Portlanders aren't ready for democracy - City Hall cover-up - Hayden Island

Kudos to Jack Bog's Blog for picking up on the Portland city hall cover-up in the Tribune's story on Hayden Island. I read the Tribune everyday but passed over their story. Because I am not a native Portlander - Hayden Island stories don't seem to get my attention when it should. Hayden Island is a great example of what is wrong in Portland - it is the "leadership" and those that aspire to that leadership.

Both stories are worthy of the read - but I want to focus on the content of Bojack's post - the all too apparent willingness by public officials and political appointees to circumvent the public's right to know and the public records law a vehicle designed to facilitate the public's right to be informed.

Portland leadership at city hall is for the most part about hypocrisy and the lack of ethics and good old fashion -so it seems - honesty. What is it about politics or even working for the city that converts so easily people who are ordinarily decent people into the 'us against them' cadre of political hacks and wannabes?

I find it even more surprising that Amy Ruiz - a former reporter for the Mercury - who instead of remaining true to her reporter training and instincts - has chosen to forgo that. A change from protecting the public's right to know to manipulating the public's ability to find out. Why - because it is her job to protect the insiders from the outsiders? 

But isn't it the job of Ruiz and the others to represent in good faith the public's interest? Aren't they being paid by tax payer's dollars? Credibility and ethics appears to mean nothing to these city hall  people.

Accountability and transparency - instead of being attributes of public service - they are viewed by these  public servants as tenets of an anti-government manifesto to be avoided at all costs.

The public be damned. They aren't ready for democracy.

Portlanders aren't ready for democracy - City Hall cover-up - Hayden Island

Kudos to Jack Bog's Blog for picking up on the Portland city hall cover-up in the Tribune's story on Hayden Island. I read the Tribune everyday but passed over their story. Because I am not a native Portlander - Hayden Island stories don't seem to get my attention when it should. Hayden Island is a great example of what is wrong in Portland - it is the "leadership" and those that aspire to that leadership.

Both stories are worthy of the read - but I want to focus on the content of Bojack's post - the all too apparent willingness by public officials and political appointees to circumvent the public's right to know and the public records law a vehicle designed to facilitate the public's right to be informed.

Portland leadership at city hall is for the most part about hypocrisy and the lack of ethics and good old fashion -so it seems - honesty. What is it about politics or even working for the city that converts so easily people who are ordinarily decent people into the 'us against them' cadre of political hacks and wannabes?

I find it even more surprising that Amy Ruiz - a former reporter for the Mercury - who instead of remaining true to her reporter training and instincts - has chosen to forgo that. A change from protecting the public's right to know to manipulating the public's ability to find out. Why - because it is her job to protect the insiders from the outsiders? 

But isn't it the job of Ruiz and the others to represent in good faith the public's interest? Aren't they being paid by tax payer's dollars? Credibility and ethics appears to mean nothing to these city hall  people.

Accountability and transparency - instead of being attributes of public service - they are viewed by these  public servants as tenets of an anti-government manifesto to be avoided at all costs.

The public be damned. They aren't ready for democracy.

The value of higher education - in Germany

Germany's defense minister - "Baron Cut-and-Paste" - was outed as having lifted, without attribution, more than half of his doctorate thesis. Arguably, at least to him, even the pretext of having received an actual doctorate was worth his apparent downfall - he has resigned, although only after much pressure. [BBC News - German Defence Minister Guttenberg resigns over thesis].

But German politics like that anywhere in the world care little for ethics - standing by their man no matter how unethical or, often the case, how immoral . As well stated by a Social Democrats opposition leader: "Chancellor Merkel had been wrong to assume that what her defence minister had done as a private individual had no bearing on his position as minister."

Any bells ringing in Portland?

The value of higher education - in Germany

Germany's defense minister - "Baron Cut-and-Paste" - was outed as having lifted, without attribution, more than half of his doctorate thesis. Arguably, at least to him, even the pretext of having received an actual doctorate was worth his apparent downfall - he has resigned, although only after much pressure. [BBC News - German Defence Minister Guttenberg resigns over thesis].

