Part 6: Gloriavale Homeschooling – Failed ERO Reviews
Opinion piece: Liz Gregory.
(Thoughts, opinions and views expressed here belong to Liz Gregory and may or may not represent the views of the Gloriavale Leavers’ Support Trust, former or current members of Gloriavale.).
Part 6: Gloriavale Homeschooling – Failed ERO Reviews
As noted in the previous blog post, where I set the scene about home schooling in Gloriavale, during November and December, every family who home schooled was reviewed by ERO. The week before the school closure was announced on 18th December, they received the ERO letters they had been anticipating. Everyone was shocked.
Everyone failed the home schooling review
There was an understandable shockwave that went through the community. Is it possible that everyone failed to reach the standard – “at least as regularly and as well as” a registered school.
EVERY. SINGLE. FAMILY. FAILED. Even those who were trained teachers, and those who lived in houses – rather than the hostel. Which does beg the question, why did they all fail?
Families were given some more brief information in the email (but not many details) and were then invited to respond within 10 working days with a plan on how they intend to improve. (After that the plan would go to the MOE and they would work with the families to comply, or pull their exemptions if they choose to).
Crisis Cycle starts
There was a lot of confusion over this. People inside rightly wanted to know why there was a blanket failure. They’d had an ERO review only a year ago and there were positive reviews. It was noted that children were making progress. How could they now be failing?
It didn’t take long before people started developing the theory that it was persecution and it must be religious or social discrimination against the community. How could EVERYONE have failed? Surely if the assessments were fair and honest, some people would have passed?
We have noticed that when Gloriavale is faced with a crisis they seem to be following a predictable cyclic pattern of failure and then blame. One leaver described it like this: Something happens against GV that they don’t like. Fight with religious fervour. Say “God is on our side. We will win.” Pay millions down the plug hole to lawyers. Lose. Resignation for seconds. Then blame it on the leavers and the people inside Gloriavale for not doing the right thing. And then wait for the next thing to come along. Rinse and Repeat.
And it appears they might be heading down that path again… More on that soon…keep reading.
So why did they ALL fail? And are there other options apart from persecution and discrimination?
I don’t presume to know the mind of ERO, but the principle of Occams’ Razor is something that has served me well in life. It says that the simplest explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is usually likely to be the answer.
Here are six possible options that I have outlined:
Scenario One:
The Government is discriminating against their religious beliefs in disallowing home schooling.
My assessment: That’s less than likely for three main reasons:
- Point 1: We’re a pretty tolerant country, inviting people of all kinds of religions to live here. We hardly suffer real religious persecution – or come anywhere near it.
- Point 2: ERO has a template to assess families on – and there isn’t a category for assessing family beliefs and what religion you follow.
- Point 3: Up until three years ago Gloriavale themselves “discriminated” against home schooling on the basis of its own religious beliefs – namely their #1 doctrine of unity. So that would be like the pot calling the kettle black!!
Scenario Two:
The Government is discriminating against their human rights.
My assessment: Mmm not likely. For 3 main reasons:
- Point 1: Human rights have limits and the law clears up any confusion. There is no universal human right that says you can home school. There is legal provision that you can request to home school – but the MOE has the power to grant or deny that request.
- Point 2: Gloriavale has hardly been a bastion of human rights! I would dare to suggest that it has been the #1 location in NZ where people’s human rights have been deliberately violated.
- Point 3: Gloriavale doesn’t believe in human rights. You can’t claim something you don’t believe in!
Scenario Three:
The Government had an agenda and told ERO to fail everyone because they don’t like Gloriavale. And they told their professional staff to fail everyone. And those staff did as they were told.
My assessment: This might feel like an easy assumption to jump to, but less likely in reality.
- Point 1: ERO is a different organisation than the Ministry of Education. They are an a-political group. They remain operating regardless of what Government is in power.
