Home educate?

meer53

FunWithFlags wrote: »

I think it might be worth talking to your husband and maybe seeing if you can persuade him to give it a try. We are hoping to home school if we have the opportunity for quite a few reasons. If your daughter is sensitive etc maybe home schooling with plenty of socialisation would be a good option. I am another who feels pretty damaged by school but I still wanted to be a teacher. After seeing school from the inside as an adult and meeting lots of different trainee teachers, I can't bear the thought of sending my LO to school. Teachers mocking children in the staffroom, teachers picking on each other, children being ignored in the classroom, the violence from some of the more challenging children, children who ask questions and were interested to learn more being shot down by the teacher, children wetting themselves because they forgot to go at break and weren't allowed in class time to go etc.

I know logically that all schools aren't like this (I have worked in five on placements/volunteering etc so have seen far from all schools lol) but I don't want to risk my daughter going to a school like one of those and growing up with the same issues I had from school.

That was a lot of rambling but I think you are doing your best for your child by looking through your options and definitely don't think home education would be holding her back. School and trying to learn in a class of 30+ children is not necessarily the best way to go.

I'm not knocking what you're saying, but all the scenarios you have mentioned, people mocking others behind their backs, people being picked on, people being ignored, are all things that happen in daily life. If you're sheltered from these things as a child, then how are you to be expected to cope with them as an adult ?

Sometimes being too protective can be a bad thing. I've never know anyone who has said that they can't bear the thought of sending their child to school. It's not just about education, school teaches children many other things too.

onlyroz

Why not just give it a try and see how she gets on? Any good nursery should give you daily reports of what the children have been up to, how well they get on with their peers etc, so you should soon know how well your daughter is doing.

FunWithFlags

I totally get where you are coming from, it's a common thing I hear when I talk to people about this. I'm probably not going to word this well because it's past my bedtime lol but being educated at home doesn't mean the child will never experience those things, it just means they won't be shoved into that scenario for six hours a day five days a week for potentially 11-13 years of their life. I'm sure at some point, whether at a home ed group, a ballet class, at a sports team etc my daughter will be mocked or picked on or ignored but I hope that by mixing with so many different groups of children, she will develop the confidence and social skills to deal with it. I worry that she may struggle to develop these skills or find confidence if she becomes the regular target of bullies or teachers who just don't care on a daily basis attending school.

I also don't see what school teaches children that home education can't. Maybe it's the common misconception that by home schooling, I will be locking my child in the house all day and she will never see another soul again until she is set loose into the real world aged 18 lol!

Plus it's not just about being protective. There's a lot of other reasons people want to home educate, the lower chance of being bullied at such a vulnerable age is just one of them

LTP123

It's great to hear opinions. Another restless night for me. I make sure we don't discuss the negative sides of school in front of her, I don't project my feelings on her about anything. I'm very careful as my mother did it to me.

I attended school from playgroup up till 16, I had a lot of sick days due to migraines and stress. A teacher made me wet myself when I was six because she was in a mood since then I have never gone to a public toilet in school or work.

There were teachers I was so scared of that I would be up till 2am in high school making sure my homework was complete. I would be deeply hurt if someone said something behind my back. I never had any true friends in school and I am not in contact with them now. So as far as socialisation for me, it ddn't work.

My daughter is so smiley, chatty and happy I don't want it slowly knocked out of her. If she hasn't seen family for a while she doesn't speak to them either. She hates noise and crowds too.

In honesty I would have liked nothing more than for her to be one of the rough kids who just go running in, would be a lot easier but, she isn't.

Buttercup2305

I have a lot of friends who home school, if you would like some links pm and I will pass them on. Hope your daugher is okay

LTP123

Oh and when we went for the open day, I told the teacher she was a deep thinker and a worrier. I had no response and she walked away.

I'm not really against school. I know home educators are the minority. Maybe I just picked the wrong school. I foul apply for a smaller school nxt September but that would mean she goes into full days at school. She may be a bit stronger by then? If she goes to dance class and karate for the next 12 months?

Thanks again x

snowyz81

I do think being in a nursery environment benefits children so much. I put my little girl in nursery when she was 2 and yes i worried as she didn't really have any contact with any other children at home. Honestly its the best thing i did, she has developed so much, friendships and just come out of herself so much. She is starting school on Tuesday, and again i'm worried, new environment and new friends but know deep down she is going to benefit so much.

As other people have said it does seem you are thinking of what happened to you will happen to her. I would suggest trying it for a few sessions. You have nothing to lose. Is is an only child ? i'm wondering if you are slightly worried about losing her as she is now growing up.

claire16c

It sounds to me like you should try it for a term and see how it goes. She may suprise you.

My niece was a very shy girl and when she was 2 would pretty much burst into tears at the sight of any man she didnt know, and took a long time to warm up to anyone and was very clingy.

However she went to nursery every day whilst my sister in law was at work and loved it! She still goes now, and now is absolutely fine with meeting new people, nursery has been really good for her and shes learnt a lot.

Your little girl is only going in for a couple of hours a day, so its not like proper school.

Why not try it and then if she was really unhappy, transfer her to the smaller school next year? Or try a different playgroup?

LTP123

See your point but no not worried about losing her. I do think her personality is the same and worry because she is quiet she will be ignored slightly. I find it strange that she never asks about playgroup when we drive past. She is so vocal about every where else.

System

We have totally home-educated our three children, now aged 14, 16 and 19.
It's a big subject with lots of unneeded advice from people with personal prejudices and axes to grind. Ignore them - just do what you want.

The only points I would make are:

1) There is no such thing as compulsory school age. EDUCATION is compulsory, and it is YOUR responsibility to ensure your child receives it. There is no obligation to delegate that responsibility to the education authority.
2) School does not socialise children, it teaches them to conform to the gang-culture.
3) Home-educated children are usually conspicuoulsy more self-assured, and at home mixing with other people of all ages. They have not been stratified into narrow age and culture bands.

But be warned. You may well end up with children who know themselves to be more mature, rounded, and better-educated than their peers, and tend to look down sneeringly on children and their parents who have been through the state sausage machine.
But home-educated children will be much more interesting to talk to. Ask an employer.