Sometimes It's Peaceful

And sometimes it's...

Political...

Philosophical...

Practical...

Plant-based...

Prudent...

Preposterous!

or

Links to me

Please note that any links to me on other sites do not imply that I share any of the views expressed on those sites.

Some of my previous blog posts about...

•     ..The Badman Review .....The review report .....Autonomous learning can't be planned .....To lie to one's child, or tell the truth? Home education post-Badman ....."For example by the age of eight, I think they should be autonomous learners, able to read." .....He must have despised us from the start .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 1 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 2 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 3 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 4 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 5 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 6 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 7 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 8 ....."The number .. known to children’s social care in some LAs is disproportionately high relative to the size of their home educating population." .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 9 .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 10 .....Visiting our MP .....Stress testing the Badman report: looking for weak points: Part 11
•     ..2009 review, pre-publication .....DSCF press release: freedom to home educate under government attack *again* .....Facebook: you are invited to join a group .....The five outcomes .....Transcript of Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show section on Home Education, 20th January 2009 .....Stroking snakes, fraternising with ferrets.. .....Mike Fortune-Wood speaks about the latest UK attack on Home-Education .....AHEd Press Release .....The review questions (non-LA version) .....Review links and quotes .....NSPCC and government: hand in glove? .....Writing to my MP and wow, the formidable Facebook group! .....One observation ....."We would therefore recommend that DCSF review the legislation pertaining to children educated at home.." .....What kind of person have they chosen to conduct this *independent review* then? .....Business and industry .....Our own review .....My letter to my MP .....Facebook group press release .....Facebook group's letter to CRAE .....Growing a sidebar, joining the dots .....The petition, and DCSF replies .....Action .....Today is the Local Authorities' deadline ....."Make a positive contribution" and the "Path to success" .....Boiling frogs, but making them achieve economic wellbeing first .....Be healthy .....Enjoy and achieve .....And finally: stay safe .....The ECM tangled web: how legitimate is it? .....A closer look at the Local Authority position .....ECM: Did it really all come from Laming? .....The vultures are circling .....In the light of this - a poll .....A précis on our specific problems with the five outcomes. And a brief note about Professor Heppell. .....My answers to the review questions .....So, what can the review do for you? .....Local Authority monitoring and why we hate it .....ECM: Brave New World .....AHEd press release: PERSECUTION OF MINORITY GROUP IS "ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS" .....Two more questions. Where did *they* come from? .....Freedom keeps us busy .....The Team Around the Child .....The real team around the child .....Hey, Vijay .....Transcript of Radio 4's PM interview with Shena Deuchars and Tony Mooney .....Letter from AHEd to NSPCC Chief Executive .....AHEd press release: NSPCC should withdraw from government review into home education. .....A very long post in which I try to find out whether ECM is a monster or not. It is. .....Blindsided? 21st Century Schools: A World-Class Education for Every Child / A School Report Card: consultation document .....ECM schedule: 2009 .....'At risk of poor outcomes' .....CME: did this slip under the radar? .....A poll about 'fending for themselves', and other news. .....The world *is* changing .....2020: compliance techniques .....That fifth outcome and the NSPCC .....NSPCC part 1: anti HE? .....Mr Badman: a bad man? .....NSPCC part 2: anti family? .....Support, strings, other stuff and seeds .....The rules of engagement .....NSPCC Part 3: anti child? .....Worcestershire, Tasmania and the land of Notschool: "Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice. .....Autodidacts, Tasmanian devils and many-headed