Help, This Is Scary And Just Nuts

The following is written by a parent on Facebook and is shared here with permission.

There has been a huge amount of traffic, both in blog spheres and the mainstream media, about the proposed new regulations affecting electively home educated children in England over the past few months. Much of it has ended up with some truly despicable spin being perpetrated by the UK Gov, in order to make their viewpoint seem rational. This has resulted in some epics fails in factual understanding of the issues, perhaps the most appalling being the moment Victoria Climbie's torture and death was linked to home education. By an 'expert'.

In the light of how high feeling, and Government spin, is running, I felt it useful to try and tease out some of the knots that have so many people tied up so tightly - in both directions. The biggest knot, I feel, is that it all seems so... rational. What the Government says, looks so innocuous and rational , that most people are simply bewildered when others scream and shout about oppression and civil liberties and human rights.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, a report has been prepared stating that, as law, home education needs tight control and regulation. Two main reasons are cited for this.

1) To protect home educated children from child abuse

2) To ensure all home educated children receive a good education

Now, the problem with this, particularly for the man in the street, or even on an omnibus in Clapham, is that is look perfectly reasonable. Utterly, utterly rational. Any 'right minded' person is going to look at that and say "Quite Right" and move on.

If you object, and say "hang on, that's just not on..." you will be looked at like a social deviant, who clearly has something to hide. "What's that, you don't agree that children should be protected from child abuse? You think it's okay for kids to be kept at home, locked and beaten and made to do housework and not learn to read, whilst their suffering goes unheard?" "ARE YOU A MONSTER?"

So to object to the premise, is to object to children being protected. You are, indeed, a monster.

But it only looks reasonable, if a sleight of hand is in place. And most people are not spotting the sleight of hand. They're going straight to the kids, and their minds are flashing the horrible horrible memories of Maria Cauldwell, of Victoria, of Tyra Henry, of Baby Peter. And once those children have flashed into their minds, that's it - THE CHILDREN WILL BE PROTECTED... and all rational response stops. Because the connection looks reasonable. But it isn't.

It's not reasonable.

And it's not reasonable because home educators do not abuse their kids. It's not reasonable because home educated kids are not hidden. It's not reasonable because some kids are so damaged by school that home education is safer for them. No, none of these actually apply.

It's not reasonable because... there is no connection between child protection and education.

This debate, binds and ties and twists and blends these two elements together, and tries to suggest they relate to each other. There is no connection. Child safety has nothing to do with education. Formal education is just something that happens to kids as they get older.

Child safety, and the check and balances, and the safe guards and procedures... exist regardless of education, regardless of school. The child safety procedures are imbedded in all medical and health contacts, from before birth. They are a net of connections between every Government employee who connects with you on anything to do with health and well being. They have nothing to do with school, or school, or education.

Trying to get this over to people, that this is a twisting of how the worlds already works, this view that schooling is an element in child protection, is very hard. Partly, because as a society we've grown used to dumping everything at the school door and demanding teachers do it. Every scrap of information and skills we deem all children should know - we dump over to the teachers and scream if it doesn't happen. Schools are now in the business in extremely deprived areas, of teaching children to toilet, speak and eat. Every year, 4 and 5 years olds who are still in nappies, cannot talk and only eat mush and milk, are presented to the school system. That's an extreme example.. but it's accurate. It does happen. We think it's entirely reasonable that school, and teachers, do everything.

This is not reasonable. It is not the job of school, and teachers, to raise children.

It is their job to educate them. Certainly, they do have an eye out for child protection, and if there is a suspicion of a problem... what do schools do? They bring into operation the ... child protection system. The one already in place. The one that has been in place for that child, since before they were born.

The system that already exists. The one every child, even those outside school, is already in. The one that exists, and the one that does not disappear like magic *poof* when the child has its fifth birthday.

Confused? Hmm.. let me try it like this. Let's look at the proposition, that school protects you from child abuse, and all children must be protected, as we don't know what is going on at home. Let's journey to Maria's house, and examine her pathway as a responsible adult, ensuring her child at home is kept safe by going to school...

