There's never laughter for long round here.
5. Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring home educating families? If you answered yes, what should they be? If you answered no, why do you think that?
Grit's first response is eh? What system?
There isn't a system for monitoring home ed families. Here's the Dept for Children, Schools and Families document, Elective Home Education: Guidelines for Local Authorities. Paragraph 2.7: 'Local authorities have no statutory duties in relation to monitoring the quality of home education on a routine basis.'
So, was question 5 written by someone who knows nothing of this document, or home education, or local authority duties, or the responsibilities of education officials?
But perhaps it is. Perhaps it's written by someone who knows there isn't a monitoring system. Perhaps this question just sets out the parameters for my response, and rather hopes I don't know much about home ed. Perhaps it's one of those questions that suggests you have an opinion about monitoring home ed families, and really this just invites you to express it.
And then there's the other thought I have.
I'm just going to change that question.
Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring Christian families?
Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring Jewish families?
Do you think there should be any changes made to the current system for monitoring poor families? ... wealthy families? school-choosing families? meat-eating families? vegan families? ordinary families?
Having laboured that point, it should be clear that this question is guiding the reader to the assumption that families must be monitored. Home educating families are just one group. Who's next? What's your family doing?
Do you think there should be any changes to the system for monitoring you?
And if by now you're suspicious, outraged, pissed off, feeling hunted, led by guile into a state where surveillance is on you, then go off round planet internet for some research, and go and answer the home ed review. It's not just for home educators. It's for you.
And Grit's very pissed off kick the kitchen bin response is No response.
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5 comments:
It's beyond infuriating. I've just edited my response again. I think I'll submit it tomorrow.
When you put it that way, it gets very disturbing. I've always laughed at the Christians who home school their kids and teach them that Global Warming isn't happening because the evidence only shows that it's increased by a degree or 2 in which case how can you tell it's something to worry about (This was actually showcased in a recent DVD called Jesus Camp). The idea of teaching science with such careless regard for scientific data is outrageous but I would still not condemn this women to put her kids in public school because freedom of religion means you can teach your kids the stuff you believe in. I also don't think she needs government influence because her kids will grow up and do their own research and either decide mom was on crack or follow in her footsteps. I grew up in an extremely religious church where women could not cut their hair, had to wear skirts, no make up and jewelry, etc. and when I got to college I ran as far as I could get from this faith. I found my own way. I don't think we need government influence to guide our thinking and principles. We all find our own way as adults.
My consultation response was number 1219 and the Petition is now up to 2,088
Do you have men in dark glasses loitering by your gate with spy glasses trained on your house? Hasn't the government better things to spend its (my) money on??
I was so infuriated by the end of it that to the "positive contribution" question, i put "Make a positive contribution to what? Crime Levels, Unemployment statistics? Teenage pregnancy levels????"
I suspect this may not have helped.
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