...and I cannot sleep.
I am awake thinking (and writing out of control paragraphs on my blog) about my sweet boys and the education they are being subjected to at their new school. I use the phrase "subjected to" because that's exactly what's happening at their school. Data in/Data out. Do what it takes to make you pass the test. I never, never, never, never, never, never, thought I would be contemplating home school, but that is exactly where we are at right now. I went to a PTSA meeting tonight where I met the principal. She is not going to even bend on this recess thing, in fact she told us she can take away 80 minutes a week of gym time and still be within the guidlines. Is she nuts? And the teachers, well one teacher, honestly believes this school is one of the best in the nation and dares me to hold it up to any other school. I told her I was comparing it to other schools we've attended and it didn't hold up. I could go on and on, and I have gone on and on and on and on to my sister and my mom. I feel guilty sending my kids to school everyday. It's drudgery. They are tested on their library books for heavens sake and they have to check out multiple ones a week and score an 87% or better or it doesn't count. I am so sorry for my little babies. So, we are looking at k12. It's a home school program where all the curriculum and materials are already prepared and online teachers are available to walk the children through their day. Because we are technically Idaho residents we can attend the Idaho Virtual Academy and be right on track when we enter Idaho schools later on. And it's free. Am I really willing and prepared to home school my guys? Am I doing them a greater disservice by keeping them home? Am I setting them up to hate learning by keeping them in the boot camp school down the street? No recess, no art, no music, no talking in line, no talking at lunch, etc. Will they be socially wierd if they're home all the time? Will they be socially stunted at this school of their's anyways? Oh, what to do. I want them to love school, love learning, love reading, love trying things out, love creating. All of things are not available to them in Mississippi's public school system and that scares me. If anyone is out there, what are your thoughts?
7 comments:
My opinion is it never hurts to try the home schooling. My sister in law did it for a few years and she said it only took a few hours a day with 3 kids and then they could go and do other activities. I am sure there are also home school groups you could find in your area where you can still socialize your boys, and for that matter your boys are very friendly and will make friends no matter what. So my vote is to at least try it out! (who wants to "force" their kids kicking and screaming to school and then spend hours doing homework after???)
Where to begin...as a teacher I'm against the homeschooling thing. I have NEVER met a "normal" child that has been homeschooled. As a parent however, I'm not sure that I would be able to send my kids kicking and screaming to school everyday.
Unfortunatley with the No Child Left Behind Act standardized tests are what the entire school year is geared towards...ya gotta have your students prepared to take/pass the test or your job is on the line. And budget cuts have cut out PE, music, art etc. in a lot of schools. As sad as that is, there are many activities outside of school for kids to participate in to be exposed to these "left behind" classes.
I think the program that you found, especially since it's free sounds great. I have a friend in AZ who used a similar program with a child for a semester for various reasons. The program lays everything out for you so you don't have to guess as to what to teach the kids. However, she struggled with turning the the mom/child relationship to teacher/child and it DID NOT work for her. (Blake I could do it with, however there is NO WAY it would work with Ashlyn) Plus you'd have the girls at home to keep occupied at the same time.
As far as the socialization aspect of homeschooling...they have church/scouts to socialize. In addition, most communities have a homeschool organization of some sort that meet multiple times a week for playgroup, PE, field trips etc. So that would help with the social skills aspect of homeschool if the area has that.
It's a tough call. If it's just the recess thing and no extra classes, I'm not sure I'd pull them out. However, if they're dreading school and it's pulling teeth to get them out the door and they're losing their excitement for learning and discovery, I might consider it so it's not lost forever.
PS - the library book thing...I'm guessing it's the Accelerated Reading program which has been in schools since my sisters were in grade school. It really is a great program. It rates the students reading level, they read their library books in that level and take a comprehension test on the book to accumulate points. It's a great way to monitor their reading and make sure they're progressing throughout the school year. I've always heard the standard is 80% to pass the test, if they can't score that they haven't read the book carefully enough to comprehend it or it's above their level. It also ensures that students aren't reading too easy of books as well. They usually accumulate points to earn various things so it works to motivate the students to read. Really, as a teacher and parent both...AR is a great tool to use for reading.
Shannon: There are many many homeschooling children who are successful well adjusted people! Unfortunately, what most teachers see are the homeschoolers who fail and so they judge based on the failures. There are also a big differences in how well adjusted homeschoolers turn out based on the motivation behind the homeschooling. There are some amazing resources available to homeschooling. Just ask Doug & Linda. Every single non-fundamentalist Christian homeschooler I have ever met has had the kids' schedules so full of activities there was definitely no fear of a lack of socialization.
There are yahoogroups for LDS homeschoolers. There are probably homeschool groups local to you that will let you know all the extra curricular activities that are going on. You can get lower rates for music education, sports, arts, etc. by participating through a homeschool co-op. The ones here tell you about all sorts of free things happening! Don't forget the kids can still participate in 4H for more great opportunities that they won't get in public school.
You can tell the principal that your nieces have attended Blue Ribbon schools, nationally recognized as the best of the best and it is *nothing* like what is happening there. I am appalled.
We did pull Alex out of school and homeschooled for a time. I believe if we would have had access to K12 it would have been more successful. The bottom line is to have the kids happy about learning. We had a teacher last year that squashed the joy out of Ben and made him hate school. He no longer attends that school. This year his teacher is amazing. He is making straight As and loves going to school every day. If my child hated school, I would do whatever it took to remedy the problem.
Your brother was very much against homeschooling until we moved to Alabama :P Southern schools will do that to you!
Shannon, your are at Biloxi right? I remember when we were both there and asked a lot of moms about schooling there and the majority said they home-schooled because of the bad system there.
You can do it. You are a awesome mother. I wish I could be more like you. You are so capable and loving and enthusiastic about life. Your kids are amazing they are smart and good natured. They will love learning from you and love being with their mom who cares and teaches them everything.
Remember to put priorities where they should be. If it is the right time for you it will work out--- not always smooth but it will feel right.
I do remember my kids having test on the reading of their library books in VA and it was the AR program but it sounds like the other things are too extreme and not fun for all. School environment should be structured yes but also fun and letting kids be kids. They will talk in line and that's just human being being human. They need music, art, recess, to express and get those creative juices flowing in their veins. If we take away all free time how will a child learn to depend on himself or trust himself with out knowing himself through self discovery. When school is too structured we are all producing manufactured machine not creative geniuses.
sorry I will get off my soap box. I support you either way because I don't know if I could do that, I feel very lucky and blessed to have good teachers, a principal who listens and knows me, I am grateful for all the opportunities that our schools give my children. But I also know that if I were in a situation that was not good I would pray for other options, other windows to open and the Lord will strengthen you. You and Dustin are such great people you both have accomplished huge amazing things together, you can do it!!! I believe in you!
-Colleen
I would probably pull my kids out. Elementary school isn't supposed to be about achievement. It's supposed to be about exploration and discovery and finding out what you are good at.
It's a daunting idea to be the only one trying to teach your kids every subject and to teach two different grade levels, but if you have a good program then I think it's do-able.
The ideas/perceptions that they gain now about what an "education" is will shape all of their learning later.
I know you will make a great choice for your kids, and even if you leave them in, I know that you will find ways to provide for those opportunities that the school is not giving.
You can do it!
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