But German politics like that anywhere in the world care little for ethics - standing by their man no matter how unethical or, often the case, how immoral . As well stated by a Social Democrats opposition leader: "Chancellor Merkel had been wrong to assume that what her defence minister had done as a private individual had no bearing on his position as minister."

Any bells ringing in Portland?

My thoughts...

Trial by media, misconceptions, ignorance, used for political gain...take your pick.

I have tried to keep this blog just about my family, and about our personal journey as we embark on our day to day home-educating adventures.  Thus far I have succeeded in keeping the blog a political free zone.  When I awoke this morning at 5am, and lay in bed thinking about what the day would have instore for me, my mind wandered into thinking what I would blog about later in the day.  I wanted to write something about how home-educators are perceived by the media.  I wanted to talk about the media slotting us all into convenient little boxes - the free and easy hippy type, the fanatical religious type, the hot-housing "wanting to produce child-genius" type - you get the idea.  Why?  Why don't the media ever talk about ol' Joe Bloggs and family, happily home-educating their children, with no reference to radical ideas, extreme views, child abuse claims, Mensa joining, phenomenal IQ etc etc?  Just a down to earth "this is how we do it, and look no schoolroom, tutor or workbook in sight, oh and we even have friends!" article that hasn't been negatively twisted by the journalist, and could maybe even help dispel the myths that surround the much misunderstood world that is Home-Ed.  Argh, now that wouldn't be news now would it?

Little did I know during my morning thought-fest, that by lunchtime my day would become a swirl of frustration, disappointment, anger, upset, and pure despair.  I've got so many thoughts, feelings and opinions pulsating through my mind, I've got yet another headache.  But, enough is enough.  I've reached procrastination overload and it's time I unleashed my thoughts into blogland. 

So, what has happened today to create this sudden u-turn?  Enter Fern Britton and the Radio 2 farce.  Alarm bells should have rung immediately when Fern opened the show with "Should home-educators be required to follow the same rules as the rest of us?"  Erm, what rules are they then Fern?  Home-Educators do follow the exact same rules as every other law-abiding citizen in the Country.  If these rules that she speaks of concern education, well the law states that it is the parents responsibility to ensure that children receive a suitable education - we do that, just at home (and in the big wide world)  instead of within the confines of the system.

I am absolutely sick to death of having to justify and defend that law-given right in a so-called democratic country.  I feel like the past few months of my life have been spent pointing out media inaccuracies, righting the wrongs, and fighting.  Fighting for what?  Fighting for freedom of choice, fighting for parental rights, fighting for my children.  For my children - for that reason alone, I will not give up.

Let's get sidetracked and look at my reason for home-educating for a moment.  Initially it was due to my eldest son not thriving within the school environment.  The short version is that at 5 years old he became withdrawn, painfully clingy and shy, and I was scared.  I woefully observed my happy-go-lucky, always smiling, cheeky child, deteriorate into a figure beyond my recognition.  He was returning home with broken glasses numerous times a week, and was recoiling into a world of his own.  The teachers noticed a dramatic change in his personality and commented on it - stating that he "wasn't his cheerful, happy self anymore".  He went from being the child whom would jump up and dress himself in school uniform at 6am eager to get to school, to being physically sick as we walked there within weeks.  I can't begin to explain how I felt at that time.  Emotions consisted of fear, anger, confusion - not eased as nobody could explain why it was happening.  Enough was enough. I researched bullying and school-phobia desperate for alternatives and discovered (for the first time in my life) that home-education was a legal option.  Upon further investigation and much soul-searching and worrying, the decision to de-register my son from school was made (with the full support and agreement of my husband).  This was not an easy decision.  It was certainly not a decision I took lightly.  It wasn't the easy way out.  It was a choice I made to take full responsibiltiy to help my son.  My son that had stopped talking.  My son who was petrified of being away from me (despite happily progressing through the usual Nursery route, where leaving me had never been an issue).  My son who had lost the zest for life that he once had.  My son whose eyes had lost their spark and whose mouth had forgotten how to smile.  Why? To this day that question has never been adequately answered.  He will still mention children being horrid to him and breaking his glasses.  He will talk about the teacher ignoring him as she couldn't understand what he was saying and didn't have time to try.  He will talk with such sadness about his short time in school.

