HomeSchooler.org.uk

"Diversity in Education is precious in a democracy
This is an open letter to The Guardian and The Times, intended for publication on January 11th 2010, which is the date of the second reading of the Children, Schools and Families Bill in the House of Commons.

If you agree with the letter, please complete the signature form before January 8th 2010 to add your name as a signatory.

If you are a member of a home educating family, please contact people outside the home education community and ask them to add their signatures to yours, so that the list of signatories will reflect the widespread opposition to Schedule 1, from people in all walks of life.

The letter
We believe that Schedule 1 of the Children Schools and Families Bill represents an unacceptable imposition of state control over families. Although it is aimed at children educated outside the school system,
it has implications for all families.

Most parents would not make home-based education their first choice; but any family might need it if school seriously failed their child. Currently, this choice is lawfully available to all parents. If enacted, the Bill would – for the first time – transfer responsibility for a child’s education from the parents to the state. We believe this is a matter which should be of great concern to everyone."...read full letter here

Starts at 7 hours 52 mins in!

Petition presentations on parliament tv http://tinyurl.com/yembfob

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=5239

...especially when Graham Stuart
said this:

"If enacted, the Government's proposals will for the first time in our history tear away from parents and give to the state the responsibility for a child's education."

The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8848073

covered on Yahoo news:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20091208/tuk-petition-record-over-home-schoo...

News clips, now even mentioned Channel 4:

Not a huge article-but it's in there!

Press Assoc:

http://tinyurl.com/ygo35zv

http://tinyurl.com/yh8eq2u

Channel 4 news:

http://tinyurl.com/ygul8tp
Isle of Man:

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/latest-national-news/Petition-record-over-home...
ooling.5894729.jp

Ealing Gazette:

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/latest-national-news/Petition-record-over-home...
ooling.5894729.jp

Journal live:

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/uk-news-world/2009/12/09/pe...
on-record-over-home-schooling-84229-25351795/

MSN News: (You can rate this one!!)

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=151256947

Liverpool Echo:

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/uk-world-news/2009/12/09/p...
ion-record-over-home-schooling-100252-25351777/

Daily Echo:

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/uk_national_news/4783956.Petition_record_over...
e_schooling/

Chronicle Live:

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/uk-and-world-news/2009/12...
petition-record-over-home-schooling-84229-25351795/

Birmingham Mail

http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/family-life/2009/12/09/petition-...
rd-over-home-schooling-97319-25351778/

Details of Local Authority staff with responsibility for inspection/monitoring of home educated children.

Send any details of Local Authority staff you would like adding to the list to matt@theartofsurvival.co.uk.

Here is a summary of the main arguments to use when writing to MPs about the Children, Schools and Families Bill. These points will obviously need fleshing out and probably only a couple rather than all the arguments need to be used.

A forum for raising issues dear to you...

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to uphold that parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of their child, to not undermine parents legitimately fulfilling their fundamental duties, and to assume that the best interests of their child is the basic concern of parents unless there is specific evidence to the contrary.

More details from petition creator

In particular, the government should ensure :- • No right of access to the family home without evidence of a crime • No right to interview a child alone without evidence of risk of serious harm • No CRB checks or registration for parents to look after their own children, or to informally look after those of their friends, family etc • No licensing / registration / assessment / monitoring of methods by which parents fulfil their duties without evidence that they are failing to do so, and with specific recognition that education “otherwise” than at school is a perfectly legal option to fulfil their duty regarding education • No undermining of parents as being in the best position to determine how to meet their child’s needs, according to their age, ability, aptitude, and any special needs they may have • Greater focus on applying existing resources and procedures to cases of children known to be at risk, rather than dilution of these resources by routinely monitoring whole sections of the community • Compliance with the fundamental presumption of innocence unless there is specific evidence to the contrary

Following the Queen's speech and the publication of the Children Schools and
Families Bill, I want to remind people of the Parents' Declaration, which
has been on the wiki for some months, in case anyone who did not sign now
feels that they would like to support this declaration. If you have any
trouble trying to sign, please let me know. Please cross post to local list
and groups.

http://ahed.pbworks.com/ParentsDeclaration

Wording of the Declaration is thus:

PARENTS' DECLARATION

WE DECLARE our independent status and affirm our responsibility for the
upbringing and education of our children in accordance with our lawful
rights and natural justice.

WE ASSERT our right to choose the place, form and content of the educational
provision for our children in accordance with the following:

The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to
receive efficient full-time education suitable-

(a)to his age, ability and aptitude, and

(b)to any special educational needs he may have, either by regular
attendance at school or otherwise.

(Section 7 of theEducation Act 1996)

In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education
and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such
education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and
philosophical convictions.

(Protocol 2 Article 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights)

WE WILL protect the rights of our children to own their own lives, to
privacy and freedom from undue official interference in accordance with the
following rights:

The right to respect for a private and family life, home and correspondence

(Human Rights Act 1998)

the right to be free from "arbitrary or unlawful interference with [their]
privacy, family, home or correspondence" and from "unlawful attacks on
[their] honour and reputation"

Leaflet for distribution...

"Following the Queen's speech this notice is rapidly making the rounds. I have cross-posted it here as it is something that everyone can use to register their protest directly with parliament. A refusal to co-operate means anything from, saying no to demands, to time wasting, to absolute refusal to obey their law."