China: ‘Education at home’ boy to be sent back to school
BevK September 20th, 2006
http://english.people.com.cn/200609/20/eng20060920_304416.html
A case possibly involving Beijing’s first dispute over fostering rights based on an argument over home schooling for a child or public education came to a conclusion yesterday with the court’s verdict against the mother.
The Shijingshan District People’s Court ruled against the divorced woman who wanted to win back the right to bring up her son. She had claimed her ex-husband was depriving the boy of a school education but the court found no evidence for that.
However, it did say the father must now send the 7-year-old boy to school because that would be better for the youngster’s overall development.
China’s revised Compulsory Education Law, which came into effect this month, says carers of any school age child should send them to school for nine years of education.
But the law doesn’t say what punishment will be given to those who ignore the law.
“A punishment … wasn’t written in because the punishment may be difficult to implement. But home education is absolutely not advocated,” said an official involved in revising the law.
Some parents are still abandoning public schooling for various reasons such as a belief schools focus on high scores, assign too much homework and neglect those lagging behind, said Xu Xin, a professor with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law.
Xu said home schooling may also lead to defects in a child’s personality, as he/she lacks chances to be involved in group activities.
“Parents should be prudent when choosing home or private education. They should judge the quality of educators first,” said Xu.