- Point 2: The Ministry of Education and ERO know that they are being scrutinised in the courts over the Gloriavale issue. They know that all decisions are likely to come under scrutiny by with Gloriavale or leavers’ lawyers. I am pretty sure they will have been careful to make all decisions legally.
- Point 3: ERO staff are likely people with integrity, and I am not sure all the staff would feel good about failing people who they thought they were fully meeting the standard. (Maybe an ERO staff member could give me a confidential call if this has occurred).
Scenario Four:
The ERO assessors were positive, kind and encouraging during the visits, but they failed to have the difficult conversations about the families’ living environment.
My assessment: This might very well explain it for those living in the hostels. 100% agree. But it doesn’t explain the failure of the various families dotted around on the other farms surrounding Gloriavale who enjoy the privilege of one house per family.
- Point 1: Perhaps it was related to the unstable nature of the housing – families are constantly on the move from house to hostel and house again – between their two sites at Lake Brunner and Lake Haupiri. The leaders regularly make housing change decisions – based on who is needed for what job and where, and whether there are safety orders in place for men on bail etc). But this kind of instability means it can be hard to put roots down and feel like the space is really your space (well it’s not actually – the community has told you that for years!). This is not great for children and schooling.
- Point 2: Perhaps ERO looked at wider physical limitations – like the lack of easy and regular access to resources (whether it’s a van, drivers licence or finances).
- Point 3: Perhaps they realised the people in Gloriavale are still subject to the rules of the community – which includes limited autonomy and decision-making opportunities.
- Perhaps ERO didn’t feel they could delicately express these concerns in an email…
Perhaps ERO didn’t feel they could delicately express these concerns in an email…
Scenario Five:
The ERO assessors were positive, kind and encouraging during the visits, but they failed to have the difficult conversations about their connection to Gloriavale and its ideology.
My assessment: This one is getting warmer and it could be the simplest explanation. I did hear that some families were asked if they still attended the Gloriavale meetings.
- Point 1: There is an enormous amount of court-accepted evidence relating to Gloriavale, and a growing body of research to confirm that cults are harmful to kids and their development. Perhaps ERO thought that, like a gang or terrorists, the people current members associate with day in and day out aren’t really suitable (physically and emotionally safe). One leaver said, “It’s not about Home Schooling it’s about the mindset you have towards the people in your life.
- Point 2: Even if you live in a house (not a hostel), the chances are if you are a signed up, paid up member, uniform wearing member of Gloriavale, it’s fair to say ERO will be assuming your social support network is predominately within the community, your spiritual support and beliefs comes from the leadership, your kids associate with other Gloriavale kids, and your beliefs about life are tightly bound up to the ideas of Hopeful Christian and the SS (Servants and Shepherds). So it’s probably not a shock to me that ERO doesn’t think it’s a great environment for home schooling.
- Point 3: If it were this option, they wouldn’t be failing them under religious grounds, but under social and psychological grounds. It would be under ideological grounds. I suggest using the words “a coercively controlling cult” rather than religious cult. That way you’re focusing on the harmful practices and impacts rather than the Bible verses they twist to gain control.
Scenario Six:
ERO completed their assessments according to the standards and no one met the standards.
My assessment: This one feels a little harsh, but as hard as it is to accept it, we can’t rule out this might be the answer for the majority. Occam’s Razor. No great big conspiracy. Just the fact that inside that environment, it’s really hard to meet the same standards we expect of our registered schools. For some the mums, their own limited education may present a challenge. Or it may be that her ability to analyse educational needs and advocate for her children is problematic given the community culture. (Quite a number of leavers have expressed they struggled with school, or had dyslexia etc). There were also visual and hearing challenges that went unaided for periods of time. These impact educational achievement. Please note this is not a criticism of anyone’s intelligence – it’s just being honest about their cloistered and at times suffocating life experiences and lack of access to resources. All these things might make it more difficult to reach the home schooling standard.
Pick an option. It will be interesting over time to see which of these explains the blanket fail. At a guess I would expect it’s a mixture of Option #4, #5 – which ultimately has lead to #6.