I admit that the Home-Ed decision was initially a temporary one.   I was thinking a year at the most, just time to rebuild lost confidences and work on the speech problems.

On March 3rd of this year, we will have been home-educating for 7 years.

So why have we stuck at it?  Why have I sacrificed the chance of a career?  Why did we make the decision to live on one income and go without the luxury holidays abroad, the meals out, the posh cars, and all the other material trappings that so many others relish?  Why do I pour over our finances every single month, worrying that there won't be enough in the bank to cover the rent and utility bills, knowing that I could go out and get a decent paid job to cover it?   Put simply, for love.  Now, before I get jumped on for that comment, I'm not for one cotton-picking minute saying that I love my children more than those parents whose children go to school.   Most (I'd like to say all, but cases reported by the media suggest otherwise) parents unconditionally love, worship, and adore their children and choose what they believe to be the best for them and their family unit.  I'm not anti-schools in any way and never have been.  I just believe in choices.  I believe in individuals.  I believe that the school system can't and won't suit every child, just as home-education wouldn't suit every family.  My children all have the choice to go to school if they wish to do so. I have made that clear from day one, if they want to try it, I will back them 100%.  They don't (as yet).

So why am I feeling backed into a corner?  Why do I feel like I'm fighting for survival?  Do you know what home-educators face on a day to day basis? (That question is obviously directed at any non-HErs that happen to cross paths with this blog).  We face nothing short of persecution.  We have complete strangers stop us in the street/in the library/in the supermarket/at the hairdressers/in the Doctors surgery to enquire why our children aren't in school.  I get nervous.  Not (as the media would have you believe) because I have something to hide, but because I worry about the reaction the mere mention of home-education will receive.  Admittedly, some people think that it's wonderful.  We will stand and chat about the state of the school system, how home-education works, answer questions about socialisation and the legal stand point.  I like those discussions.  I like talking about something I'm passionate about (can you tell?)  I like people to know that there is an alternative to traditional schooling - not to stir up trouble or to stand out from the crowd - but because the more people that know about it, the more normal it will be seen as.  This in turn may mean the less negativity we receive.  Let's talk about that.  Why do complete strangers who know nothing about myself or my family think that passing judgement on my life is acceptable?  Is it ok for somebody unknown to you to shout about it being "disgusting that you are allowed to do that!" or that "you are destroying your children's lives!" in the middle of the street?  Why?  Why is wanting what works for my children and my family wrong or disgusting?  Why is it so strange for people to comprehend that a mother (and/or a father) may actually enjoy spending time with their children?  Why am I deemed wierd/a saint/wonderful/just plain strange for doing something so incredibly natural?

I'll never understand it.

