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And this is how it starts (Home schooling grows in UK)
Libertarian Samizdata ^ | 3/3/02 | David Carr

Posted on 03/03/2002 4:04:50 AM PST by jalisco555

And this is how it starts

I have been labouring under the impression that the growth of Home-Schooling is a purely US phenomenon.

Not so. A refreshingly illuminating documentary programme was shown last night on UK's Channel 4 about the rapidly growing popularity of Home-Schooling here in Britain. Sorry, it was a TV show so no link.

Actually, this should not come as a surprise given the current educational choices faces parents in Britain. Whilst private schools are widely available in Britain they are ferociously expensive so people of modest means have no choice but to process their precious charges through the state meat-grinders that HM government so kindly provides. The repute of the latter plumbs lower depths with each passing year.

The Home-schooling parents were all interviewed at length and, unanimously, they declared that their motivation was entirely due to the way they felt their children were being harmed or hindered by being sent to school in the 'traditional' manner so they just upped and decided to take matters into their own hands. Judging from the kids they were gloriously right; without exception these children were articulate, bright, curious, well-behaved, ambitious and highly-motivated. Furthermore, the time-worn prediction that Home-schooled children would grow up shy and withdrawn was proven to be egregious nonsense.

Now it might be said that the documentary-makers wanted to put a positive slant on things but programme-makers and TV producers in this country are notoriously hostile to free market ideas so if there was any bias it would most certainly tend towards the opposite.

Watching this show was a revelatory joy for someone like me but I almost had to be peeled off the ceiling when I heard some of the things these parents were saying. One mother said:

"I wouldn't want any money from the government because I wouldn't them involved in any way in what I am doing. That's what's so nice about what we're doing; the government has no juristiction over me....They have no involvement in what I do and I'd like to keep it that way"

And another mother said:

"What tends to happen is that when parents grow more confident they question not just the type of schooling we're given but also the type of health care we're given and how Councils are run. It leads to you saying, hang on, if I can take this large amount of responsibility back into my own life, why can't I live in a different way?"

Why indeed?


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: britishfriends; educationnews; homeschoollist
I realize a blog about a TV documentary is a bit tenuous I thought this might be interesting to those interested in the home-schooling issue.
1 posted on 03/03/2002 4:04:50 AM PST by jalisco555
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To: jalisco555
Wonderful news! Let's hope that it flourishes...
2 posted on 03/03/2002 4:15:04 AM PST by Gemflint
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To: jalisco555
Furthermore, the time-worn prediction that Home-schooled children would grow up shy and withdrawn was proven to be egregious nonsense.

I think back to my school days and I hung out and played with kids in my immediate neighborhood, not kids in my class. My childhood friends today, without exception, are people from my old neighborhood. I don't even go to my high school reunions because I would hardly know anybody.

3 posted on 03/03/2002 4:25:59 AM PST by randog
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To: jalisco555
Good post, thanks.
4 posted on 03/03/2002 4:33:47 AM PST by Diva Betsy Ross
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To: No More Gore Anymore
Agreed. Great reading. Looks like there may be yet be hope for the Brits.

BTW, I was thinking about homeschooling and was wondering: Does anyone else think that a tax credit for parents who homeschool would be a good idea? For one, it'd make up for the fact that the parents are paying taxes which're used in public schools, which means that these parents are getting no benefit whatsoever as their children don't go to public schools. Second, it'd encourage more people to home school.
5 posted on 03/03/2002 4:42:53 AM PST by Green Knight
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To: No More Gore Anymore
I'm glad to read that the homeschooling movement is flourishing in the UK as well as over here (US). As for the comment from the mother who said that she didn't want the govt. to interfere, can you blame her?
6 posted on 03/03/2002 4:46:31 AM PST by patented
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To: 2jedismom
Ping.
7 posted on 03/03/2002 4:50:11 AM PST by Artist
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To: Green Knight
I am a homeschool parent and I think getting a voucher would be great! It is an insult to me to have to pay for the lousy rotten system of tax-funded daycare called public school while I work VERY HARD to give my (three) kids an education. Homeschool takes about five to six hours per school day from one parent, while the other works more than fulltime to provide an income. No two income family here! Yes, we sacrifice to do this. Would vouchers make homeschool more popular? Possibly, but the time issue is still a big deciding factor. Not to mention that one parent, at least, has to be able to tolerate childcare on a full time basis, but also fill the role of school teacher in addition. You full time moms will know of what I speak. Many ladies I talk to look forward EAGERLY to the day when their kids go off to school so they can get on with their lives. Homeschool moms don't get this to look forward to.
8 posted on 03/03/2002 5:10:27 AM PST by whipitgood
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To: Green Knight
Additional comments from this family's homeschool mom:

