Contextual research week 6 (PART 2) – What is Flexi-schooling – Understanding various branches of alternative education.
In June 2019 I started my MA with Falmouth university as part of an accredited education programme.
4th November 2019
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CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH WEEK 7 (PART 1) – https://www.bambino-art.co.uk/contextual-research-week-7/
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In week six I went along to photograph another local Cornish family , the youngest daughter of which is full time home educated, whilst the eldest is flexischooled.
On the website Ed yourself, Flexi-schooling is defined as : “flexischooling is an arrangement between the parent and the school where the child is registered at school but where the child attends the school part-time. The rest of the time the child is home-educated (effectively an authorised absence from school).” Nicholson, Fiona. spring/summer 2012 . The journal of personalised education now. Ed.yourself. http://edyourself.org/PENflexischoolingjournalspringsummer2012.pdf (first accessed 04.11.2019)
In an interview in the 2012 spring/summer journal, Peter Humphreys states that the CPE-PEN argued that flexischooling “had huge transformational potential to our learning system, and that it should be recognised as a credible and viable option for families and learners.”
“Flexischooling stands at the boundary between mainstream and alternative, or, home-based approaches to learning. As such there is the prospect to develop a dialogue between the two, and a learning system fit for the 21st century.”
This idea of this educating the educators is a very intriguing thought. Most people I have spoken too, home educators, Flexi-schoolers, and indeed teachers as well, believe the system we have for education at the moment is fundamentally flawed, it needs a shake up, but how is the question, and whilst no one is decided on this, and the general public doesn’t even know if that discussion is happening, flexischooling is a very valid alternative. You have the structure and tradition of the school environment, where children are doing their literacy and mathematics , have regular friendship groups, and a regular teacher, but then a portion of your child’s time is spent being home educated. This education, can taken any form the parents wish, that they feel fits their own Childs interests, ability, and desires. Some choose to continue academic subjects, some spend their time at forest schools, beach schools, or an alternative provision such as a Steiner school, or democratic school. Other children may be totally unschooled where a family follows the Childs own individual interests. Of course, there are many variations on these set ups as well.
Over my project I will be aiming to explain as much as I can, the various forms of education, and how families utilise the range of options available to them. I have been considering my options on including texts of explanations to accompany any book, or exhibition I would come to do over the course of the MA.