Alan Smithers: Home education’s time may have come, 19 June 2008, The Independent, London, England

Emotions can run high in education. Lately my in-tray has been enlivened by some passionate dissent. …

Was it reaction to the highly critical report that we published recently on the diploma? No – this in fact has attracted widespread support. … The outcry was in response to some remarks I had made about home education.

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Treason and fascism are way over the top, but home educators are on to something when, taking their lead from Winston Churchill, they suggest we ought to be alert to schools as agents of control. Compulsory schooling was introduced in 1876 not primarily for the benefit of young people, but because with the curtailment of juvenile labour too many were making a nuisance of themselves on the streets. In an echo of the 19th century, the Brown government is legislating to extend the period of compulsion to age 18, mainly to deal with those not in education, employment or training.

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You can have too much of a good thing. …

Home education’s time, therefore, may have come.

Tags: Alan Smithers, home education, homeschooling

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