Home educating

[filskadacat]

.. areas such as RME, PSD, PE, ES etc.

Apart from PE I haven't a clue what these might be. Any chance of a translation?

Religious and Moral Education - these days usually known as RMPS, Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies.

Personal and Social Development aka PSE - Personal and Social Education.

Give up on ES!

[stephen]

.. areas such as RME, PSD, PE, ES etc.

Apart from PE I haven't a clue what these might be. Any chance of a translation?

Religious and Moral Education - these days usually known as RMPS, Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies.

Personal and Social Development aka PSE - Personal and Social Education.

Give up on ES!

 

RME is still most certainly still RME... Religious and Moral Education. There ain't no P in it And, if we are splitting hairs there isn't PSD/ PSE any more, it is Health and Wellbeing (but is was once known as PSD). ES is Environmental Studies.

[filskadacat]

RME is still most certainly still RME... Religious and Moral Education. There ain't no P in it And, if we are splitting hairs there isn't PSD/ PSE any more, it is Health and Wellbeing (but is was once known as PSD). ES is Environmental Studies.

 

Oh OK. Ours is taught by a philosopher so it is indeed called RMPS, for the simple reason that that's what the SQA call the exam.

[stephen]

The 'old' curriculum was wound up last year, these are what the subjects are called now. There is less change in names from the 5-14 curriculum than the SG + curriculum.

[filskadacat]

There is less change in names from the 5-14 curriculum than the SG + curriculum.

I have no idea what you mean by this.

 

There will be exams in RMPS on 31st May 2010 at Int 1, Int 2, H and AH. So it doesn't look particularly 'old'.

[stephen]

I am so sorry, I do sometimes forget that not everybody is aware of the new curriculum. As of this year the curriculum in Scotland has changed. The curriculum is called 'A Curriculum for Excellence', as of the start of this year this curriculum has (or should have) been embraced at all levels. The major change being that this curriculum has replaced the Early Years, 5-14 and standard grade/ intermediate curriculum (until S3 for outcomes) and in totality to the age of 18.

 

The new curriculum is a lot broader with subject split into Experiences and Outcomes working on four levels (plus early years). It is well worth a look if you have young'uns in this age group - http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/curriculumforexcellence

 

Much more cooperative learning, cross curricular work etc.

[Longdog]

Being an ex primary school teacher I've toyed with the idea of home schooling with our little'un, but thought he'd be best served with a regular school education. Schools and a good class teacher really do offer an awful lot to kids in addition to what even a keen and knowledgable good parent gives.

 

He'll still get the 'home schooling' indirectly with us via talking, music, games, reading, stories, playing, visits to place and incidental learning that goes with everyday activities.

 

So he gets the best of both 'worlds'.

 

I'm not against home schooling at all though, some personal situations will make it a very worth while option. But I don't think that when it comes to schooling, or other things for that matter, the parent always knows best (and that includes me!) Sometimes the parent needs to be out of the picture for the child to come to their own.

 

Kev

[filskadacat]

I am so sorry, I do sometimes forget that not everybody is aware of the new curriculum. As of this year the curriculum in Scotland has changed. The curriculum is called 'A Curriculum for Excellence'

I didn't mean I hadn't heard of CfE - I meant that your sentence did not actually make sense.

 

Fortunately not all of us are obliged to swallow this nonsense - although it occurs to me that for those whose children are still small, the notion that the upper years of secondary education still have absolutely no idea what the exam syllabus will look like in 2012 may be a fairly terrifying prospect.

[soljey]

The 'old' curriculum was wound up last year, these are what the subjects are called now. There is less change in names from the 5-14 curriculum than the SG + curriculum.

 

Working in education, I can safely say that the "old curriculum" has not been officially wound up yet. The first Curriculum for Excellence pupils are not due to begin until August 2010. Although, of course, schools are working towards this.

 

No final word on what form seconday qualifications will take has yet been published.

[mikeyboy]

There is a kid near me that is home schooled. Although I don't know what he is learning out on his bike all day.

[Scraplet]

*delurks*

Hi all, not posted before, but as a home educator, felt I might be able to add something.

 

If you have the time and energy to commit to home education, then I firmly believe it is the best thing for many children, especially those who don't thrive in the structure of regular schools.

 

Its the elephant in the room with these debates, but school can destroy the willingnes to learn in many children, turning it into a chore. Its a one-size approach, which can't fit everyone. With home eduation you're in control.

 

If a child follows their interests, they learn. All you have to do as a parent is facilitate that. They absorb it like a sponge, just as they do (to no-ones surprise) before school age. You can introduce new concepts, and if they like it, they will latch on. I they don't like it, maybe they're not ready. Try again in a year or so....afterall, its only schools and governments that insist your child must be at a certain level by a certain age. Yet, we don't expect them all to walk, talk, or ride a bike at the same age.

