Parents see home schooling review as threat to rights
Parents and children are speaking out against proposed changes to the home education system which could see youngsters cross-examined for hours on end.
A petition was handed over to MP for Lincoln Gillian Merron criticising the Badman Review which called for stricter regulation of home schooled children.
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Left to right, Gillian Merron MP for Lincoln, Karen Brennan, with her son Paddy and Thomasina Ullyart.
This would include two four-hour interviews between the child and an assessor during the year and a final eight-hour assessment at the end of the year.
Parents who have opted to teach their children from home have said this is an unacceptable degree of intrusion.
Mother-of-two Karen Brennan said: "We are not against to some degree of registration or monitoring as we, like everyone else, want to make sure that every child gets a good standard of education.
"It is the extent of the intrusion and the accusations levelled in the report that we are protesting against."
The Badman Review, also known as the Review into Elective Home Education contains suggestions that home education is used as a cover for child abuse.
The children who would be affected by the report's recommendations are also against what it says.
Asha Matthan-Rogers, 12. who has been home schooled her whole life wrote to Gordon Brown outlining her concerns.
"We haven't been consulted about this and that makes me angry," she said.
"There is little or no evidence to support what has been said about abuse and I think it is wrong to accuse people with no facts to support it.
"I am very happy being home schooled and spending time with my parents and friends."
4 Comments
by girl, lincoln
Monday, November 30 2009, 3:42PM
“I don't think people should be home schooled full stop. It is pampering children and damaging them socially. Just my opinion though.”
by Gedge, Lincoln
Monday, November 30 2009, 8:34AM
“At the moment there is not the same level of monitoring of home schooled kids - both educationally and for their well being. Putting more inspections in place is understandably causing a backlash from home school families. Doesn't mean they are right though. Doing a Google search on the subject brings up a lot of indignation and name calling against the Badman Review, but not a huge amount of rational arguments about why monitoring is wrong, other than the huge amount of work and disruption it will cause.”
by Katherine Norman, Herts
Monday, November 30 2009, 8:04AM
“These proposals are terrible. They will effectively outlaw one of the most effective one-to-one education models, create huge stress in families, leave families at the mercy of LA officers without appropriate training and experience. It will also discourage parents with children suffering bullying and not getting a good education at school from acting to help their children. The money would be much better spent providing useful services to home educating families, protecting children known to be at risk and improving education in schools.
LAs and social services have all the powers they need at present. And families are protected by need to prove that a suitable education isn't taking place before children are ordered into school. If the system isn't broke and there is no evidence that it is - then don't change it.”
by W.Wilkins, Lincoln
Monday, November 30 2009, 7:59AM
“Oh this is funny! Handing a petition to Ms Merron, What for? She won't help them, she does not help anyone, except herself that is.
No i'm afraid Ms Merron will just follow government policy like she normaly does.
As a parent of three myself i wish the parents all the best i really do, but i'm afraid they will get no joy with Ms Merron she is one who has helped make this the red tape Britian we now live in, where people have no privacy or rights.
All Ms Merron is doing is trying to look good for next election!”