Don’t you know it’s important to have an education?

Don’t you know it’s important to have an education?

You are ruining your chances of getting a job.

Why don’t you have lessons?

It’s important to go to school.

You are ruining your life…

I swear if I hear these phrases one more time I will scream!

‘B’ belongs to several websites, some of which she plays on, others she chats on, like most kids her age. She has made friends with a few people but she has become very hesistant to mention that she is home-educated when they ask what she did at school, why she is up so late on a school night etc. etc. Why? Because as soon as she mentions it, she is bombarded with these types of questions or negative comments.

They simply won’t respect that everyone has a choice and this is our choice (note I said OUR choice). She has to justify why and how and what she is doing. Most seem to think she is ruining her life. They simply don’t get it…

Initially I pulled ‘B’ out of school because they clearly had no idea how to help children on the spectrum survive the school system, their so-called experts not having a clue about the intracacies of our children’s lives, trying with all their might to tick those precious boxes they love so much. But to be honest, the deeper I dug the more disillusioned I became with the whole education system, most of it based on targets and budgets. I wanted my child to be able to have her own opinion, I wanted her to feel she has some value to add to society instead of constantly being compared to her peers in terms of what they deemed as successful. I wanted her to be able to solve problems, to think outside the box, to learn through investigation and experience, to be able to understand the true function or importance of something in relation to the real world. I wanted her to be… well quite simply… herself!

These people get very angry with her because she doesn’t have traditional lessons. Her learning is embedded into activities, we have no need for lessons. They condemn her because she isn’t taking exams. She finds it all overwhelming… we never ask them to justify why they feel the need to go to school, doubtless if we did ask them, the reply would be something along the lines of ‘Because that’s what I’m told to do, that’s what we are meant to do.’ Some of them have turned quite nasty and been very unkind to her… she is neither stupid or idle!

As the saying goes, there’s more than one way to skin a cat and that’s the premise we are working on… we didn’t go into this blindly, we know what we are doing. For example, she is only 12 but we have already put the wheels in motion for long-term work experience once she is 14 (health and safety rules). She has many ideas of her own how to secure self-employment, even at this age. I have faith in her, she isn’t going to rot on the heap, she knows it takes hard work and she’s willing to do it too. She also knows that to be successful isn’t dependent on how much you earn or what kind of house you live in or car you drive, it’s much more than that.

And to be honest, if you ask around, alot of home-educators, like myself, are teachers anyway. What does that say about the education system?

HOME-EDUCATING AND PROUD TO BE DOING SO!

Till next time

‘B’s Mum

A Stitch in Time…

‘B’ was offered the chance to have sewing lessons a few months back, an opportunity she grabbed with both hands and alot of enthusiasm. A friend has just set up a business, doing alterations, making clothes, crafts etc. She refuses to take payment so we are doing a nice exchange – I set her up with a website and designed her business cards etc. A lovely way to do business huh?

Turns out, ‘B’s a natural! Now armed with her own sewing machine and a whole houseload of fabric, there is no stopping her. In fact, she has her first craft fair on May Day!

I got her some business cards printed, so she can give away with any purchases (that’s optimism for you!), letting people know that any money she makes will ‘feed her habit’ and enable her to buy more fabric!

This is something we have discussed as a possible work opportunity for her when she’s older. I have said to her there are no rules that say you have to do only one thing for a living! I know, I am that person, juggling several different ‘strengths’ to make ends meet.

We are realistic, ‘B’ is never going to be able to hold down a typical 9-5 job. I swear she could sleep through an earthquake, nothing wakes her! ‘B’ dances to the rhythm of her own drum and that drum certainly doesn’t know about timekeeping! So, what better way for her to make a living than doing something she loves and something that won‘t require her to keep an eye on the clock.

So far she’s made bags, hanging hearts & squares, pencil cases, glasses pouches, a stuffed dog and now she is working on an apron…

It’s much better for her than sitting in front of a computer for hours, it keeps her busy and engaged and gives her great satisfaction when something is complete.

I’ll try and get her to photograph some of her creations… that’s another of her passions, photography! She’s starting photography lessons next week. Another friend is exchanging lessons for me teaching them Illustrator! She’s been taking photos for some time and has taken some lovely pictures, very arty stuff! But that’s another Post LOL!

Till next time,

‘B’s Mum