amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

AvalonMom · 09-07-2006, 07:45 PM

I read John Holt and was pretty sure that I wanted to homeschool DD, even unschool.
DH is totally on board after watching his older kids struggle with public school (even though its supposed to be a "good" school). Its just sad to see their spark of curiosity and creativity go out due to bordom and stressful testing. Thats really what its come down to for them. They cram for the tests and then just hang out after the tests are over. They even go to practice testing school after their regular school. Yuch. A very bizarre system. I really dont understand how this relates to surviving in the real world at all.
Ultimatly for us DD is going to have to decide for herself. Thankfully we have a good Waldorf School in the area. So her choices are homeschool or Waldorf.
It might be worth looking into.
I know our school has a great finacial help plan.

Kbsmama · 09-07-2006, 07:45 PM

I have taught basic English at an open-admission business college for about 10 years now. I cannot tell you the number of students I have had truly believed they were incapable when it came to writing. For most, all it took was a little work and someone to take the time to help them figure out where they had problems and how to fix them, and, suddenly, they realized they weren't dumb or incapable. Many of my students were older, and carried with them the feeling that they were stupid for years.

It's truly sad.

tash · 09-07-2006, 11:04 PM

BlueRoseMama (btw I love your name)- we had to practice spelling aloud (plus thats how spelling bees are) I CAN NOT spell aloud. well, I can spell my name aloud, thats it. when writing analog (like most tests) I can spell better then aloud, but not really. however give me a keyboard (and when I dont have a wiggly baby on my lap) I can spell much better. most errors then are typeos. some are still just bad spelling and laziness in looking it up.

my mom did avocate a bit. I wanted to be homeschooled. I knew (and still think to a degree, except thats where I met my husband) that it would have been better for me. I dont learn well by being lectured to. but my mom and I dont get along well enough for me to have been at home that much. teachers have a lot to handle, but there were some things that really should have been unacceptable.

BlueRoseMama · 09-08-2006, 12:16 AM

My mom advocated... but she also pulled me from every school that bothered her. I went to 2 Kindergartens (this was explainable. I had an awful allergy to a plant that was in force right behind the field), 2 schools in 1st grade, 1 school in 2nd, homeschooled in 3rd, another school in 4th, another school in 5th, and then was actually stable for 6,7,& 8... then went to 6 different highschools in 4 years (which honestly was not her fault at all, I moved like 25 times and was homeless for over a year, which funny enough, was the only time I was in a school for more than a year besides 6, 7, & 8th grade).

I vowed that my children would be more stable than that, but my oldest has gotten the same crap that I went through. I have NEVER pulled him in the middle of the year, but he has already been to three schools and he is only in 5th grade. Less than me by a long shot... but still too many in my head. I hated making friends by highschool. It becomes so tedious, and if you arn't in a school for long it doesn't matter what people think of you anyway. Imagine the trouble that idea got me into as a teen with a split family and a HUGE 5 year custody battle... add a baby and you have my teen life in a nutshell.

Good times.

Anyway... I have stoped a lot of the things that happened to me as a student, and other things I have just allowed them to happen because the alt of me pulling him from every school that doesn't hold up to my standards just isn't realistic. Sad as that is. So I give him tons of art, reading, and writing encouragment when he is at home, I teach him to garden, and to cook, and I let the comments about his handwriting at his school confrences slide right off my back.

I so wish I didn't have to, but Cyan I could home school. Alex? I would probobly drown him with in a year.

(JK... but he is MUCH more high maintance than she)

Val

chakag · 09-08-2006, 11:14 AM

I was homeschooling this year (again), but right now, my kids are sitting in their respective public school classrooms.

I understand your concerns, etc. I, too, changed schools all the time when I was growing up.

I'm off to take a shower so I can go over to my kid's school and tell the lunch lady to help my dd with her lunch ID number. It sucks when adults can't just be of help to little kids like they're *paid* to be. Ick.

dreamseeds · 09-09-2006, 10:25 AM

I know how you feel Val. I h/s my 16 year old because at this point she can figure for herself.
College is going to be January we are hoping she can do concurrent. The boys....all in public school

Thus far all is well. 1 in high school and 1 in 3 and 1 in K.
My hubby felt after treatment this summer I should take the year off and see where I am led. It woudl give me a chance to heal.

