Homeschooling could have a long-term positive impact on education

I have a deeper respect for teachers since the pandemic, and the parents who have been energised by doing lessons at home should join the profession, writes Ed Dorrell

Tuesday 02 February 2021 09:50 GMT
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<p>Homeschooling is good news for the teaching profession</p>

Homeschooling is good news for the teaching profession

I used to fancy myself as a good teacher. I don’t want to sound arrogant – I know how tough it is to master – but I thought that with the right training, coaching and support, I’d have been OK. I like public speaking, I have plenty of passion for my subject (history and politics, I guess) and I find young people fascinating.

But these days I have significant doubts. Despite having spent 13 years writing about education – in which I’ve visited hundreds of schools, watched hundreds of lessons, and delivered a fair few careers talks – I’ve pretty much never actually had a crack at teaching itself.

Now – thanks to Covid-19 – I have. And I’m fairly sure I’m crap at it. I don’t have the patience, insight or empathy. Trying to teach my four year old daughter maths, reading and writing, I get frustrated way too easily and I become grumpy when a lesson isn’t going well.

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