Ding Dong
"Hello?"
"Mrs Maria Peterson?"
"Yes."
"Mother of Geoffrey, who is now" rustles paperwork " 15 days old?"
"Yes."
"Hello Mrs Peterson, may I call you Maria..? We're the education welfare officers from the nursery in your catchment area. We're here to discuss Geoffrey’s' placement, may we come in."

The visitors come in and are seated. Maria is confused, but she listens patiently.

"Well Maria, we'll be quick. We've just brought Geoffrey’s admittance papers, and to say we hope to see him on Monday morning."
"I'm sorry, see him where?"
"At the Nursery, Maria. For him to start his Early Years Learning Programme."
"I'm sorry
"As you know, we have target for all our little ones, nothing too strenuous at Geoffrey’s age, can he hear sounds, recognise faces etc, so it's best he gets a good grounding now. Where he can be cared for properly, and with excellent tuition."
"Look, I'm really sorry, I don't understand."
"Surely you want the best for Geoffrey?"
"Yes, of course I do."
"Well then, we'll see you on Monday, or rather, we'll see Geoffrey."
"I'm sorry, I'm not happy about that."
"Really, why not?"
"I don't want Geoffrey to leave me, he's too young, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of his needs, and making sure he has what he needs. I don't want him in a Nursery."
"Oh dear."
"What do you mean 'oh dear'?"
"Well, Maria. That's a bit suspicious, isn't it? Why don't you want Geoffrey to go to Nursery?"
"I don't know what you mean!"
"It's our job to protect Geoffrey, Maria, we need to know he's safe. And how can we know he's safe, if he's here home with you?"
"WHAT!"
"Can you not see that attending Nursery is a safeguard?"
"What?"
"Can you not see that Geoffrey being in Nursery 5 days a week, is a safeguard for him? We'd notice if anything was wrong?"
"Well, yes, I see your point, but no, I'm here with him, he's safe with me. I want him here, with me, where I can care for him."
"Well, of course you do, you're his mother. But surely you can see it's better if he goes to Nursery? We can all be sure of him being safe then?"
"No I don't agree, actually. Geoffrey is better here with me."
"Oh dear. Well then, we'll have to make a report, and talk to everyone. I'm sure you'll see that now you've refused, we need to keep a close eye on things. Keep a check. Just sensible, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you're going on about, and I want you to leave." Maria looks as if she is going to cry.
"We will go in a minute Maria, now we know how you feel about Geoffrey going into the proper protection programme for him. But one thing, might I ask where he is and if we can see him?"
"He's upstairs having his nappy changed."
"Oh, and who is doing that, a blood relative?"
"No, my friend, Ginny, who's here to help me with the first couple of weeks."
.. furious writing of notes...
"I see Maria, well, I have to ask for Ginny's full name and address now. After all, we need to check she's been CRB checked."
"WHAT!"
"Well, no one at Nursery would be able to change Geoffrey’s nappy without being CRB checked, surely you can see it's just common sense to apply the same rules?"
"That's outrageous."
"We have noted your resistance. It will be a feature of our report. Now, one last thing.. you say Ginny is here to help...?"
"Yes, she's been wonderful. She's done a lot of cooking and cleaning whilst I've got the feeding established. And she's taken the baby whilst I've got a shower, and some sleep. I don't know what I'd have done without her."
"Well, that's lovely. I've noted in the report that you're not coping, and require extra help. Luckily, the Nursery in your catchment area has extended opening hours for mothers like you, and so we can take Geoffrey from 6am to 8pm. That should help a great deal, shouldn't it? When the social workers come tomorrow, they'll have the care plan all set up. It's Geoffrey that's important, after all, isn't it?"

Sound preposterous? Amusing but totally outrageous?

It's what is in the guidelines. That's why everyone is screaming. That sleight of the hand you saw, when they started talking about learning objectives, and then segued into child protection? That's what the report does. Ask a question on learning, and if receives a negative response, moves into child protection.