But this will be a hard pill to swallow for the current home schooling mums who feel their children have benefitted from it. I do feel sorry for them. Most of the mums in Gloriavale are not to blame for the state the community is in – but they are sure bearing the brunt of the consequences.
Those who want to home school are going to need to make choices if they want to continue to home school. And like one leaver said, “Inside Gloriavale, choices always cost. And they can be expensive.”
One leaver said to me,
“Soooooo, what will they do? Be controlled by the leaders and live in fear that they will lose their children, or make a great choice and leave the cult?”
Most females’ responses are often limited by the decisions their husbands make (or don’t make). And usually in cults the females are more vulnerable and believe the ideology for much longer. It takes a huge leap of faith for a women to trust her husband and follow him out…
ERO Failure panic
There was definitely a panic that arose inside and outside Gloriavale on hearing about the failed reviews. Leavers tell me that you never really learnt to think properly in there, and they definitely didn’t learn how to negotiate and resolve difficulties.
(Even families who have left Gloriavale were wondering whether ERO was coming for them next. I have no idea if they are. But if you’re doing a good job, and keeping the standards, then relax! As one leavers stated, “I left Gloriavale to get away from being ruled by fear.”)
But I think the people inside Gloriavale have misunderstood something. A failed ERO report does not mean you have been banned from home schooling. It just means you didn’t meet the standard and you need to make some improvements. Only after that process has been followed can the MOE withdraw exemptions. An ERO failure is not a criticism of your intelligence. Or a criticism that you don’t love your child enough. It’s an assessment that ERO don’t believe you are meeting the criteria to educate your children as often as or as well as registered schools.
One current member said, “Well I’m sure the Lord hasn’t led me through the hardship of home schooling and the flak we received in choosing to do it, to come to this. He needs to have a plan.”
Yes and the plan might be simple. Rationally and calmly do what ERO requested. Respectfully submit the plan within the timeframe. Wait for ERO to pass this information over to the MOE. Book an appointment and convince them you can do better. But be prepared to have to make a tough decision. What will you do if the unthinkable occurs – if you have to choose between home schooling and leaving Gloriavale, or remaining at Gloriavale and sending them to a state school? Both of these options are unthinkable to someone brought up to believe they need to remain in Gloriavale (or on one of the anointed and blessed properties) until they die or the Lord returns if they wish to have any chance of salvation…
How are they dealing with this situation?
There are so many kind people in New Zealand, and there are people that support leavers and current members. We heard that someone in the wider NZ home schooling was concerned that some of the Gloriavale families may lose their home school exemptions. There was a concern this was a targeted failure against Gloriavale and that it may also have the flow-on effect of impacting home schooling in NZ more generally.
Subsequently a lawyer was introduced to Gloriavale who has offered to help them challenge the blanket fails.
Now this might sound perfectly reasonable to you. And it might seem like a lovely offer to advocate for the underdog. But in my personal assessment I believe choosing this pathway will be a mistake…
On a number of occasions we have unwittingly seen “rescuers” come to assist Gloriavale, only to find themselves in something far bigger and more complex than they realised…
The lawyer advised the parents not to respond to ERO’s request for a plan within 10 working days, and not to speak to the MOE directly, but instead let him speak to them on their behalf. And so the current members pretty much all signed up.
As usual for people in cults, the Gloriavale members are used to other people solving their problems, and they are quick to put their faith in people who promise to make all their troubles disappear. (I would have thought that parents in Gloriavale could see that historically putting their faith in other people to solve their problems has had catastrophic consequences – but dependency really is a cult feature.)
I predict that anyone who signs up with this legal action, is possibly signing their own home schooling death warrant. I desperately hope I am wrong. This process will create anxiety, and only lengthen the timeframe until a resolution can be found. And perhaps it will backfire on them too.
Eeek!
