Free Range Education

[zazen999]

I was bullied in school too - it was to be expected when you were short, plump, four-eyed and poor. I soon learnt how to fight
I think the type of bullying has changed though - we didn't have mobile phones and cameras - or designer clothing. If we were lucky we had a school uniform that fitted and a satchel.
Time to bring out the 4 Yorkshiremen sketch

Me too - that's how I learnt how to be so sarky. I would cut them down with words.

[SarzWix]

Me too - that's how I learnt how to be so sarky. I would cut them down with words.

And I.

But although bullying is a concern in mainstream schooling, I think the biggest problems these days are coming from policy on curriculum, testing, and red tape. The new interference in teaching reading is particularly concerning as it seeks to reduce teaching methods to one, unproven, way which is being slated by a lot of people I respect.

I don't think I'd have coped with home-schooling at the time mine were little, but I think if I had littlies now I would seriously consider it. Or find a non-traditional school like a Montessori.

[Feral007]

Bullying happens at our school, but not nearly as much as at the private school. A lot of parents are forgoing what they consider to be a better education, in the interests of their child/teenagers mental health, by sending them to our school. Most of them do just as well here as there, educationwise.
Another group of parents are considering bussing their kids 1 1/2 hours away to the next private school with less bullying. Now would I send my daughter on a bus for 3 hours a day + school hours - not on your nelly. And that's not taking into consideration the fact that the people I moved her away from in yr 5, would be the ones on that bus.
Over the years I've had kids at school I've decided that learning can be done anytime. And if it's torture at school then you either move away, or if near the end, grit your teeth and 'just get thru it'.'
My daughter has survived maths so far with a tutor.

[Two_Sheds]

home school ... may leave someone with very little social skills and very few friends outside family members.

Not necessarily, in fact it may improve social skills, if the child is exposed to a varied range of adults and other children, through clubs as well as normal life, ie shopping, visiting places.

School, if a child is quiet & withdrawn, and the child doesn't mix with good role models, can harm their social skills as well as their self-esteem.

Their are ample opportunities for children to socialise just in everyday life: I have always got my nieces & nephews to order food in cafes, for instance, and pay for shopping, and ask directions for things in shops. It makes them more confident and social, but other adults are always completely surprised that I do this. To me it's basic socialisation.


As for friends, social networking can vastly increase a person's circle of friends: just look at all of us, on here. We have daily contact with like-minded people, and we even meet up in real life

[Aberdeenplotter]

real life? Whassat?

[Feral007]

Home schooling on fb?

[petal]

If you have the patience and can afford to stay at home, then home schooling during the primary years is feasible. However, I would not want my kids home schooled to A level standard. I do not see how that is possible. Surely they have to go to school to study properly for examinations? The only way you could do that is if you were a genius or could afford to bring in home tutors for every subject. Bullying is unfortunately an unpleasant aspect of school life- but also of the every day work place that adults inhabit. School can also be fun!

[Two_Sheds]

I would not want my kids home schooled to A level standard. ... Surely they have to go to school to study properly for examinations?

I educated myself for my A level English: the school was crap, the teacher was crap, we had one book between three people ~ I took myself to the town library, and studied there with a coffee every Saturday afternoon after my Saturday job.

I got an A

All the resources are available, you don't need to be in a school to do A levels

[Hazel at the Hill]

I educated myself for my A level English: the school was crap, the teacher was crap, we had one book between three people ~ I took myself to the town library, and studied there with a coffee every Saturday afternoon after my Saturday job.

Tut! Coffee in the library! My retired librarian mum will be horrified!

[Two_Sheds]

It's not there any more, but what is now a meeting room used to be a cafe, it sold lovely milky coffee dead cheap.
The cafe is now on the ground floor and is "poshed up" ... it's not the same

[petal]

There will always be examples of people who have incredible motivation and initiative. However,I have to say, no way could any of my students prepare themselves for a mere art foundation with just a parent at home(trained art teacher - not just someone who can do 'pastels...')- not with the grounding we give them - our A level art is such good preparation for an art degree. As an artist and art teacher, I have met home educated students in the system many times and they lack the raw, visceral mentality required to pursue art to a more serious level. just an example.....

[Two_Sheds]

no way could any of my students prepare themselves for a mere art foundation with just a parent at home..

You're right, a parent can't be expected to take the place of an experienced teacher, but a parent can always "buy in" private tutoring.

My 6th form and my college education (BA in art & design) were hopeless, really. I didn't learn the things I wanted to learn, the teaching didn't inspire me, the courses weren't that good. I have always been someone who will go off and educate themselves. The motivation needs to be there, for sure.

[Feral007]

Sometimes the choices of subject that you want are not being run the year you are doing your senior schooling, and then you either have a choice of sitting in a subject that you have little interest in, or doing it by distance ed - sitting in a classroom (if they have one empty when you require it) with a book and your paper and pens. Not a good grounding really either.
Not that I'd want to do home schooling in high school. But good teachers are not always in every classroom. Daughter is finding this year that a teacher who can teach history makes it interesting. She's had 3 years without that so far.

There's good and bad things to be said for both sides.

[SarzWix]

I have a friend who was home educated up to GCSE and achieved excellent grades. For A-level equivalent study he did OU Openings courses and is now well on the way to his OU degree. There are ways and ways of doing things, it doesn't always have to be the traditional route.