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I read this question on a website and it honestly made noise in my mind.
Why the hell would I have to ask permission from a small group of corrupt people?
Why should I ask permission to educate my daughter in the way I consider appropriate?
A year ago I found myself in this dilemma, I was being "forced" to enroll my daughter in an institution, I did it, for legal reasons, this year I will tell them to fuck off (sorry for the rudeness). I have concentrated on researching everything about it, the reality in Peru is that there is a legal vacuum when it comes to home education. If I am wrong in something I am saying or there is some important information about home education in Peru, I would like to know.
I found a place called "the community" located in Lima, it's a "school" but not a conventional one or one accredited by the state, it's actually a place where several groups of families meet to educate their children, for example: Mom "A" is in charge of teaching English, Mom "B" is in charge of teaching gardening, Dad "C" is in charge of teaching computer science... and so on, each mom and dad has a role to play in that community, it's not a place where you drop off your child at 7 in the morning and then pick him up at noon, then ask him "how was school? What did you do?" and your little one answers only with "fine, nothing". In that place parents have to be actively involved in their children's education, children are not forced to wear a uniform, children also have their responsibilities and what children are taught is democratically decided by the parents. Another thing that I found interesting about that place is that you can choose how many days you want your child to attend, as I said before it is not really a school, it is a community, a place of support for children and parents who are homeschooling. I found that place while looking for information about homeschooling in Peru, that's when I realized that there are people here using this method, without giving any kind of explanation to the state.
I continued my research on homeschooling in Peru and yes, there really is no regulation here. My little theory is this: In Peru there is a large percentage of the population in extreme poverty, usually in the provinces, small towns, in remote places where there are no schools, nor any kind of state or private service. Even in Lima there are places where they call them "human settlements", they are people who live in invasions in the hills of the city, most of them do not have water or electricity, some of these children are enrolled in the nearest public schools or there is the case of the parents who do not do it because they cannot afford school supplies, uniforms, snacks and transportation. Many of these children have to work from a very early age, usually they are the ones you find at the traffic lights selling candy.
  • Portugal: Homeschooling is completely legal in Portugal. Families who choose to homeschool must register their children at a local school, which will be responsible for monitoring academic progress. Students must complete regular tests to ensure that national educational standards are met.
  • France: In France, homeschooling is legal and has been gaining popularity. Families must notify local authorities and the education inspector of their decision annually. Homeschooled children must pass periodic tests to assess their progress and ensure that their education meets French educational standards.
  • Italy: In Italy, homeschooling is also completely legal. Families do not need special permits, but they must inform the local school of their decision to homeschool. Students must comply with national curricula and are subject to regular assessments to ensure that their education is aligned with national educational expectations.
  • United States: In the United States, homeschooling is legal in all states, although specific regulations vary from state to state. Families generally have a fair amount of autonomy in choosing educational methods and content, but some states require regular assessments or standardized testing.
  • United Kingdom: Fully legal throughout the United Kingdom, including England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. No special permits are required and there is no obligation to follow the national curriculum, although local authorities may conduct informal visits to ensure that an appropriate education is being provided.
  • Canada: Homeschooling is legal in all provinces and territories, but regulations vary significantly. Some provinces require families to notify local authorities and have their children subject to regular assessments, while others offer greater flexibility.
  • Hong Kong: In Hong Kong, homeschooling is legal, but requires special permission from the Education Department. This permission is usually granted under special circumstances, such as for health reasons or for families who travel frequently. Homeschooled children must meet Hong Kong educational standards and may be required to participate in assessments to ensure that their education is at the level of their peers in traditional schools.
  • Netherlands: In the Netherlands, homeschooling is permitted only under specific circumstances, mainly on religious or philosophical grounds. Families wishing to educate their children at home must demonstrate that they have deep convictions that prevent them from sending their children to regular schools. In addition, they must ensure that their children receive an education that is at least equivalent to that offered in public schools, and are subject to regular inspections by the educational authorities.