Let’s just be logical here. What family out here would lawyer up over a failed ERO report??!!! In my view that is an over-reaction. It’s a MASSIVE red flag. It would make me think these parents have no capacity to regulate their emotions and to negotiate – both key things required to be a good parent and home schooler…
How should they have handled the Failed reviews?
I would have advised them to do what most parents out here would do. Send a response to ERO within the time frame requested. Make sure it’s spell-checked. Be polite. Thank them for their efforts. Express your disappointment that you failed. Assure them you would like to understand better the reasons behind the failed report. Express your great desire to continue home schooling and request a meeting. No drama. No tantrums. No defensiveness. No threats. Just logical, rational, polite responses.
DON’T throw your toys out of the cot with some persecution complex, lawyer up and think this is a responsible response that will somehow endear you to the Ministry of Education. They literally have the power to throw you to what you consider to be hell (state schooling is the path to Satan after all).
Please note, I am sure the lawyer has every good intention under the sun. He is clearly worried that Gloriavale’s failed reports somehow reflect badly on home schooling in NZ. But there is information widely available that should help him understand that coercively controlling environments are not actually great for kids. Perhaps these failed ERO reports and school closure might just be the ticket for some of these families to leave!! (Leavers say that’s the best decision a cult member can make)
So where are we at? Well the ten-day timeline passed last week. Once ERO received (or didn’t receive) the responses, they would have passed everything off to the Ministry of Education to assess. It’s up to them to connect with each family to discuss how they might be able to meet the standards. The MOE has the power to revoke the exemption quite quickly…
But with Government Departments closing up for a well-earned break until the 5th of January, I expect emails will sit unanswered. That gives the parents at Gloriavale a little longer to ponder their futures and ask the big questions. “Do I follow the masses, keep in unity with the brethren, fight like there’s no tomorrow, keep my soul and acquiesce (send my child to the local state school)?”
Or, “Will I be allowed to keep home schooling if I leave Gloriavale???” I wonder how many are pondering that one.
There are other choices of course, But when you live in a cult you live in a very black and white world. Are choices really choices when they come with such high costs?
Is Te Kura an option?
Te Kura, or Correspondence school, is already being used by secondary school students at Gloriavale since their high school tipped over 3 years ago. But initially it still looked a lot like school in that they were all just sitting in one room and being “supervised” at times by highly unsuitable supervisors. I guess their hostel spaces were not exactly set up for positive schooling experiences. But must have been exciting for these young ones to have access to the internet after a lifetime of drought! (Still with controls of course!)
Can the rest of the parents request their primary children join Te Kura if home schooling is disallowed?
Or is Te Kura in the community also going to come under scrutiny? I don’t have any idea.
You have to meet criteria to do Te Kura. Just deciding you want to doesn’t cut the mustard. Gloriavale doesn’t meet the isolated criteria (believe it or not there is a school bus route that goes right past their gate!). So the only other pathway would be the psycho-social pathway. The students would ordinarily need to be put through an educational psychological assessment to see if there was a valid reason they couldn’t attend a state school. Some children with severe anxiety disorders might be given that option, or children who are recovering in hospitals etc.
The children in Gloriavale obviously managed to get permission under some category 3 years ago – but I suspect the MOE thought that was easier than finding spaces for the children in local high schools. (I concur there are some problems with that approach for the secondary children. One option is Greymouth High (an hour away) and the other is the unthinkable Catholic School (Gloriavale has a poor view of Catholics).
The newspaper article said the MOE hadn’t ruled out a satellite school option or a Te Kura Hub concept.
Time will tell. Its’ only one month until their new school needs to be on its feet… The only details we have about what it will look like and who will be attending are those in the media.
But I believe that if the MOE has made a bold call that the school in Gloriavale is not physically or emotionally safe, they are really saying that the community of Gloriavale is not really a physically or emotionally safe space. That to me signals neither home schooling nor Te Kura will continue on this site. And makes we ask if the whole Gloriavale community is a safe place for kids…
Read blog post #7 for what we think the new schooling solution might look like (or could look like)