tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post4892706122868335042..comments2024-03-20T00:30:11.702-07:00Comments on Home Education Heretic: Brainwashing childrenSimon Webbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-47239980324852372262011-05-17T11:08:43.633-07:002011-05-17T11:08:43.633-07:00It took that experience (except you could change t...It took that experience (except you could change the toilet incident to 'asked to go to the toilet and was refused permission' - at four years old!)and then the sad realisation that it was certainly not worth it for us to decide not to bother with child number two. Luckily it was only one more year before child number one decided to join us in home ed.Alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11321428226929318418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-66909022084445739182011-05-17T07:26:10.751-07:002011-05-17T07:26:10.751-07:00Nice to see Liz and C's honest opinions and ex...Nice to see Liz and C's honest opinions and experiences presented without bias or political agenda.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-5949658367839821582011-05-17T07:08:47.461-07:002011-05-17T07:08:47.461-07:00'It sounds far more pre-determined and pre-med...'It sounds far more pre-determined and pre-meditated in your post than it ever does in real life.'<br /><br />It was only meant to be light-hearted! I think the problem is that we all assume that children have to go to school and so if they are reluctant, we see these techniques as helping the child come to terms with the inevitable. Although my older daughter was keen on the idead of going to school, there were wobbles and we acquired a few books of the sort I describe above. If only more parents would just think, 'Shit, I don't have to do this at all!'Simon Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-24046415932469193362011-05-17T05:09:41.651-07:002011-05-17T05:09:41.651-07:00It sounds far more pre-determined and pre-meditate...It sounds far more pre-determined and pre-meditated in your post than it ever does in real life. When you are in that position there is an expectation of school being a natural progression and there was little resistance to it. Ds, dd1 and dd2 automatically went into school/nursery with little resistane. When they wouldnt go, we simply said they had to and they just went. <br />It was within the settings- from teacher reports/phonecalls and tests, that they were obviously not coping and it was then that I chose to withdraw them.Adminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016760153402908872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-85222097909529944932011-05-17T02:33:12.698-07:002011-05-17T02:33:12.698-07:00Never managed to convince mine that school is a go...Never managed to convince mine that school is a good idea. <br /><br />She likes playgroup (without me, twice a week for 3 hours), but nursery (at a setting that was structured almost exactly like reception but for 15 hours a week) was a no-no. When I raised concerns the nursery teacher was keen to stress the importance of 'conforming' so that my daughter would manage in reception. <br /><br />Luckily, on the day she made that statement, I had a letter prepared in my bag. When I left the house that afternoon I wasn't sure if I'd need it, but after our little chat I was perfectly happy to withdraw my daughter from the school.Bettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05346988565156104138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-178820220271709462011-05-17T01:12:03.461-07:002011-05-17T01:12:03.461-07:00' I thought that it might be a good time to po...' I thought that it might be a good time to point out that home school lists and gatherings do it too.'<br /><br />This is quite true and I have observed what you are talking about. I intend to do a post about this phenomenon too.Simon Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-73586616865474488462011-05-17T01:06:14.471-07:002011-05-17T01:06:14.471-07:00I didn't manage to 'kid my children into b...I didn't manage to 'kid my children into believing that school is better than being at home with their parents'. <br /><br />Thought about home educating my daughter but since she attended a nursery and loved it and then went to a playgroup which she also loved and was desperate to start school, she went to school instead. She enjoyed it immensely. If each school she has attended had been like her first one, she would have been well-educated and had a great time with her friends. <br /><br />My son - who has 'SEN' - tolerated nursery and school. If his schools had been like the first one his sister attended he would have been well-educated and had a great time too.<br /><br />My own experience of school was very positive and so I don't think there was any brain-washing involved for me or my children. The issue isn't about'school' per se - it's about the education and the environment in which it takes place.suzygnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-74999815581431460012011-05-17T00:50:44.081-07:002011-05-17T00:50:44.081-07:00While we're discussing indoctrination, I thoug...While we're discussing indoctrination, I thought that it might be a good time to point out that home school lists and gatherings do it too.<br />Have you noticed or failed to notice the use of certain phrases and slogans that are bandied about? <br />They're emotionally appealing phrases and as such designed to discontinue reflective conversation and assert authority. They're known as 'thought terminating cliches'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-54548351796885713672011-05-17T00:25:49.715-07:002011-05-17T00:25:49.715-07:00'Perhaps half the battle is not in the brainwa...'Perhaps half the battle is not in the brainwashing of our children..but the fight against the brainwashing we initially received!!'<br /><br />This is an excellent point. Sending our children to school is something that respectable people do, like paying our taxes, not dropping litter in the street and modelling responsible use of alcoholto our children. We tut in disapproval at the feckless mother who we see being sent to jail for condoning her child's truancy. Never mind education; ensuring regular attendance at school is a civic duty. Perhaps breaking out of that mindset ourselves is the first step we need to take. Only then will we be cheerful and relaxed at the idea of not indoctrinating the next generation into believing that school is a necessary part of growing up.Simon Webbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10865289865412656573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7881402584568285627.post-76442737471068238032011-05-17T00:05:44.024-07:002011-05-17T00:05:44.024-07:00I'm going to firstly defend myself..I did not ...I'm going to firstly defend myself..I did not initially brainwash my chldren into going to school when they were younger, nor do I perpetuate the zombie-like condition my 11 yr old ds is currently in with the use of repeatitive mantras everyday at 3.30! Despite my own personal preference, he enjoys going to school as is at present against the idea of staying at home. Which is fine. I did what I thought was best, because to be truthful, I knew of no other alternative. I do not believe this made me a bad parent.<br /> <br />Having said that, my 3 yr old ds is due to start school this september, he will be 3 weeks into his 4th year.<br />He enjoys pre-school now, and the various other groups we go to. I feel he would also enjoy the school experience. But I am also fairly certain that it will be a shortlived enjoyment. <br />He is a free spirit to say the very least,<br />he does not like to be told what to do and when to do it. <br />He has been allowed the freedom to express himself to the fullest at home, and has been encouraged to continue doing so if he feels any injustice, or unfairness directed towards him. <br />Yes, even at his tender age he knows there is a hint of unfairness at being told 'time to tidy up now' when his picture is clearly unfinished, or his cars have not completed their current lap of the playmobil garage! <br />I am certain this will cause problems once he is introduced to the more structured (if one can call it that) environment of reception. <br />I still have not returned the (first of many)acceptance form for his place at primary school. I am probably running out of time to do so. But the inner battle of 'do I, dont I' is pretty strong at the moment. <br />I fear I may actually be fighting against the brainwashing I received as a child myself!!!<br />school is best<br />school is best<br />school is best<br /><br />Perhaps half the battle is not in the brainwashing of our children..but the fight against the brainwashing we initially received!!<br /><br />(I believe I have just given myself a thought for the day)Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16092386208324357836noreply@blogger.com