The idea of home-schooling for my grandson, Chris, was hatched one Friday morning after commiserating with his Mum over his report; A for 'Effort' and 'E' for grade. There had to be something wrong. The teachers spoke in glowing terms of his hard-work, his willingness and his pleasant personality but the result of all that effort - an 'E'.
Why?
I have lived and been schooled or had my children schooled in various countries and I knew that this is not a child who is really succeeding - in fact it is a child who is trying hard and getting nowhere much. So if the teachers say that in spite of his efforts - and theirs - this is the result then regular comprehensive school is not working for Chris.
No one is to blame really. The school is a good one, my son and granddaughter have been through the school and obtained good results. So what then? What apart from Chris's minor learning disabilities such as dyslexia - a common complaint these days and not one I would expect teachers to struggle with unduly, was the problem?
I believe there are a few factors - in this county it appears that children who do not grasp basic elements of certain subjects cannot repeat the year to consolidate on the knowledge they have gained. Secondly I believe that the politics driving schools have perhaps lost sight of the fact that if the child is educated to his or her potential the school Offsted grade will reflect this - not the other way round which is how it seems to me. Also - I think it is reasonable to say that there is a culture in England that I did not see when I was in South Africa and that culture embraces a lack of respect and discipline in the schools from the pupils to the teachers. I am not talking about authoritarian discipline but an expectation of both teachers and pupils treating each other in a manner that shows how they would like to be treated in turn and the respect they would like to have themselves. Lastly and perhaps most immediately schools, teachers, cannot be all things to all pupils - when you are faced with a class of mixed ability children and mixed enthusiasm for learning there has to be a limit to the effectiveness you will have, no matter which teaching method you adopt, on each person according to their own reception of the subject and their own ability and interest.
This blog is NOT about criticising schools or teachers - not at all. It is about choosing an alternative route to educate, or be educated, for whatever reason.
Testing the Opinion.
Sandra, my daughter was open to the idea and I was in a position that I could run the idea past the former head teacher of the school Chris currently attends. I expected that he would be the person to point out the huge disadvantages of home schooling. He did not. Sandra asked the consultant treating Chris for his dyslexia and other related problems what his views were on the idea to which he responded favourably so long as a suitable structure replaced the usual method of attending a state school.
Research
So the research began for the best type of schooling for Chris. This continued for a few months and it appears there are theoretically quite a few options open to parents and children. We discovered that many of the options were not possible due to cost, time allocation before an exam or other important date, or due to non co-operation from existing school. In brief the only real option open to us in the end was to home school Chris.
Choice and Resources
I think it is important to say that since Chris is almost 15 that his choice in the matter was paramount. The other crucial factors that went into making the decision were what resources were available. I was an obvious resource since being made redundant and having to retire I have the time to devote to the project. As I live right next door the decision was obvious. That was the easy bit. The most difficult bit was the choice of courses and support available to Home Schoolers in the UK. The County Council was helpful in suggestions given by the Education Officer. Family friends and family volunteered (or were coerced) into offering help. Where I had expected criticism I found resounding support and where I had thought we would have support I found criticism and unhelpfulness. This was interesting and we decided that as this is a project of some importance and to our minds some magnitude - after all it is not every day you decide to fly in the face of the accepted methods and tradition of established education - and we believed that there was no room on this project for anyone who was less than fully supportive or committed to help.
The Start
After the current term ended and the Easter holidays had drawn to a close, we began our lessons. We timed it like this so that we were running concurrently with school terms (Chris has a sister still in school) and it was important to fit in with the established family life-style and pattern. We had signed up to a reputable distance learning institution and received material from them supported by qualified tutors. We made a time table and a specially designated space for study which we call the school room, we purchased the text books and any other materials needed and we made a start.
I will add to this blog from time to time as a means of recording progress and our experience of the Home Schooling experience. Please feel free to comment or share your experiences if you would like to.
