Friday, 19 September 2008
Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Learn Nothing Day - Results are in!
I forgot to link to this on the day, but here are some links to blogs of people who tried to learn nothing and their *results*.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Every Single Parent Matters? Postcard Campaign
Since the matter was first brought to our attention by a Schoolhouse member in January 2007, AHEd and Schoolhouse have been working together to oppose new UK Government Social Security Regulations which will see lone parents who are reliant on Income Support moved on to Job Seekers Allowance as soon as their youngest child reaches 12 (from November 2008), the age threshhold being reduced to seven by 2010. Lone parents will then be expected to be available for paid employment outside the home, regardless of the needs of their children.
To coincide with the all too short consultation prior to the regulations being brought before Parliament before the summer recess, we have just launched the Every Single Parent Matters? campaign.
It involves a postcard lobby of MPs by parents and a parallel postcard lobby of the four Children's Commissioners for Scotland, England, Wales and N Ireland by children and young people.This short and sharp campaign requires immediate action by all parents and young people who are concerned about the impact of these proposed Social Security Regulations on vulnerable families.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW!
Parents and interested adults (UK wide):
a.. Download the MP lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of your MP and his/her address, which is House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
c.. Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that your MP can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
d.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or N Ireland, please also:
a.. Download the MSP/AM lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of your MSP/AM and his/her address. Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that your MSP/AM can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
[NOTE: Although this is a reserved matter, these regulations affect children and families and also represent a legitimate area of concern for the devolved administrations, so it is important to lobby MSPs/AMs and MPs]
c.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
Children and young people:
a.. Download the Children's Commissioner lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of the Children's Commissioner for your nation and and his/her address.
Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People,
85 Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh EH8 8AU
Sir Al Aynsley-Green,
Children's Commissioner for England,
11 MILLION,
1 London Bridge,
London SE1 9BG
Keith Towler,
Children's Commissioner for Wales,
Oystermouth House,
Phoenix Way,
Llansamlet,
Swansea
SA7 9FS
Patricia Lewsley,
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People,
Millennium House,
17-25 Great Victoria Street,
Belfast
BT2 7BAa..
Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that the Children's Commissioner can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
c.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
Organisations with an interest in supporting families:
a.. Download the poster about the campaign and display.
b.. Post the campaign information on your website and include in your newsletter.
Everyone:
a.. Download the poster about the campaign and display
b.. Let others know about this campaign so that MPs and Children's Commissioners are left in no doubt about our vehement opposition to these regulations.Links for the postcard campaign -
please cross post widely.
http://schoolhouse.org.uk/pc/
http://www.ahed.org.uk/pc/http://ahed.pbwiki.com/LoneParentPC
Thank you,Barbara Stark (Chair, AHEd) ahed@ahed.org.uk
Alison Preuss (Convener, Schoolhouse) media@schoolhouse.org.uk
To coincide with the all too short consultation prior to the regulations being brought before Parliament before the summer recess, we have just launched the Every Single Parent Matters? campaign.
It involves a postcard lobby of MPs by parents and a parallel postcard lobby of the four Children's Commissioners for Scotland, England, Wales and N Ireland by children and young people.This short and sharp campaign requires immediate action by all parents and young people who are concerned about the impact of these proposed Social Security Regulations on vulnerable families.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW!
Parents and interested adults (UK wide):
a.. Download the MP lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of your MP and his/her address, which is House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
c.. Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that your MP can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
d.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or N Ireland, please also:
a.. Download the MSP/AM lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of your MSP/AM and his/her address. Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that your MSP/AM can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
[NOTE: Although this is a reserved matter, these regulations affect children and families and also represent a legitimate area of concern for the devolved administrations, so it is important to lobby MSPs/AMs and MPs]
c.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
Children and young people:
a.. Download the Children's Commissioner lobby postcard and print it out.
b.. Complete the addressee box on the front with the name of the Children's Commissioner for your nation and and his/her address.
Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People,
85 Holyrood Road,
Edinburgh EH8 8AU
Sir Al Aynsley-Green,
Children's Commissioner for England,
11 MILLION,
1 London Bridge,
London SE1 9BG
Keith Towler,
Children's Commissioner for Wales,
Oystermouth House,
Phoenix Way,
Llansamlet,
Swansea
SA7 9FS
Patricia Lewsley,
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People,
Millennium House,
17-25 Great Victoria Street,
Belfast
BT2 7BAa..
Write your name and adddress in the box on the back so that the Children's Commissioner can return the postcard to you with his/her comments.
c.. Contact AHEd or Schoolhouse to let us know what his/her response is and we will record it on the AHEd wiki.
Organisations with an interest in supporting families:
a.. Download the poster about the campaign and display.
b.. Post the campaign information on your website and include in your newsletter.
