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How it all started...
At a meeting of home educating families held on the 10th October 1998 in Greystones,
Co. Wicklow, it was agreed to establish a "Home Education Network" (HEN).The
following people agreed to take an active part in the Network: Barbara Boland, Michael
Duggan, Joe Dunne, Carol Jordan, Nora Leahy, Andrew Lloyd, Heather and Jack
McClintock, Christine Moore, Maeliosa O'Leary, Margaret and Vaughan Quaid, Michael
Rice and Celine Spengeman. We subsequently had many further meetings to
determine the Network's remit, role and relationship with the families that constitute it.
The first concerted action of HEN was to discuss the proposed new School
Attendance Act (1998). We felt that the interests and rights of home educators were
unlikely to be explicitly addressed in the new act. It was agreed that a letter would be
drafted to the Minister of Education in those days, Micheal Martin with a copy to Brian
Felon, Executive Officer with the home education brief at the Department in Athlone,
saying:
These letters were sent out on 12th October 1998.
At a meeting of home educating families held on the 10th October 1998 in Greystones,
Co. Wicklow, it was agreed to establish a "Home Education Network" (HEN).The
following people agreed to take an active part in the Network: Barbara Boland, Michael
Duggan, Joe Dunne, Carol Jordan, Nora Leahy, Andrew Lloyd, Heather and Jack
McClintock, Christine Moore, Maeliosa O'Leary, Margaret and Vaughan Quaid, Michael
Rice and Celine Spengeman. We subsequently had many further meetings to
determine the Network's remit, role and relationship with the families that constitute it.
The first concerted action of HEN was to discuss the proposed new School
Attendance Act (1998). We felt that the interests and rights of home educators were
unlikely to be explicitly addressed in the new act. It was agreed that a letter would be
drafted to the Minister of Education in those days, Micheal Martin with a copy to Brian
Felon, Executive Officer with the home education brief at the Department in Athlone,
saying:
 | "In line with the family's constitutional right to educate their children at | |
| home, the revised School Attendance Act (1998) should contain a clause stating that children who are being educated at home do not come under said Act". | ||
| "We proposed that the School Attendance Act (1998) should also provide for | |
| persons who have initially opted for the school system and who subsequently exercise their right to educate in the home". | ||
| "Sufficient provision for the exercise of this right could take the form of a | |
| written notification to the school principal of this intention". |
These letters were sent out on 12th October 1998.
Would you like to know more?
Check out the summary of our history with the Department of Education.
We have put together information about legal issues in Is it illegal?
Check out the summary of our history with the Department of Education.
We have put together information about legal issues in Is it illegal?
HEN Ireland evolved as a support, information and lobby group form an informal
network of parents who had taken the decision to educate their children at home.
The aims and objectives of the organisation are:
network of parents who had taken the decision to educate their children at home.
The aims and objectives of the organisation are:
| To support parental choice in deciding the most appropriate form of | |
| education for each child. | ||
| To raise awareness of the fact that educating children at home is a | |
| viable and legal option. | ||
| To help utilise available resources and develop educational | |
| techniques suitable for each child's needs. | ||
| To provide a means for the interchange of ideas and experiences | |
| among home educators through regular social gatherings, newsletters and our website. |
In addition to these positions above there are nine Regional coordinators who
organise events in each region and keep in contact with local members as well
as being the local ear for those interested in Home Education. See their details
on the Contact Us page.
An e-mail list distribution managed by Denis Shields is set up to let members
know of news and activities going on. If you have anything to pass around,
please, send him an e-mail
Every quarter, Andrew Lloyd (and team) puts together the Newsletter where
HEN affairs, HE articles and materials are published, mainly sent by other
people or members.
There is a member's Contact List given to each of our members when they join
HEN Ireland with the contact details of those members who voluntarily consent
to be there.
Kim Pierce and Nick Gudge have set up a Home Education Library and they
offer the possibility of borrowing books to HEN members in Ireland.
There is a discussion forum at Home Education Ireland Yahoo! Groups All you
need is a Yahoo! ID
Soon we will be setting up a forum similar to the one they have on CluckCluck
as it seems to be better and easier to use
organise events in each region and keep in contact with local members as well
as being the local ear for those interested in Home Education. See their details
on the Contact Us page.
An e-mail list distribution managed by Denis Shields is set up to let members
know of news and activities going on. If you have anything to pass around,
please, send him an e-mail
Every quarter, Andrew Lloyd (and team) puts together the Newsletter where
HEN affairs, HE articles and materials are published, mainly sent by other
people or members.
There is a member's Contact List given to each of our members when they join
HEN Ireland with the contact details of those members who voluntarily consent
to be there.
Kim Pierce and Nick Gudge have set up a Home Education Library and they
offer the possibility of borrowing books to HEN members in Ireland.
There is a discussion forum at Home Education Ireland Yahoo! Groups All you
need is a Yahoo! ID
Soon we will be setting up a forum similar to the one they have on CluckCluck
as it seems to be better and easier to use
Chairman.................................. Denis Shields
Conference Organiser.......... Susan Kellegher
Contact Officer....................... Kim Pierce
Mediation Officer................... Thomas Reidmuller
Membership Officer............. Jenny Trethyn
NEWB Liaison Officers......... Shane Barret & Eddie O'Neill
Newsletter Editor................... Andrew Lloyd
PR Officer.................................Tracy Culleton
Secretary................................. Emily Rainsford
Treasurer................................ Faith Reilly
Conference Organiser.......... Susan Kellegher
Contact Officer....................... Kim Pierce
Mediation Officer................... Thomas Reidmuller
Membership Officer............. Jenny Trethyn
NEWB Liaison Officers......... Shane Barret & Eddie O'Neill
Newsletter Editor................... Andrew Lloyd
PR Officer.................................Tracy Culleton
Secretary................................. Emily Rainsford
Treasurer................................ Faith Reilly
OFFICERS 2007-2008
The election of the officers 2007-2008 took place on the 1st of July 2007 at the
Annual Conference. A National Coordinating Body was set up, where the
following roles were filled by a voting system:
The election of the officers 2007-2008 took place on the 1st of July 2007 at the
Annual Conference. A National Coordinating Body was set up, where the
following roles were filled by a voting system:
Who is who in HEN Ireland
HEN, like any volunteer organisation, depends on lots of people adding their
shoulder to the wheel. The work that needs doing is divided up as far as
possible so no one bears too much of the strain. We do need people to some
of the jobs. If you can spare a few hours a month to help Home Education in
Ireland, please let us know. Thank you.
HEN, like any volunteer organisation, depends on lots of people adding their
shoulder to the wheel. The work that needs doing is divided up as far as
possible so no one bears too much of the strain. We do need people to some
of the jobs. If you can spare a few hours a month to help Home Education in
Ireland, please let us know. Thank you.