Letter-writing campaign to include natural learners

[Ayla]

I've been meaning to start this thread up for a while and I've finally got some time to do it! I've been reading all the registration threads, and it's unfair that in order to do what we have decided is best for our children we need to dodge the system and face penalties for being caught, or register for a system that we don't agree with and try to fudge it so that we 'fit in'. I'm still undecided about which path I will take - to register or not to register. However, I still have about 4-5yrs before I need to make that decision and I wonder if in that time with some activism from JLers that we could pave the way for natural learning to be included as a legitimate option for home educators.

I'm very new to activism so this is all in the Just An Idea stage at the moment, comments from experienced activists are most welcome.

I think we should start with researching the shit out of natural learning, finding studies, comparisons, anecdotes that can support our view. Quickening, I'd love to include the case you have made against the Qld list of criteria that registered home educators are supposed to adhere to.

It would be great if we could help each other to draft up letters to write to our local members and to other people holding appropriate positions in government and education. The noisier we are the more likely they are to listen, right?

Maybe it sounds naive, but I think it's still worth a shot.

[Sarasvati]

I'm interested in the idea of it...

[~*heket*~]

I'm in!

I suspect that I'll be registering in the not to distant future (although I really can't be bothered with it I want to do it as an arse covering manouvre iykwim). To register in NSW you need to present a curriculum to them. According to HEA this isn't so difficult to construct around natural learning as logic would suggest. I'll get back to you on how it goes ;)

[Ayla]

Please do!

I guess I should verse myself on the registration process here in Qld so I know what I'm arguing against...

[~*heket*~]

now THERE'S a plan :lol

[Ayla]

I'm finally getting back to this! I've spent the morning tracking down the addresses for the people I will be sending it to. I've included an Australian Greens representative, but not sure how relevant it'd be to them. I guess I just want to keep my party in the loop.

Julia Gillard
Federal Minister for Education
Parliament House Contact
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7320
Fax: (02) 6273 4115
Email: Julia.Gillard.MP@aph.gov.au
Postal Address:
PO Locked Bag 14
Werribee Vic 3030

Hon Rod Welford, MP
Member for Everton
Queensland Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
Level 22, 30 Mary Street, BRISBANE QLD 4000
PO Box 15033, CITY EAST QLD 4002
Tel: 323 71000
Fax: 322 95335
E-mail: educationandarts@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Bob Brown’s Office
GPO Box 404, Hobart TAS 7001
1st Floor, Murray St Pier, Hobart TAS 7000
Ph: 03 6224 3222 | Fax: 03 6224 2999 | Freecall: 1300 133 251
SG 112, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Ph: 02 6277 3170 | Fax: 02 6277 3185
senator.bob.brown@aph.gov.au | www.bobbrown.org.au
Media contact: Ebony Bennett - 0409 164 603

Ronan Lee
Australian Greens
State Member for Qld
Ground Floor
49 Station Rd
Indooroopilly
Qld 4068

Ronan.lee@parliament.qld.gov.au

I want to get together a pack that includes information about natural learning, statistics (if I can find them!) and reasons why natural learners don't want to register.

[Ayla]

My ideas so far:

Include information on natural learning/unschooling
Include common reasons why natural learners don't register
Include personal anecdotes from NLing families, and from NLed children
Include petition signatories (petition yet to be set up)
Include clear requests for what changes we would like to see to be incluse of families with a NLing philosophy

Okay, so what do we want? What would be fair and reasonable requests? Once we have a clear mission statement, I'll set up a petition. I want to spend all of December gathering everything we need so that after the Silly Season I can send out the packs. I want to set up the online petition asap so it gives us plenty of time to collect signatures.

I'll come back and give my thoughts later.

[Honesty]

good for you! you have my support in kind :) i wish i'd got more involved more quickly, things are getting somewhat out of hand here, if only i'd thought to get involved even just a few months ago.
the only resources i can think of are sandra dodd, http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm UN rights of the child, UN human rights (if you can find them),

http://www.dur.ac.uk/p.j.rothermel/Research/Researchpaper/BERAworkingpaper.htm

and alan thomas 2008 book

hope this is some help to start with!

[Ayla]

Thanks H! :D

[Honesty]

would you like some links to uk stuff? not sure how relevant it is, seems to be changes blowing in the wind, lots of child protection issues here of late, usually blamed on kids not being at school, despite no evidence taht is the cause and despite social worker peopl ealways being assigned to them and missing seemingly obvious signs big "sigh"

[Ayla]

I think everything helps at this stage, it'd be good to work as a collaborative at some point too :ty :foryou

[Ayla]

and alan thomas 2008 book

Do you have a title? I can't find anything :bah

[Asrathiel]

When the time came for me to register, I was going to write up a whole spiel about how my education philosophy made it impossible to provide a curriculum, as by its very nature, NL is unplanned...
Not sure how they'd take that!
I was also planning to provide examples (ie photos, reports on what we'd done, examples of 'work') of previous 'learning experiences', to show that edumacation was really happening...

I think it's fair enough that they want people to register, just the way it's done and the restrictions are stupid. They just need to open their eyes and recognise that learning doesn't always come with a curriculum :P

[Honesty]

there are links off this page
http://home-ed.info/

and the 2007 guidance (not statutory, just recommended) to Local (Education) Authorities is here: http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/localauthorities/_documents/content/7373-DCSF-Elective%20Home%20Education.pdf

I shall find the ref to the Thomas book. I know it was pub in Jan.

[Honesty]

It is called How Children Learn At Home, published jan 2008 by Alan Thomas, is available on amazon uk, not sure about elsewhere hth

[ThirdArmBabySlingProject]

I'm pretty sure HEA and/or HEN are involved in a process along these lines already...might be worth checking and joining forces if that's how you wanted to work so you're not re-inventing the wheel/covering ground already trodden...conversely, maybe it's the more (different groups/approaches) the better...? GOOD ONYA!

[Ayla]

T, I was going to ask if anyone was already campaigning for unschoolers. I'll contact them and see what they think, whether a collaborative or a separate thing would work better.

[Ayla]

:bump because of my dream :lol