The introduction letter to Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families outlines the aims of the review.
- whether there are any barriers to local authorities and other public agencies in effectively carrying out their safeguarding responsibilities in relation to home educated children.
- whether local authorities are providing the right support to home educating families.
And the most controversial:
- investigate suggestions that home education could be used as a ‘cover’ for child abuse.
Really, do there get to be reviews for every spurious “suggestion”? Of course it was argued that these were based in fact, such as the Eunice Spry and Khyra Ishaq cases. Except, these were known to social services, in fact Spry was an approved foster carer. These were failings of social services who already have legal powers to take action. That they chose not to does not mean that home educators are covering up abuse. That is not a rational conclusion.
In the first part of the introduction Graham Badman says:
not least being the quite proper concern to ensure that systems for keeping children safe and ensuring that they receive a suitable education are as robust as possible.
Excuse me?! I thought this was about “safeguarding” and local authority provisions for home educators. Where did this “suitable education” bit come from? So already Badman has redefined the remit of the review.
the same checks and balances [used in schools] do not apply.
That’s because we are parents. Same reason we don’t need to be CRB checked, or have baby care qualification etc. etc. School act in loco parentis. Parents are the most caring and qualified people to bring their children up, with the state only stepping in when when there is reason to believe this is not the case.
there has to be a balance between the rights of the parents and the rights of the child.
What does this mean exactly? Most home educators I know have removed their children from school because they are very concerned with the rights of their child to be safe and happy and educated. Home education is an EQUAL choice to school, just as private school is an EQUAL choice to state school, as are Montessori, or Steiner. But the assumption here is that children would choose school if only their parents weren’t locking them up at home all the time. I don’t know any home educator who will not let their child choose school when they are of an age to make an informed decision. I know plenty of parents of schooled children who say they will never home educate their children even if they asked. And plenty of adults make their children go to school even though they’re crying not to go. What about the rights of those children?
I am not persuaded that under the current regulatory regime that there is a correct balance between the rights of parents and the rights of the child either to an appropriate education or to be safe from harm.
Gosh, how does he feel about parents being in charge of children on evenings, weekends, and school holidays, or from birth to school? How can he be sure those children aren’t being harmed. Oh that’s right, it’s none of the government’s business unless there is cause for concern. Thus he believes home education is a cause for concern, and that home educators are keeping children at home to harm them. Astonishing.
And what is an “appropriate” education? Certainly all those children who leave school unable to read haven’t been given an appropriate education. Will education now be the government’s responsibility rather than the parents? Roll on the lawsuits!
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) gives children and young
people over forty substantive rights which include the right to express their views freely,
the right to be heard in any legal or administrative matters that affect them and the right to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas.
Yet under the current legislation and guidance, local authorities have no right of access to the
child to determine or ascertain such views.
I don’t know where to start with this one. Local authorities want to come and ask every child if they want to be home educated? Do they plan on asking every schooled child the same question? Taking every schooled child to one side, without their parents (this bit comes later in the review) and ask them? Will schooled children get a say in what happens to all the information schools collect about them? Do they get to refuse this information being collected?
Do children have the rights to have their views listened to if they don’t want to be questioned alone? Or are do children only have rights versus parents and not versus government officials?
Do we really want the government to have the right to undermine our chosen method of parenting? Should a government be able to interfere that much in individual family life?
And again, the assumption is that if they just asked the children then they would want to go to school! And maybe they would in the way a local authority asked, without a parent there. Even criminals have a right to representation when being questioned, to make sure their rights are not trampled, and to warn their clients of leading questions, to make sure they’re not coerced into saying what those in a position of authority want them to say.
So Badman is not talking about safeguarding children, he’s talking about sending children to school. Are children “safeguarded” at school? No, they’re not.
such is the demand and complexity of 21st Century society and employment that further thought should be given to what constitutes an appropriate curriculum within the context of elective home education. Such a curriculum must be sufficiently broad and balanced and relevant to enable young people to make suitable choices about their life and likely future employment.
Now that’s just laughable. Oooh, big, scary future world, how will people cope!! Er, like they’ve always done. There are people working right now with computers who may have never even encountered a computer when they were growing up! How on earth are they managing? Did they have to go back to school? No, they just learnt, just like home ed kids learn, because people have a vast capacity to learn without being taught by an outside agency. And the “complexities of 21st Century society?” What does it mean?!? I assume Badman himself copes with it despite his advanced years, you know, being older than a schoolchild!
But on a more serious note, people like me have a lot to fear from “thought should be given to what constitutes an appropriate curriculum”. We are autonomous. We do not use a curriculum. Will one be forced upon us? I actually find it interesting that this is in the same paragraph as looking to the future, because I would say thinking outside the box is a valuable skill for the future, making connections between subjects and disciplines is a valuable skill for the future, being self-motivated is a valuable skill for the future. Externally imposed regimented curricula serving up a narrow range of subject matters with specific tests to pass, such as those taught in school, do not provide this.
