SkelligSkellig

Argumentative/Persuasive WritingArgumentative/Persuasive Writing

Surely no one who has ever sat in a dull, Surely no one who has ever sat in a dull, grey classroom for six long periods in a day grey classroom for six long periods in a day will argue with me when I say that education will argue with me when I say that education at home is a good idea.at home is a good idea.

Having suffered in academic prisons since Having suffered in academic prisons since the age of five, I can confidently say that I the age of five, I can confidently say that I would have learned far more (and would have learned far more (and experienced more interesting things) had I experienced more interesting things) had I stayed at home.stayed at home.

Yes, education is vital to everybody – I know we Yes, education is vital to everybody – I know we need educated people in order to continue need educated people in order to continue developing as a species but people don’t just learn developing as a species but people don’t just learn things in school: we are things in school: we are alwaysalways learning. I didn’t learning. I didn’t learn to swim in school and yet I have won four learn to swim in school and yet I have won four swimming trophies this year. My mum is really swimming trophies this year. My mum is really good with computers but she didn’t have to go to good with computers but she didn’t have to go to school to learn about them – she taught herself.school to learn about them – she taught herself.

All that happens in school is that you lose All that happens in school is that you lose your identity as an individual. I don’t like your identity as an individual. I don’t like being identified by a number – I’m me; not being identified by a number – I’m me; not some small component part of 2.3 M! I’ve some small component part of 2.3 M! I’ve had too many teachers who couldn’t had too many teachers who couldn’t remember my name – what does that say remember my name – what does that say about what goes on in schools?about what goes on in schools?

If you get homework where do you go? If you get homework where do you go? That’s right – the internet. Why not just use That’s right – the internet. Why not just use this technology at home all the time rather this technology at home all the time rather than coming to a large draughty building than coming to a large draughty building that’s expensive to build and maintain?that’s expensive to build and maintain?

When I read David Almond’s novel, When I read David Almond’s novel, SkelligSkellig, I , I wished that wished that II was Mina – a character who, was Mina – a character who, despite not going to school, is intelligent, despite not going to school, is intelligent, interesting, caring and aware of the world interesting, caring and aware of the world around her. When I asked my parents what around her. When I asked my parents what they thought, this is what they said:they thought, this is what they said: