Monday 7 March 2011

Some cult-like aspects of autonomous education

A week ago, when somebody joined the HE-UK list because she wanted some solid information before taking the serious step of deregistering her child from school, Mike Fortune-Wood was quite open about his contempt for facts and figures when it came to home education. He asked bluntly, ' why do you want hard figures, in what way are they likely to help you?'

Now of course most of us would, if considering a new educational setting for our child, want to know a little about it. What are the future prospects if my child follows this course or that? How will colleges and prospective employers view this type of education? Almost all of us would ask questions of this sort, trying to elicit a few 'hard figures'. Such an attitude is not encouraged in circles where autonomous education is rife. There are I think two main reasons for this. First of course, the statistics are simply not available. Secondly, following autonomous education, a major strand of home education in this country, is more than simply choosing one pedagogical technique over another. It is very different from deciding to teach reading by synthetic phonics as against using look and say, for example. I chose to use look and say, but I have never encountered any bitterness and hostility from teachers who prefer phonics! There is something to be said for both methods and which you decide to use is a personal matter. This is very different from autonomous education, which displays many of the characteristics of a cult rather than a means of education.

There is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes a cult. I go to church every Sunday and would not class Christianity as a cult, but there are those who would. Most agree that Scientology is a cult, except of course Scientologists themselves. There are however a number of generally agreed characteristics which all cults share and I want to look at autonomous education in the light of these and see how it shapes up.

People drawn to cults are often in distressing circumstances, whether physical or mental; drug addicts, alcoholics, prisoners, the poor, those with borderline personality disorders, the grief stricken and so on. In this context, it is interesting to note the huge proportion of home educating parents who have withdrawn their children from school because of bullying or due to the school not making sufficient provision for their child's special educational needs. Watching one's child suffer must be among the most distressing experiences which any parent can endure and it strikes me that this group would be prime candidates for being attracted to some cult.

The attraction of a cult to those in distress is that it offers one simple explanation which will solve all the problems and remove the suffering. Whether it is accepting that you are a miserable sinner or acknowledging the need to write a letter deregistering your child from school, the answer is to stop asking questions and seeking rational explanations and just join the group. Once you have done this, all will become clear and your problems will be solved. To a suffering parent, this is an attractive proposition. Once they join the group, they receive unconditional love and acceptance. They belong. I am not going to quote any of the posts here from home education lists, but I suggest that readers who belong to HE-UK look at what is said to parents who announce that they are going to make the decision and invite home education into their lives. It is like a camp revival meeting! established members of the group on HE-UK may not actually cry, 'Amen' or 'Yea, Lord' or 'Preach it brother', but this is certainly the general sentiment. Another parent saved! This is precisely why the woman asking for information was viewed with such suspicion. She was not coming to the light through suffering, in the approved way. Instead, she was treating the matter as a rational decision. Big mistake! The true home educator does not weigh up the pros and cons cooly in this way, but makes the decision on faith alone. Unless she has reached this point by travelling through a vale of tears, there are those who would not view her as being a true member of the community. Asking for facts and figures indeed!

Having joined the family, new members are able to take on a new identity; that of home educators, often autonomous ones. They can say to others. 'We're autonomous', just as newly baptised Christians can claim, 'We are saved'. They are now set apart from the world. Often, it is at this point that they begin saying things which in the outside world might sound a little bit mad. This is common in cults, religions and autonomous home education. I have myself attended meetings where people would remark casually that they have been washed in the blood of the most precious lamb; not the sort of thing one would generally say down the pub or in the supermarket! It is the same with home education. Initiates will say things about the teaching of children which would cause most ordinary people to choke in disbelief.

Essentially, these parents find an identity in autonomous home education. They are no longer misfits and cranks, but have instead found a group where they can be themselves and nobody looks askance at them. The benefits to the parents are obvious; the advantages to their children less clear. I have only scratched the surface of this phenomenon today and I hope to explore the topic further over the next few days.

