Anyone know anything about alternative or home schooling?

frobisher

I'd love to hear anything from anyone who has either direct experience or even someone they know may be involved in it.

ArthurDent

frobisher wrote:

I'd love to hear anything from anyone who has either direct experience or even someone they know may be involved in it.

I think if you let people know the reasons you would be interested in homeschooling/alternative schools - they might be keener to discuss it. People avail of these options for many different reasons, religious belief, preference for different teaching methodologies than traditionally used in National Schools, child with partiucalr special needs/sensitivities that would not cope well in traditional school etc.

frobisher

I'm not happy with my son's secondary school (2nd year), it's causing alot of problems and I want to educate myself about all the alternatives out there.

ArthurDent

'fraid I'm no help to you, only know about primary sector - best of luck

up for anything

My sister and her partner are home schoolers and are part of this organisation.

http://www.henireland.org/

Also here is the Oasis page regarding home education.

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/education/primary_education/home_education.html


Most of the home schoolers I know through her do it because they hated school and the school system or because they felt it was something they wanted to do. They are all very committed to their children and far from the children being isolated and not able to hold their own in social situations with other children because of the lack of school socialisation, they are far more confident than most regularly schooled children I know.

I know, for myself, that I could not begin to sustain the energy and committment these people invest in their children. Homework is enough for me.:)

jeep

ArthurDent wrote:

'fraid I'm no help to you, only know about primary sector - best of luck

Sorry for butting in but Arthur any suggestions for a 7yr old asd boy my reasons are that he is ready to mainstream but I fear they are not ready for him , as it was assumed that he would disrupt the class:mad:

Im not looking for a special school as such just one that will embrace him if you will:)

Pardon my butting in frobisher.

ArthurDent

Jeep

i was involved in setting up an Educate Together school - their motto is "No child is an outsider" and one of the founding principals is that we try and accomodate all children. In our school we have many children who need some extra help (all have their own SNA), we have a couple of kids with syndromes on the Autistic spectrum, some with ADHD and quite a few with physical disabilities - all fit in well in the school and seem to be treated well by their peers and by all members of staff.
Have you talked to your local school, you might find them more receptive than you think. I know we contact all prospective parents early in the year their child is due to start school and check if they might have any special needs and then work with them to get all the paperwork completed to ensure their child has the help they need in place beore they sdtart school.

jeep

unfortunately Arthur local schools are not very receptive at all:rolleyes: oh well onward and upward. Local ET is full so it looks like its outward too.
Thanks though:D

ArthurDent

jeep wrote:

unfortunately Arthur local schools are not very receptive at all:rolleyes: oh well onward and upward. Local ET is full so it looks like its outward too.
Thanks though:D

Do you mind me asking - why are they non-receptive? What have they said to you? According to Education act you are entitled to have appropriate education provided for your child and what reason is the school giving for not being able to provide this?

jeep

Hi Arthur
You will probably laugh at this but what I mean by non-receptive is the assumption that because he is autistic he will be disruptive and I need this report and it will have to go before the board etc. I wont be a bit surprised if they fingerprint him next:D Im dissappointed that there is a narrow understanding of autism I suppose but I realise my expectations were unrealistic.
He is in fact an extremely intelligent little boy with lovely manners and a brilliant sense of humour and im just an annoyed mother who has decided to find an inclusive environment on his behalf , thats available:rolleyes:
I know he's entitled to a place but its more important that he is welcomed and encouraged and not viewed as a potential problem.
I admit im a bit over sensitive about it all but firmly believe that if I can get him the right environment he will continue to make great progress, he has worked so hard and overcome so much I feel its worth trying.

up for anything

ArthurDent wrote:

Jeep

we have a couple of kids with syndromes on the Autistic spectrum, some with ADHD and quite a few with physical disabilities - all fit in well in the school and seem to be treated well by their peers

I'm not so sure I'd agree with this. My children attend an ET school and some of the stories I've heard from them and other children through the years at the school about both the treatment of the children with special needs and the other kids treatment by them don't sit well with your assumptions. Seem is not always what it seems.

Thursday*

I am an unschooled (type of homeschooling) 14-year-old - feel free to PM me! I did a lot of reading up on it so I could tell you a fair bit about resources and procedures.

ArthurDent

up for anything wrote:

I'm not so sure I'd agree with this. My children attend an ET school and some of the stories I've heard from them and other children through the years at the school about both the treatment of the children with special needs and the other kids treatment by them don't sit well with your assumptions. Seem is not always what it seems.

well I can only speak for my school and it works well, sorry it hasn't in your school