Commenting here yesterday, somebody suggested, perhaps not entirely seriously, that parents who wish to home educate should first be tested on their literacy and English. This was prompted by an exchange with Peter Williams, whose semi-literate ravings are not perhaps the best advertisement in the world for unregulated home education.
It is an interesting idea, whether meant jokingly or not. After all, the child is entitled to an efficient education; what if a parent is incapable of providing such an education? There can be no doubt at all that providing a full-time education for a child is a hugely demanding task. Common sense tells us that not everybody would be up to this and if parents are not very well educated themselves, then their children's education is bound to be scrappy and ineffective. This is hardly satisfactory. Local authority officers often encounter parents like this, mothers and fathers who are barely literate and seem to believe that the Internet can provide all the education their children might need. As things stand, there is little that can be done about this, even assuming that something should be done.
This idea can of course easily turn into a slippery slope. Some states in America require home educating parents to have a qualification in teaching and I don't believe that anybody in this country would be in favour of such a scheme. It seems odd though that a parent with a very low IQ and restricted literacy skills should be regarded in law as being just as competent to educate her child as a university professor! Many ordinary, non-home educating parents are shocked to hear that anybody at all can just take their child from school and educate the kids themselves. I think that most people would think it quite reasonable that some sort of assessment of a parent's ability were to be undertaken before home education began. Devising a method would be tricky though. I don't think that it would be right to deny the opportunity to home educate to parents who did not have a degree or the correct number of GCSEs. On the other hand, a broader and more informal assessment would almost certainly militate against working class parents and in favour of those speaking RP and reading the Guardian rather than the Sun. I shall give this matter a little though and report back. In the meantime, I wonder what readers think about the notion of preventing illiterate fools from being allowed to home educate?
No worse than letting illiterate fools teach in school; unfortunately there are quite a lot of people who would meet one or other criterion, and some who would meet both.
ReplyDeleteSince teacher training now appears to consist of training teachers to deliver the national curriculum and keep order while they do so, what training would be offered to parents?
Many things can lead to an ineffective education, whether in school or out of it. While I imagine it would be a lot more challenging to home educate if you couldn't read or write well, I don't suppose it is impossible. It would probably mean making sure your child had plenty of opportunities to learn from other people or in other ways - using self-directed resources of various sorts, for example.
ReplyDeleteI guess the key is to be aware of your own limitations. I try to be aware and to make sure that my children are offered lots of input from outside the immediate family.
But I would stress, again, that there are lots of things you can do badly when helping a child to learn - being impatient, unkind, overly controlling, boring - the list is endless! Having a deficiency in one skill is not necessarily that significant if you can make up for it with others. Of course, from my point of view, valuing a child's own interests is a pretty important skill for a home educator. Maybe no-one should be 'allowed' to home educate unless they can demonstrate that skill?
Of course the next logical step would be to prevent those with a low IQ reproducing at all. There are thousands of school children out there who don't succeed despite the best endeavours of their schools because the famnilies concerned have no educational aspirations for their children. What next - forced sterilisations and euthanasia? Since we don't live in Nazi Germany, I would be opposed to all such measures.
ReplyDeleteAs for the impact of parents with low educational attainment on home education; not only do I deplore the idea of either testing or pre-qualification, but I know from experience that parents with backgrounds that would certainly worry you, Simon, make really good jobs of educating their own children. The "trick" is a mixture of co-operation between home educators (can't teach science? find someone who can!) and the fact that in many cases parents can learn alongside their children (we have parents in our HE group who take GCSE maths).
I am not however excusing the attitude of those who don't care what their children learn, and who make no pretence about even claiming that their child is having a "good education." In fact it is difficult to believe they can even claim to be home educating if they continue to regard what they do as a second class activity. They are condemned out of their own mouth's time and time again....
