Jolanda

I was beginning to think I am the only parent who doesn’t want to homeschool. I believe my relationship with my children is better if we all have a break from each other. I have a lot more enthusiasm for ‘homeschooling’ for a couple of hours after school or at weekends and holidays when we can do the fun things and go exploring or on excursions.

Obviously the choice of school is important. I can recommend primary schools in Sydney if that is any help. Some of the things that most influence the culture of my children’s school are:
1. large number of children from middle class migrant backgrounds – mainly Chinese/Korean/Indian in our case but lots of others. These people place a high priority on education and discipline and the children behave accordingly. My children have no idea what racism is.
2. Committed and enthusiastic Principal
3. Parental involvement. You can be sure that someone is keeping a close eye on things and parents tend to know each other and children socialise outside school.
4. Proximity to popular selective high schools – attracts those who value education and are great high schools if you have smart kids.
6. Area with a low crime rate and high level of employment.

Indicators of a good school include:
1. The school is full and doesn’t take children out of the area – it may be overcrowded but at least you know it is popular.
2. Teachers have their own children at the school.
3. Principal is approachable.

No school is immune to bullying so if you have a child that seems to attract bullies then a good relationship with the teacher is essential. I have found this quite easy just by being positive, offering assistance, understanding that they are only human, showing an interest in their work and just a bit of sympathy.
Good luck with your search.

Thank you titaniak for pointing out that: ‘many parents believe teachers can offer something that they themselves can’t.’ Parents do have greater abilities than they realise. You are so right schools do not have: 'some magic formula which will turn out an educated individual at the other end’
Most teachers face up to the fact that the system is flawed, and that there are no quick fix solutions. Human beings are complex individuals, and a one size fits all approach will never be effective. The problems with the education system are not to be solved by more bureaucracy
School is not the only place through which one can obtain an education. Most adults say they did most of their learning once their schooling had finished. There is a place for school, but there equally is a place for home education as well. More variety is needed in education not less.

An excellent article with plenty of appropriate responses.
I was the subject of schoolyard bullying, & it did indeed affect my academic performance at various stages through secondary school. I handled the problems in different ways, but only after having wasted considerable time living with fear & avoiding confrontation. Usually, it only took well-timed words & luck. I found most ‘bullies’ shocked at a response & accordingly moved on to a lesser target
I also infrequently engaged in ‘group bullying’ myself.
Kids have primitive tendencies & for most, school, or some form of major social activity is essential for social learning & their development into adults. Children should be allowed to be educated away from social groups only under extreme circumstances.
The abolition of corporal punishment, a barbaric practice, was a good thing – but we failed to replace its ‘disciplinary’ role in creating order. The missing link is within the Education system itself. At least one full-time ‘social development’ specialist should be employed at each public secondary school. The role should be ‘proactive’ & interventionist. Quite simply, this should be the responsibility of the School Principal or similar. It is that great a responsibility.
The chronically shy should have an escape, although I do believe confrontation of social fear is the best & ultimate solution. Shy kids need to be taught the value of ‘fighting their fears’. I taught myself this & to an extent still enjoy the challenge of self-confrontation, although now, having caught up with society, the desire is less.

The importance of choice of school that is mentioned in Sajo's recent post seems counter, to me, to earlier posts accusing home education of being a self-interested response to a problem we should seek to solve collectively.

We can't all afford to choose a school such as the one Sajo describes (see esp. points 1, 4 and 6).

It is important, then, that we are all free to choose an education for our children that allows for the committment and enthusiasm of the educator(s): home education.

Home educators are concerned that new education legislation will impede this choice.

Further, the new legislation as it is drafted will not solve the problem of bullying, if to do so involves addressing Sajo's list of factors that influence a school's culture.

Carol G

Swilkie, you make a very good point that bullying affects academic performance. That is so true, and is often the forgotten outcome of bullying.
It is also true that: “some form of major social activity is essential for social learning & their development into adults.”
However I should point out that home education provides for this. Most home educators are organised into groups, these groups meet at least once a week, additionally there are many other social activities that home educators can pick and choose from on a weekly basis. Not to mention the fact that home educators are often very involved in their communities, they often undertake outside classes and they are also usually involved in sporting clubs and other organisations.
Home education provides rich and varied socialisation.

I am not a home schooler but my child is being bullied in school and I just don't know where to turn. The school don't believe me or her. I have been searching the internet for something helpful and this is the first glimmer of light I have found. The concept of home schooling is totally alien to me but I will certainly look into it and whether I decide to go ahead or not, I will certainly support the option of home schooling in terms of the law in future. I will not vote for a party who would make such an option difficult.

My child must be saved from the daily torment she is going through and I will do whatever it takes to save her.