What an unpleasant way to conduct a discussion.
The issue here as I se it is how to reconcile doing what is best for society with what individuals think is best for me me me.
Comments here suggest people think France is alone in this. Look at Spain, Netherlands, Germany and maybe others. And in the present climate more may follow.
Apologies in advance for rspnding to a personal comment with another personal cooment, but, you seem tothink you have the monopoly on thinking and nobody else has reflected before commenting. You ae wrong. Others have perh aps reflected more deeply and seen beyond their own narrow perspective.
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Dan does seem to hold some strong opinions
Figures from the UK 8.82 million children of school age with around 40,000 homeschooled.
Perhaps he has been brainwashed by the Homeschool Cult? 
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While I would readily concede that a text-based Internet forum is not the most feature-rich and nuanced mode of communication, we have to make the best of it. Words and intentions are often misconstrued—hence why it is so important to make clear statements and to avoid logical fallacies. Your speculation on what I might be thinking about that which others might be thinking is as unhelpful as Nigel’s straw man.
Beginning a sentence with “Apologies in advance” errs quickly into disingenuousness and adds no tangible “pleasantness” to our exchanges. I should counsel everyone to be as open-minded as possible and to consider their arguments in this often highly charged and emotive topic.
Nigel, are you aware of the Allegory of the Cave, by Plato? If not, may I commend it to you? It may be a better use of your time than resorting to ad hominem affronts. It is regrettable, telling and not a little ironic that you so willingly conflate home-education with cultist behaviour.
Note that my speculation was prompted solely by your speculation on my thoughts or lack of them.
I am not sure how you think we should be communicating, if not by using words. That is how I usually do it.
Text words are arguably more susceptible to misinterpretation than verbally communicated words as the latter’s meaning is supplemented by voice tone and, in the case of video communication or face-to-face interaction, facial expressions. I am happy to communicate with text words on this forum, despite their intrinsic and apparent limitations.
You’ve tried to rebut one classic logical fallacy with another there Nigel: there might all kinds of reasons for more people sending children to school - indeed I would venture to say there obviously are, such as the need for both parents to work. To infer their views on education from this is an equally obvious non sequitur.
But what is at stake in this discussion is not primarily what people think about school, or about home education, is it? It’s whether they think their views should be imposed on others.
I do not understand this comment.
Macron has proposed a law. he has been careful to keep the debate objective and logical constructive. I imagine he is hoping to get the law through with as little fuss as possible.
HMG talking about lefty lawyers and do gooders is inflammatory language designed to stirup hostility and create division. I see nothing constructive or objective about it.
Ahhhhhhhh… a welcome breath of fresh air! Thank you for opening the window, Geof! One does not have to go too far back in history or look far abroad on the world map to find examples of state overreach over its citizenry.
I recall Jefferson’s statement in “Notes on the State of Virginia”:
“Was the government to prescribe to us our medicine and diet, our bodies would be in such keeping as our souls are now.”
I, for one, count the right to home-educate our children equal to my right to choose the food or medicines I put in my body.
Hi Geoffrey, some people post just to be inflammatory and get a reaction, best ignored in my very humble opinion.
Have a great day
Izzy x
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As I have tried to say, I see it slightly diifferently. I see it as an issue over where to draw the line between shaping a society, whatit means to be French etc, and giving individuals within that society as much freedom as is compatible with that.
It is a perennial question.
Some countries give more weight to society some to individuals.
Dan do you object to laws that seek to prevent you from using hard drugs, health warnings about smoking, sugar etc? Even there you are not totally in control of your own borders.
Wise words Irene. I dipped a toe in the water but I think internet forums are not for me. I will find another way to while away my confinement.
