Blog Demonstrations for the right to educate without school

Home schooling is not legal, rules Spanish Constitutional Court

Join the manifestation of blogs and help us spread the words of freedom and solidarity to the home-educating families in Spain. They need your support.

Join the blog protest and help defend the right to education outside school in Spain. Wherever you live, add the symbol of protest in your blogs and your link here. If you want you can also share your thoughts on the decision of the Spanish court.

Links
Tribunal Constitucional Español contra el homeschooling
This is the end, my friend
Más reacciones a la sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional
La angustia de educar en casa
La Constitución no es suficiente
La sentencia del TC
La violencia legítima del Estado
Sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional
Primeras reacciones ante la sentencia del Tribunal Constitucional
El TC se opone a la libertad de educación.
El Tribunal Constitucional falla en contra del homeschooling

Our children have been nationalised

Gerald Warner reckons that the German homeschoolers' political asylum in America exposes the EU Gulag:

Why did the German homeschoolers not seek political asylum in Britain? Because our rulers subscribe to the same tyrannical statist philosophy, is the answer. Every possible obstacle is put in the way of homeschooling parents in Britain.

The mentality is that the state – not parents – is the natural controller and shaper of children’s lives and beliefs. When a schoolgirl can be given an abortion without her parents’ knowledge, we know that, while public utilities may have been privatised, children have been nationalised. Read more...

ALSO on the news: One of the growing number of children who are being taught at home, for Archie there will be no dreaded Sats exams and when the time is right he will likely bypass GCSEs and move straight to A-levels. Read it here.

AND, on EO's campaigning site, a new page -Where are we up to with the Bill? - which can be read here.

Finally, we also have the Memorandum submitted by AHEd: Children Schools and Families Bill.

Homeschooling Family Granted Political Asylum

“This decision finally recognizes that German homeschoolers are a specific social group that is being persecuted by a Western democracy,” said Mike Donnelly, staff attorney and director of international relations for Home School Legal Defense Associaton.

“It is embarrassing for Germany, since a Western nation should uphold basic human rights, which include allowing parents to raise and educate their own children. This judge understood the case perfectly, and he called Germany out. We hope this decision will cause Germany to stop persecuting homeschoolers,” he added.

Read more here. The story also appeared on the Guardian, the Deutsche Welle, the Local, and in spanish here.

UPDATE: Commenting on this, Ed West says here that the British Government is trying to make homeschooling even harder because he suspects many of the parents are religious.

NH Home Schoolers Protest!

"New Hampshire home educators protesting proposed government regulations making NH the most difficult state to home school. It is a short account of why these ordinary families came out in frigid New England weather to voice their concerns to the New Hampshire legislature. A suprising mix of people with differing political, religious and social views gathered in a unified stance against their representatives."

UPDATE:
N.H. Homeschoolers Praise Vote Against Tighter Regulations
The N.H. House of Representatives rejected a bill that would tightly regulate homeschooling. The state House voted 324-34 against changes to the current law.

A Libertarian Perspective on Home-Ed

Sophie Robbins (Home Educated Student; blogger, ValleyForge) talking at LIBERTY 2009: the Annual Conference of the Libertarian Alliance. Oct 2009, London.

On the news...

Children's Secretary Ed Balls has defended plans to force home-educating parents to register with their local council as "very light touch indeed" [dismissing] Tory claims that the plans would "alienate and antagonise" home educators. Read more...

Here, Lord Lucas shares his "close interest in home education, in the Badman Report, and in the bill now before the Commons, which sets out to demolish people's right to educate their own children" and his difficulties when trying to get answers to his questions.

Meantime, in the USA, home schooling soars in Central Florida
... the number of kids sitting for lessons in their kitchens and living rooms surged 20% last school year. Read more...

While in New Hampshire home school proposal too strict
Parents portray the legislation as state interference in family affairs. "Some people think the government knows what's best for everyone, and that's not always true," said Pam Altemose, who brought three of her six children to the State House last week. Altemose, a Rochester resident with a master's degree in education, said she first chose home schooling so she could work individually with a son who has special needs. Read more...

Home education and the children, schools and families bill

* The Guardian, Monday 11 January 2010

We believe that schedule 1 of the children, schools and families bill represents an unacceptable imposition of state control over families. Although it is aimed at children educated outside the school system, it has implications for all families.

Most parents would not make home-based education their first choice; but any family might need it if school seriously failed their child. Currently, this choice is lawfully available to all parents. If enacted, the bill would – for the first time – transfer responsibility for a child's education from the parents to the state. We believe this is a matter which should be of great concern to everyone.

A change in the law is unnecessary. Parents are already required by law to provide an education suitable to the age, aptitude and ability of their children, and to any special educational needs they may have. Local authorities already have the power to take action if parents do not do this.

Evidence indicates that home education is highly effective. Many home educating families use child-led educational methods which lie outside the prevailing educational paradigm. Diversity in education is precious in a democracy, and we need the law to protect it, and to protect the best interests of each individual child.