'But I would stress, again, that there are lots of things you can do badly when helping a child to learn - being impatient, unkind, overly controlling, boring - the list is endless! '
ReplyDeleteAnd this of course is quite true. I wonder how we could find this out though, unless we moved in with the family? A good point, that even if the parents were the biggest brain-boxes in town, their skills with their child would be the deciding factor in how the child's education went.
'Of course the next logical step would be to prevent those with a low IQ reproducing at all. '
ReplyDeleteIt is grotesque though that while one must jump through and unimaginable number of hoops in order to adopt, as you know Julie, any fool can breed as many babies as she feels like, simply by virtue of having functioning ovaries. I am not really calling for a programme of eugenics, but most people in social services are familiar with families where the parents are not capable of looking after the kids they have and yet still produce another one every year or so.
Local authority officers often encounter parents like this, mothers and fathers who are barely literate and seem to believe that the Internet can provide all the education their children might need.
ReplyDeleteWe had letters from Local Authority staff who spelling was poor and the grammer was not good plus it always got some fact wrong such as the date of birth of the child or the address wrong! indeed county counclior Dr Tony Ludlow was surpised to see that his LA could not write letters correct to parents.
what action should be taken over LA staff that can not spell or write good grammer Webb?
no tests for parents are being put forward by this government for parents who home educate so working class parents will be able to carry on home educating and still be able to reject the crap state schools that are on offer!
your be pleased to know we are still home educating with no visits no meeting and with the parents still refusing to submit evidence of the education our child gets! any one goning to to do anything about this? answer NO but if any one wants to feel free to phone or write to HCC you never know that may write one of thier crap letters!LOL
I'm going to stick my neck out here...of course illiterate fools should not be allowed to HE their children..more importantly, I don't think illiterate fools would want to (so it's probably not a real concern anyway).
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do advocate the suggestion of some form of testing for those wanting to HE their children. I haven't got a clue how this would be implimented, as the ramifications of getting it wrong could be absolutely disastrous.
I don't have a degree (or a bucket load of qualifications) therefore would I be automatically classed as unqualified to teach anything to my children?
How could I be seen as being able to teach the finer points of any subject, if I don't have a piece of paper to prove that I myself understand them?
Here's hoping it wouldn't be a Mensa style test, because I would fail miserably! :P
What ideas would you put forward as effective methods of testing Simon?
I always remember Lord John Prescott when questioned about his spelling and grammer being poor John said i know but its amazing im deputy prime minister duputy leader of labour party been tranport minister and secretary state for the Envirnment how have you got on in your chosen job?
ReplyDeletesee John knew it was how you did a job that was more inportant than being able to spell every word correct he could not spell or write top rate english but he never allowed this to stop him reaching the highest officer beating many people who could spell better! John is living proof that you can go all the way to the top but he would always have failed any english test!
@ peter and carol. It's not just about spelling (not only do we have spell check and grammar check on the computer, we also have a dictionary and a thesaurus - but you have to be literate to use them so scrub that one)..it's about being able to pass on the meaning of text. Being able to teach another how to understand what they are reading or writing about, and how to correctly interpret it and use the information gained.
ReplyDeleteIt is about teaching them that whilst everything is NOT about words, or the correct use of structuring or even simple things like punctuation, it IS about being able to make oneself understood by others...even the illiterate ones.
Moving on from english skills, what about maths? It's well known in this country that many parents struggle with maths. How can people possibly expect to give their children a good education if their maths skills are limited only to 1+1 etc?
'Moving on from english skills, what about maths? It's well known in this country that many parents struggle with maths. How can people possibly expect to give their children a good education if their maths skills are limited only to 1+1 etc?'
ReplyDeleteLoz, that's pretty much where my Maths is at, having been taught so badly in school. Yet my son got a B at IGCSE. He probably would have got an A if he'd done any revision, but you can only take a child SO far! LOL!
The solution was easy.
