[Saecularis Angel...]

Don't know where to find the answer to this, so thought I'd pick the collective mind of EB.

If someone is a citizen of a country where education is compulsory (the UK, in this instance) and they spend a lot of time travelling in other countries, is there any way to enforce that their child be educated?

I ask because my niece is being raised pretty much travelling widely, and we find now that she's currently visiting us that she is 8 and has received no schooling, no education from her mum, I gather she barely knows her alphabet. Would any authority care or be able to enforce that this child (who is also a UK citizen) should be educated?

[Jemstar]

I guess it would be very hard to police, but if the child is a citizen then there would be legislation in place. Of course actually doing anything abut it might be a different thing when they are travelling overseas a lot.

Most parents would be concerned enough to enrol their child in an appropriate distance education facility - maybe suggest this to the mother.

[Saecularis Angel...]

Most parents would be concerned enough to enrol their child in an appropriate distance education facility - maybe suggest this to the mother.

The mother doesn't want her to have formal education.

[Ehill]

Sounds like she has slipped through the net. UK is a big country with a very stretched and understaffed child protection agency. Yes, in theory it could be reinforced but she is probably not even on their radar if she has alwyas been travelling. Someone would have to report it in the first place.

[Saecularis Angel...]

Someone would have to report it in the first place.

Which is exactly what I would like to do, but I am wondering to whom?

[Jemstar]

The mother doesn't want her to have formal education.

WTF now?

In that case I would be contacting relevant authorities (Department of education/child protection agencies) in the home country and outlining concerns. Also, if they are in Australia for any length of time it might be worth contacting the authorities here. That poor little girl being denied the basic right of education needlessly.

I get that people aren't always fans of the school system, but education is a priority and can be carried out effectively in other ways.

This post has been edited by Jemstar: 14/11/2012, 02:52 PM

[RatbagBob]

Ange, here is a link to information about child protection in the UK from the NSPCC.

Having said that, and knowing that they are understaffed, underfunded and overworked, I would imagine that a situation such as you describe would fall most definitely into the "too hard" basket, until such time as they start living in the UK permanently

[Saecularis Angel...]

Awesome, BTK, thanks. I'll have a proper look through and see whether I can do something effective from here.

[mum201]

Seriously?!?!?!? I can understand maybe not wanting to have your child enrolled in a formal school, but surely doing some form of distance education so the child is not left behind re a basic education such as reading or writing!!!!! That do the parents do for a living?

[tothebeach]

The mother doesn't want her to have formal education.

There are plenty of children who do very well learning organically and following their passions. Not everyone needs to undergo an industrialised education through formal schooling. There are many unschooling/home schooling examples where children do not learn to read till they are 9 or 10, learn it immediately and take off. At some point, she will want to read and at that point, I imagine that her parents will teach her.

Steiner philosophy does not encourage children to learn to read till they are 7/8 and most children suffer no ill-effects from that.

Sounds like she is in a very fortunate position of travelling widely and learning about the world. Unless the parents are genuinely neglecting her well-being, I would let this one go.