Calling SS on Tuesday

olddudders

I do find it odd that someone posts her dilemma, with her chosen course of action, and then becomes aggrieved and extremely defensive when some people take an alternative view.

What did she expect - a round of applause and a bouquet?

But Granypie has changed her course of action! At first she was going to contact Social Services but after an exchange of posts she has decided to report her concerns to the Local Education Authority.

I think this lady has taken a lot of flak on here. She has discussed the situation with her son. As a caring grandmother she has decided upon a course of action which she and her son (their father) are in agreement upon. It is none of our business who picked up the phone to make the call. Maybe her son asked his articulate mother to do it? Maybe he has a speech impediment and doesn’t want to do it. Maybe he has anxiety issues? Who knows?

Yet I find it strange how those on here who have had an education themselves - with all that entails regarding structure, assessments and friendships - seem very keen to deny the same to these twin seven year olds.

Urmsongran the children obviously do have friends already - as we were told they do things with other home-educators.

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I am really shocked by the attitude displayed here by some posters towards Granypie. She is concerned about her grandchildren's lack of education and is attempting to do something about it; the fact that they appear to be lacking age appropriate skills in literacy and numeracy does matter and needs investigating. Unfortunately, the inspection of homeschooling is very limited and restricted in what it can achieve, and can only offer advice to improve a poor situation.

Their father needs to take far more responsibility for his children's welfare, and moving a long distance away from them is not going to help. but I do not think the grandmother is using the situation to vent her spite on the daughter in law.
'Unschooling' follows loosely the principles of child-centred education and independent learning, which works for some children, but fails many unless there is an underlying structure for assessment in place. I heard John Humphrys once investigating various forms of primary education, in Wales and at the end of the programme he declined to say which form of teaching he thought best, but he did know that children only got one chance at schooling, and it was important to get it right, because lost time is very hard to make up.

It doesn’t really matter if granypie likes the idea of a Steiner school. It doesn’t matter what she likes at all. If the LA are happy with how the children are being educated, that’s literally the only other thing that counts. She doesn’t have a say. They could switch to more formal homeschooling rather than going into a regular school. She’s not going to get what she wants because it’s not her decision.

I think sometimes when you are so involved though and emotionally invested/hurt in/with something it is VERY DIFFICULT to take criticism and take a step back. I know I can become quite defensive in RL if I feel 'got at'. It doesn't mean I don't actually take other peoples opinions on board though and I'm sure were a similar to a certain extent. We all have things that get to us iykwim

I do find it odd that someone posts her dilemma, with her chosen course of action, and then becomes aggrieved and extremely defensive when some people take an alternative view.

What did she expect - a round of applause and a bouquet?

Perhaps one day you'll get your own life to be so passionate about Bibbity that you'll stop being sickened by my family and stop with your persistent bullying and shouting down of people on gransnet.

Actually if the children do go to school (after the situation gets sorted & if mum agrees) they might just love having friends to talk and play with! 7y is a perfect age for sharing, giggling and having fun. Haven’t the experts in education been telling us all during the lockdowns how much depriving children of socialising is detrimental to their mental well being?

I don’t disagree with the discussion regarding the children education.

What is absolutely sickening is the fact that Op is not holding her son accountable and how clearly useless he is. Once again a man getting a pass because the bar is set in hell.

I cannot believe the depth of nastiness. For what it is worth I am with Granypie on this subject and totally agree with what she has done. Of to the loft to find my WW11 tin helmet.

Sorry [Granypie] I did misread. The Steiner schools could be a good compromise?
If you can visit one you may feel reassured.

The Steiner Schools do not give their children formal reading, writing and maths until they are 7 years old.
It never harms the kids.......they soon catch up at 7.

My own child learnt to read at 6years old without being taught. As did her entire class.
When children are ready to learn they do very fast so do not panic.

I'm sorry @pinkquartz you must have misunderstood or misread something nobody wants the children in care. When talking about calling SS there was an anxiety over the care system if children are removed I've since called the education department who have taken on my concerns and will be dealing with it

only 7 years old is fine...they will soon catch up with schoolwork.
But what kind of person would rather see their grandchildren in care than being slightly left to their own devices.?

Surely your DS can find a middle way?
The Care system is not a plce to put children unless they are in danger.

No the thread is about my concerns over GC education.

And thanks smileless2012 it's in the hands of the right people

Education is not a life choice and yes there are alternatives to how a child is educated but if the rights and the needs aren't being met you don't need a black eye to tell you it's time to call in the right services

Because you are Intentionally trying to cause trauma to a woman and her children.

While allowing a passively babying your son who is the only one participating in neglect. I absolutely think negligent parents need to be critiqued and he’s accountable.

And that’s what I’m doing. Discussing the negligent parents. That’s what you wanted with this thread right!l?

I agree Maggiemaybe; some horrible and insulting responses on here to Granypie.

It does sound as if your 'phone call to the LA has had a positive result and your concerns have been taken seriously Granypie.

I wouldn't blame you in the slightest if you decide not to come back and let us know if there have been any developments and what those are, but it would be good to know if you decide too.

I hope that going forward the situation improves.

Thanks @maggiemaybe the real shame is I have so many PMs some agree and some don't but they have all said they don't want to post on the thread or others because of the way some people behave on here. Spitting venom and getting in a spiteful rant judging and not allowing or respecting anything other than one point of view.

There's a few posters on here who are making others not want to post anything.

Lol granypie - pot meets kettle!

There are other things to occupy your time instead of obsessing with this and you are telling posters what to do with their time?

Hilarious

Maybe if your son had not moved so far away from his children he could have input into their day-to-day lives. Will he only see them a couple of times a year now?

Have you no life of your own that all you do is sit on FB making similar judgements in the majority of your responses

Good grief, some posters on here really need to give their heads a wobble.

How do deeply personal and hurtful remarks about other members' families - people you don't know and are never likely to meet - add to the discussion?

Don't you have anything better to do in your lives?

I'm impressed by your patience, Granypie. I'm off.

Granypie
You missed the point - the gp made the vegan diet her business, just like you are choosing to make the unschooling your business

Unschooling is also another life choice.
Education comes in many flavours

The welfare of children has limits - does the child have a black eye, hit by the parents, malnourished, etc? Please call SS!
Parenting about schooling, how they dress, activities they do AND kids are happy and healhy do not fit that category at all.

Your standards of what is acceptable are not the only ones to be followed