What I did was to buy an excellent curriculum when the time came that it was needed. He worked his way through it. When I hit something I didn't understand, we asked Daddy when he got home. When Dad didn't get it, and couldn't work it out, we asked a friend who's a Maths teacher. Maybe 3 or 4 times?
It's NOT just about what you know, it's about knowing HOW to find the answers when you need them.
Loz says-it IS about being able to make oneself understood by others...even the illiterate ones.
ReplyDeleteWe never had a problem with people understanding us the M.Ps and parilament understood us when we met with them at the house of commons! one M.P said you know a lot about this subject(i was thinking i do but dont ask me to spell those words!)
Moving on from english skills, what about maths? It's well known in this country that many parents struggle with maths. How can people possibly expect to give their children a good education if their maths skills are limited only to 1+1 etc?
Yes Maths is not easy to teach that is why the intenet can help and software maths disk can help i find maths hard but the disk really help what we should have is funding for a private math's tutor
many children leave school with poor maths skills yet their been at school for years? what has the maths teacher been doing?
Peter quite good at maths and you will not cheat him out of any money he is owned or change from a shop!
i know some one who every one said was a bit slow not educated good but you try cheating him out of any money his mind was soooooo sharp!
how many children are really going to go on and do advance Maths's? most children over 14 are not intrested in Maths? of course it would be good if more did do adavnce maths but most will not! we do lag behind other country on this maybe it how it is taught by so called Maths teacher's? it always seemed so boring to me and the Math's teacher always showed you it to quick and got cross if you messed it up.it needs to be taught in a fun way and so does english
'I know from experience that parents with backgrounds that would certainly worry you, Simon, make really good jobs of educating their own children. The "trick" is a mixture of co-operation between home educators (can't teach science? find someone who can!) and the fact that in many cases parents can learn alongside their children (we have parents in our HE group who take GCSE maths).'
ReplyDeleteThis has been my experience too. Parents who have very poor education themselves accessing groups, collaborative learning opportunites etc
People like Julie are invaluable in this respect. Most areas have a wealth of resources in terms of experienced parents, if they are willing to use them. Some are a little obstinate, choosing to hack their own way thorough the undergrowth, but they tend to be the better-educated ones. The under-educated ones tend to know their limitations and work to overcome them, resulting in children with far better qualifications than their own.
I'm surprised that Simon and Loz haven't seen this in operation in their own areas.
Loz said;
ReplyDelete'@ peter and carol. It's not just about spelling (not only do we have spell check and grammar check on the computer, we also have a dictionary and a thesaurus - but you have to be literate to use them so scrub that one)..it's about being able to pass on the meaning of text.'
Depends on whether you think education is about *teaching* or about facilitating learning. The reason that state education in the UK initially focussed on the 3 Rs, particularly reading, is that once a child could read, they would have access to the entire repository of human knowledge recorded in written form. And the reason it took so long for teachers to be required to be trained was because children weren't seen as dependent solely on the teacher's knowledge for what they learned.
In other words, teachers were seen as facilitators of children's learning, rather than as repositories of information that they then passed on to children. An elderly friend told me the story of a child in a class she taught in the 60s, whose immigrant parents couldn't read. He taught them to read, and after that there was no stopping them.
Most children are perfectly capable of educating themselves given access to a library and/or the internet or good tv documentaries and magazines. I can see that an illiterate or innumerate parent might have significant challenges to overcome if educating their own child, but with the right attitude, there is no reason why they could not do a perfectly reasonable job.
"In the meantime, I wonder what readers think about the notion of preventing illiterate fools from being allowed to home educate?"
ReplyDeleteLAs can already make informal enquiries to check that a suitable education is being provided. If the parent is able to convince them of this, why would any other test be needed?
You consider John Prescott an example of capability?
ReplyDeleteThe country is in recession and in debt to the tune of trillions.
Anon says-You consider John Prescott an example of capability?
ReplyDeleteThe country is in recession and in debt to the tune of trillions.
