In this third instalment exploring the fallout from Donna Jones’s controversial remarks, OnTheWight continues to investigate the claims made by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner.
Her quote to another publication included that home educated children are “more likely to engage in criminal behaviour or become victims of exploitation” has sparked sustained concern and frustration within the Island’s home education community.
Despite repeated requests over the past three weeks, neither Donna Jones nor the Isle of Wight council have provided any evidence to support the assertion.
Ferguson: Totally unjustifiable to single out the Island with no statistics to back accusations
Yesterday OnTheWight featured the concerns raised by The Learning Zone, a charity supporting the home education community on the Isle of Wight. However, they were not the only ones keen to share their views on Ms Jones’s comments (read the PCC’s comments).
Sheila Ferguson, whose grandchildren are home educated, told OnTheWight,
“How dare they? Our children are with their parents. They have individual attention. The parents not only know who their children are mixing with but, more importantly, they know the parents too.
“The author of that article has no idea of the amount of (totally without financial support) work that goes into giving home ed children opportunities and activities across a very broad spectrum, including craft, art, literature (theatre visits), politics (debate club) outdoor pursuits, self reliance…. I could go on, but you only have to look at the programme put together for last year’s home ed camp to understand that. The children work together and play together under the watchful eyes of the parents. Please don’t tell me that 36 children in a classroom are better protected by one teacher.
“Why is there an expectation that home ed children are more likely to be victims of exploitation? Why are they supposedly more likely to be drawn into drug culture? We’ve all read the news reports of social services missing abuse, and of drug dealers waiting at the school gates. And school is actually a hot bed of bullying, particularly of children who are seen to be a little bit ‘different’ from their peers.”
She went on to add,
“I just feel that the Island is one of the safest, healthiest areas in the UK for children and it is totally unjustifiable to single out the Island for criticism in this way, particularly with no statistics to back up Donna Jones’ accusations.”
“Ridiculous and seemingly untrue claims”
Another parent who wished to remain anonymous told OnTheWight,
“Donna Jones has ignored repeated requests by the home education community to meet and talk about her ‘concerns’.
“Sad to say the ridiculous and seemingly untrue claims shared in that article are the result of two people getting together and making assumptions about an entire community, without involving us and clearly without any evidence.
“I’ll continue to give my children the best education and ignore the unkind and unfounded fear mongering spread by people who should know better!”
No response from the editor
One parent of a home educated child told OnTheWight they had written the office of the PCC following publication of the article on the other Isle of Wight news site and was told to contact the publication’s editor to obtain the statistics.
They did this, but several weeks later have still received no reply.
Sadler: It made me upset, angry and gave me mum guilt
Freya Sadler, another parent of a home educated child, told OnTheWight,
“Hearing Donna Jones’s words made me feel like I’m not doing a good enough job.
“I try really hard and think outside the box to make sure I’m teaching my son enough and it made me upset, angry and gave me mum guilt that I didn’t need!”
Freya went on to add,
“I don’t think it’s backed up by statistics, my son who is 14 has been home-educated for two years now and he’s so happy! He has a hobby and a great set of friends two of them are home-educated as well, he travels to the Mainland to scooter ride with his friends.
“He also goes out and I’ve had no trouble from him and zero peer pressure, so definitely would not be a victim of exploitation, I feel you are more open to that in schools especially with horrid snap chat groups and cyberbullying.
“I feel he’s safer at home and a lot happier in himself. Schools do not offer what home education offers. A safe, outside, child-led learning journey.”
Parents push back against ‘damaging stereotypes’
As concerns continue to mount, the home education community on the Isle of Wight remains united in calling for the evidence to support the comments made by Donna Jones.
Until that happens, many parents say they will keep challenging what they see as unfounded and damaging stereotypes, while continuing to provide what they believe is a safer, richer and more personalised education for their children.