hydra. The whole menagerie. ....."Maintaining the status quo is out of the question." Time for some blue skies thinking. .....I just went for a blog walk and ended up at Becta ....."One side of A4, on my desk, first thing Monday morning." "Please Sir, sorry Sir, the dog ate it.." ....."They can't do this. It's in contravention of article 16 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: .....Mr Badman, Professor Heppell, bullying, Notschool and Becta .....Twelve good men and true? .....EO's bombshell .....EO's bombshell: the reaction .....EO's bombshell: the document .....Parents' declaration .....It's a bit like asking a fox to review the chickens, isn't it? "Yum." .....EO's bombshell again .....A valiant hero .....Becta.. Capita... other things ending in 'a'.. (and 'o', and 'net' etc.) - Part 1 .....Becta.. Capita... other things ending in 'a'.. (and 'o', and 'net' etc.) - Part 2 .....EO's bombshell: questions and answers .....I know I've had a break, but.... .....A poll: would you? .....My predictions .....Compulsory registration *and* home visits?
•     .."Every Child Matters" ....."Make a positive contribution" and the "Path to success" .....Boiling frogs, but making them achieve economic wellbeing first .....Be healthy .....Enjoy and achieve .....And finally: stay safe .....Very NICE .....The ECM tangled web: how legitimate is it? .....ECM: Did it really all come from Laming? .....A précis on our specific problems with the five outcomes. .....ECM: Brave New World .....The Team Around the Child .....The real team around the child .....A very long post in which I try to find out whether ECM is a monster or not. It is. .....Blindsided? 21st Century Schools: A World-Class Education for Every Child / A School Report Card: consultation document .....ECM schedule: 2009 .....'At risk of poor outcomes' .....2020: compliance techniques .....That fifth outcome and the NSPCC .....*My* 2020 Vision: a voice from the future .....Bonds and bridges (glue and oil): "Aspiration and attainment amongst young people in deprived communities" - *or* 'They're at it again'.
•     ..NSPCC .....Transcript of Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show section on Home Education, 20th January 2009 .....NSPCC and government: hand in glove? ....."We would therefore recommend that DCSF review the legislation pertaining to children educated at home.." .....Growing a sidebar, joining the dots .....Hey, Vijay .....Letter from AHEd to NSPCC Chief Executive .....AHEd press release: NSPCC should withdraw from government review into home education. .....That fifth outcome and the NSPCC .....NSPCC part 1: anti HE? .....NSPCC part 2: anti family? .....NSPCC Part 3: anti child?
•     ..2009 review: EO's bombshell .....EO's bombshell .....EO's bombshell: the reaction .....EO's bombshell: the document .....EO's bombshell again .....EO's bombshell: questions and answers
•     ..Media .....Home education on Today .....Teacher association man pretends to know something about home education .....‘Learning’ does not equal ‘work’, Mr Mooney .....Civitas on the TES piece .....Children: "An investment of very doubtful value." .....Wife Swap .....Transcript: Julian Worricker's Five Live Report on Home Education ....."Surely we all need standards to make sure we're making progress?" ....."A logical, structured course of study." .....Common sense from the Telegraph .....BBC Scotland: Give Me a Voice - on home education .....Home ed film .....Transcript: Radio 2 Jeremy Vine, 20th January 2009 .....AHEd press release: PERSECUTION OF MINORITY GROUP IS "ABUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS" .....Freedom keeps us busy .....Hey, Vijay .....Transcript of Radio 4's PM interview with Shena Deuchars and Tony Mooney .....AHEd press release: NSPCC should withdraw from government review into home education. ....."They can't do this. It's in contravention of article 16 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:
