[SallyintNorth]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

[Ina]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

You are right - but guess who gets the jobs?

[SallyintNorth]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

You are right - but guess who gets the jobs?

YOUNG PEOPLE!! 

[ZaktheLad]

Whilst some years ago employers used to favour people with experience, I think the trend is changing to look at those who hold degrees only.  Many might not have much common sense at all (I work with quite a few of those!) but because they look good on paper they get the job.  Some graduates who come to my place of work are full of their own importance, have little experience and even less idea of the ways of the world.  To be quite frank, I am astounded at just how "stupid" some of them are.

[clydesdaleclopper]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

That's why I got fed up being an academic and am home schooling my kids

[waterbuffalofarmer]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

That's why I got fed up being an academic and am home schooling my kids

I was home educated too.

[plumseverywhere]

 I've always been interested in homeschooling, WBF.  What would you say were the pro's and cons from your point of view (if you don't mind me asking!) 
I have 4 girls and the older 2 have just reached the stage where school seems to be more about cattyness and peer group pressure than it does education 

[Lesley Silvester]

That's the point, Lesley - you and I had an education some decades ago.  What I see now is a lot of being taught to pass exams and not a lot of teaching to think, to research, to explore, to use common sense.

Not that long ago, Sally. I was a (very) mature student and graduated in 2000 before going on to do a Masters and my PGCE (teaching qualification). Teaching is one qualification that does make it easier to get a job although I was taught mostly theory and did most of my learning about how to teach by doing it.


My friend's son left school at 18 with A-levels and went to work for the Met Office. After a number of years there, he had a new boss installed - a new graduate - although my friend's son did apply for the job but couldn't be considered because he didn't have a relevant degree. Guess who had to teach the new boss how to do his job?

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I have never been formally educated only home taught. I don't have any experience of attending 'school' to compare with, however, having observed formal education I am happy that my parents made the decision to home educate. 
I have been able to have the freedom to explore different projects at various times without the restriction of 'classroom', so learning at my own pace has been very important in all aspects. I can see when you say that peer group pressure is a problem as it can interrupt learning, being at home I have not experienced this. There is quality time with my family and we tend to do practical chores on farm also as a family. 
Hope this helps 

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you - that is really interesting    Sounds like you really enjoyed it and that you come from a very family centred background, which is lovely.

[Marches Farmer]

My then 10 year old was bullied at school and the then 6 year old held back (the fact she was joining up her letters apparently made the other children feel they were failing!) so they were home schooled and learned to socialise with everyone from livestock porters to molecatchers, stayed up until midnight watching the vet do a Caesarean on a ewe, could stop at any church and museum we encountered, go to lunchtime organ concerts at the cathedral .....  We followed the National Curriculum on basic subjects (plenty of books in W H Smith's - they liked the Letts ones best) and they did maths and English every day before getting down from the breakfast table.  My son wasn't interested in anything academic and is working full time on the farm, my daughter decided she wanted to become a farm vet and needed to go back into the school system.  26 terms of home schooling and three of state seem to be doing the trick as her forecast GCSE grades are all A/A* BUT she couldn't believe how vicious some of her classmates are and how much they swore and was astonished to find some of them regularly drink alcohol and smoke pot!

Take a look at the Education Otherwise site.  Estimates are 85,000 home schooled children in the UK.  Government doesn't like to admit it - people might think some folks don't think much of the state education system! Quite a few people we met through EO started because they had a special needs child that wasn't getting the help they needed but when they found how well the children did at home they pulled their other children out of school too.

[ballingall]

Whilst some years ago employers used to favour people with experience, I think the trend is changing to look at those who hold degrees only.  Many might not have much common sense at all (I work with quite a few of those!) but because they look good on paper they get the job.  Some graduates who come to my place of work are full of their own importance, have little experience and even less idea of the ways of the world.  To be quite frank, I am astounded at just how "stupid" some of them are.

I don't think this is necessarily true. I think there are now so many people in the job market with degrees, that is easier for an employer to specify they want someone with a degree just in order to weed out some candidates.


It does mean of course they might miss on someone qualified by experience who would be better at the job. Is having a degree now devalued to a certain extent?


Beth

[Backinwellies]

Home schooling works for some but will greatly restrict future prospects if no exams are achieved (common sense doesn't show on an application form).  I have taught a youngsters who had been home tutored then came to college to train in their chosen vocation ... one in particular stands out ............. a very likeable and clever young man, who would have easily managed A levels if he had been in school.... his maths ability was very good but there was some huge gaps where I can only assume his parents also had gaps .... he had never done ratio's for example. 

[plumseverywhere]

This is one of the reasons I realised I couldn't home school my girls.  My maths, grammar, spelling & most other things are pretty awful!   As said previously, Eloise wants to be a vet, eldest wants a future in bridal fashion design, younger two are mulling over being a doctor/teacher/chef.... best I can offer is how to make soap, fold hospital corners and trim hooves! 

[OhLaLa]

Some good replies here.

With regard to degrees etc. The first introduction is the course application form, in my opinion higher grades, and more of them, will always shine out - with those in turn backed up by experience.

One of my youngsters has wanted to be a vet since forever. Piles of soft toys with colds and bandages (makes for interesting reading on the application form!) for as long as I can remember.

By age 9 had already had years of various experience - from lambing, through to large/small animal illnesses, to plucking chickens for the freezer (along with the many questions of what was coming out when the bird was prepared for table).

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NB: 7 years of hard work to qualify, longer than qualifying to be a doctor.