Lets revisit the very notion of schools and schooling.

If we were to design a place to educate and socialise our children would we call it a school, or something else? Are teachers the only people who can educate children?

I was bullied at school and I was guilty of bullying others. But I soon saw the error of my ways and sort justice for those who were bullied. Its how I as a child rationally thought I should survive what was otherwise a very boring and yet authoriarian place.

Susan Wight brings to our attention some very important issues not just about schooling but about the society we want our children to inherit from us. That it also contains schools is something we should ask them to decide whether or not they are the relevant or humanitarian.

To Lynne Kosky: Home education is as much a civil right as the right to vote, and because we are a rising minority the need is now arising to squash it. Has Australia become so intolerant and afraid? Really what threat are we? Perhaps we might share too many of our Non GM vegies with you, or perhaps your children might hear about us and want to come home too? All we are doing is what is best for our children and what has been proven to be best for children over the centuries and in almost every country of the world.

I am not an extremist, I am a 4WD catholic (maybe atheist, still trying to decide), work a 50 hour a week job, eat, drink, have a mortgage, love my kids and I put my pants on one leg at a time like everyone else! The only thing that makes me different is my desire to give my children a choice – and I will do everything in my power to make sure they have the legal right. Anyone in support of home education needs to start writing to their local State MP’s and to newspapers to ensure our valuable way of life is not lost. Do we want to end up like the home educators in other states, hiding from the registration ‘police’ and living in a constant state of stress? Let’s make sure our laws stay as they are, and are there to enable freedom in the method of choice of our children’s education without unnecessary red tape and restrictive conditions.

Well done Terry Harding. I agree the legislation does reflect a total lack of understanding of home education, and indeed a total disrespect of parents’ rights in general.
With parents forced to keep their children in school all the hours it is open for instruction, they will be unable to take them on holidays during school time. Many parents are unable take time off during the school holidays, so they will be unable to holiday with their own children when they choose to. Additionally many will not be able to take extended vacations overseas or tour around Australia.
There is a hidden antagonism towards parents implicit in this legislation. I agree with many of the comments here; that it is almost as if the Bracks’ Government thinks parents unqualified to raise their own children. Schools and governments have no right to intrude upon families in this way.
The Government’s State School system has provided a substandard education for our children. Home Education is proven to be successful, and the Government should not be legislating against them, or making them conform to an outdated and inefficient system

Education in the public market place (ie State Schools, Non-State Schools, State Schools of Distance Education) is a public affair. As a public activity it ought to be regulated as it is funded by the taxpayer. The Minister for Education has a responsibility to the people of Victoria for this public education.

Education at home is a private family matter. It is the responsibility of the parents, not the State. If parents wish the education of their children to be the Minister's responsibility, they may delegate that responsibility to the Minister by enrolling their children in schools, as is the practice of most Victorians.

However, if parents wish to take the full responsibility for the education of their children, they have the right to do so and that is done without the Minister's permission. This status in law ought not to be changed in Victoria.

The State wants to give home educators 2 things:
1. Permission to exist.
2. Permission regarding curriculum and academic methods

The State does not have the power to give these 2 things to home educators. The Victorian Education Act already empowers parents in regard to these matters.

If Victorians give the Minister permission to give them permission to home educate, they give the Minister permission to deny them permission to home educate, and they give the Minister permission to give them permission about how they home educate. Do not throw away freedom.

I do not have to ask the State for permission for my wife to have a baby and for us to raise it, nor do I have to ask the Health Department's permission to prepare and cook meals in my own home. I do agree that the Health Department should oversee the running of public restaurants, as they serve the public sector. However, what takes place in my home nutritionally, is a private matter, which my wife and I are responsible for. This allocation of the authority of parents and the State in the private and public sectors is true for both nutrition and education

Terry

I agree with you that the right to home school must not be compromised. However I also believe that every child has a right to an education at least as good as that available in the public school system. Fortunately most parents who homeschool try to give their children the best education possible and many succeed. However some just don't see the point in high academic standards. It is not sufficient that children are able only to read and write it is also in their interests to achieve as high an academic standard as they are capable of. (I appreciate that some schools seem to have problems with this concept too before the barrage of objections starts). Therefore it is necessary that the government retains the right to determine whether parents are suitably skilled and resourced to do the job on an individual basis. I was under the impression that the current Education Act is adequate in this respect in which case I support your moves to keep the status quo. If there are moves to change the NSW Act then I will be writing to my MP. But - I still do not think it is every parents right to homeschool their children unless they can prove that they are able to maintain an acceptable standard. Yes we are responsible for our children but we do not own them.

In 2 days time it will be an ELECTION YEAR !

I was bullied, I did NOT bully, I was tortured, I did NOT torture.
The only solutions to bullying I ever saw or experienced, were either the humiliation of the bully in front of the school, or a bunch of 5s to re-arrange his face.

The stupid mamby pamby softly softly "Lets reason with them" and "lets talk about boundaries and opportunities" etc.. sounds good in theory, but usually has little effect. I think some anti bullying policies include a ramping up of sanctions to the point of expelling the bully, but most bullys are prepared to threaten a lengthy stay in hospital (I'll get you near your house after school) kind of thing.

So, it usually goes in loopy cycles and round and round and buck passing.

I have another very original and ancient solution to this ugly problem.

Deuteronomy 21:18
18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, 19 his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. 20 They shall say to the elders, "This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a profligate and a drunkard." 21 Then all the men of his town shall stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.

The principle here is very clear, even if the 'details' may seem a bit over the top to us today.

The principle is that the community must deal with such behavior in a decisive and no nonsense manner. We have authorities who are entrusted with this responsibility. The problem is, usually the symptom or the peripheral issue is dealt with, like the School's bullying policy is attacked rather than the bully himself. I think, cut the bull, and go straight for the root.