Everyone:
a.. Download the poster about the campaign and display
b.. Let others know about this campaign so that MPs and Children's Commissioners are left in no doubt about our vehement opposition to these regulations.Links for the postcard campaign -
please cross post widely.
http://schoolhouse.org.uk/pc/
http://www.ahed.org.uk/pc/http://ahed.pbwiki.com/LoneParentPC
Thank you,Barbara Stark (Chair, AHEd) ahed@ahed.org.uk
Alison Preuss (Convener, Schoolhouse) media@schoolhouse.org.uk
LEARNING WITHOUT LIMITS:
A CELEBRATION OF CHOICE, DIVERSITY AND FREEDOM IN
EDUCATION
Arbroath, Angus, Scotland
Friday 12th September - Sunday 14th September 2008
A weekend long event hosted by Scotland's national home education support
organisation, Schoolhouse, in co-operation with Angus Arts and part funded
by Awards for All, to mark International Freedom in Education Day 2008.
A one day formal conference on Friday 12th September will focus on the broad
theme of
freeing education from the constraints of traditional schooling and will run
in parallel with a weekend programme of family orientated arts and heritage
activities in the home of the famous Declaration of Arbroath.
***PROGRAMME INFORMATION***
FORMAL CONFERENCE
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Webster's Memorial Theatre, Arbroath
This event is aimed at all those with an interest in educational rights and
freedoms, including policy makers, formal and informal educators, youth and
community workers, children's reporters, representatives from children's and
family support organisations, parents, academics, researchers and learners
aged 12 and over. (Please note that this event is not suitable for children
under 12).
The confirmed keynote speakers are:
John Taylor Gatto:
Three times New York City teacher of the year and
renowned international speaker and author of many books on educational
reform, including Dumbing Us Down: the hidden history of compulsory
schooling and The Underground History of American Education
Iain Nisbet:Solicitor and partner at Govan Law Centre's Education Law Unit
in Glasgow which works in partnership with schools, education authorities,
parents' groups and charities to make rights in education a reality.
The finalised programme will include workshop and panel sessions, as well as
plenty of informal networking opportunities.
ARTS & HERITAGE ACTIVITY DAY
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
Schoolhouse has teamed up with local charity Angus Arts (run by home
educators) who will be organising a programme of arts activities for
participants of all ages in the local community centre. We are also hoping
to secure the involvement of the Arbroath Pageant Society, and local history
expert Jim McGugan will organise tours of the historic Abbey
INFORMAL CONFERENCE & FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Date: Saturday 13th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
This will be a more informal day aimed exclusively at families
rather than organisations. John Taylor Gatto will deliver a second
presentation in the morning and there will be a number of workshop sessions
focusing on specific areas of interest to families as well as opportunities
for informal discussion. Arts and heritage activities will run alongside the
conference and workshop sessions.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Date: Saturday 13th September
Details and venue to be confirmed, but we plan to hold a traditional ceilidh
evening.
CLOSING SESSION
Date: Sunday 14th September, morning only
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
This will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the previous
two days' activities and discussions and consider ways forward for
freethinking educators. The morning's programme will be informal and
flexible.
***EVENT COSTS***
The following ticket costs for the 2.5 day event apply to home educating
families and individuals only.
Adult: £25
Young Person (5-17): £15
Under 5: FREE
[These costs do not apply to delegates representing public, private or
voluntary organisations at the formal Friday conference
who will be required to book separately].
***BOOKING INFORMATION***
Parental Responsibility
Parents will remain responsible for their children at all times and will
be expected to accompany them during activities. We regret that children
under the age of 12 will not be admitted to the formal conference on Friday
12th, but we plan to record the event and make a DVD available to
conference participants at a later date.
Venues
A map of the venues will be sent with booking confirmation. Arbroath is
located approximately 14 miles north of Dundee and 50 miles south of
Aberdeen (nearest airport). It is easily accessible by public transport and
is on the main Aberdeen-London rail route.
Accommodation
Information about local accommodation will be sent with booking
confirmation. There is a static caravan site on the edge of the town, a good
selection of local B&Bs, guest houses and hotels, as well as campsites
within easy reach of the town. Dundee is the nearest city with a range of
accommodation options.
Confidentiality
Your details will be used for event administration purposes only.
Schoolhouse will never disclose your contact information to third parties
without your express consent.
Images
Photographic documentation and video recording may take place throughout the
event. If you prefer not to have your images used, please let conference
staff know when you register.
Cancellation Policy
Fees for bookings cancelled more than 28 days prior to the date of the
conference will be refunded in full. No refunds will be made within 28 days
of the event, but substitute participants may be registered. All
cancellations and substitutions must be
made in writing and confirmed in writing by Schoolhouse.
Full details will shortly be posted on our website, but please do not
hesitate to contact us for further information in the meantime. We very much
hope you will be able to join us for our celebration of
freedom in education!
CONTACT US:
Schoolhouse Home Education Association, PO Box 18044, Glenrothes, Fife KY7
9AD
E: media@schoolhouse.org.uk
T: 01307 463120 (answering machine - please leave a message and we will call you back)
W: www.schoolhouse.org.uk
Schoolhouse is a Recognised Scottish Charity No SC026965
EDUCATION
Arbroath, Angus, Scotland
Friday 12th September - Sunday 14th September 2008
A weekend long event hosted by Scotland's national home education support
organisation, Schoolhouse, in co-operation with Angus Arts and part funded
by Awards for All, to mark International Freedom in Education Day 2008.
