The death of Elective Home Education? The Badman Report

Home-ed

The government has issued the Badman report a “Review of Elective Home Education in England” which reads like an attempt by the Education Establishment to end Home Education in England which is one of the few remaining freedoms left in England, that the government hasn't already tried to snuff out. Whilst the report acknowledges that “Parents may decide to educate their child at home and they can do this at any time during statutory school age.” (Annex E para 2.4) Badman then lists so many recommendations that, if implemented, would tie Home Education up in so many rules, regulations and reporting requirements that it would effectually snuff it out.

In one way this is not of Badman's doing. This government's regular slicing and combining of departments of state, has removed the department that used to have responsibility for Education. In its place is a department with confused and impossible responsibilities to reconcile, those of children's safety and education (DCSF - Department for Children, Schools and Families). The logic must be that, in a Soviet thinking administration, the state's responsibility for children must be total; safety, education nurseries etc so that responsibility for their care can be transferred from parent to the state. This enables the growing number of single parent families to produce children and get back out to work, without having to concern themselves with the troublesome role of parenting.

I have listed the many major flaws that I see in this report at Home Education Report - another nail in the coffin of freedom. And conclude:

Although there might be some sensible recommendations contained within the Badman report, its obvious bias, poor assumptions and lack of any useful input from Home Educators make it at best, worthless and at worst, dangerous. If the government wanted a report that allows it to shut down one of the remaining freedoms open to us, that of the freedom to educate our children the way we feel is best, then this report fulfils that remit.

Hat tip The Genius Academy. who quotes Mr. Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster) (Con) from a debate on Home Education in Westminster Hall on June 9th 2009

Home education is personalised, child led and free from some of the detrimental effects of curriculum constraints, constant testing and standardisation. Home-schooled children can learn autonomously, often spend more time on physical activity and can learn in an environment free from bullying and peer pressure. Many studies have shown that, regardless of socio-economic background, home-educated children consistently outperform school-educated children."

See also:

1. Renegade Parent's views at Parents: It's not a home education issue, it's a civil liberties issue Here is a sample from the post.

Remove home education from the equation: it's irrelevant. What Badman is proposing places primary responsibility for education (and welfare) on the state, rather than the parent. It assumes that the home is an inherently unsafe or unhealthy place for the child to be. It tramples over family freedom in its haste to bestow additional "rights" on children that only an anonymous third party can adequately minister to. It destroys the very possibility of autonomy in learning. It operates from a position of requiring proof of parental innocence rather than reasonable suspicion of guilt. It universally uses the coercive and interventionist tools of compulsory registration, entry to the home, inspection according to external standards, and power to see the child without the parent present.