So why does it work for us?  We are your average family with average children (if there is such a thing).  They have their individual talents of course, but none are going to become an academic genius any time soon, and that's absolutely fine.  Throughout the 7 years of us home-educating, I have seen my children thrive in so many ways.  I have watched relationships between siblings grow closer, I have seen confidences grow and expectations excelled.  I have experienced how much the younger ones gain from having the older ones around.  I have been witness to Tiegan (now 8) teaching herself to read, and Callum (now 4) teaching himself how to spell his name, count to 100 and learn the letter names and sounds of the alphabet.  Joseph has been signed-off  from his speech therapy sessions - and home-education was credited for his success.  The speech-therapist actually said "I have no doubt that if Joe was still in school, I wouldn't be signing him off today.  The home-education has been his saviour".    I see my 4, well-rounded and fully adjusted children, progressing into becoming what I believe will be amazing adults.  At 14 years of age my daughter will hug me in the street and tell me she loves me.  We share in-depths chats, bake together, go shopping together, give each other fashion advice.  I haven't had to compete with her peers to fight to be heard and listened to.  Before this get misconstrued, I feel I should defend that last comment (see? Something is wrong when you feel you should defend something you write on your own blog...)  I don't keep my children wrapped up all safely and cosy in cotton wool away from the big bad world.  I don't squeeze us all into a little bubble (or into the cupboard under the stairs, or locked away in the cellar, or anywhere else the media might have you believe...) and keep my children away from the big bad rollercoaster that is life.  My children are out there, experiencing it in all it's glory.  Yes they have friends, yes they mix with people of their own age (as well as with those much younger and much older - just as in the real world!)  What better preparation for life is there than that?  Frankly,  I find it quite strange that it is perceived as normal to force children to spend their day enclosed within a room full of people because they share the same birth year.  I've never understood the lack of socialisation issue that is so often thrown at us HErs.  Friends come to visit, we go to others houses, we go to groups, my children go down to the park (yes, alone sometimes without me there to hold their hand, shock and horror!) and mix with the school children.  They can go to Brownies and Scouts (again socialising with school children, and without me with them!), they get invited to parties, go swimming, shopping with friends, play football, the list goes on and on.  Home-educated children are not shut away and hidden from society as some would have you believe.  They are not missing out on forming friendships.  They are not lacking in socialisation skills.  They are fully-fledged members of society, integrating within the community.  The world is their classroom, life is their learning tool.

So, *deep breath* back to the Radio 2 show with Fern Britton today that sparked this gut-spilling posting.  As I was already incensed by the totally inaccurate and clearly biased media coverage of the tragic Khyra Ishaq case in the past 2 days, where it was stated (wrongly) that Khyra was being home-educated, I guess I shouldn't have tuned in.  Fern Britton showed absolutely no understanding of what home-education is -  the legal aspect, the procedure to de-register, the powers for intevention currently in place, or even how it is done.  Nothing.  How can somebody earn money by spouting rubbish about a subject that they know nothing about?  Forget I asked that, I already know.  During the very short duration (cut short perhaps? Was certainly a great deal shorter than the other topics covered),  that home-education was the subject, let's see some of the misconceptions and generally ignorant assumptions and comments that were made by Fern and her guests.

"Do home-educators have to show the LA their schoolroom?"
"Oh, erm, home-educators have to show a little bit of work to prove education is taking place."
"Parents aren't qualified to teach."
"Home-Educated children lack socialisation with children of their own age."
"Home-Education children lack socialisation with adult professionals."
"But how, if there is no schoolroom, do you stop children running wild and daydreaming?"  (Oh, we tie them to the nearest chair and beat them into submission. - Noooooo of course we don't, but I wonder, given the misconceptions, if it would have come as a surprise if we did..)

Throughout the show the link between home-education and the Khyra Ishaq case was repeated.  There was no link.  There is no link.  Dear dear Khyra was failed by the system.  Failed by those that didn't intevene. The powers are already in place, the necessary child-safety checks can legally be made in such a case, but nothing was done. To use a child's death for political gain is wrong.  To insist on using the case against law-abiding citizens, and make all home-educators out to be possible child-abusers who are in need of regulation and assessment is just wrong.  Plain unadulterated wrong.  The phrase cracking a nut with a hammer has been used and suits the situation perfectly. 

There was more - but I can't bring myself to repeat it further.  But the bright light shining through the dull fog was that of Ann Newstead who battled bravely as a positive for Home-Education despite the surrounding negativity.

Of course, being a radio phone-in show, the listeners were encouraged to get in touch and have their say *rubs hands with glee.*  Glee soon turned to disappointment.
Message 1 - "Children should be together with those of their own age."
Message 2 - "Home-Education should only be for disabled children."

Then there was a caller - a home-educator who could talk about both sides of the argument as she had children in school and one at home.  She sang the praises of Home-ed and how it worked for her.  At least she sang as many praises that could be sung within the heavily exerted time restraint of the show.

