Kent: Huge hike in town parents taking pupils out of school

[Ali Admin]

Evidently the number of children in Tonbridge who have been taken out of school for HE has almost tripled in four years.

Huge hike in town parents taking pupils out of school

Mother-of-one Christal Russell, of Hopgarden Road, chose to take her 12-year-old son Toby out of school in November last year and now teaches him herself.

Before Toby left Hugh Christie Technology College, he had "reached the end of the road" and struggled with his confidence and learning in large classes.

His mum said: "Children who are not street-wise cannot cope. It's like an inauguration, the law of the jungle. Some classes had as many as 62 children. They weren't really teaching them.

"You get a really good relationship with your child at home, and see the little triumphs and achievements."

But Paul Bargery, assistant principal at Hugh Christie, told the Courier this week that being in school was important in developing a child's social skills.

"It's not just about knowledge, it's socialising," he said. "The downside with home education is that they don't always have that social interaction.

"Students are better off in school. Once they become home-educated, we would like to make sure, although it's not our responsibility, that everyone receives a balanced curriculum."

Naturally the vested interests feel threatened when they should really be taking a long hard look at themselves and their own failings. This sort of claptrap is the default reaction from those who have never taken time to do anything other than parrot the schooling system's party line.

[Ali Admin]

More from Kent and the South East Home Educators, a group of almost 400 families who regularly meet for trips.

'Home education gives me freedom to be individual'

Amy, who has friends in and out of the home education circle, added: "In school there is so much pressure. To have a boyfriend, to drink, smoke, act in a certain way, to like certain bands.

"With the home education group everyone is so completely different, with completely different interests and opinions, dresses in different ways. Everyone is accepting and given the freedom to be an individual."