I was interested to observe that the EO Yahoo list is closing down on December 17th. This is a popular list, although not nearly as many people use it these days as did in its heyday. I have an idea that it was seen by some of the trustees at Education Otherwise as something of a hotbed of sedition. There has been some pretty heavy handed moderation over the last year or so, especially when people ask awkward questions about the accounts and AGM.
This threat to close down the list looks like the first test of the ability of the new trustees to make a difference to EO. An attempt is being made to shift the centre of gravity of the organisation from the North to the South. Until last month, Fiona Nicholson and Annette Taberner, both of whom live in Sheffield, held the levers of power and showed a marked reluctance to allow anybody else near them. Now Shena Deuchars and Heidi de Wet, both in Swindon, are trying to wrest control of some aspects of Education otherwise from the Old Guard. I think it would be unwise to bet on the eventual outcome of this struggle. Some of those who took over EO in 2007/2008 have shown a dogged determination to hang on in there, even when many of the members are displaying a marked lack of enthusiasm for their leadership. I have great faith in Fiona Nicholson's ability to remain put and not surrender any of her power to a bunch of upstarts. She is at any rate a force to be reckoned with. Only recently, she was rumoured to have been instrumental in getting rid of Linda Hitchman, who has been keeping the books at Education otherwise for some time. Apparently Fiona felt that there was room for only one strong leader in EO.
It will be interesting to see what develops over the next few weeks. This business about closing down the list will provide something of an indication as to how strong the Swindon faction are and whether they really have the determination and tenacity to take on Sheffield. If the EO list closes on December 17th, it will be a good sign that Sheffield is winning the power struggle.
On an unrelated note, what has happened to Tania Berlow these days? She has gone from posting on various lists at least fifty times day to nothing at all. Perhaps she found being the public face of the 'Secret Group' a little too lively for her?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Old Webb says-On an unrelated note, what has happened to Tania Berlow these days? She has gone from posting on various lists at least fifty times day to nothing at all. Perhaps she found being the public face of the 'Secret Group' a little too lively for her?
ReplyDeleteYes your right we not heard anything for a while from her?
Have you heard any news about the secretgroup?
we cant appear to get an answer from M Gove M.P about his view on home education a question has been with him in for over 3 months our M>P D Hinds has also been trying to get answer i wonder if it is anything to do with the secert group and the so called new guidlines? did she not say after winter hoildays?
it all sounds very fishy to me!
Not sure it sounds fishy particularly - or maybe that's just my pre-disposition to give everyone and everything the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine, having seen the BRAG list and the HEForums, that Tania has just had enough of bearing the brunt, trying to explain what she knows and realising that no-one is listening to her side of things. She has been given an awful lot of grief on the lists from what I can tell and I dont blame her for ducking out of the limelight
I do wish we would here something from the MPs or 'secret' group so we that we can move on to the next phase of arguments that wil inevitably follow. I am quite interested to see what they might propose as acceptable guidelines.
Anyway, that was totally OT- the real reason I was writing was to say I am a little sad about the closure of the list because it holds a fair bit of nostalgia for me from the early days of HE and it was my lifeline for a long time. I left about two years ago becauseit reached a point where I couldnt ask a question about anything even slightly structured without a negative response, plus there were a couple of crazies insistant on provoking in-fighting. Its still a shame its come to this though.
Appologies, that should be hear not here.
ReplyDelete'I would imagine, having seen the BRAG list and the HEForums, that Tania has just had enough of bearing the brunt, trying to explain what she knows and realising that no-one is listening to her side of things. '
ReplyDeleteYes, that's pretty much what I thought, too.
'plus there were a couple of crazies insistant on provoking in-fighting.'
There were a few people at that time for whom the expression 'crazy' would be putting the case mildly!
C, I got the impression that the discussion just ran out of steam after going round in circles for so long. The last I heard about when the first draft would be available for discussion was from Tania on the 12th Nov when she said (on BRAG), "there is not a timescale at the moment..after xmas ??"
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous, I think you are right. They went around in circles getting nowhere for nearly a month before the conversation finally ended. So if it's after Christmas that shouldn't be too much longer, but I am rather impatient to know what is in them.
ReplyDeleteI don't get the impression it's a case of a secret group working on guidelines and we've all got to wait and see what it comes up with. GS has said he'd welcome contributions from anyone. So you could chip in with your contribution, C. There's nothing stopping anyone working up an alternative set of guidelines they can present when and if the coalition get round to looking at EHE.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzyg, I was already asked for my opinion on what I would like to see in the guidelines.
ReplyDeleteOne of our forum members asked our forum for opinions. We all said what we thought, she put it into a letter for us to read and edit then she forwarded it to the group working on the guidelines and to GS, so I am happy that I have been able to chip in with my opinion. Im just rubbish at waiting for outcomes ;o)
Regarding EO Yahoo list- I just had an email saying EO list had three new moderators. Why would they appoint new moderators for the Yahoo group if they are closing it in around 14 days? Seems unnecessary.
Hi C,
ReplyDeleteI think some of the new trustees want to keep it open, and are working to see if that can happen.
Simon, how well do you know Fiona? Your description doesn't match the person I know.
J.R.L.
Anonymous -Ah I see. That would be good, especially if they can turn it into a more aimiable and friendly group, and remove some of the negativity surrounding it.
ReplyDeletesuzy says-I don't get the impression it's a case of a secret group working on guidelines and we've all got to wait and see what it comes up with. GS has said he'd welcome contributions from anyone. So you could chip in with your contribution, C. There's nothing stopping anyone working up an alternative set of guidelines they can present when and if the coalition get round to looking at EHE.
ReplyDeleteIt is a secret group we do not know for sure who is in this group? and why there where picked? we have not elected them to speak for us! are they all members of EO?
GS may welcome contributions but does he and the group listen? it is all very fishy to me something for once Webb is right about!
if it is just guidelines for HE no one has to follow them as it will not be the law to follow them? so many LA's will just take no notice of them? the last lot of guidelines many LA's took very little notice of?
Fiona was unable to say if she was for or against register for home educators that was weird!
We are against a register for home educators Webb is for it!
Its true that we dont know who is in the group. However, to be fair, with the amount of abuse and criticism being thrown at them even without knowing who they are, Im not surprised they dont want to announce who they are.
ReplyDeleteDO I think they should? Yes! But as I am fairly open to seeing all points of view I am prepared to consider why they wouldnt.
No they are not all members of EO. I have been told this by 2 separate people who dont know each other and I believe them. Of course I cant prove they are telling the truth but I am giving them the benefit of the doubt.
I do think my contributions and others are making it through because the lady who took our contributions handed them in, and another lady who'd had discussions with the group then quoted to me some of the things that were said in our contributions so I believe they are being discussed.
I have no idea if they'll make it to the final draft.
As I understand it, the guidelines are for LAs not for us. I understand that there will be strong words and maybe consequences to LAs who dont keep them.
I dont see how it will work personally but that is what I have been told.
Why would Fiona confirm or deny her feelings about a register when this isnt part of the guidelines discussion? There is no intention to have any sort of registration system so there is no real need to discuss it anywhere. I guess if the draft guidelines say differently there will be a reason to say how we feel about it.