Comments on Sometimes It's Peaceful: Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is...

Gah, I fell into that trap again... Correction: "s...

2008-09-08T07:41:00.000+01:00

Gah, I fell into that trap again...

Correction:

"so that both parents don't have to work for money."

Because staying at home isn't exactly effortless, is it?

I agree, there are no right answers, except what w...

2008-09-08T07:39:00.000+01:00

I agree, there are no right answers, except what works well for the family in question.

And I agree with IDS (for once!) - but three is way too young. 23 would be more like it ;-) And if the mother wanted to work, the father could take the money...

How about abolishing Council Tax, or giving people free housing or something, so that both parents don't have to work?

While we are about it:"Pay mothers to stay home, u...

2008-09-07T23:01:00.000+01:00

While we are about it:

"Pay mothers to stay home, urges Conservative think-tank"

"Sigh. It's a pity they're never up for the full a...

2008-09-07T22:13:00.000+01:00

"Sigh. It's a pity they're never up for the full argument.."

Totally agree. I can't think of anything much more worth discussing than education and there are no right answers.

That was you, doing your Big Billy Goat Gruff rout...

2008-09-07T21:40:00.000+01:00

That was you, doing your Big Billy Goat Gruff routine. (Not that I'm complaining.) And ok, it was a few other people too. A whole herd of big goats! :-)

Sigh. It's a pity they're never up for the full argument..

I think your troll has trolled off.

2008-09-07T21:25:00.000+01:00

I think your troll has trolled off.

LOL! Yes please :-) And the rest of the huge chunk...

2008-09-07T15:40:00.000+01:00

LOL! Yes please :-) And the rest of the huge chunk I paid in before I was doing this, as a result of the various businesses etc., that we had - three quarters of which I don't think I've had back yet.

But they can knock my VAT payments off the balance ;-)

(They're also paying about £40 per week, maximum, to house six of us, which will stop on Tom's 20th birthday - as will a lot

"autonomous HE means", frankly all sorts of things...

2008-09-07T14:57:00.000+01:00

"autonomous HE means", frankly all sorts of things. There is one simple truth. ALL LEARNING IS AUTONOMOUS. Teachers can teach all they like, but much of the time, no-one is learning. Hence a quarter of the children put through the State system fail to acquire adequate basic skills in literacy and numeracy.

I must admit, I find it really surprising that anyone would chose to hand their

I recently informed my M.P that, as a taxpayer, I ...

2008-09-07T09:38:00.000+01:00

I recently informed my M.P that, as a taxpayer, I am more than happy for my money to help to support families like Gill's. I firmly believe that Gill - and other parents like her - are raising families that will help build a better society. How can you place a value on that kind of contribution?

Havign read Old'un's comment, I felt compelled to ...

2008-09-05T11:16:00.000+01:00

Havign read Old'un's comment, I felt compelled to leave one of my own.

What a pity it is that someone who obviously cares for their kids - an with one seriously ill as well - feels the need to show such vitriol, hiding behind a screen, as an anonymous poster on a blog, after taking the time time to complete the sign up process. (and then complaining about people doing just that)

chuckle.. standing ovationYes, sorry to hear a...

2008-09-05T06:22:00.000+01:00

*chuckle..* *standing ovation*

Yes, sorry to hear about your ill child, Old'un. I hope s/he gets well soon. And I'm glad you feel like you made the right choices for them. That must help - it's better than regrets. I have no regrets either. Horses for courses.

Dear Oldun,I'd recognize your voice anywhere! It'...

2008-09-04T23:49:00.000+01:00

Dear Oldun,

I'd recognize your voice anywhere! It's you isn't it? It's amazing how distinctive a writing style can be, how the turn of phrase can be like a signature.

When I was first reading your comment I kept getting bells ringing then it clicked. It's you! And it's been so long since I heard your voice, to be honest I tend to avoid going places where I think you will be

Huh! I'm up well before 6am most mornings, thank y...

2008-09-04T19:41:00.000+01:00

Huh! I'm up well before 6am most mornings, thank you very much ;-)

And my children choose their own future. I've denied them nothing. They don't sleep all day - the boys were up at 8am this morning, for a walk across the moor and a game of bowls.

I cook breakfast every morning and we sit down to eat together... how have you jumped to so many wrong assumptions about us?!<

I have read some of your posts beforeI am not an H...

2008-09-04T19:20:00.000+01:00

I have read some of your posts before
I am not an HE fan, in fact I do think this autonomous HE means a lazy mother who can not be bothered getting up in a morning and getting her children off to school. As for letting children deciding when they need to go to bed? That is so funny> Just think if we all had that attitude to life. O I won't go to work today so there is nothing on the

Hi Big Mamma Frog :-) I've got a daughter (turned ...