45 comments:

  1. Old Webb says-it is interesting to note the huge proportion of home educating parents who have withdrawn their children from school because of bullying or due to the school not making sufficient provision for their child's special educational needs. Watching one's child suffer must be among the most distressing experience which any parent can endure

    But Webb has nothing to offer these parents who have been though this with their child just tell them their part of a cult! teachers and LA's do this its all the victim fault so their you go folks its nothing to do with the school or the LA your to blame welcome to the crazy world of Webbs! the old children/s department under Balls Ms Penny Jones thought like this and where hinting at cults and what about witches Webb you seen any? LOL you can quite see how in the middles ages women where accused of being witches and then burnt at the stake when you have people like Webb about! its all your fault folks your children are to blame nothing to do with those that are supposed to help you if any one seen a witch let us know LOL its all done to shift blame away from the schools and balme the parents!

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  2. 'I chose to use look and say, but I have never encountered any bitterness and hostility from teachers who prefer phonics! There is something to be said for both methods and which you decide to use is a personal matter. '

    I could introduce you to some teachers who would respond with bitterness and hostility, Simon. Indeed there's a school of thought that attributes the poor literacy levels in schools specifically to the adoption of look and say, and that's one of the reasons why synthetic phonics is now advocated.

    There might be reasons why you might use one method rather than another with an individual child, but describing it as a 'personal matter' makes it sound as if the choice of method is irrelevant.

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  3. ' its all done to shift blame away from the schools and balme the parents!'

    On the contrary, maintained schools in this country are greatly to blame for the decline in educational standards. Why on earth do you suppose that I did not send my own child to such a school? However, acknowledging that state schools tend to be very poor at educating children is a different thing entirely from believing that all parents are capable of providing their children with a decent education. I would like to see a little more emphasis placed on improving schools. If this were to be done, then fewer parents would opt for home education in the first place.

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  4. ' Indeed there's a school of thought that attributes the poor literacy levels in schools specifically to the adoption of look and say, and that's one of the reasons why synthetic phonics is now advocated.'

    Absolutely true, but I can meet the advocates of synthetic phonics socially and exchange emails with them without being regarded as some sort of Devil! I know quite a few teachers who are passionate about the need for synthetic phonics, but the debate is conducted rationally. It is nothing at all like the personal animosity displayed towards dissenters in the world of home education.

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  5. Don't forget the other characteristics of the cult.

    One would be the slavish following of a cult leader who holds dominion, is an artbiter of truth etc and who must never be argued with.

    Another would be the way those who criticise the cult ('sowing discord') are treated by cult-members by being shunned etc. (Witness Tania B.)

    Another would be when a member tries to leave (saying that AE is not working for her child) she is accused of faithlessness, informed she will do terrible harm to her child if she leaves etc etc.

    My family inadvertently got mixed up with a cult once, for a brief time, and so learned to recognise the characteristics.

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  6. 'Another would be the way those who criticise the cult ('sowing discord') are treated by cult-members by being shunned etc. (Witness Tania B.)'

    Yes, this is a good point. I have observed the contempt which is reserved for backsliders and those who veer from the one true path.

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  7. Who's Tania B?

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  8. 'This is precisely why the woman asking for information was viewed with such suspicion. She was not coming to the light through suffering, in the approved way. Instead, she was treating the matter as a rational decision. Big mistake! '

    It wasn't that she was asking for information about HE per se, it was the type of information that she was asking for that raised suspicions.

    Most parents ask questions related directly to their own children such as 'I'm thinking home educating my five boys - currently all under six - is there anyone else home educating a family of boys and do you have any advice for me?' or 'both my children were bullied at school - any one else have this problem?' rather than for statistical data relating to the entire population of home educated children, which a quick trawl of the internet would reveal is not available.

    The question sounded as if it was coming from a researcher. I agree that there might have been an over-reaction, but I can understand why there was concern.

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  9. '... I can meet the advocates of synthetic phonics socially and exchange emails with them without being regarded as some sort of Devil! I know quite a few teachers who are passionate about the need for synthetic phonics, but the debate is conducted rationally. It is nothing at all like the personal animosity displayed towards dissenters in the world of home education. '

    No always so. People can get vitriolic about anything they believe in passionately and can develop their own shared mindset and terminology to go with their worldview. It's a characteristic of in-group and out-group thinking rather than a distinguishing feature of a religious cult, although religious cults could be seen as specific forms of in-group.