I am so glad so far so good, but the torment in my heart was terrible all summer.

grian · 09-09-2006, 11:07 AM

Your post really struck a chord with me as I am struggling with my oldest starting K this year. I always intented to homeschool, but am trying to start a midwifery apprenticeship and am taxed by my external and internal comitments. My ds had his "testing" yesterday and is schedualed to stat on Monday. Left and right we have run into offensive bureaucratic (just had to go go look that up...I can't spell either) bullsh*t. Everthing about this decision breaks my heart and my dh's but still we are trudging forward. I am comforted to know that you and others are stuggling with the same issues. I hope we all can find some peace.

Ariadne Umbrell · 09-09-2006, 10:07 PM

Okay, I am not a teacher. I am not equipped at all to teach my child. I sort of go on the feral curiousity method. But>>>I DO KNOW LOBBYING>

Puh lease, I begs youse, all of youse, what you don't like- call your legislature. Write. Write your legislature. Write the paper. Write the free paper. Call in to radio.

GWB's big comparison, the one he's trying for, is McKinley. And McKinley was such a trainwreck, that he spawned the resistance- the Progressives. And when you talk about what you want for your child- each and every one of you is talking about a humane, civilized, child-centric school- classic, classic progressive. They won once, and there isn't a reason we can't win again.

High stakes testing is a real estate scam. NCLB is set up so that 85% of schools fail. 15 % pass. Can you imagine the home prices in those school areas? Also, if the schools have a reputation as failing, how can you ask the legislature to "throw good money after bad'? Let's see, principals disappear dropouts, for one. And, goodness, dropouts make easy to abuse, to poorly pay, and to mistreat, workers. And, furthermore, they don't usually have the confidence to vote.

So, call. Please. call. If you have a decent rep, they might even help you figure out who else to call.

Texas hs a notoriously badly funded and wretchedly run system (overall) Some bright spots. I went to the legislature last year, asked at the information desk who my rep was, and where his office was. I then asked what his position on funding was, since I didn't know anything about it. His office explained what his position was, and where to find the committee, and who was on the committee. Also, they told me usually they heard from lobbyists, not regular people.

Although, I don't know how bad the system is. I was in good schools, and my kids are in good schools. And even the bad schools have good football programs, so they aren't totally "not responsive to the community." Also, one thing educators get bent about in Texas is that teachers don't need a teaching degree. But that meant my first chem teacher had a masters, and my speech teacher won at nationals. Someone in each department won a national championship, each year. The magnet here has a film masters ( phd?) who recruits college instructors for specialty classes. Although, again, that's a bright spot in a dark puddle.

My kids haven't started high stakes testing yet, but I'm ttrying to break it. If we all work together--it's a brittle, pointless law. It shouldn't stand up.

ari

BlueRoseMama · 09-10-2006, 12:08 PM

I wrote Jennifer Shmoo of the Vegan Lunchbox and asked her what she was doing for homeschool because she said that little Shmoo goes to school one day a week at the public school and she meets with the teacher once a month. And this is what she just wrote me back:

Quote:

Here's an article I found on the web that describes the difference between homeschooling and parent partnership programs:

http://heraldnet.com/stories/06/02/1...eschool001.cfm

"Parent partnerships are alternative programs that identify the parent as the child's primary teacher. Students are considered public school students, however, and use the school's materials and teachers. Parents who choose these programs say they like the return on their tax money, as well as accessing expertise in subjects they find difficult to teach on their own."

The program is run through the public school district. The parent is the primary teacher and teaches the core curriculum (language arts, math, history, etc.) at home. The students go to school one or two days a week and take enrichment classes (art, Spanish, music, PE, etc.) with teachers. The parent meets with a teacher -- a "learning consultant" -- once a month to review what they have been working on. The consultant can also provide ideas and suggestions.

So far we **love** it. I like the guidance, accountability, and help I'm getting. The program also reimburses me for the curriculum and supplies I purchase, and has a lending library of books and learning tools I can use. Shmoo gets to take the classes I would have a harder time teaching at home, like Spanish and PE, and gets some social time with other kids. I see it as a happy medium between going to school and homeschooling.

Hope that helps!

I may seriously try to do this next year. If we are in a better place for the kids to learn than it would be an ideal situation for me and for them...

Just wanted to pass that along just in case, like me, no one had heard of it either.

Val

grian · 09-10-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueRoseMama

I wrote Jennifer Shmoo of the Vegan Lunchbox and asked her what she was doing for homeschool because she said that little Shmoo goes to school one day a week at the public school and she meets with the teacher once a month. And this is what she just wrote me back:

I may seriously try to do this next year. If we are in a better place for the kids to learn than it would be an ideal situation for me and for them...

Just wanted to pass that along just in case, like me, no one had heard of it either.