Then caller two - a step-dad who hadn't agreed with his partner home-educating her son.  Apparently he should have been able to learn from his peers.  Apparently his step-son resents his home-education history (although said son wasn't there to speak for himself, so there may have been positives and negatives to his feelings, we don't know). 

And there you go.  That was it.

The world of the wonderful media in all it's unbiased and balanced glory. *Sigh*

Why are there so many people that just don't get it?  Why can't some people see that children can receive a perfectly well-rounded education outside the confines of a classroom?  Why is the whole teacher-pupils-classroom-school thing the only way that some people believe to be a good education?  Why am I constantly feeling like I'm banging my head against a brick wall....?

Listen.  I am happy with my life.  I am more than content with my role as mother, wife, learning facilitator and homemaker.   My children are happy (the most important thing to me), but more than that, they are kind, caring, considerate members of society.  They have lots of friends.  They do lots of "learning" including the usual maths, sciences, geography, history, art etc, even though we don't follow the curriculum or have structured learning, and I'm not a qualified teacher. 

Home-education can be wonderful, but wouldn't be a lifestyle choice that suits everyone.  Just please dear non-HErs and the powers that be, don't persecute those that have made that choice to be fully responsible for their children.  Please don't be swayed by the horror tales that the media are banding around at the moment without evidence, research or any knowledge of the subject.  Please don't let Ed Balls and the Labour Government persuade you that home-educators need to be watched, assessed, registered, and anything else he dreams up for us, despite no evidence deeming it necessary.  If we need watching to safeguard our children from abuse - what about those of not yet school age?  What about those off school for medical reasons?  What about the school holidays?  6 weeks is plenty long enough for abuse to occur, should they come and just check all is ok in your household too?

Rant over.

*Disclaimer*
These are my own personal thoughts and opinions.  My own experiences, my own (admittedly hot-headed) rants and distresses.  I will not apologise for voicing my opinion here on my own personal blog - but I do apologise if any distress or offence is caused to those that don't share my views.  If you don't like what I'm writing - don't read it, but I'd prefer it if you do :o)

Welsh concerns following the Badman report

Welsh Grand Committee in Parliament yesterday

Mark Williams: Before the hon. Gentleman moves on from education, he will be aware of the concerns expressed by many of our constituents about the implications of the Badman report. The Bill to which he alluded gives the National Assembly, quite rightly, the power to undertake an inquiry and to take action as it sees fit. Does he share the concerns of many of us in Wales about the knock-on effects of the Badman report on home education throughout Wales?

Mr. Llwyd: Like the hon. Gentleman, I have been lobbied extensively about the Badman report, and I presented a petition on it to Parliament last week. Currently, it is an England-only matter, and, to be honest, I have considerable faith that the National Assembly will be able to deal with things differently, as it did very early on in abolishing the rather strange tests that popped up all the time. We do things slightly differently in Wales, and sometimes we do them better. I believe that this is a case in point, and that we can and will be able to deal with the matter in a more acceptable way.

Lembit Öpik: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Mr. Llwyd: I do not want to take too many interventions, as I am keeping others from speaking.

Lembit Öpik: I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s generosity. A Mrs. McBride came to see me on this very matter. Is he aware of any serious impact assessment that accompanies the Badman report? As far as I can see, it is a completely disproportionate response to a theoretical concern.

Mr. Llwyd: The hon. Gentleman is right. As I said, I am confident in our colleagues across the political spectrum in the National Assembly. I am sure that they will do the right thing. It is a draconian report, and it is troubling for those who have always home educated their children, so I am hopeful that we will take a different view in Wales.

Mrs. Gillan: I have taken some interest in the Badman report because I, too, think that adopting its proposals would amount to undue interference by the state in the personal lives of all our constituents. Under the framework powers in the legislation, it is proposed that home education powers pass down to the Assembly, and as the hon. Gentleman’s party is in government, I would like his guarantee that the Badman report will not be implemented in Wales.