Tax credits would provide only a temporary incentive to homeschool. Once the parent doing the homeschooling realizes the investment in time and emotional energy involved, the thrill would likely wear off.

In our opinion, vouchers would offer a more feasible alternative as it would spawn the growth and developement of new school options - still giving parents a place to SEND their kids for an education. The possibilities for education in this country are so vast and so exciting, that it's nearly unbearable to watch us limping along with the current system!

If it were up to me, I'd even take it one step further and give EVERY American citizen their public education tax money back and let the parents take responsibility for their children's education. This may sound radical, but it is currently costing (last time I saw figures) between $6,000 and $8,000 (sometimes more) per child per year to provide them with an education - and that education is often of questionable value. With a fraction of that, a parent can purchase a good private education and the rest of that money can go back into the growth of our economy.

9 posted on 03/03/2002 5:28:00 AM PST by whipitgood
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To: 2Jedismom
Ping for your list....
10 posted on 03/03/2002 5:37:24 AM PST by ShadowAce
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To: whipitgood
Good idea! What is needed is private parent-directed schools. Parents can use their saved school taxes for their children's education in a way they see fit. If more financial aid is needed, scholarships that offer a tax-writeoff for donors could be implmented. Below is a site for classical Christian schools that offers to help those who want a more traditional curriculum than what is presently offered in the public schools. If parents wanted a more secular school, they could tailor the curriculum. Either way, their children would receive a superior education and they would know that their children are safe from some of the very strange things going on in some of today's public schools. http://www.accsedu.org/
11 posted on 03/03/2002 6:25:59 AM PST by bettina0
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To: Green Knight
Does anyone else think that a tax credit for parents who homeschool would be a good idea?

The argument against this (at least in my homeschooling circles) is that we don't want the government involved in any of our education choices, we worry that a "tax credit" might lead the way for government (or local districts) to dictate rules and regulations in return for said credit (as in...no Biblical studies -- you must follow our set curriculum...etc.)
*Note* -- we live in Pennsylvania--one of the worst states to home educate in, due to badly written and intrusive laws, we already have too many "hoops" to jump thru' in order to homeschool

12 posted on 03/03/2002 6:28:12 AM PST by twyn1
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To: jalisco555
bump
13 posted on 03/03/2002 6:28:43 AM PST by tutstar
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To: jalisco555
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14 posted on 03/03/2002 7:16:17 AM PST by WIMom
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To: jalisco555;*Education News;*BritishFriends;*Homeschool_list
Bump List
15 posted on 03/03/2002 10:43:59 AM PST by Free the USA
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To: ShadowAce; MadIvan; Lizavetta; wasp69; cantfindagoodscreenname; BallandPowder; wyopa; joathome...
Thanks for the head's-up, ShadowAce and Artist.

Ping everyone!

16 posted on 03/03/2002 10:45:14 AM PST by 2Jedismom
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To: jalisco555
Great news! Thanks for posting this! I just have to laugh at those who think homeschooled children will become shy and withdrawn. Each of my four children came out of my womb with a personality. Some are shy, some are QUITE the opposite, lol! I have one I'd like to put a muzzle on some days because he likes to talk to everyone he meets and tell them all kinds of crazy things. Although, I bet the anit-homeschooling crowd would say it's a sign he needs to get out more, lol. :-)

Candi

17 posted on 03/03/2002 10:56:10 AM PST by cantfindagoodscreenname
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To: jalisco555
.....Sorry, it was a TV show so no link.....

Homeschooling in Australia Belgium Canada France Ireland Israel Japan New Zealand Scotland South Africa Sweden Switzerland and United Kingdom

homeschooling united kingdom, 7690 Google hits

18 posted on 03/03/2002 11:03:05 AM PST by jadimov
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