•     ..Autonomous: THE PRACTICE .....Support, strings, other stuff and seeds .....The real team around the child .....Freedom keeps us busy ....."So, Mum.. who's actually in charge of the country, then? The Queen, or the Prime Minister?" .....""Mummy, have you seen a black cape..." .....Finding Scotland, and other learning .....Something for the credit crunch .....Computer kids, #3 .....An exciting new project .....Kung fu kid .....Self-directed independence; successes, mistakes and the breaking of spirits .....How we do things .....This weekend.. .....2008, a year in blog posts .....The number 0 .....No crunchin' here ....."Everything's a learning opportunity" .... .....Benignly playing schools .....Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is the same thing when it comes down to it, isn't it? .....Teaching. Learning. .....BBC Scotland: Give Me a Voice - on home education .....Rainy day schooliness .....It *must* be the 'summer hols' .....Home ed film .....Questions, questions... .....Vegetables, seasonal and otherwise .....Home ed off-grid .....We are, quite definitely, *learning*. .....Earthquake! .....Staying in .....Emulation, simulation, motivation, experimentation .....Questions questions... (cont.) ....."Can we do it without learning?" .....Still "not learning".... .....More to 'not learn' about .....Stronghold .....What *do* we do? .....Signs of success .....This week, we have been mostly..... .....Unfooding: an elaboration. .....Autonomous housework .....Debt lessons .....Civitas blog post revisited: Amazing autonomy ....."What can I buy with this?" .....Blue brains, blood, books, strewing and texture .....Learning to read & type with The Sims .....It must be spring .....Teach? Moi? .....Washing machine puzzle .....How does he know that? .....Of *course* we do maths! ;-) .....Interactive home ed .....Getting a little head around the concept of death .....In praise of autonomous home ed ( - again!) .....That tricky concept of time .....Children and adults: sworn enemies .....Expressions of love .....Washing-up .....Just testing .....Learning to read for children in "poverty" ;-) .....Lyddie: letter sounds progress .....Letterland .....Here's a factual normal ordinary blog post about home ed .....Today's Lyddie-ism - Nov 06 .....Tonight is bonfireworks night .....We *went to the doctors* and survived intact! ....."Look how far we've went!" .....Today's Lyddie-ism - Sept 06 .....We made a 'S'! ....."It's snowing!" .....The Evil Bat Queen ....."I be the mummy" .....Letter sounds - learning progress .....Things they say, #9435862375 ....."I like him, he knows how to speak properly." .....Jigsaws .....I breed feisty children ....."I like having baths now" .....Teenage philosophy ....."Do you see the point?" ....."You lost me at b.." .....What's happening? .....Our home ed meetings .....Education in WoW .....Amazing Lyddie .....My [first] baby girl is a teenager!!! .....Our journey to autonomy .....Our day so far, in autonomous home-ed report-stylie .....The obvious limitations of a 2 year-old's brain .....Autonomous learning in action .....College Open Evening .....The Day Progresses .....What are we learning? .....16 years ago today I became a mother .....Precious toddler moment .....A ride in an ambulance .....Philosophical discussions and wacky theories .....Unfooding .....Conversations with a 2 year-old
•     ..Family .....Worcestershire, Tasmania and the land of Notschool: "Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice. .....The real team around the child .....Something for the credit crunch .....Kung fu kid .....Self-directed independence; successes, mistakes and the breaking of spirits .....This weekend.. .....Santa woz 'ere .....2008, a year in blog posts .....A natural hierarchy? .....A very happy mother's day so far .....Happy flipping pancake day .....Learning with sisters .....Ali: boy to man .....Happy birthday sweet 16 .....Family pulls together in crisis .....Life with little girls .....Happy midwinter .....Plans and preparations, both sensible and silly .....Parenting teens .....The adventure, the clear-out and the open day .....Preparation .....Our old dog .....I am the alpha and the omega. But probably not the beta. .....16 years ago today I became a mother .....Amazing Lyddie .....My [first] baby girl is a teenager!!!
•     ..House .....This weekend.. ....."Everything's a learning opportunity" .... .....The adventure, the clear-out and the open day .....House *works* .....Systems .....Autonomous housework .....Home ed off-grid .....Washing-up
•     ..Reading .....""Mummy, have you seen a black cape..." .....Finding Scotland, and other learning .....Something for the credit crunch .....How we do things .....No crunchin' here .....Teaching. Learning. .....Reading again .....The squiggles ....."Mum! Don't think me to learn how to read!" .....Dyslexia .....Sometimes I wonder .....And reading .....I love The Tailor of Gloucester .....I'm reading... .....Dyslexia? I don't care what they think .....Bean-counting and Mr Men .....Learning to read, 'experts know best' .....Those squishy letters .....Teaching reading (and other things) .....Letter sounds - learning progress .....We made a 'S'! .....Learning to read for children in "poverty" ;-) .....Lyddie: letter sounds progress .....Letterland