 

Many school children quickly loose their love of learning in the forced environment of a school. My son did, before we withdrew him. I did. I discovered education again as an adult, when I followed my interests, and realised I was educating myself.

 

My children learn and devlelop everyday, but its not 'work' and they don't see it as anything but enjoying the things they love doing. All of life's skills follow.

 

As for socialsation - the community and family is the best socialiser. My kids still mix with school kids. But, they are not forced to spend time with those they don't like, or those who may damage them (as my son was in school).

 

I'm way down in Derbyshire, so I recognise that my situation may be very different from you guys; if we had primary schools of the quality you have on Shetland, then I may never have discovered home education. But, like many things, you often can't understand the value of something untill you've done it. Even if we had a top quality school on our doorstep now, it would be a last resort (unless my children wanted to go..... ).

 

Hope that helps...happy to discuss....

Ben.

 

 

Edited to add:

This link is to evidence from a teacher, presented to the Select Committee currently reviewing home education legislation in England and Wales.

 

Read sections two and three.....(the rest is only relevant if you are interested in the government's review; which perhaps everyone should be from a civil liberties point of view, but that's another subject!)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmchilsch/memo/elehomed/me7402.htm

That reflects my opinion and experience more elequently than I ever could!!

[nautim]

I think the bottom line is whether someone can be bothered to put some thought and imagination into what they are going to teach. If they do it doesn't matter whether the person doing the teaching is qualified as a teacher or is in a classroom.

 

Good school teachers listen to their pupils, adapt to their needs and admit it when they're wrong. They also need to listen to parents, and if their views on something regarding the pupil are different to the parents e.g. additional help in class they need to put forward a fair argument

 

If parents feel that they aren't getting the support within school that their child needs then they have every right to take their child out of school and teach them at home. If a child is unhappy in school for some reason it will affect their ability to learn.

 

As the other posters have said, you don't have to sit at a desk to learn.

Like EM I did a lot of my learning outside school, I'm still looking for the opportunity to use some of this learning, but I had a lot of fun getting it.

[MJ]

Given the remarkably high standards of the local schools, parents would really need to be amazingly talented (or arrogant) to think about depriving children of such a premium resource.

 

Really? Have you visited many schools outside our LA?

 

I have.

 

I'm a product of the local education system and I still find large parts of it lacking.

 

After having my child in a alternative fee paying school, I just find the arrogance of the education system up here frustrating.

 

My family has found the mis-information programmed into my child on occasion distressing (with no apology).

 

I've found myself lied to by the head of education up here about the up coming educational changes. It was somewhat unfortunate that she seemed unable to read any of the papers that that had come out over the previous 10years. And still I can't seem to find out where my child will be expected to spend her 3exam years as obviously the new anderson high school is not designed for the new system.

 

As for requirements for teaching within schools. There are none.

Yes in state schools you require various certificates, but you will find that the country's best Public Schools do not always require bits of paper to prove excellence. This has lead to the unfortunate situation where public school teachers when retiring are unable to apply for state positions, not even as subs.

 

I have met many home educated children. Most were intelligent and well adjusted. Those who weren't it could be argued that they would have suffered anyway due to problems already evident in the families (abuse etc)

[stephen]

I am so sorry, I do sometimes forget that not everybody is aware of the new curriculum. As of this year the curriculum in Scotland has changed. The curriculum is called 'A Curriculum for Excellence'

I didn't mean I hadn't heard of CfE - I meant that your sentence did not actually make sense.

 

Yep, you were right. I just re-read my post - fair play. I am quite bad at typing what is in my head, even if it only makes sense to me!

 

 

Working in education, I can safely say that the "old curriculum" has not been officially wound up yet. The first Curriculum for Excellence pupils are not due to begin until August 2010. Although, of course, schools are working towards this.

 

No final word on what form seconday qualifications will take has yet been published.

 

Also working in education , full implementation of the curriculum has (or should have) taken place this session. It is the case that assessment has not yet been dealt with - Although Glasgow does seem to be using something that is compatible, so it may just be waiting to be rolled out. we can but wait... I will sve you from my opinion re: the roll out.

[Scraplet]

Good school teachers listen to their pupils, adapt to their needs and admit it when they're wrong. They also need to listen to parents, and if their views on something regarding the pupil are different to the parents e.g. additional help in class they need to put forward a fair argument

 

Maybe, but teachers and schools in the state system are bound by targets, attainment goals and the curriculum, so any creativity can only be exercised within very tight constraints.

 

Recent reports have suggested that formal education should be delayed until children are 6 or 7 in some cases. If you think that is the case for your child, your only choice is to withdraw them from the system. If the child is just not ready to start reading / writing, there will be no teacher - no matter how flexible - who would suggest leaving that alone for a few months, or even a year. Its unlikely that any school could be this adaptable, yet this may be what the child needs.