  • Greece: In Greece, homeschooling is legal only for children with special educational needs (SEN). This option must be approved by a special education board and parents must demonstrate that home education is more beneficial to their child than a traditional school setting. Home-schooled children must follow the national curriculum and are assessed regularly to ensure their education meets national standards.
  • Ucrania, Trinidad y Tobago, Tailandia, Taiwan, Suiza, St. Kitts y Nevis, Sudáfrica, Eslovenia, Eslovaquia, Singapur, Escocia, Rusia, Polonia, Bulgaria, Filipinas, Noruega, Nueva Zelanda, Moldavia, Malasia, Luxemburgo, Letonia, Jamaica, Israel, Irlanda, Indonesia, India, Islandia, Hungría, Finlandia, Estonia, Ecuador, República Dominicana, Dinamarca, República Checa, Colombia, Chile, Brunei, Botswana, Antigua y Barbuda, Bolivia, Belize, Bélgica, Barbados, Bahamas, Austria, Australia, y Aruba (solicitando permiso).
Countries where homeschooling is not regulated
  • Spain: Homeschooling is not regulated in Spain. Families who choose to educate their children at home do so in a framework of legal uncertainty, meaning that it is neither formally recognized nor prohibited by law. There are no clear guidelines or legal support to support homeschooling as an alternative educational option, although in practice many families do so. As a side note, although homeschooling as such is not regulated, there is the Center for Innovation and Development of Distance Education (CIDEAD), intended to provide distance education to itinerant or foreign-based families, but it is not designed for the general public interested in homeschooling.
  • Mexico: Similar to Spain, Mexico also does not have formal regulation for homeschooling. Families who homeschool must ensure that their children meet the requirements for accreditation of studies through standardized tests of the national educational system. Although it is practiced in reality, homeschooling in Mexico is done without a defined legal framework.
  • South Korea and Japan: In South Korea and Japan, homeschooling also lacks specific regulation. There are no laws that directly address homeschooling, leaving families in a situation of legal uncertainty. However, in both countries, education in public or private institutions is the widely accepted and socially expected norm, making homeschooling a less common option.
  • Nicaragua and Guatemala: In these Central American countries, homeschooling is also unregulated. There are no specific policies or legal support to support families who decide to adopt this form of education. Although families may choose to homeschool, they do so without a legal framework that clearly defines their rights and obligations.
Other countries where home education is not expressly regulated:
Marruecos, Venezuela, Uruguay, Uganda, Rumania, Perú, Panamá, Pakistán, Malta, Macau, Lituania, Kuwait, Kenya, Ghana, Emiratos Árabes (permitido legalmente a extranjeros), Croacia, Costa Rica, China, Brasil, y Argentina.
Countries where homeschooling is expressly prohibited:
Andorra: In Andorra, homeschooling is not permitted. The law requires that all children attend government-approved and recognized schools to ensure a uniform educational standard.
Germany: Germany has some of the strictest legislation against homeschooling in Europe. Homeschooling is illegal, and families who attempt to homeschool their children can face fines, legal penalties, and even loss of custody of their children.
Sweden: While it is technically possible to apply for permits to homeschool, regulations are so restrictive that it is practically considered prohibited. Only under exceptional circumstances, such as serious health concerns, can permits be granted, and these are extremely rare.
Turkey: Homeschooling is prohibited in Turkey. Turkish law requires all children to attend state-approved schools, and no exceptions are made for homeschooling.
Other countries where homeschooling is prohibited or severely restricted:
  • Albania, Armenia, Azerbaiyán, Bielorrusia, Bosnia y Herzegovina, Brasil, Croacia, Cuba, Chipre, El Salvador, Georgia, Grecia, Groenlandia, Guatemala, Kazajistán, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Macedonia del Norte, Malta, Moldavia, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Eslovaquia, Trinidad y Tobago.