2008-09-02T21:33:00.000+01:00

Hi Big Mamma Frog :-) I've got a daughter (turned 6 yesterday) who would probably fit quite well into school. She likes to be with lots of other children and to be given tasks etc. At least, she'd like it until she didn't! Then she'd want out of there, straight away. The other four (even the baby: 18 months old and I can already tell) wouldn't fit in at all. Far too rebellious, like their mother

Always like to browse your blog! Having experience...

2008-09-02T21:06:00.000+01:00

Always like to browse your blog! Having experienced first hand the wonders of autonomous home education (my niddle child taught himself to read when he was 6) it's always encouraging to see research to back up what we already know. So glad we're not stuck in the state education system - my kids might manage to conform, but I don't think I would! lol.

www.the-chicken-shed.blogspot.com

LOL! You'd be brilliant :-)And wow, that seminar s...

2008-09-02T05:34:00.000+01:00

LOL! You'd be brilliant :-)

And wow, that seminar sounds great. Joy Baker?? My heroine! I've heard Roland speaking a few times and had the pleasure of chatting with him on the phone too, and receiving his invaluable advice on the court case. Amazing man, with brilliant ideas.

Lucky Mieke! xxx

Me????? ROFLMAS. Ahhh, I see!!! You're suggesting ...

2008-09-01T21:35:00.000+01:00

Me????? ROFLMAS. Ahhh, I see!!! You're suggesting the other language they're speaking is Double Dutch...
Okay, we'll just stick to the writing about it, then. The days that I went out there and told 'em are long long behind me.
Although I am actually going to a seminar about Personalised Education on Saturday! With some inspiring speakers i.e. Joy Baker and Roland Meigham. Don't think

Allie - good point. I quite agree. Mieke, thanks f...

2008-09-01T19:56:00.000+01:00

Allie - good point. I quite agree.

Mieke, thanks for the praise :-) I feel mixed about really wanting to wade into educational establishments with my 'voice of experience'. Sometimes I think it might be a good idea and other times it seems like they're so determined to run it all as a dictatorship that I'd be wasting my breath. That 'adults know best' ethos is so pervasive that it seems

Another great post, Gill! And so many interesting ...

2008-08-31T11:47:00.000+01:00

Another great post, Gill! And so many interesting links, thanks!
And I, too, wish that people like you could speak out on these Horizontal project sessions. I don't know if this has been thought of or done before, but it would be great if we could gather - a lot of - real life examples to prove that children learn best when in charge of their own ambitions. From my own experience I could

I really dislike those 'five outcomes' - way too '...

2008-08-30T22:29:00.000+01:00

I really dislike those 'five outcomes' - way too 'mantra' like for my tastes. Also, there are children and young people who will not be healthy. They might aspire all they like but nature, or fate, or whatever you like to believe controls such things, will cause them to become ill and even to die. A little humility would not go amiss, I feel.

We should support each other out of our

Algebra! grinThanks, you :-)

2008-08-30T11:34:00.000+01:00

Algebra! *grin*

Thanks, you :-)

I just assumed she was doing algebra! Great post.

2008-08-30T11:03:00.000+01:00

I just assumed she was doing algebra! Great post.

Comments on Sometimes It's Peaceful: Numbers, especially FIVE. And some music, which is...

Gah, I fell into that trap again... Correction: "s...

I agree, there are no right answers, except what w...

While we are about it:"Pay mothers to stay home, u...

"Sigh. It's a pity they're never up for the full a...

That was you, doing your Big Billy Goat Gruff rout...

I think your troll has trolled off.

LOL! Yes please :-) And the rest of the huge chunk...

"autonomous HE means", frankly all sorts of things...

I recently informed my M.P that, as a taxpayer, I ...

Havign read Old'un's comment, I felt compelled to ...

*chuckle..* *standing ovation*Yes, sorry to hear a...

Dear Oldun,I'd recognize your voice anywhere! It'...

Huh! I'm up well before 6am most mornings, thank y...

I have read some of your posts beforeI am not an H...

Hi Big Mamma Frog :-) I've got a daughter (turned ...

Always like to browse your blog! Having experience...

LOL! You'd be brilliant :-)And wow, that seminar s...

Me????? ROFLMAS. Ahhh, I see!!! You're suggesting ...

Allie - good point. I quite agree. Mieke, thanks f...

Another great post, Gill! And so many interesting ...

I really dislike those 'five outcomes' - way too '...

Algebra! *grin*Thanks, you :-)

I just assumed she was doing algebra! Great post.

chuckle.. standing ovationYes, sorry to hear a...

Algebra! grinThanks, you :-)