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Parents gather in city to protest against plans to tighten regulations on home education

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Published Date: 31 December 2009
PARENTS who educate their children at home gathered in Sheffield city centre as part of a national protest against proposed 'big brother' reforms which could become law next year.
Petitions were handed over to MPs Richard Caborn and Clive Betts in the Peace Gardens, calling for the changes to be dropped.

Across the country more than 120 petitions were presented to constituency MPs, a record for one subject in a single day.

They call on England's ministers not to go ahead with plans for a register of children who are being taught by their parents, or with proposals for council officials to be given new powers to enter homes.

Ministers say the reforms will check children are 'safe and learning' and will make sure home education is not a cover for abuse.

But home educating families say the review was rushed, ignored the evidence, relied on faulty data and failed to take into account safeguards which are already in place.

Plans to tighten regulations surrounding home education are due to be included in a new education bill set to go before Parliament in the new year.

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  • Last Updated: 31 December 2009 9:34 AM
  • Source: Doncaster Star1
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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JM,

Sheffield 31/12/2009 10:04:28
State school was good enough for me and still is for the majority of people, home schooling should not be allowed - everyone should go to school. Its not good for the child - I know this as my niece home schooled both her children and believe me they are no better for it, just shy introverted apron string teenagers with no life of their own. Shameful. No exceptions - a proper education for everyone. If teaching is so easy you can do it correctly at home why do teachers have to go to University to qualify - simples!
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crystal peaks man,

31/12/2009 11:27:27
If you school your child at home you are protecting it from the far lefts marxists garbage that is force fed our kids every day so good on them.you know the learning of islam being a peaceful religion and homosexuality being fine etc etc.
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freedom,

Sheffield 31/12/2009 12:03:22
After going to state school I do not think I would send my children there, the quality of teaching was very poor.

Access to the internet I would say gives a person a better head start in life than an English (up to secondary) education, which quite frankly is no worth the paper it is written on.
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The Fraudbusters,

Darnall boy 31/12/2009 12:45:41
Children need to interact with others outside the confines of home & family as this instructs them in their future relationships in adult life. As JM implies, far better to cut the apron strings and encourage a spirit of indepedence at an early age.
My wife is a senior University lecturer and bemoans the decline in the quality of the student intake over the last fifteen years (don`t believe the government`s claims to the contrary, or the ludicrous GCSE grade inflation we see year-on-year) but she would favour even a state education over home education.
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Rodgers,

SHEFFIELD 31/12/2009 13:37:40
Home eduaction should be stopped. This is just an excuse for legalised truanting and idle parents, Or for parents that think State School is not good enough for their child. Children need to be in school for many reasons. as members say they need to learn to interact with other kids and also be seen to be safe. If they are to be taught at home then I want to see tough regulations introduced. Also the parent or tutors tested to find out if they are capable or have enough qualifications to do the job.
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MallyMon,

31/12/2009 14:30:00
School turned my daughter from a lovely, happy go lucky, exhuberant child into a quivering mess after she encountered bullies - I'm including teachers in that too. Why is home education so bad? Idle parents?! Nothing could be further from the truth, Rodgers - home schooling requires far more input from parents than those who may (or may not) simply help with homework. How many home schooled kids do you know who have been served with ASBOs? Also, Rodgers, who put you in charge of education? What an ignorant moron you are. As if all teachers are fit to teach. Some of them are, some of them aren't - it's a lottery out there. Kids today are being turned out of State schools totally ignorant - they can't spell, speak properly or do simple maths. Many don't even know about the holocaust and some, to my chagrin, have never even heard of maraschino cherries!
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dromedarys,

31/12/2009 15:00:01
I agree with Rodgers point about regulations being introduced. Home education is fine providing the one doing the educating is adequately qualified to do so. I have seen too many people who think they can teach but are no good at it.

# MallyMon

Calling someone an "ignorant moron" because you don't agree with them shows exactly why some people should not be allowed to teach at home.

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crystal peaks man,

31/12/2009 15:19:14
When the child is schooled at home you wont have to worry about them being bullied and having drugs shoved in their faces at the school gate.good on the parents who want the best for their child and that's defo NOT the state schools.
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jonsastar,

31/12/2009 16:37:04
Too many teachers now days are rubbish at the job so if the kid gets abetter education at home than at school then whats the problem?

There obviously should be some kind of watch dog just to make sure the kids are not being trained to be suicide bombers or some other kind of threat to society.
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Binster,

South East Sheffield 31/12/2009 18:38:48
If you were severely sick would you home medicate? If you were burgled would you home police? If you were on fire would you home firefight? Probably not.

Modern Schools and teaching is a extraordinary mix of professional practice, safeguarding, care, pastoral support, organisation and technology all provided free at point of delivery to all. It's not perfect for sure, but for children and parents from caring, supportive families it is by far the best solution. Home educators are idealistic cranks with ulterior motives.
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