No i dont but John got to the very top yet his spelling and grammer are very not good! how did he do this if people only judge you on your spelling and grammer? he did say it used to get up the privated educated toffs that he did so well!
as for the debt we in do you really belive our new leader Cameron will really tackle it? i dont! he make out he is but in truth very little will change one bit of good news is that our oversea aid will contine and thier will be no cuts in the overseas aid bill. India is one of the places that gets well deserved aid and it went up this year.some of it goes to towards the education of india children something im really pleased to see.
All that money going to educate Indian children..In schools.
ReplyDeletePrescott rose through the ranks of trade unionism.
ReplyDeleteNot so much what he knew but more a case of who he knew.
Loz says,
ReplyDelete"However, I do advocate the suggestion of some form of testing for those wanting to HE their children."
Testing for what, though, Loz? Literacy, numeracy, patience, teaching ability, flexibility, ability to deal with irritating letters from the local authority? I think there is a tendency in our society to think that everything is sorted if we just bring in some test to pass. It's often a mistake. I'd hate to see any sort of test brought in - it would undoubtedly be used to intimidate some people out of home educating. Many of those people would end up having no option but to continue with a course that is not providing their child with a suitable education.
Overall I think it is the intentions and willingness of the parent to try and access the relavant information needed for the child that matters. This after all what happens whether the child home educates or whether the child goes to school. You'll often hear parents lament that a school is good or bad, but really parents who are committed to facilitating their child's education will know that even if MR or Mrs So and So is a really bad maths teacher, that shouldn't be the sole factor in that childs success or failure in that subject. In fact, some would regard blaming a schools performance for a childs academic failure as a cop out.
ReplyDeleteA parent with aspirations will, in such a scenario as the one presented above, go down to WHSmith, buy some good math books, or look for online resources, or try the library home work club, or get a tutor if necessary. I see no reason why a home educator cannot do similar even if they, like the defunct teacher, do not know the subject at hand themselves.
"Prescott rose through the ranks of trade unionism.
ReplyDeleteNot so much what he knew but more a case of who he knew."
Unlike all those Old Etonians in the current cabinet who clearly made their way entirely on merit!
Didn't John Prescott study at Ruskin as a mature student?
relevant, is home educated, (sigh..edit button)
ReplyDelete"Moving on from english skills, what about maths? It's well known in this country that many parents struggle with maths. How can people possibly expect to give their children a good education if their maths skills are limited only to 1+1 etc?"
ReplyDeleteSounds rather like the Dispatches programme (Kids Don’t Count), whereupon the teachers answered only 45% of the 27 basic questions correctly. The tests showed that teachers “know so little maths that they cannot be conveying mathematics to their children”.
How can qualified teachers possibly expect to give children a good education if their maths skills are so limited?
Again, scare stories about US home ed regulations help no one. No US state requires a teaching qualification to home educate. A few states (WA is the only one that comes to mind right now) require that parents without any university or college credits take a short "qualification course" - usually 10 hours or less - to qualify as home educators. These are offered in many places and can even be taken thrugh church colleges - here's the information on the relevant WA laws: http://www.washhomeschool.org/homeschooling/top10faq.html
ReplyDeleteThe California situation - explained here - http://www.californiahomeschool.net/howTo/pdf/CHNJTF2010.pdf - may be what confused you. Note the option of "setting up your own private school", which is what most homeschool families use if they are not using packaged curriculum.
A US teaching qualification is a 2-year masters' degree equivalent, and not required to home educate anywhere, though having one can make the process easier in some places. These sort of overblown scare stories about the US just make UK home educators more frightened of any sort of cooperation with local authorities, since they might rightly think "If I agree to notify, what next?"
"I think that most people would think it quite reasonable that some sort of assessment of a parent's ability were to be undertaken before home education began."
ReplyDeleteThere is a clear mismatch between an individuals educational credentials and their ability to demonstrate academic skills through the means of assessment. Although often used as an easy justification for poor performance, some people do cramp up during a test, revealing almost nothing about their academic skills (and far too much about their anxiety level).