The interests of children are strikingly absent from schedule 1, which is concerned mainly with setting up a bureaucratic system administered by local authorities. They would be given the power to deny parents permission to home-educate, at any time, unless parents adapt their educational approach to fit in with the requirements of the system. The resulting insecurity would be damaging to many children, especially those with special educational needs.

Schedule 1 contravenes two principles of the government's own children's plan: that families bring up children, not governments; and that services need to be shaped by and responsive to children, young people and families, not designed around professional boundaries. Given the controversy surrounding this section of the bill, and the serious criticisms made of it by the children, schools and families select committee, we call on the government to withdraw schedule 1 of the bill, and the accompanying clauses.

Ralph Lucas House of Lords, Oliver James, Child clinical psychologist, Anne Fine, Dr Frank Furedi Professor of sociology, Professor Anna Craft University of Exeter, Michele Elliott Founder of Kidscape, Professor Roger Scruton, Graham Stuart MP Chair, all-party parliamentary group on home education, Michael A Peters Professor, educational policy studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Professor Brian Thorne Fellow, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Professor Emeritus Janet Moyles Early years and play consultant, Tricia David Emeritus professor of education, Canterbury Christ Church University, Professor Andrew Samuels University of Essex, Professor Tony Kouzarides Cancer research scientist at Cambridge University, Professor Ian Cunningham Chair of educational charity, Dr Sacha Powell Acting director, Centre for Research into Children, Families and Communities, Canterbury Christ Church University, Dr Felicity de Zulueta Consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy and honorary senior lecturer at King's College London, Fiona Carnie Vice-president, European Forum for Freedom in Education, Dr Alan Thomas Visiting fellow at University of London Institute of Education, Harriet Pattison Research Associate, School of Education, University of London, Dr Richard House Senior lecturer in therapeutic education, Roehampton University, Peter Humphreys Chair, trustee, director, The Centre for Personalised Education and Personalised Education Now, Veronika Robinson Editor, The Mother magazine, Sue Palmer Literacy specialist and author of Toxic Childhood, Dani Ahrens Open letter co-ordinator, Badman Review Action Group, Roland Meighan The Centre for Personalised Education Trust, Dr Teresa Belton Educational researcher, Dr Ben Anderson Department of sociology, University of Essex, Melanie Gill Forensic psychologist, Claire Fox Director, Institute of Ideas, Vincent Nolan Trustee, Synectics Education Initiative, Dr Marilyn Fryer, Director, The Creativity Centre, John Harris Professional storyteller/children's author, Norman Wells Director, Family Education Trust, Derry Hannam Researcher/adviser/trainer in education for democratic citizenship to Council of Europe, UK government and NGOs, Liz Steinthal Educare Small School, Dr L Safran Educationist, Chloe Watson Chair, Home Educated Youth Council, Cathy Koetsier Media officer, Home Education Advisory Service, Kathleen Thompson Committee member of Education Everywhere helpline, Annette Taberner Trustee of Education Otherwise, Kelly L Green Founding member of Freedom and Choice in Education, British Columbia, Wendy Priesnitz Founder of Canadian Alliance of Home Schoolers, editor of Life Learning magazine, Beverley Paine Editor Home Education Association Australia publications, Deborah Markus Editor, Secular Homeschooling Magazine and more than 1,000 other signatories (for a full list see http://is.gd/5ViV7)

New Hampshire restrictions on homeschooling

New Hampshire lawmakers are moving ahead with a bill to restrict home schooling. More here.

Home-ed news around the world

USA
Mom turns to homeschooling to avoid 'experiments' on autistic child The school psychologist wanted to put the child in a room and expose her to known triggers to see how quickly she escalated and what her behavior would be.

Sweden
Court endorses 'kidnapping' of 7-year-old - Social services allowed to keep custody of homeschooled child

"Any nation that severely restricts the ability of parents to choose alternative forms of education, including home education, in the name of creating national unity, cannot call itself a free nation. Freedom necessarily requires the individual to have the liberty to think differently and believe differently than programs instituted by the current rulers of any nation. Educational freedom is the cornerstone for all freedom of thought and conscience," said Michael Farris, HSLDA chairman.

UK
It appears that the NASUWT supports a school-based system of education for all and reckons that the only way the Government can meet the Every Child Matters' aims is by making schooling compulsory for all children. FFI see this months' issue of their magazine (article on p. 23). You can read the NASUWT's submission to the consultation here.

Declaration to Parliament - Notice of refusal to co-operate

The following notice has been going round...

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

WHEREAS the recommendations of the GRAHAM BADMAN REVIEW OF ELECTIVE HOME EDUCATION have been accepted in full by the Secretary of State.

AND that these grossly disproportionate recommendations hold serious implications for the civil liberties of parents, children and families in this country.

AND that these recommendations place primary responsibility for assessing the suitability of education and the welfare of the child on the state, rather than the parent - with no prior evidence that either is unsatisfactory prior to this grossly intrusive intervention.

AND that the recommendations of the review assumes that the home is an inherently unsafe or unhealthy place for the child to be.

AND that these recommendations undermine the role of the parent and trample over family freedoms in its haste to set parent and child up against each other, bestowing additional and selective "rights" on home educated children that only the government can adequately minister to.

