Homeschooling Triples in Britain

By Mimi Rothschild

At least 16,000 children in the UK are homeschooling, according to a recent Guardian article.  According to parents, bullying is the primary reason that parents choose to homeschool.  I’ve heard that bullying in Britain makes America’s average bullying behavior look tame.  Children have committed suicide over it.

The UK’s increased religious subgroups such as Muslims, Gypsies, and Christians have also opted to remove their children from government-sponsored schools.

A DfES spokesman said: “Standards have never been higher and with record funding in our schools we believe the best place to educate a child is actually in school.

Not all homeschoolers are convinced. And why should they be?  Funding does not equal quality.

“Some of the parents interviewed felt that standards of education had declined,” the report said.

This, coupled with a view that the current education system is overly bureaucratic, inflexible and assessment-driven, prompted some parents to home-educate.

Here’s hoping that this trend spreads throughout the rest of the European Union.  Perhaps Germany would lighten its restrictions on homeschooling if they were to recognize that the rest of the EU had chosen to embrace it.

4 Responses to “Homeschooling Triples in Britain”

1. Katrina says:

   March 16, 2007 at 5:55 pm

   Oh my! I homeschool my son for one reason and one reason only…he is getting an education!! We have only been doing it for 2 years and I began it due to the fact my 5th grader could barely write!! (We are in CA) I was appalled and now? Yippee he is getting A”s and B’s, he dies to hear his grades now we are both so happy, I suggest to any and everyone with children you will learn about yourself and new things from your kids. My son now will write at the drop of a hat he does my lists for me willingly, the improvement in his self esteem and over-all presence is amazing. Parents need to take charge of their kids education if they are able no matter what country, district, state or wherever—”The Future is Our Children” and now I have more hope than ever!!
2. Katrina says:

   March 16, 2007 at 5:54 pm

   Oh my! I homeschool my son for one reason and one reason only…he is getting an education!! We have only been doing it for 2 years and I began it due to the fact my 5th grader could barely write!! (We are in CA) I was appalled and now? Yippee he is getting A”s and B’s, he dies to hear his grades now we are both so happy, I suggest to any and everyone with children you will learn about yourself and new things from your kids. My son now will write at the drop of a hat he does my lists for me willingly, the improvement in his self esteem and over-all presence is amazing. Parents need to take charge of their kids education if they are able no matter what country, district, state or wherever—The Future is our children and now I have more hope than ever!!
3. Lauren says:

   March 7, 2007 at 1:46 pm

   I think it’s so sad that children in Europe are being homeschooled simply because they have been bullied in school. However, I think both students and parents will find there are many other benefits to homeschooling, besides not having to worry about other children’s behaviors. Homeschooling allows the student to work at their own pace and concentrate more on their abilities and interests. It also gives the parent much more control over their child’s development and schooling. I hope that parents in America will choose these reasons to homeschool their children, and that they are not forced to do so because their child is being bullied.
4. jackson5 says:

   March 5, 2007 at 5:39 pm

   Wow. I had no idea that bullying was such a huge problem in Europe. Homeschooling is certainly the better option for kids whose learning is being stifled by troubled kids.