Allie says-Prescott rose through the ranks of trade unionism.
ReplyDeleteNot so much what he knew but more a case of who he knew.
John was a shop steward and did rise up though the trade union ranks and his lack of grammer never held him back! reaching the very top he used who he knew to further his carreer just like every one else does? the only differnece is he spoted a winning chance and went for it may be his lack of formal education hepled him take chances? who knows but he did and reached a high office. poor speller bad grammer but a rich man and a lord and has held the real reins of power something none ofus will ever do!
anon says-All that money going to educate Indian children..In schools.
ReplyDeleteyes it will go towards school education and many other good projects in india
The Uk is one of the lagrest donnors towards foreign aid we give 8.4 billion a year we also meet our target of donating 0.56% of our gross natinal income. many other country fail to do this.
India got 295 million of UK aid we can hold our heads up high because we have honoured our promise t ohand over this aid unlike many other countries.
The department for internatinal aid is the only british ministry not suffering cuts we also give aid to Ethiopia,Afganistan,Bangladesh,Sudanm,Tanzania,Nigeria,Congo.
Pakistan will also receive 650 million of extra aid from the UK
some of this aid will be used for education it is not possible to get a real breakdown on what the aid is spent on but some of it is spent on school for children in those places that get Uk aid
You misquoted me there, Peter. I was responding to that point from Anonymous. Sometimes it's vital to read and write carefully and obey some of the conventions! It can be a nightmare in a written discussion if it's not clear who said what.
ReplyDeleteBearing in mind that India is a country rich enough to enter the space race. Furthermore, India has more billionaires and millionaires than Britain and an economy 50 per cent larger. Poverty may be rife in India and is likely to remain so, as long as the Indian government indulges in a space programme while millions of its underclass sleep in the streets.
ReplyDeletePeter and Carol.
ReplyDeleteGrammar....the word is grammar there is an 'a' in it.
Perhaps if you could read, you might understand that the country is in the s**t, thanks to the Labour Government and the likes of Two Jags Prescott. That situation will not improve under the conlib government or the goverment after that.
The £650M in aid that is going to Pakistan is a highly contentious political issue that may well see some interesting politics over the rest of the year.
It is alleged that Pakistan is spending £1.7BN on defence.
Errr....our armed services, police and public services are being cut to shreds.
That means in reality that even libraries are being threatened...
however, it looks like that wouldn't bother you too much Peter/Carol.
It would certainly affect the hard working young people that have studied and continue to study for university...but,they may not even be able to aspire to that for much longer because of tuition fees rising beyond their means.
Tell me Peter/Carol, do you work at all or are you in reciept of benefits?
You do seem to spend a great deal of time on this blog.
Quite why I should have to be deployed to Afghanistan underequipped is something that desperately worries my family. The fact that we are sending £650M in aid to a corrupt government won't make them sleep any easier.
Having worked in India, I can tell you that the poster above is spot on.
But, the poverty experienced by the underclass there is far far worse than just sleeping in the streets.
It looks like it's the same type of poverty that's going to arrive here very soon if we're not very very careful.
Still, in sleepy Hampshire you can always go back to being medieval peasants making your own tools and growing your own food, rearing illiterate children pretending they're being home educated.
Actually, I've met John Prescott, a more ignorant man I've never met.
ReplyDeleteanon says-The £650M in aid that is going to Pakistan is a highly contentious political issue that may well see some interesting politics over the rest of the year.
ReplyDeletethe £650 million is going to Pakistan and Labour have not said thier would stop this aid or stop aid to any other country.
