly seen the set of people about whom I am talking *completely disregarded* and I have seen many people doubt their existence or misunderstand them entirely (Oh, if we just change the way schools are then they'll work for these people! - that's not necessarily true, because schools are based on groups, among other things).

I'm *tired* of that. These people exist, according to themselves and some of their parents, and I don't see why they should be presumed not to or why they should be forced to alter so that they fit what the system thinks they ought to do better.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

I want (generic) you to acknowledge the existence of a set of people who are harmed by school and for whom school is not appropriate.

I acknowledge that there is a set of people for whom school is not appropriate, yes, and who would benefit from alternative learning. Absolutely, yes.

I don't see, though, why advocating the rights of these people needs to go hand in hand with denigrating school, teachers and parents who choose school for their children. I feel profoundly unhappy and uncomfortable reading posts where teachers, people who work in education and parents who choose school are insulted and demonised in support of your valid argument.

I do believe that school should change to accommodate as many different kinds of learner as possible; I don't see that as incompatible with your belief that, with the best will in the world, some will still be better off outside school. It is a very sad fact that at present, neither schools nor parents are provided with the full range of resources to support different learners, but trying to improve the provision offered by school is not abusive or cruel; it's one part of a solution.

And I also don't quite see what any of this discussion has to do with the Badman report, which also does not want to take away the rights of parents to homeschool, nor to force anyone to school.

[ailbhe]

I also don't quite see what any of this discussion has to do with the Badman report, which also does not want to take away the rights of parents to homeschool, nor to force anyone to school.

No, it's fine for people who want to homeschool, more or less. I am not one.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

Ah, that makes sense! Do you feel that the report imposes a homeschooling model?

[ailbhe]

I feel it assumes one and the recommendations impose conditions which are only compatible with homeschooling.

[ailbhe]

ALSO it recommends things which I'd love to see happen, but because it's so sloppily put together I can't use it to support my arguments for even the things I agree with. Which is infuriating. I would love to see even non-wealthy home educated children allowed to study for GCSEs etc at home, instead of having to get through school just because they can't afford to pay for the exams privately. I don't actually think either of the children I have at present will NEED that but it seems unfair to me that it's not already there.