Now, I want you to test your own responses to home education. I want you to take the above conversation., about a 15 day old baby, and ask yourself when the conversation becomes sensible.

One year? Two years? Three years? Four years? Five years? Six years? Seven years?

When does the above make sense for you? When is it right to say to a mother "No, you need to let that child out of the house and go to school, it's the best for the child?"

I have to tell you, there is no time that scenario makes sense. There is no magic point where the parent's decision for how their child will receive an education, is superseded by an alarm clock.

Let's look at it from two perspectives - safety, and education.

When is it safe for a parent to be in sole charge of the safety of their child? If you felt it was reasonable at say 4 or 5 years, above. ... ask yourself a question... why is it safe for a day old baby to be at home with its parents... but not safe for a five year old?

Because that's what's being proposed - that there is a 'date' for when parents can, or can't, be in safe charge of their own children.

Why, given the child protection legislation already in place, is a child suddenly at more risk, for not being in school? Particularly in a world where the overwhelming majority of child cruelty cases take place in under 3s.

Ah, you say - that's the point! Being at home without anyone to oversee them.. that's why they got abused! No, it's not. Baby Peter was in a Government Nursery, paid for as part of his child protection support plan. Just like I described for baby Geoffrey. Victoria Climbie has already been reported, and was likewise referred to a child protection scheme, which never got round to checking on her. It was an NSPCC run care centre, and no one visited Victoria as they were organising a party and got too busy. And subsequently doctored the documents to pretend they hadn't forgotten her.

All of the dead children you know of, that you immediately think of when they say "But the children need to be seen to be protected..." were all seen.

None of them were hidden.

Some were even old enough to be in school.

None of them were protected.

They were all failed by inefficient staff overworked and underpaid, struggling, and not doing their jobs. And that's the kind way of looking at it.

So, I return again, to the above scenario... when is it reasonable for the State, to say "No, you must send your child to school, for its own protection?"

Put like that, it's preposterous, isn't it? When you untie the knots and let slip the binding. Child protection is about child protection... it has only the most slight and tangent connection with education. It just isn't part and parcel of the same discussion.

Ah but.. yes, well, I agree.. but that's not the issue, is it? Children need to receive a proper education, don't they? We need to know that is happening, don't we?

Yes, we do. You may be surprised to hear, given the media coverage, that we actually have that system in place. Already. There is a perfectly robust set of rules and regulations that give local authorities the power to ask about home educated children's education, and to force the child into school if it's deemed not good enough. Honest, It's there. Totally.

Then what is all the fuss about, I hear you cry?

Don't ask me, I haven't a clue. Why is the Government banging on about this? *shrugs shoulders* Makes no sense to me. Some will point out the existing powers don't allow the Government to ride roughshod over the parents and do things in a measured way. It means the authority has to work with the parents, and can't just snap their fingers and enforce their own opinion. Others will point out that the man who held the revue, also owns a company that makes money out of education contracts with local authorities. Others will say the Government just wants to make sure it's social engineering programme reaches Every Single Child, no matter what.

I have no clue why they are doing it. I'm just pointing out that by binding child protection to education, and deciding that Government supplied education is the only safe option... they are pulling the wool over many an eye. What looks reasonable in the long view, is utterly preposterous in close up.

Think I'm wrong? Think that it's easy to make it all sound ridiculous but it's all very clear and simple, and quite above board, and totally reasonable?

Let's look at the tying of child protection and education in another light then, shall we?

