Permanent Home Schooling

[Deereone]

The previous thread was for temporary home schooling.

My teenage grandchildren have never been to school (and are doing very well).
I thought I would share some of their experiences as there may be others here who are contemplating this form of education.
The M.O. used from the start was to teach the children when they were showing an interest i.e. Don't force them.
One thing that has helped tremendously is that they do not have access to televisions or mobile phones. Computer browsing is limited.
The children are given 5 subjects a day (they choose their timetable) plus plenty of exercise.
Two retired local teachers are employed for one hour a week to teach English French and Maths and we (the grandparents) help where we can.

We don't have all the answers; if anyone is genuinely interested and has any questions or suggestions then please fire away.

 

[Oldmacdonald]

May I ask why you chose home schooling?

 

[OGB]

Its not just about the curriculum of learning, its the social and mental aspect of being in school.

 

[Y Fan Wen]

Its not just about the curriculum of learning, its the social and mental aspect of being in school.

Yes. At one point in my career as a Scout leader a boy who was being home schooled joined my troop and you could see that he just didn't know how to relate to the rest of them. Highly intelligent and knowledgeable, definitely in the top quartile but just didn't know how to play and join in.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Its not just about the curriculum of learning, its the social and mental aspect of being in school.

....and the mental wellbeing of parent! Lets just say I was bloody glad that I was working throughout lockdown.

 

[BenAdamsAgri]

How do the kids cope in social situations?

 

[Deereone]

May I ask why you chose home schooling?

I didn't.

My daughter and her (now deceased) husband decided to go down this route as they were not enamoured (to say the least) with the education system.

Its not just about the curriculum of learning, its the social and mental aspect of being in school.

I thought the same to start with but my views have changed from watching their development.
They did attend a local Home schooling self help group (once a week), where like minded parents would lay on social events and teach new skills etc.
They also do martial arts and young farmers. I would like to see them join the scouts at some stage. They have no problem with their social skills and seem very mature for their years.

 

[Deereone]

How do the kids cope in social situations?

Genuinely, I'm sure they would be delighted to meet you and answer the question for themselves.

 

[john432]

School is not all about education. It was about making friends, remembering the mischief we got up to, remembering being dapped by the deputy head.. the school trips away... I couldn't wait to finish school at the time..but think kids who are home schooled loose out on so much in life... Just as an example.. my late father could have finished school at 14 in the local village school, but there was an option to go at 13 for the final year in the town School. He went to the school in Lampeter. Lost count how many times in Marts/ shows he'd be chatting with someone, I'd ask who they were. We were in Lampeter school together.. much more to school than education..

 

[designanddetail]

We home schooled our eldest 2 for a number of years and always told them they had the option to go back to school if they wanted to. We were in Somerset at the time and there was a large HS community so the notion of 'theses kids don't know social situations' isn't correct. Most days there would be different meet-ups with various other HS people. Either just at a park/field or the beach or at an activity based center, they still did football clubs and scouts etc. They certainly had more 'experiences' while home schooled. We also focused on things they showed an interest in, then tried to tailor activities around that to tie in English/Maths/Science etc, it was a good experience, only real reason we stopped as we relocated and there isn't much of a HS scene in Herefordshire so activities were limited, we enrolled at a school part time, they went in 2 days a week and after a couple of terms they both agreed to go full time. Youngest is in last years of high school now so regrets choosing to go back to school He is predicted a full set or A-A* (or 9s as they are these days) so it had no detrimental effect on him. Eldest was a lockdown finisher so didn't have to do any exams, when to college to do plumbing and eclectics and got the student of the year award year 1.

 

[Still Farming]

Women around here was going to to it all.
Think lasted a year and kids went backwards so back in primary now?

 

[Princess Pooper]

A nephew (only child) was home schooled. Special needs, high functioning autistic, with some behavioural issues when younger, but very bright, just a mental blank spot on some topics like maths.

As soon as he didn't have to go to school, his behaviour improved. Socially he played some sports and there was also a local Forest School which he enjoyed and made friends at.

At 18 he is now at horticultural college, absolutely loving it, massive boost to his confidence as it is a special needs group and he is one of the most able. Course includes some remedial maths etc. Already been offered a job when he finishes.

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

My teenage grandchildren have never been to school

Are they going to take GCSE exams?

 

[Deereone]

I'll ask, as I don't know. I spoke with their maths tutor this morning, he said that they learnt more in half an hour a week (each) than the children he was teaching did in 3 hours. He has been giving the eldest old exam papers and she has no trouble answering them (correctly).

 

[britishblue]

I have 3 nephews and 1 niece who have been home schooled. I would say it has been a complete disaster. The 25 year old has never been able to get a permanent job. The 21 year old rebelled and went to sixth form but was so backward he struggled and never passed an exam. The 17 year old niece has self harming tendencies and is extremely anxious. The 14 year old is awkward.They all lack social skills apart from the 21 year old who now has a fiance and has moved out of home. He is doing okay at his apprenticeship so is the best result of a bad job.
Their mother who taught them is delusional thinking she has done a good job. According to my wife they wanted to protect their kids from the evils of the world(they are religous) but it has created such tension and bad feeling between my wife and her sister.

 

[Lowland1]

We see a lot of it here for various reasons . There’s a poor state system so generally you pay for education. For some though they’d rather not send their kids to any school if they can’t afford to send them to to a posh school. It’s not done to have white kids mixing with poorer Africans or Indians so they use home schooling because ‘it’s better’ however generally if the teacher is thick enough to think this then the pupil doesn’t stand much of a chance either. There’s a lot of missionaries who are home schooling to spare their children from the evils of modern society which basically means they brainwash their kids with their own beliefs and look to get them married off to children from similar backgrounds as soon as possible to avoid them going off the rails if they get the chance to escape. We tried teaching ours at home with some neighbours we even employed a teacher but truthfully teaching kids is best left to professionals. So age five we sent ours to boarding school. They’ve turned out a lot better than any home schooled kids I’ve met. Home schooling usually turns out social misfits.

 

[Deereone]

Are they going to take GCSE exams?

Apparently that is not the intention. The eldest intends to go to college, so that will be interesting.

 

[farmerm]

It can be enough of a battle trying to get ours to spend 5 minutes on their weeks spellings or a little homework project. Fk doing it full time

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Apparently that is not the intention. The eldest intends to go to college, so that will be interesting.

I can't see how they will compete for a college place without having passed at least a maths & english GCSE.

 

[Deereone]

As I said, it will be interesting.
I was very sceptical at the outset but, so far so good.
They wouldn't' have any trouble taking the exams if need be, though their mother thinks it won't be necessary.