Hi,
(I haven't done a blog post this personal before, but I have a point I want to make and the best way I can see to make it, is to refer to my personal experience.)
Home education is a very interesting subject, and I have been home educated for almost 5 years now; but accepting home education is difficult for the children, the parents and everyone else. To explain home education and my views on this I will give you a link to an earlier blog post I wrote, I think this is my best post yet since this is an important subject and writing this I felt I have had my say on home ed.
http://utterlyinvisibleteengirl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/5-reasons-to-love-home-education-or-not.html
So just 5 years ago being home educated was the last thing I wanted. When my Mum first asked me about it I said, NO WAY! I thought that it would mean being constantly supervised and made to work extra hard. My Mum on the other hand first found out about home ed. when my cousins started it. They are very structured but my auntie thought it was great, and persuaded my parents, to read a book called Free Range Education. The link to the book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Range-Education-Home-Works/dp/1903458072
When my Dad bought the book my Mum read it and was fascinated. She researched the concept of home education until she was sure it was what she wanted for us all. Many of our friends and family have been opposed to the whole idea but because of my Mum we are now home educated and happy about it. My Dad quickly discovered it and soon I was telling all my friends. Some of them were supportive but most of them were unsure and sometimes even mean about it. I was shocked not only at my friends reaction but also the way their parents disapproved and there are still some people today who 'Are not supposed to hang out with me' because I am home schooled.
Without support from the people we knew Mum looked online, and for the first year of our home ed, we spent a lot of time talking to other home educators, swapping advice stories and support. We went to a weekly home education group and our day was reasonably structured as Mum encouraged us to do 'educational' things like workbooks. We watched documentaries and we did basic schedules keeping some sort of routine. The first 2 years were the hardest, Mum threatened to send us back to school a lot and I had nightmares about going back and about the time I spent there. I hadn't realised how stressed I was until I left. My eczema cleared up, I slept better, got ill less and I had more energy and less worries. after 2 years I hardly got any school dreams any more.
The process of becoming used to autonomous living and de-stressing is called deschooling.
It took us approximately 2 years.
People always judge quickly and I don't mind people disapproving of my education any more, but it is also none of their business how I choose to live my life, and how my Mum decides to educate her children. We haven't had such a bad time as other people, like the people who were really hurt by school or who have had unhelpful authorities and family. One thing I can say for this experience is I found out who my real friends are.
After almost 5 years I can only just now say that I don't feel that I need to constantly defend my education. I feel proud of it almost. I don't tell people I am Home educated when I first meet them, as I want them to judge me for myself not my education but I guess one day I will feel more comfortable with that too. For now I can say that I am happy enough with my life, and confident enough in my judgement and choice in education and lifestyle that I can proudly say 'I am Home Educated' and not feel that I have to justify it.
I hope many other home educated children (And their parents) can feel comfortable as I do, and I hope people will not hate us because we are different, but research it, and either change their mind and give us a chance, or challenge us with a reasoned argument.
Bye
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Friday, 25 October 2013
Revolution and Voting. Delia Derbyshire
Hi,
So Russell Brand has been political. He said a lot of things in his interview with Jeremy Paxman, (People do tend to say 'things' in interviews) but the two 'things' that caught most peoples attention where 1. He has never voted and 2. He wants to start a revolution. lets talk about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxFJ5nL9gg
People who have never voted / don't vote, often have their political complaints dismissed because 'How can they complain if they don't do anything about it e.g. vote?' But Russell Brand says that he doesn't vote because the voting system doesn't help him or people 'like him'. So he believes it would be pointless and that actually voting would be going along with a system he doesn't believe in.
When it comes to starting a revolution, he mentions the occupy movement. This was hardly given any press coverage. just like the selling of the NHS and the post office which where both sold off quietly after weeks of 'we are about to sell them off' they did it and didn't talk about it on the news until it had all blown over a bit. I am not a mad conspiracy theorist (I hope) but I think that they didn't mention those three events so know one would complain maybe. I haven't read this next link as thoroughly as I usually do but it is interesting.Mad conspiracy:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/33497/8-government-conspiracy-theories-and-how-they-could-be-right
Interesting recent conspiracy theory:
http://www.thefarrellreport.net/files-report/THE%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
OK so if we are being constantly watched or if the government has no clue what they are doing I think it is still important to stand for what you believe in. (Cheesy Disney moment.) I don't have as much faith as I could in the voting system but when I am old enough I will vote because I want to have a say and also it is the least I can do to thank the suffragettes and suffragists who made it possible for my voice to be heard.
Also I missed Ada Lovelace day this year so I will leave a link to the Delia Derbyshire petition please sign it! Especially if you like Doctor Who.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/154/789/535/publish-delia-derbyshires-music-from-the-bbc-sound-archive/
(Ada Lovelace day is a day to appreciate great women in history. Delia Derbyshire is my favourite great historical woman. She co wrote the Doctor Who theme tune but because she was a woman she didn't get any credit. She influenced electrical music forever and she deserves recognition.)
Bye.
So Russell Brand has been political. He said a lot of things in his interview with Jeremy Paxman, (People do tend to say 'things' in interviews) but the two 'things' that caught most peoples attention where 1. He has never voted and 2. He wants to start a revolution. lets talk about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxFJ5nL9gg
People who have never voted / don't vote, often have their political complaints dismissed because 'How can they complain if they don't do anything about it e.g. vote?' But Russell Brand says that he doesn't vote because the voting system doesn't help him or people 'like him'. So he believes it would be pointless and that actually voting would be going along with a system he doesn't believe in.
When it comes to starting a revolution, he mentions the occupy movement. This was hardly given any press coverage. just like the selling of the NHS and the post office which where both sold off quietly after weeks of 'we are about to sell them off' they did it and didn't talk about it on the news until it had all blown over a bit. I am not a mad conspiracy theorist (I hope) but I think that they didn't mention those three events so know one would complain maybe. I haven't read this next link as thoroughly as I usually do but it is interesting.Mad conspiracy:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/33497/8-government-conspiracy-theories-and-how-they-could-be-right
Interesting recent conspiracy theory:
http://www.thefarrellreport.net/files-report/THE%20FINAL%20REPORT.pdf
OK so if we are being constantly watched or if the government has no clue what they are doing I think it is still important to stand for what you believe in. (Cheesy Disney moment.) I don't have as much faith as I could in the voting system but when I am old enough I will vote because I want to have a say and also it is the least I can do to thank the suffragettes and suffragists who made it possible for my voice to be heard.
Also I missed Ada Lovelace day this year so I will leave a link to the Delia Derbyshire petition please sign it! Especially if you like Doctor Who.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/154/789/535/publish-delia-derbyshires-music-from-the-bbc-sound-archive/
(Ada Lovelace day is a day to appreciate great women in history. Delia Derbyshire is my favourite great historical woman. She co wrote the Doctor Who theme tune but because she was a woman she didn't get any credit. She influenced electrical music forever and she deserves recognition.)
Bye.
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