knock knock
"Come in. Ah, Mr Preston, how nice of you to join us. I'll introduce you to everyone shall I? As everyone knows, I'm James Ashiq, head teacher here at Saint Swithuns. This is our Education Welfare Officer, Margaret Aston. This is Sophie Oudibou, the Child Protection officer from Social Services, and this is the Mark Munroe, from the DCFS. Mark is in the area checking on how we are all working together, you don't mind him being here?"
"Ehm no.. but I’m a little confused?"
"Confused, why?"
"I'm confused as I thought I was here to talk about the problem with Sophie not doing her homework?"
"Yes Mr Preston, can I call you John?. yes, that's why we are here."
"But.. well. I've explained. We do try to get her to do her homework. But she's 14 now, and a little headstrong. She doesn't like school that much, and her Mum and me... well,. there is rather a lot of it, isn't there?
"No, I think you'll find we give exactly the right amount for the guidelines. Totally the right amount."
"Yes, but.. oh well, look, can you please tell me what all these people are doing here?"
"Well, if you sit down, I'll explain... would you like some tea...no? Oh well, I'll just get to it, shall I. As you know, the Government has the best interests of all children at heart. This is why we have rigorous standards in education and social and moral care, that all children are entitled to. Standards we work hard to maintain at St Swithuns."
"Yes, I know that, I was at parent's meeting. We did choose for Sophie to come here."
"Oh course you did, and a good choice too! Now, we have some concerns, that Sophie isn't meeting her targets."
"I know she's not doing her homework, that's why I'm here to discuss it. The question is, and I must insist on an answer, why are all these other people here?"
"Well, Mr Preston, you must realise we are all concerned about Sophie, and her meeting her Every Child Matters target. And her 5 GCSEs at 'C'. We're not sure she's going to do all that, if she isn't getting her homework in."
"Why are all these people here?"
"Well, surely you understand that if Sophie doesn't satisfy her educational targets, it's a child protection matter?"
"WHAT!!!!!"
"We only have her best interests at heart, Mr Preston, which is why we'll be filling in the paperwork for her to have her own children's guardian to speak for her, from our reports, at the hearing."
"What hearing?"
"The one we'll decide to call today., if we're not happy with the outcome of this meeting. To see if we need to apply for a care order for Sophie, if you continue to allow her to fail in her homework assignments."

Does it still sound reasonable?

Does it sound far fetched?

If you think it sounds far fetched, then you need to wake up and do some reading of what's actually being proposed. And then you might realise why everyone who has read it, and understands it, is screaming their head off.

For when you let slip the knots, and tease out the false connections being made for heaven knows what agenda.. it's your child we're fighting to protect. Your family that may face this.

Don't think just because your kid is in school this doesn't apply to you. If this principle is allowed to be put into law... that education authorities can invoke child protection as a way of assessing education... well, you may need to be saving up a for a lawyer, not University fees.

The Boy In Striped Pyjamas

Myster C and I have been learning lots about WWII recently and we decided to watch The Boy In Striped Pyjamas. I can only say that it was a very,very sad and touching portrayal of life in Gemany during the war. Told from the view of a small German lad who's dad was an SS Comandant in charge of a camp for Jews. The boy's friendship with a little Jewish boy left him questioning and wondering about his parents views but the horror of it all remained so far away for him as his education and propaganda left him believing that maybe Jews were different and should be treated as such and that the camps were okay. It was well worth the watch and the ending left us both numb and the truth of the atrocity firmly imprinted on our hearts and minds. It opened up a huge conversation about the Holocaust, something which we had only briefly touched on before, and I'm really glad we watched it.

Samhain

Samhain Blessings from me and Myster C. Our candles are lit and our pumpkins carved.

A poem by Sabrina Dearborn taken from The Barefoot Book of Blessings

At this time of dark and night,

spirits often give a fright.

We call upon the ancient dead,

circling now around our head.

Bring the blessings from before,

while we stand with open door.

Ancient spirits hear us now,

peace and love we do avow.

Science Stuff

Recently we've been learning about the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and everything linked to that, as part of our ongoing semi stuctured, but only cos we've got a book we like and are ploughing through it when we feel like it, usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. We like our experiments too and we record what we do in picture form with labels. That's how we've always done it. Our pictures just have more labels these days.

But also I just wanted to add in two brilliant science learning sessions that arose out of life. Its how home ed works for us and why it's just so blooming fantastic.

