Originally posted by DrKFBut if she gets in to trouble, it will become someone else's problem - rescuing a young girl whose boat has capsized in rough seas doesn't come cheap or easy and if her trip is like other round the world voyages, she'll be sending significant amounts of time with no support near by.
But if she gets in to trouble, it will become someone else's problem - rescuing a young girl whose boat has capsized in rough seas doesn't come cheap or easy and if her trip is like other round the world voyages, she'll be sending significant amounts of time with no support near by.
I doubt, if she did get in to trouble, that her family would say 'well, we k ...[text shortened]... risk of misadventure in a reasonable manner, maybe the parents should heed the advice.
well that is her problem.
I doubt, if she did get in to trouble, that her family would say 'well, we knew the risks and we accepted responsibility for those risks' and suggest she not be rescued.
regardless of what they'd say, it is their responsibility, and if something happens they should be held responsible.
It might seem trivial or far-fetched, but it's indicative of a common problem when people assert their so-called rights, but also have expectations that others will provide a safety net if things don't go as planned.
maybe. do you know whether or not the parents actually said or implied they wanted others to provide a "safety net" in case things go wrong?
but still, I think we should be consistent about freedoms and rights, otherwise why have them if we're gonna change our mind everytime?
Originally posted by sh76The main issue is that she will miss two years of school and as such she is violating the law which dictates you must follow education until the age of 18.
Honestly, mixed feelings.
My first gut reaction was that it's none of the government's business.
But, after some thought, I'd have to know if this is really a dangerous enterprise. I don't know how risky sailing around the World is, though I imagine it's fairly risky. Will there be media boats with rescue equipment and First aid supplies following her aro ...[text shortened]... substantial risk to her life, then I don't have a problem with the government stepping in.
Originally posted by generalissimoThat's not a big deal. There are technologies that can access the internet through cell phones or cards from anywhere. I'm sure sailing leaves more than enough downtime to study at least as much as the average high school student does.
I presume that doesn't work very well (for the obvious reasons).
also, how is she going to have daily access to the internet? given the nature of her activity.
Whether internet high school works very well is a separate issue. I wouldn't recommend it or use it for my own kid, but I don't think it's the government's job to tell people which high school to attend.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraYup, chalk one up for Big Brother.
No, there are no online high schools which have been recognized by the ministry of education. You can get an exemption, but in her case the request was apparently denied.
If it's a matter of this enterprise being life threatening, okay, that's one thing.
If it's just a matter of some bureaucrat thinking that children ought not be doing this with their time, that's too much government interference, at least IMO.
If government were so good at raising children, Oliver Twist would be a how-to manual.*
* I know this is not a great face value argument; I just liked the way it sounded in my head.
Originally posted by sh76Well, children ought to get an education. Can she make a living with sailing? Maybe, maybe not. She should get an education so she has something to fall back on, instead of forcing the taxpayer to pay her benefits if it doesn't work out as planned.
Yup, chalk one up for Big Brother.
If it's a matter of this enterprise being life threatening, okay, that's one thing.
If it's just a matter of some bureaucrat thinking that children ought not be doing this with their time, that's too much government interference, at least IMO.
If government were so good at raising children, Oliver Twist would be a how ...[text shortened]... I know this is not a great face value argument; I just liked the way it sounded in my head.
Originally posted by DrKFInteresting story.
She has been made a ward of court:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8226196.stm
I would support her being allowed to make the attempt if she had the ability to do it -
especially in light of two teenage boys doing the same thing in just the past few months.
I'm glad to see that even though she's been made a ward of the court they're not saying that
she won't be allowed to attempt the voyage -- "A child psychologist will now assess her
capacity to undertake the voyage."
I would like to think that if her parents - who have sailing experience and, I assume, know
their daughter better than anyone - believe that their daughter has the proper sailing ability
then there won't be much of a hold up from the courts. I hope she'll be allowed to do it.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraWhy does the ministry assume that it's impossible to get an education through distance learning over the internet?
Well, children ought to get an education. Can she make a living with sailing? Maybe, maybe not. She should get an education so she has something to fall back on, instead of forcing the taxpayer to pay her benefits if it doesn't work out as planned.
If the ministry simply hasn't been asked to evaluate any online schools, fine. But if it has a policy that people can't get an education online, the ministry ought to get its head out of it's you-know-what and join the 21st century.
On the contrary, with all the free time she'd have sitting on that boat with nothing to do, she could probably get at least as good an education as students who hang out at the mall all afternoon.
Originally posted by sh76Well, it's quite hard to verify what a child learns in an online course. Additionally, social interactions are an important part of education as well.
Why does the ministry assume that it's impossible to get an education through distance learning over the internet?
If the ministry simply hasn't been asked to evaluate any online schools, fine. But if it has a policy that people can't get an education online, the ministry ought to get its head out of it's you-know-what and join the 21st century.
On the co ...[text shortened]... bably get at least as good an education as students who hang out at the mall all afternoon.
Originally posted by KazetNagorraTests and assignments can be administered online almost as easily as in a classroom. Identity can be confirmed via webcam. Proctored exams can be given via webcam. Countless schools do this.
Well, it's quite hard to verify what a child learns in an online course. Additionally, social interactions are an important part of education as well.
Social interaction can be done over the net as well. I guess you mean in person social interaction. That's fine and good; but do you think the government ought to be in the business of mandating in person social interaction?
Originally posted by FMF1. What the governments objections were: it appears from reading the thread that education was an important concern.
That's interesting. Give me a couple of examples of facts you don't have that you feel you need.
Although alternatives such as internet education have been suggested, I do not know whether the parents were planning to provide that and who would foot the bill.
2. What the risks are.
3. Who takes the blame when it all goes wrong.
With well publicized events like that it is quite common for governments to take the blame for their citizens stupidity. Notice that they apparently didn't interfere with previous solo sailing she has done without much publicity.
1 edit
Originally posted by KazetNagorrado consider -- you're all by yourself on a yacht in the middle of nowhere. Assuming stable weather conditions, there's going to be a LOT of time to study, along with a lack of "in-person distractions". I imagine she'd end up spending MUCH MUCH more time on her studies than the typical teenager.
The main issue is that she will miss two years of school and as such she is violating the law which dictates you must follow education until the age of 18.