runner,

Bear in mind that I have already mentioned alternative schools as an option.

Apart from that what I have done is post a UK government report where it along with others before and since expresses real not invented concerns about home education.

Regarding public education, my principle concern is not with the standard of it, because that is relatively easily monitored and improved where realistic standards are set and measured, but that we don't seem to have ever arrived at a way of preventing some students from falling through the cracks.

Taking the last mentioned deficiency, I know of many parents who have had to patch together home schooling, tutors, external education and so on and some to their credit and to the very great credit of the student as well, have managed to achieve success.

I do not see homeschooling as anything to encourage and history shows there have been all manner of cranks who have separated their children and families from society.

Lastly, the vexing question concerns the ethics of denying the child the contact and experience of public education (or the private school alternative). That is certainly the case that would be put by education departments and I reckon they have a point. Indigenous children could present some examples.

"I do not see homeschooling as anything to encourage and history shows there have been all manner of cranks who have separated their children and families from society."

You are the one who slung off at "automatons" in an earlier post. I find it strange that you can't get your head around someone receiving an education outside an institution, merely because it doesn't follow modern day societal norms. Your problem is your think home education only takes place 'at home". On the contrary, the point is that my son is very much in society. He's out in the community partaking of it, whether it be the library, local historical society or the rec centre...etc, while the other kids are boxed up in school, segregated into age-peer groupings.

There is practically no difference between the social interactions of my son and his schooled friends, except I notice that they are more likely to feel they've missed out or been hard done by if they lose in competition. I also note as he and his peers are growing older that my son is the one displaying the level mature head during times when the group is in minor disagreement.

"Lastly, the vexing question concerns the ethics of denying the child the contact and experience of public education (or the private school alternative). That is certainly the case that would be put by education departments..."

Not in my experience, they have been most supportive and cooperative - because in our case, as in most cases, they can see that the child's parents take a special interest in their child's education.

But when all is said and done, otb, I'm fully aware that your laments on this subject are just another in the long line of opportunities you take to grab hold of another poster's trouser hem (almost exclusively a woman's) and savage it like a terrier...you're an interesting case in that respect.

Suse,

Just saw your post...

"Poirot, it doesn't do to give people like OTB too much personal info, because he will use anything he can get to goad you into a fight with him...."

You are absolutely correct in that assertion....we've all seen him do it a million times to Foxy.

Funnily enough, I let that piece of info out when I was attempting to get the thread back on track a little earlier...and poor old otb got all excited and saw it as an opportunity to deploy his rhetorical device. It's interesting what gives some people their jollies.

Chairman Suse Mao,

Really good to see you're controlling the in depth discussion on Secularism.

I should have dropped this sooner, but anyhow better late than never.

I'll keep battling on.

Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTTC_fD598A

"Chairman Suse Mao,

Really good to see you're controlling the in depth discussion on Secularism."

Gee, Constance....Well done - showing us the depth of your aspirations on this thread.

As an example of an insightful, free-thinking multi-dimensional troll - you've only managed to get the "troll" part right.

Room for improvement.

Troll king Efteling (or effing) Poirot
http://gniffies.deviantart.com/art/Troll-king-Efteling-144548793

Leonard Cohen & U2 : Tower Of Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wbDSd17uzE

Tower Of Song Lyrics:

Well my friends are gone and my hair is grey
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
I'm just paying my rent every day
Oh in the Tower of Song
I said to Hank Williams: how lonely does it get?
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet
But I hear him coughing all night long
A hundred floors above me
In the Tower of Song

I was born like this, I had no choice
I was born with the gift of a golden voice
And twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond
They tied me to this table right here
In the Tower of Song

So you can stick your little pins in that voodoo doll
I'm very sorry, baby, doesn't look like me at all
I'm standing by the window where the light is strong
Ah they don't let a woman kill you
Not in the Tower of Song

Now you can say that I've grown bitter but of this you may be sure
The rich have got their channels in the bedrooms of the poor
And there's a mighty judgment coming, but I may be wrong
You see, you hear these funny voices
In the Tower of Song

I see you standing on the other side
I don't know how the river got so wide
I loved you baby, way back when
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed
But I feel so close to everything that we lost
We'll never have to lose it again

Now I bid you farewell, I don't know when I'll be back
There moving us tomorrow to that tower down the track
But you'll be hearing from me baby, long after I'm gone
I'll be speaking to you sweetly
From a window in the Tower of Song