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  10. Old webb says-I would like to see a little more emphasis placed on improving schools. If this were to be done, then fewer parents would opt for home education in the first place.

    but no real efforts will be made to really help parents who children may be having problems at school the system is quite clear it is the parents and the child that are to blame! if you complain about anything thats gone on in a school or with your LA it be you who will get the blame not the school! that is where cults and trying to link home education comes in it is an attack on people who have had real problems at school and have been failed by the system why dont you set out in a post Webb how schools can be made better and how to insure that a parents complaint is looked into in the right way not just brushed under the carpet!
    Balls/Badman Ms Penny Jones first hinted at cults and witches with home education its part of a dirty tricks department wich failed this time but will come back maybe thier link home education with the devil next lol!

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  11. 'Anonymous said...
    Who's Tania B?'

    Tania Berlow. She lives in Somerset and has been very active in the cause of autonomous education. Just google her and you will find a lot about her. She joined forces with Alison Sauer at the end of last year in order to write new guidelines for home education. This resulted in her being banned from the Home Ed Forums site.

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  12. 'It's a characteristic of in-group and out-group thinking rather than a distinguishing feature of a religious cult, although religious cults could be seen as specific forms of in-group.'

    Bound to say that I have never enountered anybody using flashcards who feels this strongly against phonics!

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  13. 'Balls/Badman Ms Penny Jones first hinted at cults and witches with home education '

    We need to hear a little more about this. I am surprised to hear that Penny Jones said anything of the sort; she is very much in favour of home education.

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  14. 'It's a characteristic of in-group and out-group thinking rather than a distinguishing feature of a religious cult, although religious cults could be seen as specific forms of in-group.'

    One must hope that this is not a dig against Evangelicals! Although had I worked in such a school, I too might have the odd thing to say myself about cult-like behaviour in mainstream religions.

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  15. We need to hear a little more about this. I am surprised to hear that Penny Jones said anything of the sort; she is very much in favour of home education.


    Ms Penny Jones is not in favour of home education and was briefing crazy old Badman on what to put in his report! Ms Jones would ban most types of home edcuation and what home education she allowed would have to have at least 2 home visits a year a very long educational plan would also have to be followed along with an interview with the child to look for signs of abuse.Ms Jones is hostile to home education and when she met some home educated children in 2009 told them that she did not care about their views on home education!
    Ms Jones is part of the dirty tricks department which comes up with these attacks to try and get new laws on home education! Just because she got a sweet smile dont be fooled! she smile to you face and then say something behind you back to attack home education!

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  16. "'It's a characteristic of in-group and out-group thinking rather than a distinguishing feature of a religious cult, although religious cults could be seen as specific forms of in-group.'

    One must hope that this is not a dig against Evangelicals! Although had I worked in such a school, I too might have the odd thing to say myself about cult-like behaviour in mainstream religions. "

    The point I was trying to make (though obviously without much success) was that home educators, or proponents of synthetic phonics, or political parties or members of the local train-spotting society all tend to show in-group/out-group characteristics. Not that any group of people showing in-group out-group characteristics must be some sort of religious cult.

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  17. This may seem like an odd question...but are there any resources (mailing lists, blogs, groups, etc.) for home educators in the UK that are not focused on AE?

    I don't mean to sound thick, and it's possible that there's something I'm missing..but it seems like the UK lacks the sort of (secular or inclusive) resources for textbook reviews, structured 'unschooling' strategies, _voluntary_ testing advice, etc. that are all over the place in the US. Is there any UK-specific resource about record keeping for college admission, prepping for GCSEs, going to university in the UK or abroad as a UK homeEd student, etc?

    Again, sorry if I've missed something obvious. THis might be a good article topic, Simon, since all of the posts about how non-AE-ers are rejected in the UK can be a little intimidating!

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  18. '...but are there any resources (mailing lists, blogs, groups, etc.) for home educators in the UK that are not focused on AE?'

