Laura Dekker...........why dont they leave her alone ?

photodog

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So what your saying is that the education authorities should just ignore the fact she is being truant and her parents have their head in the sand......

The deal was that she would keep up her studies. And she hasnt... and her parents dont seem to give a stuff.

She may be able to sail... but she is gonna be as thick as a plank if she cant do some readin, writin, and rithamtic...
 

Sandy

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Because she is not demonstrating she is receiving an education. In the UK if you educate at home you need to prove that the child is being educated to the standard for that age group; I expect it is the same in Holland and New Zealand.
 

fireball

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She may be able to sail... but she is gonna be as thick as a plank if she cant do some readin, writin, and rithamtic...
On the otherhand - if she can singlehand a boat around the world then she's learning how to make decisions (assuming she's not on the blower every 5 minutes!) ... and if she's going for a bit of speed and/or comfort rather than just straight line then she's working out more complex routes - that requires a bit of rithmatic! the writin she does when she writes up her (b)log - so that's cool ... the readin is done by all the media attention she's getting for the Dutch beaurotwats trying to get her back into school! ;)

Would I let her sail around the world? I'd have my reservations - but the experience would be amazing - and afterwards there is a bit of a gravy train in talk fees ...
 

longjohnsilver

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She may be able to sail... but she is gonna be as thick as a plank if she cant do some readin, writin, and rithamtic...

All that has no affect on her intelligence, she either is or isn't bright. Yes education is important but I'd take the experience she's having over formal education any day of the week. Education can be had at any time.
 

Reverend Ludd

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So what your saying is that the education authorities should just ignore the fact she is being truant and her parents have their head in the sand......

The deal was that she would keep up her studies. And she hasnt... and her parents dont seem to give a stuff.

She may be able to sail... but she is gonna be as thick as a plank if she cant do some readin, writin, and rithamtic...

Do you know her or her parents, I doubt it, therefore you have no idea what is in her or her parents minds.
Thick as a plank I would doubt very much but even if she is it's none of the Dutch governments business and even less of yours or mine.

What happened to liberty I ask.
 

photodog

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All that has no affect on her intelligence, she either is or isn't bright. Yes education is important but I'd take the experience she's having over formal education any day of the week. Education can be had at any time.

The girl is sailing around the world.... WTF else is she doing with her time if she is not doing a bit of studying... ????

Are you guys seriously suggesting that because she is out sailing, she doesnt need any formal education???

Given the availability of time on any long passage... thats just a pottiness too far for me...

I am not saying she shouldnt do the trip... I am saying that they had a agreement that she would study whilst on the trip... and they appear to not have kept to that.

No different from any scroty types dodging school...
 

photodog

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Do you know her or her parents, I doubt it, therefore you have no idea what is in her or her parents minds.
Thick as a plank I would doubt very much but even if she is it's none of the Dutch governments business and even less of yours or mine.

What happened to liberty I ask.

Dont talk *******s!

The state has a responsibility to ensure that children are educated. The parents are refusing to talk to the education authorities and she is not keeping up with her school work.

Its one rule for her because she sails... and another for the poor sodding kid with the heroin mother I suppose....
 

Reverend Ludd

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Dont talk *******s!

The state has a responsibility to ensure that children are educated. The parents are refusing to talk to the education authorities and she is not keeping up with her school work.

Its one rule for her because she sails... and another for the poor sodding kid with the heroin mother I suppose....

No, you are talking the ********s!

You don't know her or anything about her or what alternative arrangements have been made for her education. You don't know the details of what contact the father has with the education authorities, all you know is that he is reportedly refusing to attend a meeting with Truant officers.

I'm sorry but in this instance you are being an old clucking hen
 

Reverend Ludd

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Remember Mike Perham?

Why wasn't anyone making this point when that plucky teenager was sailing RTW?
Or when he crossed the Atlantic single-handed at age 14?

Oh and for you old hens out there, Laura is 16 now and a New Zealand citizen.
She will finish her voyage in two weeks and finish her education in New Zealand as agreed.
 

Koeketiene

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You don't know her or anything about her or what alternative arrangements have been made for her education. You don't know the details of what contact the father has with the education authorities, all you know is that he is reportedly refusing to attend a meeting with Truant officers.

What brought this on was an interview she gave by phone to Dutch radio a couple of days ago.
She said she had abandoned her studies as she had no time for them and it didn't seem relevant any more. She also said that she would never be returning to Holland and that she wanted to sail on to New Zealand in the new year.
She's officially a resident of Goes in Zeeland.
 

photodog

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No, you are talking the ********s!

You don't know her or anything about her or what alternative arrangements have been made for her education. You don't know the details of what contact the father has with the education authorities, all you know is that he is reportedly refusing to attend a meeting with Truant officers.

I'm sorry but in this instance you are being an old clucking hen

I am commenting on the article... you are speculating.

Simple fact is this...

They had a agreement with the education authorities in regards to her education.

They appear to have broken this agreement.

And everyone here thinks that somehow because she is sailing that this gives her some special dispensation to either not get a education... or break a agreement they made.

I think that is cobblers.

I think its a arrogance that almost defies belief. Sailing is a good and worthwhile thing to do... and she will learn loads. But its no substitute for a decent education, and it doesnt excuse you from having to do the things that you agreed to do...

And if someone is going to make a post and seek some sort of reply, then please do not lecture me about what I can and cannot post in reply!

I will post according to what I read!
 

photodog

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She said she had abandoned her studies as she had no time for them and it didn't seem relevant any more. She also said that she would never be returning to Holland and that she wanted to sail on to New Zealand in the new year..

Ahh to be 16 again.....:rolleyes:

I never had time for my education at her age either.... and I planned to move to Hawaii and surf and never ever ever ever go back to Kansas were that wicked witch lived...
 

electrosys

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The state has a responsibility to ensure that children are educated.
Who says so ... ? Oh yes, The State. How very convenient.

In a truly free society, a citizen ought to have the right NOT to be educated, at least not to the requirements of a State-imposed curriculum, in the same way as they ought not to have any State-imposed religion forced upon them.
 
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