Great Debate

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The Home School Agreement - Making Parents More Responsible, or Just a Waste of Time?

The government says that Home School Agreements will force parents to co-operate more closely with schools, and make them more responsible for their children's behaviour. But will it? When we asked around, we found many people didn't agree:


A north London primary school teacher said:
"They're not worth the paper they're written on. Parents who were doing everything in our home-school agreement will do it anyway. Those who weren't aren't likely to start."

 

Background article

The father of a child at another school said:
"Frankly, I find it a bit offensive. I'm already involved with my boy's school up to the hilt, and I'd never dream of taking him out of school for holidays or letting him get away with rudeness or messing around. Discipline here is pretty good - but I don't see how this will stop the few tearaways we do have wrecking things for the rest."


But there were other views, too:
"My kids are always in trouble, and I can't seem to do a thing to stop them. When the letter about the Home School Contract thing went out, it certainly made me stop and consider. I'm a bit scared of it, to tell you the truth. I wish it had a bit more about how to stop your kids running wild, and a bit less about what might happen if they don't."

So... What do you think?

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