•     ..Writing .....Finding Scotland, and other learning .....Benignly playing schools .....Ignoring the writing .....Spontaneous writing, home ed meetings and a going-to-sleep game .....Writing and Waldorf-curious .....Do we still need handwriting?
•     ..'Rithmetic .....Something for the credit crunch .....The number 0 .....No crunchin' here ....."Everything's a learning opportunity" .... .....Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is the same thing when it comes down to it, isn't it? .....Good intentions, split peas and Mimetic Desire ....."No Mum, *I'll* do the sums and *you* do the answers." .....Real maths? .....Not schooly, nooooo... .....Bean-counting and Mr Men
•     ..Language .....Etymology .....Language - and Bo Den .....Pronunciation .....Etude de Français et des autres choses
•     ..Conversation ....."So, Mum.. who's actually in charge of the country, then? The Queen, or the Prime Minister?" ....."Christmas is not enough," .....""Mummy, have you seen a black cape..." .....Self-directed independence; successes, mistakes and the breaking of spirits .....This weekend.. .....No crunchin' here .....Computer kids #2 .....Vegetables, seasonal and otherwise .....Today's Lyddieism .....Trying to explain clock-free living to a time-obsessed five-year old - and Christmas .....Never again .....Parenting teens ....."So what do you do in the holidays?" .....A conversation in our guild chat today .....Interactive home ed .....Philosophical discussions and wacky theories ....."I like having baths now" .....Teenage philosophy ....."Do you see the point?" ....."You lost me at b.." .....Things they say, #9435862375 ....."I like him, he knows how to speak properly." ....."It's snowing!" .....The Evil Bat Queen ....."I be the mummy" .....Today's Lyddie-ism - Nov 06 .....Tonight is bonfireworks night ....."Look how far we've went!" .....Today's Lyddie-ism - Sept 06 .....Just testing .....Expressions of love .....The obvious limitations of a 2 year-old's brain .....Conversations with a 2 year-old
•     ..Socialisation .....The real team around the child .....The Team Around the Child ....."Christmas is not enough," .....Socialisation? It's difficult.. .....In praise of The Night Garden. And home ed meetings. ....."I've been working on my social skills," .....Real socialisation .....Home ed meetings .....Spontaneous writing, home ed meetings and a going-to-sleep game .....Our home ed meetings
•     ..Outings .....Two museums: don't touch and do.
•     ..Creativity .....The real team around the child ....."Christmas is not enough," .....Finding Scotland, and other learning .....Something for the credit crunch .....Kung fu kid .....This weekend.. .....No crunchin' here .....Art therapy .....Life with little girls .....The weird thing is... .....Action pics interspersed with life .....What is art? Just a little question, then ;-)
•     ..Games .....The real team around the child .....""Mummy, have you seen a black cape..." ....."I've been working on my social skills," .....Stronghold .....Circle stories .....Playing the game .....A petition, a game and some thoughts .....Yes, we're Simming again! .....Spontaneous writing, home ed meetings and a going-to-sleep game .....Computer games are bad for children? Pah. .....Interactive home ed .....Computer games are educational .....Education in WoW
•     ..Career plans .....The rules of engagement .....Support, strings, other stuff and seeds .....Freedom keeps us busy .....Self-directed independence; successes, mistakes and the breaking of spirits .....Changing times .....Home ed off-grid .....The end of autonomy? .....The adventure, the clear-out and the open day .....A bit of a change of plan .....Autonomous learning/ unschooling. When does it not 'work'? .....Autonomous life .....A calling .....How does he know that? ....."Graduates lacking the skills for work" .....""They were questioned" ..... College Open Evening