Reasons and Motivations for Homeschooling

Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason. The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:
  • customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,accomplish more academically than in schools, use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools, enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults, provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools,as an alternative education approach when public or private institutional schools are closed due to acute health situations such as related to disease (e.g., Covid-19, Coronavirus).

Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions

The Fraser Institute of Canada indicates that the results of studies conducted in both Canada and the United States have consistently shown that people who homeschool obtain higher scores compared to people in public educational establishments when taking standardized tests of reading comprehension, writing and mathematics. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/more-canadian-parents-opting-for-home-schooling-report/article24976467/
On the topic of socialization, President Brian Ray of the National Education Research Institute of the United States says: “Studies show that in terms of self-perception, self-esteem, and group interaction skills, homeschoolers perform just as well as their peers in traditional schools.” The research measured peer interaction, self-perception, leadership skills, family cohesion, community service participation, and self-esteem. (The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) “PBS Parents”)
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Homeschooling in India is completely allowed. There's an act "Right to Education" which clearly mentions that Every child should get education and it can be anywhere or anyhow. @Coinsreporter can tell more he has been an educator.
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Thanks 🙏.
Homeschooling in India is allowed till 8th grade without any requirement for passing an exam or going for assessments. But from 9th grade onwards assesment is mandatory.
Not only schooling but for most courses in university, you can just register, self learn, stay home, do a job or whatever, at the end of year sit in exam and pass it. That's all.
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20 sats \ 1 reply \ @bief57 OP 12h
I think this is wonderful, I had no knowledge of this. Thank you very much for clarifying it and giving a broader view.
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Your welcome. In some of the things India really does better than the western democracies and freedom for education is one of them. Also, laws for education aren't different statewise, they're same and equal for everyone. Right to Education, added in 2009, compelled private institutions to provide free education to 25% of total enrolled students in schools.
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157 sats \ 2 replies \ @Scroogey 18h
I live in a country where, (about two generations) in the past, industrial and agricultural child labour was deemed normal. Not quite as bad as even earlier, but if you were poor (or a girl), you didn't get an education beyond the bare minimum required to do manual work.
The state then enforced a mandatory period of seven years of public schooling, where the cost of education was socialized. A vast majority of people considered this a proud achievement. (Hard) child labour is now considered a form of abuse.
Public schooling is a compromise, mostly due to financing: you can certainly stimulate children better with a lower ratio of pupils per teacher, but not everyone has the money to pay for extremes. For this reason, there are now some private schools. Expensive, more teachers per child, arguably better results. But most children go to public schools.
Home schooling is very rare, because most parents don't have the time to do it, as they have (or choose) to work. When it is done, it is met with some suspicion regarding the motivation of the parents. There have been cases of cults and religious child abuse.
Exceptions are, for instance, families who travel extensively (sailing around the world, carnies, other types of nomads). Those homeschool out of neccessity, and adjust curriculums and methods of public schools.
I'd say the general consensus in our country is that the goal of a child's education is to prepare it well for its own, independent life. If parents have their own strong ideas of how to do that, they are rightly required to pass some muster, if only to weed out abusers. The parents' rights don't trump the child's.
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Yes, in all countries each social stratum provides the education that is within their reach to their children. The system and the economy force you to depend on state institutions so that your children can have an education. I think the point you mention about the physical and moral safety of children is valid. It is acceptable to do a psychological study of the parents to corroborate that they are not a potential threat.
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What a sane and well-explained take. People here will hate it.
10 sats \ 1 reply \ @OT 15h
In Western Australia you need to register and some "moderators" come out to check in on the childrens progress. I'll be dealing with this in a few years. I like the idea of homeschooling and I think we're in a good position to do it.
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I have a question, does the state allow you to homeschool, but does it tell you what you should teach? Do they require some basic guidelines that everyone should follow? Or are they free to teach whatever content they want?
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Yeah, I'm from a place that outright bans it -- and live in one where it is more or less unheard of though not expressly illegal. It's unbelievable, and definitely adds to this ideological misstep where the gov is staffed with benevolent central planners who want what's best for you.