One day I was washing up, yes it happens occasionally, and I'd run the water a little too hot and as I was thinking that very thought "mmm this water's a little hot", a glass broke into my hand and cut my finger rather badly. Within in minutes I was set for a part in a horror movie with blood running down my arm at an alarming rate and bits of tissue stuck all over the place. I kid you not. Anyway eventually it calmed down, Myster C lovingly legged it to the corner shop, as I couldn't find the plasters, for some more. Any way the conversation turned to the broken glass and the how and the why of its demise. Half an hour or learning and looking up all about the effect of heat on metals, stone and glass and all about thermal shock. The particular glass in question had rather a thick bottom which just didn't heat up as quick as the rest and hey presto, it shattered under the pressure of 1000 lbs per square inch apparently.

Another day I was running a bath, trying to sneak a moment of calm and solitude, but Myster C went and turned the tap on in the kitchen for something and no water came out. He was a bit put out that my bath was stealing his water and set to find out why. Ten minutes of turning taps on and off, wondering whether the different types of tap made a difference, was it the distance from the heater, was it the direction they faced or was it the size of taps and pipes. Finally he sussed it. Water pressure and the distance of the tap from the ground with the water taking the easiest option to go downhill again. The lowest tap had the monopoly. Science stuff sorted. I eventually had my bath. Lukewarm solitude sorted.

Modern Exam and Ballet Shoes

Myster C did his Modern Dance Grade 2 exam today. He's been practicing really hard. Up and down the hallway. In the bedroom. At the table he's been counting and in the car his feet have been marking. I've heard the same pieces of music 20 times a day and now it's all done. He came out of the exam really happy so hopefully he's passed with a good mark.

We've also bought his black ballet leggings and socks and a dance bag. Quite a cool messenger style one with Dancers Do It With Attitude on. The school he goes to gave him his ballet shoes, a not very used second hand pair. They are black. He came home and put the lot on. He's well happy and it just feels different. There is definitely something about a first pair of ballet shoes. Even Myster C said so. He wants to keep them forever.

Myster C The Dancer

Myster C dances. He's always danced. He was about two and half or three when he first asked for lessons. So I took him to various places. At first we could only find strict ballet madams and classes of pink girls in tutus or ballroom classes. It was a no go. Then we found some where special. He started a jazz class about age four with a group of older girls. The class got bigger and he refused to dance. He was overwhelmed. I had to sit in with him and he hid under my chair and clung to my legs. After a month or so we gave up. But Myster C wanted to dance. Then we found out the special place had started a little boys street class so he started that. He loved it. Then came the show. Three showings over two days in a four hundred seat theatre. They did their routine to the A team theme. It was such a success the boys class doubled. He still loved it. The following year's show they danced to the Men In Black. The boys class split in to two with Myster C in the more able class. Then he decided to do Jazz. So he did that too and was in two routines for the next show. All his friends came to watch. After the show he decided he was going to do Modern too. Then this week his teachers and the proprietor have told him he does have potential and if he's serious and works hard they will give him Ballet for free because they know I just can't afford any more. I'm made up and he's chuffed to bits. And thats it. He wants to be a dancer. He'll be in four routines in the show in February next year. I can't wait. He's the only boy at that school who does Jazz, Modern and Ballet. Such a proud mum right now. Can you tell!!

Tempus fugit

Okay ..... so I somehow lost track of September, its not that hard to do. We've been having too much fun in the first of the Autumn rays and been to busy being us to blog ..... oh and my life began again at 40 (apparently). I may try and deny that later on although I think a few friends have photographic evidence of me with wings, a tiara and silver shoes celebrating the occasion.

Here's a quick list of the more memorable things we've been up to since our last post; a visit to Lulworth Castle complete with jousting knights and a flirtatious jester, A Not Back To School Picnic at Salisbury Cathedral, a very special day at Stonehenge, some Aboriginal Art, a visit to Hurst Castle and a boat ride back. Of course there has been the usual lost hairbrushes, plant biology, smelly socks, picnics, cooking, messy bedrooms, maths, mini conversations in French, endless repeats of Friends (Myster C is hooked!!), meeting up with real friends, dancing and gymnastics in between.