HomeSchooler.org.uk

Some adminy things first!

.If you post a message with a Link please add it to the relevant Folder in the
Links or Files section so others can find it later.

.We still desperatly need some help with these daily digests, there are 4 of us
at the moment but its not enough!
If you do this please contact me off-list, if you can do any other admin stuff
please add details to the Database! I really would like someone (anyone!) to
tidy up the Links and Files section please and put info in the right Folders,
you all have access to these so please feel free and go ahead if you have time!

.Please check that the Subject: line is relevant to the message you are posting!
If its is not please start a new Post.

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.More replies are coming in from MPs but many are using a standard 'party line'
letter

.Jo has drafted a letter to human rights specialists law firm.

.More suggestions about famous folk we could get on board, please add any you
can think of to the Folder, Tania is tryng to get in touch with Richard Branson

.Many members are contacting the DSCF for an FOI re the figures used for the
Badman report regading the 'higher proportion known' comment. you can do this
by going to
the whatdotheyknow website

e.g. I request that you supply the local authority evidence used to support the
statement "the number of children known to children's social care in some local
authorities is disproportionately high relative to the size of their home
educating population" in paragraph 8.12 of The Report To The Secretary of State
on The Review Of Elective Home Education in England, by Graham Badman.

.Kent Online published an article -
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2009/june/24/home-ed-plans-c...

which created so many responses they wrote a follow up!

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2009/june/25/home_ed_plans_-...

.Barry worte to let us know he has spoken by email with Tom Hodgkinson, editor
of the Idler and columnist in various papers. He seems interested in writing a
piece on this, He hopefully be speaking with him later so will let us know how
it goes. He is generally very pro-HE, and very against the government wanting to
monitor and assess everything

.Philip suggested some good questions that we could ask our MPs!

(1) Why has the Badman review suddenly changed responsibility of parents to
state without a parliamentary debate?
(2) Why has the considerable evidence supporting a Home education been largely
'biased' and the crucial NSPCC published apology (the cause of the current
review) been totally ignored in the Badman review.
(3) Why was a man known to be against home education employed to 'chair a
review' when prior to the review the DCSF outlined it's clear intention to 'act
on the review' well before any publication of the review had been made. There
was no option given to who should chair the review to begin with.

.Sarah informed us that Lord Lucus is supporting single parent home educators
(in regard to the new benefit rules whereby single parents must seek work of 16+
hours a week even if home edding) and seeking their views here -
http://lordlucas.blogspot.com/

.Some discussion was had on the Laming Report, it gives the numbers of children
known to social services and for what reason, see page 16 of 102.

.Deborah from America has joined the group voicing her concerns, she runs a
global website here - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/globalhomeschooling

.Various Links were posted to articles on the review

http://eaststaffslibdems.com/

www.sec-ed.co.uk/ (page 6)

http://www.freedomforchildrentogrow.org/update.php?show=single&ID=143

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/19/education-ed-balls-books

http://swlibertarians.blogspot.com/2009/06/home-education-badman-bad-rep...

http://www.renegadeparent.net/post/ParentsIts-not-a-home-education-issue...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/jun/08/vernon-coaker-schools-mi...

http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/06/25/those-who-can-teach-like-parents/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8118737.stm

http://www.sec-ed.co.uk/cgiin/go.pl/article/article.htmluid=42953;catego...

http://www.bernardtrafford.com/index.html

United we stand - diverse we remain