    Try this one;


    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HE-Exams-GCSE-A_AS_Levels-OU-Others/

    I have to say, some of these folk make even me looker like a slacker when it comes to structured home edcuation!

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  19. "Mike Fortune-Wood was quite open about his contempt for facts and figures when it came to home education. He asked bluntly, ' why do you want hard figures, in what way are they likely to help you?'"

    So you go from one home educator who happens to be autonomous querying the need for statistics to no autonomous educators value statistics? Quite an illogical leap, Simon, very sloppy thinking, especially as Mike has conducted funded research of his own so it's clear he does value statistics.

    "Now of course most of us would, if considering a new educational setting for our child, want to know a little about it. What are the future prospects if my child follows this course or that? How will colleges and prospective employers view this type of education?"

    Yes, but the query is about home education, not autonomous education. This therefore includes your style of home education too.

    "Such an attitude is not encouraged in circles where autonomous education is rife. There are I think two main reasons for this. First of course, the statistics are simply not available."

    This lack of statistics is not restricted to AE, in fact, there is probably more available about AE in the UK than parent-led HE.

    "I know quite a few teachers who are passionate about the need for synthetic phonics, but the debate is conducted rationally. It is nothing at all like the personal animosity displayed towards dissenters in the world of home education."

    But would they feel the same if you said they are abusing children when using their approach and must be stopped? I don't think so.

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  20. "His might be a good article topic, Simon, since all of the posts about how non-AE-ers are rejected in the UK can be a little intimidating!"

    I regularly see emails discussing and recommending resources and more parent-led approaches to HE on the various email lists, including HE-UK. Is it a problem that there are also pro-AE posts on the same list? Is it that you don't want to hear about AE at all? Just start more discussions about parent-led discussions on the existing lists if you want more of that type of discussions. It already happens now without people being 'verbally stoned', despite Loz's suggestion that his is the case on her blog.

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  21. "Tania Berlow. She lives in Somerset and has been very active in the cause of autonomous education."

    I would have said that she has been very active in the cause of home education, rather than AE. But maybe I've missed something?

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  22. "I suggest that readers who belong to HE-UK look at what is said to parents who announce that they are going to make the decision and invite home education into their lives. It is like a camp revival meeting! established members of the group on HE-UK may not actually cry, 'Amen' or 'Yea, Lord' or 'Preach it brother', but this is certainly the general sentiment. Another parent saved!"

    I think the enthusiasm from some list members stems from the memories these announcements bring back of their own beginning days of HE when it was fresh and exciting and the decision just made - the start of a new adventure. I certainly remember that feeling even though we home educated from the start. Do you not feel a little excited for other people when you hear that they are about to follow in our footsteps? If it has gone well for a family, it seems natural to feel happy that another family is going to benefit from similar experiences. This has nothing to do with a cult and is certainly not restricted to autonomous educators. Don't be such a killjoy, Simon.

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  23. "It is the same with home education. Initiates will say things about the teaching of children which would cause most ordinary people to choke in disbelief."

    So are you suggesting that anything that requires thought, consideration of varied issues and observation to arrive at an opinion that is different from the one held by the vast majority of ordinary people (such as the idea that HE does not mean the child is isolated, for instance) indicates a cult? Plenty of ordinary people in the supermarket would choke on the idea that a parent can teach the child as well as a secondary school full of specialist teachers, yet this is something you say yourself. Are you therefore a member of a cult?

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  24. Simon wrote,
    "People drawn to cults are often in distressing circumstances, whether physical or mental; drug addicts, alcoholics, prisoners, the poor, those with borderline personality disorders, the grief stricken and so on."

    So that would mean that the Samaritans or self help groups are cults?

    Simon wrote,
    "Whether it is accepting that you are a miserable sinner or acknowledging the need to write a letter deregistering your child from school, the answer is to stop asking questions and seeking rational explanations and just join the group."

    So AA is a cult? My name is John, and I am an alcoholic...'

    Simon wrote,
    "They can say to others. 'We're autonomous', just as newly baptised Christians can claim, 'We are saved'."

    Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic but with the support of fellow alcoholics in AA groups I can create a satisfactory way of life without alcohol. I can be saved from alcohol. This is the message from the AA. Does this make them a cult?

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  25. 'So that would mean that the Samaritans or self help groups are cults?'

    Indeed yes, this can be the case. Have you ever actually had any dealings with Alcoholics Anonymous? Some former members do indeed describe them as a cult.

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  26. Anonymous said: One would be the slavish following of a cult leader who holds dominion, is an artbiter of truth etc and who must never be argued with.

    This is a point I have raised myself in the past. Mike FW quite plainly puts himself above his minions..sorry, members.

    I am a structured HEer, and although I researched AE in the beginning when I was informing myself of Home Education before taking the plunge, I always found it a bit too freemason-esque.

    Simon said: They belong. I am not going to quote any of the posts here from home education lists, but I suggest that readers who belong to HE-UK look at what is said to parents who announce that they are going to make the decision and invite home education into their lives. It is like a camp revival meeting! established members of the group on HE-UK may not actually cry, 'Amen' or 'Yea, Lord' or 'Preach it brother', but this is certainly the general sentiment

    I laughed when I read this, because I have experienced first hand exactly what he means.
    I tell another HEer that I have recently decided to home educate, and I am greeted with an enthusiastic "well done" or "congratulations"... like I've just attained a higher social position than I previously occupied. All very strange.

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  27. Apropos of whether or not AA is a cult, you might want to look at this:

    http://www.volconvo.com/forums/philosophy-religion/2291-aa-cult-aa-total-fraud.html

    There are a quite few people who have decided that AA does qulaify for cult status. Part of the reason is that its members are drawn largely from those who are undergoing distrees.

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  28. ' distrees'

    Not entirely sure what this means. Perhaps I am channelling the spirit of Peter Williams.

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  29. I must not comment...I must not comment...I must not comment...

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  30. Simon wrote,
    "Part of the reason is that its members are drawn largely from those who are undergoing distrees."

    But how can this be used as a definition of a cult when it happens so often throughout society? Are 'doctors' high priests of cults because people are drawn to them when in distress?

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  31. I think it's quite common for members of a minority group to attempt to divert negative attention from themselves by pointing to a minority within their group and calling it a cult. They do this in the hope that any disapproval aimed at the minority group as a whole will be diverted towards the minority within the minority group. Is this what you are attempting to do, Simon, given that, to outsiders, all of your arguments apply equally to all home education as a whole? Is it your hope that people who choose your style will be left in peace if any aggression against HE can be diverted towards AE?

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  32. Labelling a group as a cult is sometimes used to dehumanize them in the eyes of others so that abuse of them is considered acceptable. Is that your intention Simon?

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  33. 'if any aggression against HE can be diverted towards AE?'

    I have not actually witnessed or heard of any aggression towards home education in this country. All those to whom I speak of it, whether teachers, local authority officers, civil servants, doctors, police officers or anybody else, seem quite happy about the idea. Some of them certainly want increased monitoring and perhaps closer supervision, but I would not really describe this as aggression.

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  34. old worn out webb says-Not entirely sure what this means. Perhaps I am channelling the spirit of Peter Williams

    OMG you used my name on a blog lets type it again Peter Williams is so smart no home visits for him! Peter williams is so clever he fought off a SAO. Peter Williams your the best LOL!

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  35. Webb says-whether teachers, local authority officers, civil servants, doctors, police officers or anybody else, seem quite happy about the idea. Some of them certainly want increased monitoring and perhaps closer supervision, but I would not really describe this as aggression.

    But aggression would be used if you did not allow Local authority staff into your house to interview the child alone!threats would be made of a SAO. their only happy with the idea of home education if you are doing as you are told and allowing them the LA to be in charge! these type of people do not like that you can say no thanks to them! it really gets to them that you can no im not doing that! see their used to bossing school pupils so it comes as a shock when you say no thanks clear off!

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  36. "I have not actually witnessed or heard of any aggression towards home education in this country."