Mr. Llwyd: When I questioned the hon. Lady earlier, she said, “It is not for me to decide—it is for my colleagues”, so I think that the French word is touchÃ(c). I am not going to guarantee anything at this stage.

Mrs. Gillan: But you are in government.

Mr. Llwyd: Yes, we are in government, but I thought that the hon. Lady was hoping to be in government. Perhaps she is not really, but there we are. Let me put it this way: I sincerely hope that our colleagues in the National Assembly will take a different view of the Badman report. I am fairly sure that they will, but for obvious reasons I can offer no guarantees.

From here (scroll down to middle of column number 34).

Still on the news...

Miss Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thirsk, Malton and Filey, presented Vale of York Petition on Home Education:

“The Government's response to the Badman review unfortunately places many admirable home educators under an unwarranted cloud of suspicion. The need for monitoring must not become a barrier for parents who wish to home educate their children.” Read more...

Also: House of Commons Report Concludes That Flawed Govt. Proposals On Home Education Must Be Rectified

What were the costs of the EHE Review?

Education: Home Schooling
Question asked by Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the costs of the Review of Elective Home Education in England by Graham Badman; and what were the costs of the information-gathering exercises which have followed it. [HL430]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): Following careful consideration Ministers have decided that this information will remain confidential because of the potential impact on those involved in the review. There have been a large number of postings on various websites and blogs harassing Mr Badman and the apparent campaign is continuing. The department will review the position again in the new year.

The information-gathering exercise that followed the review did not incur any external costs as it was conducted by departmental officials.

From here.

Schools Minister's response to the CSF select committee report on EHE

Schools Minister Diana Johnson said:

We’re disappointed the Select Committee’s press release has a negative headline, but...

Read the rest here.

Select committee criticises plans to monitor home-education

The Select Committee Report is now available here. Pdf version here.

Balls's plans for home education should be scaled back, Sheerman says. Select committee criticises plans to monitor home-educating families as 'too aggressive'. Read it here.

Change urged for home-school plan - Parents who choose to home-school their child should not be forced to register with their local council, a cross-party group of MPs has said. More here...

More parents 'educating children at home' - Growing numbers of parents are shunning state schools to educate their children at home, according to MPs. Here.

The Big Question: Should the parents of home-schooled children be forced to register? - Why are we asking this now? A report by the House of Commons Select Committee covering education, published this morning, is highly critical of the Government's plan to tighten up on regulations governing home education. Read it here.

Badman review blasted by MPs' inquiry - A cross-party inquiry into Graham Badman's controversial review of home education has labelled the government's handling of the issue as an unfortunate episode. More here.

LOCAL NEWS

Home truths for city MP - Parents who choose to teach their children at home say meddling officials need to be taught a lesson. Read more...

Home schooling petition launched - PRO-HOME schooling campaigners have submitted a Parliamentary petition aiming to block legislation designed to give education bosses ‘stronger powers than the police’. Read more...

Parents fury at plan for lessons in home - Mother Jo Coulter, who educates her nine-year-old daughter Stella at home, said:

“I am absolutely horrified at the thought that in the name of child protection, thousands of children would be subjected to this degree of exposure to strangers within their own homes. We are automatically being treated as if we have done something wrong. It is deeply offensive that families like mine should be subjected to this degrading treatment. Why stop at home-educating families? Why not extend these measures throughout the land to cover all homes? After all, schoolchildren only spend around seven hours a day in school. Why are they spending all this money to police home education? There are already systems in place through social services to protect vulnerable children. They are knocking on the wrong door.”
Read more...

Despite all the opposition, some MPs criticise absence of home-school regulation: Parents who teach their children at home should be more closely monitored by local authorities, a group of MPs have said. Read more...

New EDM 409 Home Ed & the Badman Review

That this House acknowledges and celebrates the hard work of the many home educators in Britain who teach their children to an exceptionally high standard;

recognises the excellent value they represent to the Government;

notes with concern the conflation of welfare concerns with education issues in Government statements on home education;

further notes with concern the recommendations of the Badman Review which suggest closer monitoring of home educators, including a compulsory annual registration scheme and right of access to people's homes for local authority officials;

and calls on the Government to focus on its own ability to fulfil the Every Child Matters objectives rather than undermine the independence and integrity of home educators by enforcing the Badman recommendations.