•     ..Autonomous: THE THEORY .....Support, strings, other stuff and seeds .....Unconscious teaching .....Something for the credit crunch .....A significant challenge .....Self-directed independence; successes, mistakes and the breaking of spirits .....How we do things .....What's orgo planning, Precious? .....A natural hierarchy? .....Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is the same thing when it comes down to it, isn't it? .....Teaching. Learning. .....Gatto film: sheer brilliance :-) .....Autonomous learning/ unschooling. When does it not 'work'? .....Let's talk about home ed... .....Home ed in the summer holidays .....How much input is too much? .....A petition, a game and some thoughts .....The end of autonomy? .....Original sin .....Baby hormones and Good Housekeeping .....Good intentions, split peas and Mimetic Desire .....Home ed off-grid .....Common sense from the Telegraph .....Living and learning .....Right *here*, right *now* .....Unfooding: an elaboration. .....Autonomous housework .....Am I unusual? .....Debt lessons .....Children are not performing poodles .....Civitas blog post revisited: Amazing autonomy .....Do we still need handwriting? .....Computer games are educational .....Writing and Waldorf-curious .....‘Learning’ does not equal ‘work’, Mr Mooney .....Autonomous -vs- neglect - some points to be developed .....More about dynamic learning" .....It's *dynamic* .....Autonomous Life .....You don't have to be rich... ....."A logical, structured course of study." .....Stick-carrot .....A calling .....Question .....Gatto excerpt .....I think it's this: Organic learning. .....Interactive home ed .....With apologies to Manda... .....In praise of autonomous home ed ( - again!) .....They were questioned .....Computer games are bad for children? Pah. .....Teaching reading (and other things) .....Those squishy letters ....."Parents need to learn how to say No" ....."Schools are failing.." .....Autonomous education: my definition (again!) .....What is art? Just a little question, then ;-) .....Telephone Enquiry .....Child-led: how can they ask to do things they don't even know about? .....Autonomous learning again .....Clambering Children .....Competitiveness .....Homoeopathic parenting? .....Autonomous learning and educational neglect .....Boredom
•     ..Books .....Gatto: Dumbing Us Down .....Gatto - A Coal-Fired Dream World .....Children in Chancery
•     ..John Taylor Gatto .....Gatto: Dumbing Us Down .....Gatto - A Coal-Fired Dream World .....Gatto excerpt .....Gatto film: sheer brilliance :-)
•     ..Autonomous: THE POLITICS .....Worcestershire, Tasmania and the land of Notschool: "Curiouser and curiouser," said Alice. .....The rules of engagement .....Support, strings, other stuff and seeds .....*My* 2020 Vision: a voice from the future .....Bonds and bridges (glue and oil): "Aspiration and attainment amongst young people in deprived communities" - *or* 'They're at it again'. .....That fifth outcome and the NSPCC .....CME: did this slip under the radar? .....Transcript of Radio 4's PM interview with Shena Deuchars and Tony Mooney .....Freedom keeps us busy .....ECM: Brave New World .....Local Authority monitoring and why we hate it .....Very NICE .....When schools fail .....Your response identifier is 876 (deadline: Friday 24th October, noon) .....Dear Kitty Ussher .....Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is the same thing when it comes down to it, isn't it? .....*More* at risk of not receiving *suitable* education? .....So, what do we think is really going on? .....Transcript: the Radio 5 Live home education debate. .....Family life, UK, 2007 .....To register, or not to register? .....Transcript: Julian Worricker's Five Live Report on Home Education ....."Surely we all need standards to make sure we're making progress?" .....OK then. Let's consult. .....Do we *want* *relationships* with Local Authorities? .....A brilliant response at Green House .....Those consult questions, re-worded .....Local authorities' consultation responses: definition of terms .....Local authorities' consultation responses: Awareness of concerns .....Local authorities' consultation responses: When "the evidence is 'lack of evidence'" .....Why are home-educators so scared of being monitored? ....."Your response identifier is 554" ....."Your response identifier is 605" ....."Your response identifier is 610" ....."We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that all parents are informed of their legal right to home educate their children." .....I won't be signing this one .....Home education, single parenthood and availability for work. .....Do you believe in government consultations? .....My (revised and re-sent) 'In Work, Better Off?' consultation response .....A petition, a game and some thoughts .....Excellent letter from AHED to Ed Balls .....Consultation results and new guidance on EHE to LAs .....What Jax said ;-) .....When is an oath not an oath? .....AHEd heroes ....."Doorstepping" .....Wife Swap .....Debt lessons .....Civitas blog post revisited: Amazing autonomy .....Children: "An investment of very doubtful value." .....Blogging as evidence? .....Civitas on the TES piece .....Just to clarify .....Real teaching .....Don't be silly .....