AND that these recommendations destroy the very possibility of true autonomy in learning.

AND that these recommendations operate from a position of requiring proof of parental innocence rather than reasonable suspicion of guilt.

AND that these recommendations discriminatorily use the coercive and interventionist tools of parental licensing, warrantless entry to the home, inspection according to arbitrary external standards, and an unconscionable new power to interrogate the child without the parents present.

AND that the outcome of these recommendations will be horribly discriminatory to a minority community, the measures eventually having to apply to anyone who has their child at home with them: parents with under 5s, those whose children attend private school, and also those with school-aged children who are at home in the evenings, over the weekends, and throughout the summer holidays.

AND that the outcome of these inspections will be based on the very human whim and prejudices of a local authority officer, who will have the power to destroy the life and education that that parent has conceived for his or her child.

AND that if the government is to avoid further discrimination it also stands to reason that each child who attends school must be given the same "rights" as home educated children - to "have their voices heard" regarding whether or not they are happy to be educated in school, whether they are satisfied with their teachers and whether they feel safe in such an environment.

WE ACCEPT that it is right that appropriate and proportionate action, as currently outlined in the law, may be taken to rectify a situation if there are serious concerns about a child's welfare, observing that a child being at home with its parents is not, and never has been, in and of itself a child welfare issue.

AND HEREBY RESOLVE that any such utterly disproportionate legislation if passed will fundamentally alter the relationship between citizen and state, and would constitute a fundamental violation of our rights,

AND that any such legislation is illegitimate on its face.

NOW UNDERSTAND that by this declaration, Parliament is PUT ON NOTICE that I and others will not co-operate with any such legislation, and strongly caution you not to consider, debate, or enact any such legislation.

Signed _______________________________

Declaration to Parliament - Notice of Refusal to Co-operate

Here, there and everywhere...
To find out more, go to:
Home education forums
Freedom in education
Maire Staffordshire
Blogdial
kelly green and gold
Renegade Parent (more here)
AHED
Billysu's
Nineteenthly
Learning Freely Network
Then UK
Ensino Doméstico - Educação Domiciliar

Uncorrected Transcript of Oral Evidence

on EHE given by Graham Badman, Ms Diana Johnson and Penny Jones to the CSF Committee on Mon 12/10/09 available here.

Home Educators Mass Lobby of Parliament

From here: [Two days ago,] over 450 Home Educators and many supporters lobbied parliament today to protest against the Review of Elective Home Education chaired by Graham Badman.

UPDATE: CHANGES DISMAY HOME EDUCATORS

A FAMILY from Crediton took part in the recent mass lobby of Parliament in a bid to stop "intrusive" legislation affecting home education.

"We want to give our children an education that reflects our values and principles as opposed to those of a complete stranger. Some children thrive in a school system but I think I can do a better job myself. It's great to be in charge of what they're learning. You can't monitor what they do at school. It's my right to educate my children as I see fit." said Mrs Martin.

Read it here.

Not back to school picnics on the news

Picnics celebrate home education: a nationwide event has been staged by the supporters of home education to highlight its benefits. Around 40 picnics were held in locations across England, including Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Read it here.

BRISTOL families who educate their children at home met for a picnic yesterday as part of a nationwide campaign to challenge people's views of home schooling. More here.

OXFORD home schooled children and their parents came to the centre to protest against a Government review they said threatens to burst their bubble. Read it here.

On BBC Radio Oxford there's an interview with a local home edder and her teenage daughter - listen here (29mns on).

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: Hundreds of children are educated 'otherwise than at school' be it in a structured school at home setting, or a more 'free-range' autonomous approach. Here.

SHEFFIELD parents who refuse to send their children to school staged a picnic in the Peace Gardens in defence of their right to educate their youngsters at home. More here.

BIRMINGHAM School stayaways enjoyed a picnic yesterday as part of a national celebration of home education. Handsworth mum tells us why she is keeping her son out of the classroom here.

NORFOLK parents who home educate their children said they feared the freedom it brings them and their youngsters could be under threat from the government. Read it here.

SOUTH DEVON: Parents and children from Torbay and Totnes celebrated the fact they were not back at school as they highlighted their right to home educate their children yesterday. Read it here.

CUMBRIAN mother describes government proposals to tighten up home schooling regulations as “sickening.” Check it out here.

TELFORD here.

And many more here.

The news for today

SOUTH Devon's 'home educators' will be joining more than 30 other picnic protests across the country as they blow bubbles and talk to anyone who wants to know more about home education. There are around 100 families in the Teignmouth, Totnes and Torbay areas who educate their youngsters outside the mainstream schooling system.

Read it here.

London: Parents today attacked government plans to impose new controls on home schooling. Families were handing out leaflets and taking part in street theatre to "spread the message" about learning outside the education system. The event coincides with International Freedom in Education Day, which promotes learning at home.

Protest organiser Elizabeth Lil, who teaches her children Beth, nine, and Edward, five, at home, said: "They want to legislate because they think they're going to get rid of a problem. They'll spend a lot of time and money looking at families that don't have problems. Far more children are failed by the state system than home schooling."

Read it here.