No don’t stop posting, if people are driven away the the forum is going to become even more unbalanced than it is already
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Dan, do you have a science lab, drama studio, sports hall, an extensive range of musical instruments and art equipment, a group of people to take part in team sports, an extensive knowledge of English language, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, several modern languages, History, Geography, World Religions etc etc? If not I can’t see how you can educate a child at home much beyond the age of 10 or 11 without employing an army of people with academic specialities. Unless, of course, that child is not expected to pass traditional exams, the accepted and necessary measurement of academic achievement in modern societies.
Happy for you to explain how I might be wrong in my view.
Take care
Izzy x
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Goodness Geoffrey, it wasn’t my intention for you to stop posting. Please don’t, I enjoy reading what you have to say as, I’m sure, do many others. If the reasonable posters go away then the “shouty” people win. There are lots of lovely people on here to interact with so concentrate on those people instead.
Peace
Izzy x
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Thanks for asking Izzy. Firstly, you appear to be assuming that I home-educate my children solely because I defend the right to home-educate. Secondly—and I am so glad that you asked—my wife has a Masters in Music and proficiency over a wide range of the musical instruments strewn throughout our house. Thirdly, our collection of art equipment is extensive—far more so than at any local schools where art is not taught as part of the core curriculum! I am a professional commercial writer. As such, I believe my English skills would be up to the mark. You failed to mention IT (information technology)—disappointing, as I’m a software engineering graduate. (Maths up to 18 yrs therefore no issue.) Physics—I adore and read for fun. Chemistry and biology—my specific industry is soilless cultivation and controlled environment agriculture. This is my bread and butter! Modern languages, admittedly not so hot on these—but we are fortunate to have access to private tutors, both online and offline. Living in France is a great lesson in itself! History, geography and world religions all come up when we travel extensively.
There are good schools—excellent schools—with excellent teachers. Unfortunately, these institutions and professionals are the exception rather than the rule. Conversely, there are good home-school set-ups and there are diabolical ones where the parents are unsuited and inept! Moreover, some children will thrive in a conventional and disciplined school environment, whereas others are more suited to the manifold and well-documented benefits of one-to-one tuition.
In conclusion, I would not say that your view is wrong, per se, just partially formed.
Have great weekend and never stop learning!
Dan
But what is your ultimate aim for your children? Will they be able to enter the professions they wish with whatever qualifications they gain. On a personal level will they be able to socialise with others , relate to their piers etc. School isn’t just about education
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That is all very nice and stimulating and fun but not very rigorous or objectively tested - are you anti-exams or do you actually want your children to sit exams with success and go on to higher education somewhere reputable? (possibly you don’t believe in sitting exams, which is fine too). If you aren’t so hot on MFL (I notice Classics hasn’t been mentioned) why is that?
Surely your children are perfectly bilingual (slightly disingenuous question there because I come across many who should be, but aren’t) how can you help them?
If a child has a dozen or so specialists teaching him or her in the course of a week I think it may be hard for a parent, no matter how qualified in some field or other, to do the job of all of them. I have degrees from UK, German, and French universities and I wouldn’t presume to home-educate my children -but I am probably an intellectual snob in that I expect them to do well in an elitist system, including in areas where I have no expertise, so maybe I am the one who is out of step…
School is often too ‘one size fits all’ but surely parents can add on stuff to stretch their own children if that is what they need. Also homeschooling does rather imply parents can afford not to work which means they are hardly representative and rather reduces the number who can do it.
If you work from home AND home educate, I’d wonder how well either is being done.
ps edited to add I teach in lycée, so I do have some experience whereof I speak 
but no ideological axe to grind.
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Well, Dan, clearly your children are extraordinarily fortunate to have such gifted and exceptional parents. You have to accept though that this is not the norm.
I don’t believe though it is possible for you to teach your children in sufficient depth to achieve exam success. If it were then why are most teachers at lycée level specialists in a narrow area?
I am so sorry to disappoint you by not specifically mentioning IT, I thought my use of etc etc covered everything else I had not already mentioned - the list, of course, is much longer than I specified.
My view is my view, not partially formed, just my view and as valid as yours when you know so little about me.
Have a great weekend.
Izzy x
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