    You obviously don't read the comments by non-home educators following HE articles on mainstream newspaper articles then.

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  37. 'You obviously don't read the comments by non-home educators following HE articles on mainstream newspaper articles then.'

    Well of course I do. There is a bit of a problem here though. It is this. When a piece on home edcuation is published and it is possible to comment on it, a lot of aggressive and militant home educators usually dive in, savaging whatever has been said. Anybody who commnets less than wholeheartedly in favour of home edcaution is then also attacked and the result is that people are driven into corners and badgered into expressing views which they might not otherwise have subscribed to. I see this time and again when looking at the comments on such pieces. I also notice the same names from the HE world again and again; people like Ruth O'Hare from Godalming for example, who comments on bits in local papers as far away as Portsmouth and Lancashire.

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  38. i never forget when we told the LA officer over the phone no thanks mate! he did not like it started to make threats of a SAO! but it never made us back down we won! no home visit no meeting nothing! see a weaker home educator would have been scared by his threats! An SAO is often threated to make parents do as their told such as have a meeting or allow LA into house that is the threat that is used Webb! but if your strong like us you can face it down.

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  39. 'we won! no home visit no meeting nothing'

    An adversarial approach which is, sadly, all too common in British home education. Whether the child in the case 'won', remains to be seen.

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  40. Old worn out Webb still pedding the same old news says-An adversarial approach which is, sadly, all too common in British home education. Whether the child in the case 'won', remains to be seen.

    we sure did win no meetings no home visit nothing sounds real good when you say it out aloud! a great victory over those that want to poke their nose into other peoples life choices!

    We won and their where to scared to go to court! sounds sweet a man who cant spell grammer is not good takes on the might of HCC with its barristers to and wins! now i knew we as a family where clever but well what can i say!

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  41. Simon wrote,
    "Anybody who commnets less than wholeheartedly in favour of home edcaution is then also attacked and the result is that people are driven into corners and badgered into expressing views which they might not otherwise have subscribed to."

    Yet these were comments made before any home educators had contributed to a comment thread:

    "If the authors are so concerned that their little darlings should be protected from contact with the great unwashed why don't they up sticks and move to somewhere where their damaged offspring won't take it out on the rest of us when they are finally let off the parental leash"

    "I personally think that such parents are selfish in denying their children the opportunity to really engage with the peers. "

    "Home schooling is an aberration. It should not be encouraged. Not simply because of this ironically aberrant case but because it is cruel to children. Unless one simply has to live in Antartica there is no need for it. Michael Gove take note."

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  42. anon says-Michael Gove take note."

    im afraid anon Gove not really intersted in home education and their is not the money to waste on chasing after home educators UK is broke and needs to save money thanks to Labour?Ed balls M.P so Gove wont be doing anything about home education thank goodness so im afraid anon home education will carry on with many children being home educated. you could vote Labour anon in 4 years time? LOL

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  43. "I laughed when I read this, because I have experienced first hand exactly what he means.
    I tell another HEer that I have recently decided to home educate, and I am greeted with an enthusiastic "well done" or "congratulations"... like I've just attained a higher social position than I previously occupied. All very strange."

    I guess this is because when we decided to do it it felt worth celebrating and so we congratulate others in the same way that we might if they got a great new job, had a baby or got married. It's not strange and new HEers get lots of negetivity from the general population, family etc so may benefit from the opinions of those who are enjoying HE and know it works.

    What is this "I'm sane all those other Home Educators are bonkers week?"

    Elizabeth

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  44. Loz said:

    "I tell another HEer that I have recently decided to home educate, and I am greeted with an enthusiastic "well done" or "congratulations"... like I've just attained a higher social position than I previously occupied. All very strange."

    Isn't this the kind of thing people say to friends who have got their children into the school they wanted, or to people who have finally decided what house they want to buy... anyone who has made a difficult decision, or any major decision at all come to that? What's strange about it?

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  45. Anonymous said...
    This may seem like an odd question...but are there any resources (mailing lists, blogs, groups, etc.) for home educators in the UK that are not focused on AE?

    There is this one: http://alittlebitofstructure.webs.com/

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