‘Learning’ does not equal ‘work’, Mr Mooney .....Joined AHEd :-) .....That deregistration issue .....So, how did you find out? .....A scam? ....."The LA expects evidence." .....Teacher association man pretends to know something about home education .....Home education on Today .....Opinion leaders and natural resources .....The UNICEF report ....."Graduates lacking the skills for work" .....Parenting strategies? .....Govt agrees: we don't need no education .....My current thoughts about EO and AHEd .....Children in Chancery ....."Respect" .....Government's parenting agenda .....Government's threats to HE freedoms .....EF's thoughts about HE politics .....Home Education Petition .....Home Ed for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children ....."Parents should spend more time with their children" .....Gatto - A Coal-Fired Dream World .....A conversation in our guild chat today .....Learning to read, 'experts know best' ....."Parents must do better" .....Poverty of aspiration .....What exactly is 'poverty of aspiration'? .....Government monitoring of family life .....Compulsory education and why it doesn't work .....Gatto: Dumbing Us Down
•     ..Petitions .....Home Education Petition .....A petition, a game and some thoughts ....."We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that all parents are informed of their legal right to home educate their children." .....I won't be signing this one .....2009 review petition
•     ..Consultations Your response identifier is 876 (deadline: Friday 24th October, noon) .....Why so serious? .....My guidance trumps your guidance .....*More* at risk of not receiving *suitable* education? .....OK then. Let's consult. .....Do we *want* *relationships* with Local Authorities? .....A brilliant response at Green House .....Those consult questions, re-worded .....Local authorities' consultation responses: definition of terms .....Local authorities' consultation responses: Awareness of concerns .....Local authorities' consultation responses: When "the evidence is 'lack of evidence'" .....Consultation results and new guidance on EHE to LAs ....."Your response identifier is 554" ....."Your response identifier is 605" ....."Your response identifier is 610" .....Home education, single parenthood and availability for work. .....Do you believe in government consultations? .....My (revised and re-sent) 'In Work, Better Off?' consultation response .....That fifth outcome and the NSPCC
•     ..Select Committee Inquiry ....."There has to be something that comes from the parents." .....Another thing Badman got WRONG .....Desperately seeking transcripts .....Notes on the transcripts (1) - Badman explains himself .....Notes on the transcripts (2) - Badman continues .....Notes on the transcripts (3) - Child abuse and FOI requests .....Notes on the transcripts (4) - Statistical spaghetti and the appeals culture .....Notes on the transcripts (5) - SEN, AWPU, govt co-option of charities and the concept of 'support' .....Notes on the transcripts (6) - 'Registration' (licensing) .....Notes on the transcripts (7) - Entering the home and interviewing the child .....Notes on the transcripts (8) - The voice of the child. Sought, heard, but not necessarily believed. .....Notes on the transcripts (9) - Funding, outcomes, sides of A4 again and yet more 'hope'. .....Notes on the transcripts (10) - Qualifications, the UNCRC and 'a world defined by systems of knowledge'.

  Archives

  • November 2006
  • December 2006
  • January 2007
  • February 2007
  • March 2007
  • April 2007
  • May 2007
  • June 2007
  • July 2007
  • August 2007
  • September 2007
  • October 2007
  • November 2007
  • December 2007
  • January 2008
  • February 2008
  • March 2008
  • April 2008
  • May 2008
  • June 2008
  • July 2008
  • August 2008
  • September 2008
  • October 2008
  • November 2008
  • December 2008
  • January 2009
  • February 2009
  • March 2009
  • April 2009
  • May 2009
  • June 2009
  • July 2009
  • August 2009
  • September 2009
  • October 2009
  • November 2009
  • December 2009
  • January 2010
  • February 2010
  • March 2010
  • April 2010
  • June 2010
  • October 2010
  • March 2011
  • May 2011
  • July 2011
  • January 2012