Comments on: external validation and educational ponderings.

By: t-bird anni

t-bird anni — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:09:07 +0000

I’ll admit to allowing visits mainly as a means of having a glowing report to wave under the noses of family members!

By: Allie

Allie — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:45:15 +0000

I don’t think that most LAs can offer anyone who can give anything other than the most superficial of reports on home ed. The report we got from our only visit was just a list really. It reminded me of the ‘reports’ we got home from infant school on Pearlie. They told us precisely nothing about her ‘ability’ that we didn’t already know. And they were from someone who saw her every day – never mind once a year. They tended not to tell us much about what actually went on day to day.

I sometimes think I have aims for the kids but when I get them out of the fog of my head, dust them down and have a good look at them, they don’t really stand up to scrutiny. In the end I can’t honestly say I have any aim other than that they feel as happy and fulfilled as possible at even given time in their lives. And, even then, I know that this is impossible because we have to have rubbish bits in our lives too! I guess I just want to love them and give them a home (as long as they want it) that enables them to be themselves – whoever that may be! Gosh, it’s slippery, this stuff…

By: Maire

Maire — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:24:27 +0000

I wrestle with this, especially the more tidy more organised bit, but i come down heavily on the side of autonomy. My he daughter and my schooled but lots of autonomous leaning at home son are right now playing together on the ds light on brain training and doing maths and I am surprised how much my daughter knows, she is dyscalculiac and has had no formal maths since leaving school 15 months ago but has learnt and consolidated a lot in that time.

And no one is coming to visit and assess me again either.

By: Roslyn

Roslyn — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:52:41 +0000

Agreed. Thank you.