Pardon the Interruption: Homeschooling

[Guest guest]

As if the move wasn't enough then came helping the kids and ourselves get to

know our community (which we like) and burning a few tank fulls of gas and

afternoon hours taking roads just to find out where they went beyond our town.

 

And now...on to school. I wouldn't know where to start with the issues we've

encountered. Basically our questions are treated as if we are making personal

statements about the person we're speaking with (teacher, principal, BOE). For

example one teacher told me I needed to stop challenging everything they do.

This in response to my asking how the curriculum would progress after these

state tests the kids take. I didn't rise to the bait. I am going to cool off

this afternoon and am scheduling a meeting w/ same teacher and the principal.

At this meeting I will give my calmed down response which is that I WANT the

school and teachers to feel challenged about everything they do. I sweat for my

tax dollars..their salary. I want them to work and sweat for their salary, my

money.

 

So, I know that I need to ask a lot of questions because I am switching from one

teaching environment to another. In being an involved parent I want to know

EVERYTHING there is to know about the teaching system because I want to be able

to help my child make the transition smoothly. It is not helping that they are

reviewing for these darn state tests and my child comes home with 60

multiplication problems and the answers are already printed at the top of the

page. It is also not helping that my child is VERY " self assured " and has the

" this work is too easy and I don't like the teacher " attitude. Then there is my

7yo son who tells anyone who asks him about his schoolwork that " It's so easy.

I feel like I'm on vacation. Mommy, can I go shoot some more baskets? "

Translation: why do I have to do this if I already know it better than the

teacher thinks I do? Answer so far from the school: " Because by law we don't

have to provide you with anything more. If your child was deficient we would

have to do more and we have resources. You should be glad that's not the case

with your child. "

 

My first question: Is anyone on this list in Connecticut and/or have experience

with the CT public school system? Our school for some strange reason does not

participate in any programs where they could send students to magnet schools in

the Hartford area (ALL the other towns around us do participate...so I really

wonder why my town doesn't). My second question: is anyone on this list

homeschooling in CT?

 

So far my friends back in Brooklyn have offered to send me their kids' (my

daughter's old class) homework packages each week to help keep her challenged.

DH and I are seriously understanding that we may have to homeschool. No issues

with that. We do realize it is a tremendous yet absolutely worthwhile

undertaking but we will have a feeling in the beginning that we may not be doing

enough or doing it right. If we end up finding this to be true - we're among

the brightest crayons in the box but I for one am not a Mensa candidate - does

anyone know if you can put your child back in public school at some point and if

so, how???

 

Thank you everyone on the list for allowing that this is not about EOs, although

I am sure I could work it into a curriculum for my genius (LOL) daughter.

 

Dale

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Dale,

First of all, let me commend you for having the caring you do for your children,

and all children.

I have a stepson, of which I dont have much sayso over, unless he is spending

the weekend here. Let me just say, that I would do what you are doing. Also, I

would homeschool my child.

Try to find out if your town offers adults classes in homeschooling. That should

help you get started. I think you have to be certified here in FL, not sure. But

to substitute a class, it is required to take a miniature education course.

 

Also, Copy this email you have sent, and send it only slightly revised, out to

your sentator, mayor, reps, etc. Then to the Prez of USA &

your Dept. Of Business Regulations.

 

Everyone. Even the newspapers! More than one paper. See what happens.

 

Squeeky wheel gets the oil!

 

Keep us posted!

Hugs,

Nessy Saylor

Dale Bernucca <dbernucca wrote:

As if the move wasn't enough then came helping the kids and ourselves get to

know our community (which we like) and burning a few tank fulls of gas and

afternoon hours taking roads just to find out where they went beyond our town.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for comments both on and off list. We meet w/ the teacher

and principal on Thursday after school. I will be going in with a letter in my

pocket that I'm 99% sure will be handed to them after the discussion. The

letter is a basic notice of withdrawal for my kids.

 

Now though someone has put the bug in my husband's ear to try the independent

day school here. The sad thing is that the IDS is just about everything our

kids' public school had back in NYC. The only thing they have that we didn't

have is a teaching a second language. Now that would be a tough one. I speak,

read and write Spanish fluently but my kids want nothing to do w/ using Spanish

w/ me. They will with their grandparents but not with me. That one might not

fly in our homeschooling curriculum but it's such a small piece.

 

So, I hate that I have to be in agreement w/ dh's choice (or him w/ mine). I

don't want to consider private school but he does. If you're curious here is

the school www.mooreland.org

 

Sigh.

 

Dale