Just say NO!
Posted on October 8th, 2008 by Amanda
Having waded my way through all the lastest “Statutory Guidance for children missing education”, I decided that the simplest way is to just say “NO! I don’t agree with this and I am not being bound by it”.
It is such a time-consuming exercise to respond to all this stuff, yet it is important that we say “NO” because otherwise, they think we are all agreeing- by our SILENCE!
Here is the response I sent in to the consultation. This is just my approach. I am not giving advice. Please make your own decisions as to which way to proceed.
Hello,
Please find enclosed my response to this consultation.
As a home educating parent I find it very disturbing that
all home educated children are automatically considered to be vulnerable,
and at risk of not receiving a “suitable education”.
It is even more disturbing that they are lumped in this category because of
a risk of allegedly being forced into arranged marriages. There is no data provided for
this. There are only vague terms such as “significant numbers.”
The guidance is flawed in a lot of ways, not least because it does not anywhere provide
a definition of a “suitable education” or who defines that “suitable education”
It seems to be saying that children are only “safe” in a
school environment and that is the only place they receive a “suitable education.”
Whilst there may be children who are not receiving a “suitable education”, home educated
children should not be automatically put into that same category and therefore subject to the invasive,
intrusive powers of monitoring, spying and reporting that this guidance will give to Local Education
Authorities.
My research has produced some interesting results.
The word “statutory” is an adjective, which pertains to or is
relevant to the noun “statute”.
relevant to the noun “statute”.
According to Black’s Law dictionary:
A “statute” is a “legislative rule of society given force of law by
consent of the governed”.
A “statute” is a “legislative rule of society given force of law by
consent of the governed”.
As parents, my husband and I are responsible for our children’s’ education up to the
age of 16, in whatever form we consider most appropriate.
I now choose NOT to give consent to be governed by this ill-thought out piece
of proposed legislation. I am exercising my rights to opt out.
Thank You.
Amanda Goldston
If Nothing else, either send an email saying “NO” or at very least, please go through the questionnaire and tick “NO” to every question.
With abundant blessings.
Amanda Goldston
Ha, I finally got an acknowledgement to my email. I had to send it again and ask for an acknowledgement, mind you!
However, I don’t care about that.. The main thing is that my objection has been registered. From various forums I understand there have been over 600 responses from home educating parents.
Well done!
If you still haven’t sent in a response, you have until Friday 24th October to send something in.
It does not matter whether you fill out the response document or not. I didn’t fill it out.
Your voice counts, even if you just write an email saying “No, I object to this nonsense and to your blatant attempts to take away my rights to home educate my child (ren)”
Amanda