See here.

To ask the Secretary of State for CSF...

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has provided to each local authority in England and Wales for children with special educational needs who are educated at home...

Read more...

Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which 15 local authorities will be contacted by Ofsted to discuss the potential inspection regime for home education...

Read more...

What will they accuse us of next?

Paula Rothermel: I was invited on two occasions to meet with Mr Badman. At our first interview Mr Badman was interested in what I had to say. His opening question was to ask me if home educating mothers suffered from Munchhausen's by Proxy. I thought this to be a curious starting point - that of questioning whether home education is a symptom of mental illness.

Read more...

Home education news

Home schooling vs. the state
This Labour government has been especially bad at dealing with difference, and its latest stance against home schooling is indicative of this lack of tolerance and understanding.

Parents who home educate children to be forced to register
Fiona Nicholson, of support group Education Otherwise, said: "If they introduce a registration system, it would completely shift the balance of power. The state is coming into family life and trying to regulate it. It is an extraordinary invasion of the family."

You can't hear the jackboots, but this is still oppression
Private life, the family home, freedom of conscience and action, have never been so menaced. But... we don't see it for what it is. It is time we did.

There's no education like home schooling
Instead of hedging in home educators with inspections, we should applaud the parents who decide to take on their children’s education rather than packing them off to school all day.

Home Education Parliament Debate

Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con): I recognise that the Minister is making her debut here, and that this matter is work in progress for her Department. I contacted her civil servants, and made it clear that the bulk of this half-hour debate will be taken up by my contribution, but that my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) and the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) may wish to intervene.

In the middle of January, the Department for Children, Schools and Families launched an independent review of home education by Graham Badman, the former director of children and educational services at Kent county council. Mr. Badman has been charged with investigating the current system for supporting and monitoring home education, and was asked to consider how any concerns about children’s safety, welfare or education are dealt with. From the outset, the Government have emphasised that they have no plans to change parents’ well-established right to educate their children at home.

All that sounds harmless enough, and in light of recent child abuse cases it is little wonder that the Government want to safeguard children who are not visibly in the system, and to keep tabs on parents. It is right for any Government to want evidence that each and every child receives a suitable education, and genuine home educators have nothing to fear. However, the message coming loud and clear from home educators in my constituency is that that hype should not be believed. Their worry is that the Government are manipulating current anxiety about child abuse to intrude further into home education when they have little legal right to do so.

The latest review will mark the third such consultation pertaining to home education over the past four years. Any action stemming from it could affect the balance of power between civil liberties and state intervention, whether one is innocent until proven guilty or guilty until proven innocent, and whether the state or parents have ultimate responsibility for their children. The ability to be free from an all-knowing, all-seeing state’s ideas of education, welfare and standards forms the fundamental appeal for many of those who choose home education for their children. Any attempt to alter what is very much a matter of balance would undermine the entire ethos of education.

I became interested, involved and engaged in home education some months back when I met two articulate and passionate local mothers in the Pimlico area of my constituency who had decided to educate their children themselves. One made that decision as a result of her son’s unhappy and unproductive first 18 months in the state school sector. The other had seen home education work brilliantly for family friends, and made the positive decision to take on that task for her daughters. The matter is a Cinderella area, and I approached my meeting with those two mothers with some standard misconceptions that a home education might produce an unsocialised, precocious child who is unable to interact with their peers and perhaps shielded from all negative experiences. However, the more I listened to the two mothers, the more impressed and excited I was by their passion and enthusiasm for home education. Each was able to provide an individualised learning experience tailored to the child’s abilities and interests. Far from having an isolated and insulated existence, the children of those two mothers frequently attended classes with other home schoolers, interacted with children of different ages and abilities, and experienced a wide range of activities from practising judo and learning Japanese to visiting galleries and museums during quieter times of day.

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