And so, in light of these matters, Badman makes 2 recommendations.
Recommendation 1
That the DCSF establishes a compulsory national registration scheme, locally administered, for all children of statutory school age, who are, or become, electively home educated.
With bullet points no less! Let’s see what they include:
At the time of registration parents/carers/guardians must provide a clear statement of their educational approach, intent and desired/planned outcomes for the child over the following twelve months.
Guidance should be issued to support parents in this task with an opportunity to meet local authority officers to discuss the planned approach to home education and develop the plan before it is finalised. The plan should be finalised within eight weeks of first registration.
Let’s see, your child is not having their needs met at school, you are desperate, your child is desperate, you take them out of school and you’re shell-shocked because home education is the last thing you ever expected, you’ve believed in school, you’ve worked with school for weeks, months, even years, to get this sorted. And now, betrayed by the system, you must, within 2 months, make a year long plan of educational outcomes for your emotionally traumatised child who may be completely switched off education because they associate it with pain or failure?
Argh! Look at me, being swept into the argument about curricula and educational outcomes… let me just rewind to that letter to Ed Balls. Mmm… barriers to local authorities, other public agencies, safeguarding responsibilities, cover for child abuse, right kind of support from local authorities. Gosh, I just can’t find anywhere where Ed Balls has asked Graham Badman to say whether he thinks home educated children should have to have yearly educational outcomes, planned in advance.
How do you manage to say things so much better than me? LOL You always make it sound all politically sound and grown up!
Know what you mean by being worried with doing an autonomous education. But I’m bleedin’ well terrified that my curriculum won’t be good enough! Especially with that lovely comment in there from the CofE!
I think everyone’s scared of this, not just angry. I really do feel like a criminal for wanting what’s best for my children. : (
Nasty Badman, Niamh says if he’s a bad man he shouldn’t get sweets, only good people get treats! LMAO Oh to see these things through the eyes of a child!
xxx
I think the trouble all stems from the fact that the government “can’t” admit that schools are crap. They have to be seen to believe that schools are good, that their policies concerning schools are all good, so they have a vested interest in starting from the assumption that schools are all fine, that the systems and hierarchies and complaints procedures, as well as the educational content, are all working just fine.
The reason they’re irrational and close-minded about HE is, IMO, because they simply won’t bring into the discussion or seriously consider the points which would necessitate them having to face, admit and address the fact that the school system is shite.
Well done you! It’s fab. Do you feel a bit better now? : D
They’re scared of us is what it is. Simples. How dare we produce free thinking and independent children instead of churning out drones who can only spout narrow minded opinions and propoganda! ‘Hitler’s Law’ is the way it’s going, (Badman did seem to like the sound of that didn’t he?) seems to have come up a lot lately that one has!
And yep, right with you on them entering my home. No way, they’d have to get through Steve first and God help them if they manage that and make it to me! And as for speaking to my kids alone! Realistically, come on, how many parents would leave a 5 and a 3 year old on their own with a complete stranger. Well they can kiss my rosy fat backside they can!!!!
And register! Have we missed something and moved into Nazi occupied Europe?
Definately presumed guilty until proven innocent. Register, God I feel like a criminal simply for doing what I think is best for my children. Makes me feel sick, no really, rather emotional and wobbly right now, queasy as anything. LOL
And isn’t it strange the amount that’s been in the press over the last few months about HE, child abuse cases, and those awful ones about using HE as a cover for child abuse. Funny how this review comes out just after enough mud’s been thrown to make you look like a chocolate snowman!
That little bit of doubt about your motives is always going to be there the second you say you home educate.
I was chatting earlier about home edders resisting all of this and a good point came up. If they can label us child abusers just to get these recommendations through, what will they throw at us and brand us if we tell them to knob off?
Scary, don’t like it one bit.
Wish I could have your understanding and command of the English language to put this sort of thing on my blog, lol so jealous. Mostly I just gabble away, add a few cheeky gags and laugh at clever words, like “Forfend” (snicker snicker)
I’ll have to get you to write my MP letter for me *cheeky grin* So far I’ve got as far as “Dear”.
Blimey! Massive rant, and as usual, officials want massive control based around speculation. BUT, the rant makes it seem like you have something to fear, I don’t think you have, as you are good parents making informed choices about your families. But like anything, is that a reason not to try and search out those that are possibly harming their children under the ‘HE’ guise? However misinformed and subjective the ‘establishments’ views are about what HE is?
Government agencies (well the government in general) is damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t, do something about everything any single individual complains about in this current media driven society (the voice of the minority effects the lives of the majority). This is just a further extension of the current state and idea of taking control because of fear, when you as parents are trying to take back control in home educating your children.
“Externally imposed regimented curricula serving up a narrow range of subject matters with specific tests to pass, such as those taught in school, do not provide this.”
Mmmmm, is that your opinion, much like that of those you are talking about above? I’m sure some (many?) might disagree ;o) There are many very well educated people out there, or how did we actually survive and progress in the western world?
