Today I had another visit from the home education assessors. This time it was to go through the report they made up after our review assessment. I requested this myself, because they just wanted to leave me with the report alone, but that just doesn't fly without an explanation from their side. But that's just my humble opinion.

source: sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

The story that led us here can be read here: https://steemit.com/familyprotection/@misslasvegas/the-report-for-the-assessment-they-did-for-my-kids-home-education-i-m-telling-you-these-people-are-nuts

I had back-up again in the form of Pippa, who knows pretty much all the ins and outs there are to know about the laws and regulations regarding homeschooling here in Ireland.
When the two assessors came in, we went through the two reports (one for each child) one by one and page by page.
Now, both reports had about 15 pages, with not much reasonable info. Only what was said during the assessment and their opinions.
I mention 'what was said' during the assessment, but that's not exactly true. They twisted my words, left things out and included things that were never mentioned.
First off, there was a mention that the kids did their main learning on a math website. Funny. Because it is a maths website and as an UNschooler, maths is done here, but it is not something we do for hours in a day.
So for them to even mention it this way, shows me that:

1. They didn't listen.
2. They clearly have no understanding of what unschooling actually is.
3. It makes me look like all I do is plunk the kids behind the computer.
   Of course, there was an objection on my side. I mentioned that I never even said that this website was mainly used for their learning. Only for maths. They replied that they both heard me say this....
   Pippa luckily chimed in and said that she never heard me say this, so the remark was scrapped...
   1-0 for me.

Then there was the matter of written work, or the lack of it.
They stated in their report that they saw little written work by either of the children.
I pointed out (again) the whole structure of UNschooling. Which is child-led, or at least in our case and they do write (a lot) but it's spread out between work they've done about certain projects and the computer. I also pointed out that if they would have paid attention, they would have noticed in their initial visit, that both the kids were happily tapping away on the computer...
They still weren't happy enough. So I told them that I bought workbooks since their visit and started working with the kids on them. Then I told them that my daughter finished one of those books in less than two hours and then asked me how long it would take kids in school to finish these, my reply was: Well, about six months...She shrugged and replied: BOOOOring.
This was laughed off, the books weren't even considered at this point. "I should show them at the next visit" (because if questioned, they just want to get it over with and leave so they can move on to the next victim...).
1-1

We brought up the fact that they failed to mention that the second assessor was in fact the other's manager and that they lied when they said she was 'just a colleague here to observe.'
The air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Especially when I said that I didn't think this was right, since I was supposed to be like an open book but they lied through their teeth...
There were words muttered, almost whispered...I'm not even sure if it was an apology. To me it sounded more like an excuse rather than anything. Aaaaand moving on swiftly...

Then the subject cryptocurrency came up. According to them it didn't show what they learned with that.
Well.....
I let them know that the fact that we had to explain to them what it even was, showed me enough about the capabilities of my children (who explained it to them). This was not enough, they needed WRITTEN proof, something that is hard to provide when it comes to this subject...
BUT, I decided that next time, I will show them their own accounts, so they can watch with jealousy what my kids are doing with their spare time and money...
Still 1-1

To make a long story a bit shorter: What it boils down to is that they need written evidence that my children are learning and that they can write. My daughter's work was shown the last time (obviously doesn't count) and when I asked why they completely ignored me when I told them that my son could write them a story right on the spot their answer was:
We didn't hear it, you didn't say that (Pippa disagreed, because she did hear it) and we wouldn't want to put the child on the spot....
Funny thing about that is that that will be exactly what they will do in the comprehensive assessment.
The kids will be asked to do work, while they're there to 'observe' our natural learning routine...
As if two complete strangers observing them will be anything natural.
1-2 for them.

source: memegenerator

But this is not all. The final straw is this:
When I asked them what I can do to prove to them that my children learn and they learn a lot. What would satisfy them?
They told me to keep a diary of all the work we do.
I have that, it was presented to them the first time. OOPS, they forgot...
Anyway, what I can do? OK, here it comes. I now have to write down everything we do, something I was already doing.
But besides that, I also have to write up what the children learned from this, how they did it and the progress they made.
All those things that I know because I'm their mother and I know my kids, I now have to put into words on paper and the kids will get tested about it.
Now, if this doesn't feel like school to them and back to school for me, then I don't know what does.
Unschooling (which is completely legal here) is now turned into homework for all of us.
And what they don't seem to realize with this is one major fact:
The time I need to spend on making this happen takes time away from them, their learning, my work (because I do work, even though I'm at home) and I'm not even mentioning the lack of sleep I'll be creating because I still want to get it all done and not lose out on that time.

They win - For now....

I guess the only thing to do is to bow my head and do as I'm told....MAN I hate this.
But I'll do whatever it takes to get them of our backs and us back to normal. At least we'll know they won't come back into play for another year or so, which gives me plenty of time to plan ahead, for something else....Possibly not here.
Let's just hope they listen and observe better than they've done before.

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