A one day formal conference on Friday 12th September will focus on the broad
theme of
freeing education from the constraints of traditional schooling and will run
in parallel with a weekend programme of family orientated arts and heritage
activities in the home of the famous Declaration of Arbroath.
***PROGRAMME INFORMATION***
FORMAL CONFERENCE
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Webster's Memorial Theatre, Arbroath
This event is aimed at all those with an interest in educational rights and
freedoms, including policy makers, formal and informal educators, youth and
community workers, children's reporters, representatives from children's and
family support organisations, parents, academics, researchers and learners
aged 12 and over. (Please note that this event is not suitable for children
under 12).
The confirmed keynote speakers are:
John Taylor Gatto:
Three times New York City teacher of the year and
renowned international speaker and author of many books on educational
reform, including Dumbing Us Down: the hidden history of compulsory
schooling and The Underground History of American Education
Iain Nisbet:Solicitor and partner at Govan Law Centre's Education Law Unit
in Glasgow which works in partnership with schools, education authorities,
parents' groups and charities to make rights in education a reality.
The finalised programme will include workshop and panel sessions, as well as
plenty of informal networking opportunities.
ARTS & HERITAGE ACTIVITY DAY
Date: Friday 12th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
Schoolhouse has teamed up with local charity Angus Arts (run by home
educators) who will be organising a programme of arts activities for
participants of all ages in the local community centre. We are also hoping
to secure the involvement of the Arbroath Pageant Society, and local history
expert Jim McGugan will organise tours of the historic Abbey
INFORMAL CONFERENCE & FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Date: Saturday 13th September, 9.30am-4.30pm
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
This will be a more informal day aimed exclusively at families
rather than organisations. John Taylor Gatto will deliver a second
presentation in the morning and there will be a number of workshop sessions
focusing on specific areas of interest to families as well as opportunities
for informal discussion. Arts and heritage activities will run alongside the
conference and workshop sessions.
EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Date: Saturday 13th September
Details and venue to be confirmed, but we plan to hold a traditional ceilidh
evening.
CLOSING SESSION
Date: Sunday 14th September, morning only
Venue: Arbroath Community Centre
This will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the previous
two days' activities and discussions and consider ways forward for
freethinking educators. The morning's programme will be informal and
flexible.
***EVENT COSTS***
The following ticket costs for the 2.5 day event apply to home educating
families and individuals only.
Adult: £25
Young Person (5-17): £15
Under 5: FREE
[These costs do not apply to delegates representing public, private or
voluntary organisations at the formal Friday conference
who will be required to book separately].
***BOOKING INFORMATION***
Parental Responsibility
Parents will remain responsible for their children at all times and will
be expected to accompany them during activities. We regret that children
under the age of 12 will not be admitted to the formal conference on Friday
12th, but we plan to record the event and make a DVD available to
conference participants at a later date.
Venues
A map of the venues will be sent with booking confirmation. Arbroath is
located approximately 14 miles north of Dundee and 50 miles south of
Aberdeen (nearest airport). It is easily accessible by public transport and
is on the main Aberdeen-London rail route.
Accommodation
Information about local accommodation will be sent with booking
confirmation. There is a static caravan site on the edge of the town, a good
selection of local B&Bs, guest houses and hotels, as well as campsites
within easy reach of the town. Dundee is the nearest city with a range of
accommodation options.
Confidentiality
Your details will be used for event administration purposes only.
Schoolhouse will never disclose your contact information to third parties
without your express consent.
Images
Photographic documentation and video recording may take place throughout the
event. If you prefer not to have your images used, please let conference
staff know when you register.
Cancellation Policy
Fees for bookings cancelled more than 28 days prior to the date of the
conference will be refunded in full. No refunds will be made within 28 days
of the event, but substitute participants may be registered. All
cancellations and substitutions must be
made in writing and confirmed in writing by Schoolhouse.
Full details will shortly be posted on our website, but please do not
hesitate to contact us for further information in the meantime. We very much
hope you will be able to join us for our celebration of
freedom in education!
CONTACT US:
Schoolhouse Home Education Association, PO Box 18044, Glenrothes, Fife KY7
9AD
E: media@schoolhouse.org.uk
T: 01307 463120 (answering machine - please leave a message and we will call you back)
W: www.schoolhouse.org.uk
Schoolhouse is a Recognised Scottish Charity No SC026965
Sunday, 27 April 2008
Let our children be heard..somewhere to say what we want
From the Children's Commissioner's new website:
"The Children’s Commissioner for England , Sir Al Aynsley-Green, has launched a new interactive website to gather the views and opinions of children and young people. The views posted on the new site will shape the priorities for 11 MILLION, and help the organisation to influence government decisions about children and young people’s lives. "
"The Children’s Commissioner for England , Sir Al Aynsley-Green, has launched a new interactive website to gather the views and opinions of children and young people. The views posted on the new site will shape the priorities for 11 MILLION, and help the organisation to influence government decisions about children and young people’s lives. "
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