It would certainly affect the hard working young people that have studied and continue to study for university
are these young people against our aid budget? most young people i meet i happy the Uk gives such good aid to india and Pakistan.
the education department is different from our aid departemnt and i can assure you our goverment does everything it can to make sure the aid is spent on the right projects in India/pakistan including helping these children go to school pay for books and new roof for a school in India.
you also ask Tell me Peter/Carol, do you work at all or are you in reciept of benefits?
im afraid we do not get any benefits other than child benefit for Peter we pay full council tax and tax on our saving our house is almost paid for so that is one bit of good news? if you know of any benfits we can claim do let us know? when i last looked into this i was told we earn to much and have to much in saving!
you also say-Quite why I should have to be deployed to Afghanistan underequipped is something that desperately worries my family.
are you off to Afghanistan? i wish you the best of luck if you are. you could write to Mr Fox M.P he said that all troops would have good equippment?
you also say=Still, in sleepy Hampshire you can always go back to being medieval peasants grow your own food.
I grow a lot of veg all sorts runner beans the taste is so much better than a shop brought runner bean you should try it and you save money! i am also growing french dwarf beans as well. if you need any advice on growing stuff just ask. i dont know any medieval peasants here in Hampshire other than those who dress up for a famous battle we had here many years ago it a good family day out to why dont you pay hHampshirea visit you love it we also have the famous stream train line and with thomas the tank engine as well! or we got marwell zoo that is a good day out.
you also say-rearing illiterate children pretending they're being home educated
if you belive a child is being reared to be illiterate you have a duty to report the parent to the LA? you want Hampshire LA number or address? i do my best to find it for you?
Thanks for the tour guide to Hampshire, I've spent a great deal of time in the Wiltshire/Hampshire MOD establishments dotted around there.
ReplyDeleteI fail to see how you're providing an adequate education with your poor literacy skills, perhaps Hampshire LA should be held accountable for allowing you to home educate.
It's painfully obvious that you're incapable of utilising the most basic skills required to communicate using the written word.
You might be perfectly happy going to look at the trains and Thomas the Tank Engine or the Zoo, but hey most people grow out of that at some point. Unless of course they're very interested in engineering or biology and they're studying steam power or animal physiology. Still, I can see how you might be impressed. But, outside of Hampshire there's a wider world full of opportunities for young people to grasp, but they generally need basic skills to go and take advantage of them. I've met a great number of those youngsters working voluntarily abroad, they're making a real difference to people less fortunate than themselves.
Not all of them can spell or are remotely academic, quite a few are dyslexic but they have a passion and an intelligence that is useful and practical.
I read your arguments to be rather self centred and egotistical, more a reflection of what you're doing as opposed to what you're providing for your son.
Yes, he might enjoy growing runner beans and playing chess for his entire childhood and teenage years...but he'll never have had the opportunity to be interested in linguistics or particle physics.
All that human potential wasted, it really is a crime, a violation of your son's right to an adequate education.
Anon says-Thanks for the tour guide to Hampshire
ReplyDeleteyour welcome!
you also say-You might be perfectly happy going to look at the trains and Thomas the Tank Engine or the Zoo,
these attactions bring in a lot of tourist from all over the world who then spend money here helping to create jobs. Hampshire is very proud to have Thomas the Tanks engine trains based here something Hampshire Council fully supports.I do advise a visit before you go to Afghanistan? what will you be doing in Afghanistan? in the one of the papers its says how efforts in Afghanstan have failed? and that we are losing this war? is this true? I wish yo the best of luck with your trip thier.
you also say-Hampshire LA should be held accountable for allowing you to home educate.
I can only advise that you write to Hampshire LA at once over your statement that this is a crime, a violation of your son's right to an adequate education. i can assure you their will answer you do you have the address you want me to find it for you? dont make your letter to long to them just say child is not geting good home education or you could phone them? do let us all know how you get on? or you and Webb could write in?
you also say-Yes, he might enjoy growing runner beans and playing chess for his entire childhood and teenage years..
