Re: [IAC#RG] Need help securing the rights of homeschoolers

Sarbajit,

Support for disabled children outside metros is lacking. RTE puts the onus on schools to go the extra mile to accept disabled children in normal schools, which probably would apply where special facilities are not available. Given the under funded, under staffed schools, this is a tall order. Worse, the "abled" penchant for educating disabled children to "empower" them can be really absurd given that this is a child who will likely need life long care. What difference does it make whether he learns the botanical name of something or not? Is his learning not better off being relevant to his circumstances and needs? Many disabled children to not have the strength, energy and stamina of normal children. They tire easily, have less control of their limbs. Shouldn't education, in that case be even more laser focused to use that small window of ability to impart the most essential and useful things instead of an ambitious array of things not useful for most people, let alone disabled children?

But beyond that, it isn't an issue of disability. Whether disabled or normal, a child should not be prevented from a unique, quality environment the parent is willing to provide for its learning.

For example, my parenting beliefs do not allow me to keep my son with anyone except me or extremely trusted and attentive people he is comfortable with before he learns to speak adequately enough to convey if he has a problem - I don't care what qualifications the govt thinks teachers have or even teachers for special needs have. My compass as a parent deems it my responsibility to ensure the well being of my child. My parenting beliefs also do not allow me to leave my son ANYWHERE without his consent. Kids crying at the gate is not acceptable parenting, in my opinion. That they adapt when given no choice is no redemption either.

There is something fundamentally wrong with a world that forces independence on children at younger and younger ages (in a world where adults often cannot judge people reliably) and then nags adult offspring for not being close. Why would a child that had to make sense of an alien world on his or her own cling to a parent after making sense of it?

My child does not even get insulted, let alone hit. I cannot trust schools to not abuse him given the low quality and emotional quotient of teachers themselves rooted in a culture of authority being right and a child's space not having any inherent value. Taunts, sarcasm, scoldings, public humiliation, domination, overruling a child's wish (and thus autonomy) for no critical reason are normal behavior of teachers in schools - even where teachers are not allowed to hit children.

These are views that are extremely prevalent among homeschoolers. The child is the topmost consideration in all choices and is respected as an individual with intelligence, preferences and the right to choose as far as possible. So it is an entire category of people who number in the tens of thousands probably (and growing!) that the RTE rides rough shod over.

Right now homeschoolers find chinks, keep head down and hope their kids are over 14 before the other RTE shoe drops, etc. Others convince local schools to enroll their children on record, but never send them to school and hope they can get away with it. There is the constant fear that the law could be used to target them and even take children away from them - by a spouse in the event of divorce, would be a prime example. I know two women who had to settle for a no maintenance divorce - for them or kids when their husband threatened to take them away for homeschooling, or force her to send them to school - when they had no problem with homeschooling, indeed supported it and were active participants. I face this threat too from someone who never bathed his son in five years.

So this is how our rights get violated. No idea how to put it specifically as an answer to your question. Basic issue is that we hold child rights to a very very high degree and that the education system (specifically as per RTE) is not compatible with it.

In case anyone is interested, on a side note, here is a vision of schools that could respect children's rights and allow them to thrive https://aamjanata.com/school-reloaded/ - if there were such a school, I'd send my child there.

Vidyut

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On Sat, Jun 27, 2015 at 9:41 AM, Sarbajit Roy <sroy.mb@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Vidyut

People like us and most of this list (mainly the silent lurkers) are outliers. Conventional systems do not, and cannot, cater for the likes of us - because we expect perfection and will not settle for shoddy stuff.

In your situation, I would explore what the State is capable of delivering and pushed the envelope. Its an uphill task and doubly so for somebody homebound. I am confident that, given time, you would find the "policy" chinks which would permit you to keep your son at home if the State is unable to match your reasonable expectations of international quality education for your disabled child

Since you're probably well ahead of this IAC list in knowing your son's rights under the various very well funded Central Govt schemes of MHRD / Ministry of Social Justice (MSJE) which the State Govts implement, including through NGOs, could you update us with specifics of WHY / HOW your disabled son and those like him are being deprived,

All I get online are posts like this

http://www.globaleducationmagazine.com/special-case-primary-education-children-disabilities-india-legally-lacking/

IAC / HRA is especially interested in knowing if the MSJE is not working.

Sarbajit

On Fri, Jun 26, 2015 at 11:24 AM, Vidyut <wide.aware@gmail.com> wrote:

It also has a larger environmental and economic impact. The less you are able to reuse things, the more you spend on buying specific things for specific purposes and the more garbage you generate. But if you are taught from early childhood that what is RIGHT comes from authority and if you differ, you are wrong, then you will buy products that are created and certified for specific uses instead of using what you already have. So, your old clothes will end up in some landfill while you purchase tissue papers and dusters and mops.

Do you know anyone anymore who binds left over pages from notebooks to reuse? Go to rural India. You will. And not just because of poverty, but because of sheer lack of exposure to "right" products for every purpose, a poor schooling system and enough opportunities to engage with diverse challenges that have no "right" answers provided. Jugaad thrives where reach of education system is poor in quantity/quality. That is how school kids rig up solar pumps there. Ever thought of that?

The education system is alarmingly lacking in the ingredients that make a mind perform at peak and thus, imposing it even on those with access to better possibilities does not just the children harm, but our overall intellectual abilities as well.

Vidyut

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