And P.S., damn, I want that community of yours
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That's right, they sell the discourse about self-improvement and that they want the best for you, they take on a "parental" role with society, but in a false and toxic way, it's ridiculous that they want us to ask permission for everything, to manage your own money, for your home, your family. It's absurd.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @Signal312 17h
Regarding the homeschooling in France - I listen to the Once Bitten podcast. He's a British guy, and homeschools his (3 or 4) kids in France. Homeschooling is legal, but apparently the yearly exams are very onerous and arbitrary.
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oh how interesting
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We live in one of the more friendly US states for homeschooling and do that, and most parents we know wish they could, but the way taxes are structured it makes it very hard to afford.
School funding is usually directly from property taxes and in much of the northeast makes up 70-80% of that. It's expensive too, you basically rent your house from the government to pay for the public schools you don't use.
As a result, too many parents have to take shit fiat jobs to afford housing and then send their kids to the government schools because they're too busy working. The system is rigged.
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You hit the nail on the head, the system is rigged so that you depend on their services and they indoctrinate you.
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17 sats \ 5 replies \ @grayruby 19h
Yes, both my kids are homeschooled. It is great.
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In Canada, right? Do you have any tips that can help me with my daughter's education? This year I'm going to break away from conventional education. I have some ideas in mind but I'm open to hearing the experiences and advice of others.
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40 sats \ 0 replies \ @guts 18h
Bookmarked
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40 sats \ 1 reply \ @bief57 OP 19h
I don't understand how I missed this post. Excellent, thank you very much.
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It was quite awhile ago.
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10 sats \ 3 replies \ @Skipper 16h
Families who choose to homeschool must register their children at a local school, which will be responsible for monitoring academic progress.
Why would the state be 'responsible for monioring' someone else child? F OFF 💩
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EXACTLY!
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Because we don't want a generation of children raised without basic skills required for employment and engagement in society. It would be nice if they could do basic math, read & write, and know how to use their vote to participate in governance. Without monitoring, that is not possible. Public school is a major win from a time period where only the wealthy could be literate, it became a major equalizing force in society, giving everybody opportunity to participate.
If one is against homeschooling, they must be a nazi
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I love the sound of the home school community you found. I hope it works out. That's exactly what I would like to do.
There's a good chance that we're going to move before our daughter would start school here. I'm not entirely sure what the school options will be where we end up, but I know home schooling is not something my wife wants to do.
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Homeschooling is not easy, it is understandable that you don't want to do it, you have to have patience, discipline and what I find a little difficult is: finding, organizing and teaching the content you want to teach.
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I would enjoy participating in the kind of community you found. I do think we'll start out with a private school and see if that works for us, though.
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Search a little more, you will surely find a place similar to this one. What do you think of Montessori schools?
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I love Montessori schools. That's exactly what we'll be looking for, first.
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38 sats \ 1 reply \ @bief57 OP 16h
That's great, I think it's a good option to start with. They are usually schools with few students, which makes it even better because the classes are more personalized.
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Our daughter's very independent and can struggle to transition activities (which I don't see as a particularly important skill, but most schools make a big deal out of it).
The tailored nature of Montessori has always appealed, but it's especially good for kids like her.
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It is insane to me that this could be "illegal" anywhere.
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I was surprised by some countries, in others it was obvious to expect. The system does not like free thought.
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As messed up as the US is, Its a pretty great country overall I think.
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10 sats \ 1 reply \ @bief57 OP 19h
Yes, it has several characteristics that make it favorable. I can't imagine myself living there, but I would like to stay there for a couple of years and travel in a motorhome around the country, haha, I have that fantasy.
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Sounds like a good life. I know a lot of people that want to do some kind of nomadic life in the US.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @guts 18h
It really isn't
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The country isn't good? I agree it could be a lot better. What do you think are the best places to live in the world?
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