I grow the runner beans Peter grows sunflower plants! Peter plays chess for England and has been aboard to Montenogro for England he meet many intersting people! and the food out their was so different!
you also say-But, outside of Hampshire there's a wider world full of opportunities for young people to grasp, but they generally need basic skills to go and take advantage of them.
yes it is a very big world and Peter does like to travel including his yearly trip to Guernsey you ever been? its really a nice place to go to and just relax and your so near to all the beeches which are never overcrowded a really nice place looking forward to it this year! did you know the Hitler invaded it? Peter also likes Spain i dont its to hot for me! he also enjoying his meeting with County councillor Dr Tony Ludlow
if i can help with anything else do let us know?
Graham Stuart M.P has posted on his face book page about 20 day rule and says this
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the government didn't do a formal consultation because it believed that the proposals were uncontroversial. Can someone explain to me what the problems with the proposals are?
I think you should do a post on this? i know what im thinking but i want to see if you are thinking the same!
Oh dear.
ReplyDeletePlaying chess is hardly a useful commodity for making a contribution to society.
Growing runner beans and sunflowers isn't that difficult but it's not helping your child achieve economic well being from doing it.
You're obliged to provide that.
Never heard of Montenogro, but there is a place called Montenegro, I had to go there during the Balkans conflict.
Guernsey..60 miles from Weymouth.
Spain £20 with easyjet.
These are not exactly recognised as far flung destinations.
Anyway...nice to see that there is someone much more ignorant than John Prescott.
"Playing chess is hardly a useful commodity for making a contribution to society."
ReplyDeleteSo are we required to contribute to society? Is it not enough that we are able to support ourselves (if fit and well) and not harm others? It sounds as though Peter is doing this without difficulties, so why would you assume his son would not achieve the same?
anon says-Playing chess is hardly a useful commodity for making a contribution to society.
ReplyDeletewe have a number of chess players in Uk who earn a living and pay tax so it can be a useful commodity. your above comment showns your ignorant of chess and did you know a number of leading private school now employ a chess coach for their schools?
Guernsey not a cheap place to stay we always go for 2 weeks and i can assure that it cost a lot of money where we stay 1700 for 2 weeks w it is very nice accomdation over looking the sea.
Spain is cheaper for many but not where we stay im afraid!
you also say-there is a place called Montenegro, I had to go there during the Balkans conflict.
yes that is where Peter went to play chess for England. any way we got talking to a number of local people who where very unhappy about the bombing of the Balkans indeed some of them where very angry did you take part in this attack? we also spoted a number of slogans written on walls which made it quite clear that many parts of the town where against this and UK! very worrying i did assure those that we talked to that not all in UK wanted this attack!
have you contacted Hampshire LA yet? remember you have a duty if you belive a child is not geting a good home education? do let us know how you get on with this?
when are you off to Afghanistan? I dd see a report that Osama bin Laden has been spotted in the Kush mountains will you be near there? did you know a £45 million bounty on his head dead or alive maybe you could get it?any way do let us all know how you get on over there.
other anon says-Is it not enough that we are able to support ourselves (if fit and well) and not harm others? It sounds as though Peter is doing this without difficulties,
ReplyDeleteyou are right! but im afraid many people do not see this has enough and wish to poke their nose in where it is not wanted! of course these same people would not want you poking your nose in to what their do! you can search my house if i can search your house? seems fair to me?
it also gets up these types of people noses that you can say no thanks to them in other words you dont need them!
one of the question we are always asked is are you on benfit! and when i say NO you can almost see the look of dissapointment on that person face! and do you pay tax? yes i say and on the saving we have! again a look of dissapiontment appears on their face! because thier then know that you dont need them or any one else! in other words their will have no power over you!
Peter and Carol...
ReplyDeletewhat do you do for a living?
'Anonymous said...
ReplyDeletePeter and Carol...
what do you do for a living?'
Peter used to paint wooden legs, but gave it up a while ago. He is now unemployed. I forget what his wife does these days.
Do you still work part time for a charity, Simon? Not sure why you are so disparaging of others in your position.
