From the transcript of Monday 12th session in front of the Select Committee
please note that this is currently the uncorrected version of the transcript. If/ when the corrected version is available, I’ll change my link and quote if necessary.
Graham Badman:
I believe that the EHE community has much to offer in developing our understanding of the effectiveness or otherwise of the schooling system. It holds a mirror up to the schooling system, and to that end, I have to say, Chairman, I have been somewhat surprised by the reaction of a vociferous minority-and I do think it is a vociferous minority; I can actually count the number of people who have done it. I have found the remarks of some of them offensive, but I draw comfort from an academic friend of mine who says that often personal attacks are made when logic has been defeated. I don’t regard those people as a majority. I think that I have benefited enormously from learning of their experiences, but I actually think that the change in regulation and greater scrutiny is essential for the children.
Quite a few of us have found some of Graham Badman’s remarks offensive too. And some of the newspaper articles that have been written on the back of what he said. But that apparently doesn’t count for much.
I don’t think that anything I’ve written on this blog could constitute a personal attack, so I’ve no idea if I’m counted amongst the vociferous minority mentioned above. I don’t object strenuously if I am.
I’m used to being in a minority. I’ve bounced from one to another pretty much all my life. Home education puts us in a minority, and I can see that we may well be in a minority within that minority what with blogging, camps, bit of structure and so on. Writing to my MP probably makes me vociferous, and if so, I’m proud to be so, and to encourage other ppl to get active and vocal as well.
Will you stand up and be counted too?
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