I say just keep doing what you are doing, as its clearly working with my young nephew, and don’t let opinion cloud any judgement you have, and really I mean the government, and yours!
Ultimately I’m sure some HE is great, some is poor, some state schooling is great and some is poor (probably more poor!). State schooling is measured (whether its badly or not) HE isn’t, in this cotton wool wrapped, fear driven society, someone somewhere won’t let it stay that way.
x
“Mmmmm, is that your opinion, much like that of those you are talking about above? ”
Of course it’s my opinion, but I’m not actually pretending it’s something I’ve had a governmental remit to look at and then make unfounded recommendations on. If I was doing an actual job I’d be a lot more professional.
And I do believe we have something to fear if the government wants to be able to come into our homes and question our children alone with no suspicion of wrong doing. I fear that not as a home educator but as a regular person who has seen this government trample time and again over civil liberties.
The point is he has no evidence people are hurting their children under the guise of home education, and already LA’s have plenty of powers to check up on children, as do Social Services.
Thanks for the supportive comments anyway
)
A few sweeping assumptions in your reply there Sister.
‘Unfounded recommendations’
‘he has no evidence’
How do you know? You don’t know every ‘Home Ed’ family in the UK, you are basing your rant on you and your friends, who are clearly not the kind the Government are looking at, although you would fall into the ‘keep net’ of suspicion and check, which is why you’re ranting.
I have a similar rant about the amount of car tax I pay, even though I only do about 4000 miles a year in my big car, thereby damaging the environment and roads much less than a 1.6 Fiesta doing 12000 a year.
Civil rights are the opposite of protection. People want to be safe in our society from crime and terrorism, they want justice. That doesn’t come without eroding liberty, privacy and increasing supervision, much like a parent treats their children, i.e. increased supervision to protect and control what they experience and how they behave. Much like children, albeit more informed, we fight that control and supervision.
Don’t get me wrong I bloody hate the ‘nanny state’ crap that we have to deal with, freedom of speech? Bull!! We haven’t been able to speak freely in this country for years. I suppose I just try to understand it for the sake of my blood pressure and sanity ;o)
Karen – Love that
“Well they can kiss my rosy fat backside they can!!!!”
Makes me laugh hard, every time I read it
))
x
But that’s the point. The remit of the review was to look at whether home education was a cover for abuse, and yet he brings up no evidence of that, only opinion.
There have been 3 previous reviews about home education in the past 4 years, and in 2007 new guidelines were given to local authorities based on those. Such as yearly contact with home educating parents. Failures of LA’s to put these into practice surely should not mean further restriction on the educational aspect of home education?
Most home educators are worked up about the fact that there is sufficient in existing legislation and guidelines if only local authorities actually put them into practice.
And Social Services already have the powers to investigate homes and see children without parents present if there is suspicion something is not right in the family.
And not all people support the governmental idea “protection”. It’s all a big lie anyway, ever more oppressive laws, cameras, more health and safety legislation. They can’t ever ensure people will be safe. It’s an illusion that people buy into and governments love because they get to pass more laws and get pats on the back for “doing something”. And more and more people lose the ability to think for themselves because the government will do it for them.
To be honest part of my anger comes from the fact I’m more of a work within the system, moderate type of person. So many people ranted my style of rant before the review was out and I thought they were being a bit over the top, overly suspicious, reactionary etc. etc. Except they were right. And all the quotes from interested parties in the review in the press beforehand did a nice job of linking home education to child abuse, and of course retractions were in small print. It was originally supposed to be a consultation, except the time limit on views was so small it had to be changed to a “review”. And the publication date jumped around, and people thought this was to coincide with the findings of a child abuse case where home ed was supposed to be a factor (except the child was known to social services and they did nothing, neither did the police). And it actually did come out at the same time. And I haven’t even gone into how the panel was comprised and the vested interests of those parties.
It should come as no surprise to me about the sneakiness and sliminess of government, but I did, foolishly, still hold some idealism.
Aye, I don’t disagree with you, and I’m not defending legislation, far from it! Its many a year since legislation to protect was about actually protecting victims, rather than aiming to protect those that created legislation!
There are many out there that don’t want to think for themselves, they want everything done for them, the media ‘peddles’ it as if its everyone’s right that the government or any agency ‘jump’ when asked to.
Currently society is very hung up on child safety, so anything linked will be looked at from a primarily negative point of view, especially in the current ‘fear’ climate.
I suppose we are all part of groups that are loved by some and hated by others, me being and looking like a biker, even when I am actually a respected business man doesn’t stop people fearing or stereotyping me in a ‘nasty biker’ light.
What I’m saying I suppose is that I understand your rant, its clear the research is incomplete, and its a few peoples opinions that will possibly affect you and your friends directly. But, how do you move forward with this? Prepare for the control that is inevitable in such a highly sensitive area (children), and know that you have nothing to fear. Or somehow try and fight this? How?
Tough call!
Or has your rant made you feel a bit better ;o)
x