Val

Sounds wonderful, a nice blending of the two.

mamabear · 09-10-2006, 10:45 PM

That is an interesting concept, the parent partnership thing. Here in VT homeschooled kids can go to any part of the school day. I am pretty sure it was the same in Florida too. So you don't have to have the structure of the school curric but your kids still can take art, music, PE, or even come in just for math or reading if they want. Sounds better to me because I would not want to "school at home," personally - we lean much more toward unschooling.

My kids are in public school - but a tiny, progressive, responsive public school. Not ideal by any means, but they love it and the community is strong. We're taking it year by year. So far Jake is having a very hard time and we'll see how it goes. I really don't want to pull him, but I will if I have to. But we will try many other things first. He did so well in a small special-ed program this summer; it is hard to see him struggle like this.

HumbleLitMama · 09-10-2006, 11:33 PM

That parent partnership program sounds wonderful! My SO refuses to let me homeschool and thinks that only "real teachers" are capable of teaching children so I'm thinking of getting my credentials just in case. We'll see what ends up happening when the time rolls around.

I truly hope you find a way out of your current situation for the well-being of your children. ((hugs))

MamaNurse · 09-11-2006, 04:17 AM

Oh friend....I hate to see you struggling and frustrated.

I don't have a lot to add. It's such a personal decison. I will say, however, that hsing doesn't have to be expensive. In our case, we're on a very tight budget and I spend very little $$ on it. Don't let finances be a deterrant. You're frugal and creative, so you won't have any problems.

At this point, I'm not comfortable with the school district partnership programs, but I won't rule it out in the future. The $$ incentive is not enough to sway me to sign on. I don't trust government schools. I don't think they know what's best. Uh oh. Gotta stop before I get on a roll.

I breaks my heart for Cyan (and the others) that they have to push the kids so much.

MamaNurse · 09-11-2006, 04:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ariadne Umbrell

Okay, I am not a teacher. I am not equipped at all to teach my child. I sort of go on the feral curiousity method. But>>>I DO KNOW LOBBYING>

Puh lease, I begs youse, all of youse, what you don't like- call your legislature. Write. Write your legislature. Write the paper. Write the free paper. Call in to radio.

GWB's big comparison, the one he's trying for, is McKinley. And McKinley was such a trainwreck, that he spawned the resistance- the Progressives. And when you talk about what you want for your child- each and every one of you is talking about a humane, civilized, child-centric school- classic, classic progressive. They won once, and there isn't a reason we can't win again.

High stakes testing is a real estate scam. NCLB is set up so that 85% of schools fail. 15 % pass. Can you imagine the home prices in those school areas? Also, if the schools have a reputation as failing, how can you ask the legislature to "throw good money after bad'? Let's see, principals disappear dropouts, for one. And, goodness, dropouts make easy to abuse, to poorly pay, and to mistreat, workers. And, furthermore, they don't usually have the confidence to vote.

So, call. Please. call. If you have a decent rep, they might even help you figure out who else to call.

Texas hs a notoriously badly funded and wretchedly run system (overall) Some bright spots. I went to the legislature last year, asked at the information desk who my rep was, and where his office was. I then asked what his position on funding was, since I didn't know anything about it. His office explained what his position was, and where to find the committee, and who was on the committee. Also, they told me usually they heard from lobbyists, not regular people.

Although, I don't know how bad the system is. I was in good schools, and my kids are in good schools. And even the bad schools have good football programs, so they aren't totally "not responsive to the community." Also, one thing educators get bent about in Texas is that teachers don't need a teaching degree. But that meant my first chem teacher had a masters, and my speech teacher won at nationals. Someone in each department won a national championship, each year. The magnet here has a film masters ( phd?) who recruits college instructors for specialty classes. Although, again, that's a bright spot in a dark puddle.

My kids haven't started high stakes testing yet, but I'm ttrying to break it. If we all work together--it's a brittle, pointless law. It shouldn't stand up.

ari

I'm so impressed w/your knowledge and enthusiasm, Ari. Where do you find your info? I'd love to peruse some of those sources.

Also...you mention classic, classic progressive. What theory/method are the government schools currently using? Is there a name for it?

Amy

BlueRoseMama · 09-11-2006, 12:26 PM

First day of school was today. It was also the first day she could ride the bus. I am doing ok. She is so excited she could barely eat. She is not an early riser so this will take some getting used to, but all in all we are doing ok. Her enthusiasm has taken the fight out of me... she so badly wanted to go. *sigh* I miss her already though.

Her sweet brother was right there with her... letting her have the limelight and also making sure she was secure. Everyone needs a big brother like this little girls got. It made my heart proud to see him with her today.

Val