To school or not – that is the question

More parents are considering home schooling. There's a lot to think about, says retired deputy head Moira Kleissner  

More parents are now wanting to home school their children. A recent report by the Centre for Social Justice showed that by the start of the 2021/22 academic year a record high of at least 81,000 children were being home educated, 34 per cent higher than before the pandemic. While the report spoke of its concern that some parents felt they had no other option and were being coerced into taking their child off the school roll, for others it is a philosophical choice. Certainly their experience of lockdown has shown it is possible to teach at home on the kitchen table, and there is a growing amount of UK tailored-help available. 

In England there are many types of schools that are inspected to give a decent British education. No school will ever be perfect, for we don’t live in a perfect world. Jesus came to live in this imperfect world. He didn’t shut himself away. So with that in mind we need to prayerfully consider what is best for our children and ourselves in today’s complex society.
 
There are cases when home schooling may be right for a child. I have seen some good examples and have known children home schooled who have blossomed. But equally I have had to deal with home schooled kids coming back into mainstream education because parents couldn’t cope with home schooling. Children who are not able to relate to others, far behind the attainment levels for their age and having problems in co-operative working.

Many home schooled kids have gone onto university and been balanced and happy, able to relate to others and socialise. But there are those who have struggled to cope with normal life. Much thought, exploring, and prayer is needed before opting for home schooling. It is not the panacea for all the ills in education.
 
Advice will be needed from experienced home schoolers, exploring exactly what you should be teaching at the appropriate age level and ability, especially if your child has Special Needs. There are some very helpful British (not American as they have a completely different educational system), websites including one by Hannah Canavan. A new book featured here in The Baptist Times website (which I haven’t read yet) also gives advice. So find out what is available before you take that all important decision on your child’s future. Talk to those who have had experience – good and bad.

There are other practical considerations, too. To home school, a parent will have to give up work to teach – can you, as a family afford that? You will have no school providing curriculum books and resources, especially for science, PE and music. Home schooling can be expensive. You will need to make sure the child associates with others to have an all-round education. It can be done but will take a lot of work, time and may involve cost. So take advice from those with experience in home schooling.

Recently I have become concerned that some Christian parents are talking about removing their children from school, on the basis of the new Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum. Before the syllabus had even been published, there were demonstrations talking about Key Stage 1 children being subjected to full sexual explanations or “converted” to being gay. As Christians we should be concerned about the truth. Thus, before we criticise and remove our children from a school because of RSE, we need the facts: check information on the Government website; ask the class teacher to share the syllabus so you are fully aware of the curriculum. Work out if your concerns are justified. 

Home schooling should not just be a reaction against something we don’t like or to protect our children from the realities of living in the 21st century. We can’t protect our children from the world around and isolate them in a cocoon for fear they will be contaminated in some way. But we can help them learn in a safe environment, making friends and learning how to relate to those who are different from them – as Jesus himself did.
 
Don’t be afraid to talk to class teachers in your child’s school if you are unhappy about something. But don't be confrontational. Teachers are very hard working, often putting in many extra hours. You can ask about curriculum areas that might concern you and you may well be pleasantly surprised at what is taught – not what the school gate gossips say. Getting a SEND assessment has been a problem for a number of years because of limited Government financing. Schools do their best with the money allotted to them, but if necessary speak to your MP if you have problems. If you do home school a SEND child get help from experts. There are groups and associations there which offer help.

So school or home school?

Whatever education method you choose, ensure that it is right for your child. Don’t listen to gossip and do your research. Pray. God has given us children, each with different needs, and each has a part to play in the world.

Pray too for parents, teachers and pupils at this difficult time when schools are stretched for cash, and for parents who home school and are finding rising prices and heating affecting them too.


Image | Jessica Lewis | Unsplash

Moira Kleissner is a retired Primary Deputy Head and home school supervisor. She is a storyteller, trainer and minister’s wife

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