ReplyDeleteMust be very part time, the number of hours he seems to spend on his blog!
ReplyDelete"Peter used to paint wooden legs, but gave it up a while ago. He is now unemployed. I forget what his wife does these days."
ReplyDeleteSo Peter is the stay at home parent? Very commendable. I'm not sure it's fair to call him unemployed unless he's signing on and claiming benefit. Or do you see all stay at home parents as unemployed, Simon?
Peter and Carol
ReplyDeleteNone of it makes sense, you've told a whole load of lies wrapped up in quite a lot of delusion.
Anon says-None of it makes sense, you've told a whole load of lies wrapped up in quite a lot of delusion.
ReplyDeletewhat lie have we told Anonymous do tell us?
Webb says-He is now unemployed
ReplyDeletei am not unemployed and i do not claim any benfits other than child benfit for Peter.
anther anon says-what do you do for a living?
ReplyDeleteyou tell us what you do for a living but you must sign in not anon then we tell you! but one your be pleased to know is that we have a very good wage coming into this house pluse we have saving and have almost paid for this house outright!
anther anon says-Must be very part time, the number of hours he seems to spend on his blog!
ReplyDeletedo not sense a hint of jealous here? yes it is though hard work and savings and not buying to big a house that has enable us to have a very good life! allowing us to not have to answer to any one something that does get up a lot of peopels noses!
anon says-Or do you see all stay at home parents as unemployed, Simon?
ReplyDeleteyes answer that question Webb?
Worn out Webb says-peter used to paint wooden legs, but gave it up a while ago.
ReplyDeleteno that is incorrect i went to work in anther factory for a number of years after i left the limb trade do get your fact rights! and the legs are not just made out of wood many where made of metal the foot was made of wood and it takes a lot of skill to make on as feet come in all sizes! now days their are made of plastic as are the legs! i enjoyed making children legs and we did get to meet some of the children we had helped and to see them walking was amazing including a 7 year old boy who had lost both legs! amazing boy he was always cheerfull and happpy!
Looks as though somebody has touched a nerve there!
ReplyDeleteHere's another nerve...Peter and Carol have put far too much information about their child on the web.
ReplyDeleteanon says Here's another nerve...Peter and Carol have put far too much information about their child on the web.
ReplyDeletesuch as? what information?
anon says-Or do you see all stay at home parents as unemployed, Simon?
ReplyDeleteyes answer that question Webb?
COME ON WEBB ANSWER THIS QUESTION?
"anther anon says-Must be very part time, the number of hours he seems to spend on his blog!
ReplyDeletedo not sense a hint of jealous here? yes it is though hard work and savings and not buying to big a house that has enable us to have a very good life!"
Hi Peter, I was talking about Simon when I wrote that. He seems happy to run others down for not working enough or not in a job he considers 'good enough' yet can hardly throw stones himself. Helping people by preparing false limbs seems equally as praiseworthy as working for a charity so I really cannot see why he looks down on you.
anon says-Helping people by preparing false limbs seems equally as praiseworthy as working for a charity so I really cannot see why he looks down on you.
ReplyDeleteyes i was surspised when Webb looked down on us for making limbs for children! that shows you the type of man he is! the limbs helped chilren walk just think what it must be like for a child to lose a limb and the not be able to walk until one is made its a great feeling to know that my small part in this helped those children!
that was not my last job the last job i did was working in a nursey for under 5! which i really enjoyed as well i passed a first aid exam thier to do with children so i can now go anyway such as a school and be the first aider their i have to go on a refresher course to kee up to date and will be attending that this year! i also got a lot of baby siting work though the nursey so i lived a very intersting life in many ways becuase not many men have done this! i alos trained as a plumber when i left school and worked as one for 5 years!
Should home educating parents face tests?
ReplyDeleteHa!
What are we achieving with all these tests? Both school teachers and school children are tested at every twist and turn.
H. Ed. is not about replicating school to my knowledge.