Comments on: More reasons I regret giving up homeschooling

By: g?venlik sistemleri

g?venlik sistemleri — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:34:06 +0000

thanks

By: More about the behavioral issues | most | least: motherhood in real-time

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:25:16 +0000

[...] More reasons I regret giving up homeschooling [...]

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 17:11:49 +0000

It was a revelation for me to read this post, Ella, because I’ve always been under the impression that the schools in the UK were superior to the ones here (especially those of the beleagured school system in Los Angeles). But your list of concerns indicates that public education in both countries share a lot of the same challenges.

I think the hardest thing for a parent to deal with is the “one size fits all” philosophy of our school systems. I understand that they have to run sort of like factories to get the most from their funding — but for children who have special needs (on both ends of the spectrum; gifted as well as disabled — and some kids exhibit both)… well, they don’t get what they need.

I understand why you would want to homeschool. But with your growing brood, I can also understand why that might not work (I know people who homeschool four or five kids. I just know that’s something *I* couldn’t do successfully.)

One thing that I have learned over the years with my daughter is that things do settle out. Every time I have been nervous or worried about an education issue, we have figured out a way to make it work within the system. Maybe we have just been lucky — or maybe it’s just part of the learning process for us both. At any rate, I’m learning to worry less and go with the flow more. And even that is a help.

Good luck!

By: Penelope Anne

Penelope Anne — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:52:04 +0000

You know I weighed sending my children off to school…high school though, we have homeschooled otherwise.
They were the ones who noticed many of the things you mentioned from viewing their peers at Scouts and other events and they made the choice to remain home educated.
You are a good parent though and you do know what is best for your children…and whatever may come to pass in the future you will do well with.

By: Molly B.

Molly B. — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:22:36 +0000

This will be no comfort at all, but some of the most violent people I know were home-schooled.

You know your boys, and I’m heartened to read how much thought you’re giving to their well-being.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:04:56 +0000

It’s good that the academics component is so strong, but it surprises me that there is no music and art yet. All I remember doing in those early years were music and art (and probably not enough of the rest). I used to work as a substitute teacher and I would supervise the kids during playground but I noticed none of the other teachers did. They would mill around by the doors and talk to each other and pay no mind to the kids. I think perhaps they don’t feel it’s part of their job somehow? It’s very strange…

Hope it all gets better for you both very soon.

By: Smartie

Smartie — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:27:34 +0000

I have to say it sounds like every other school I know and Harry is probably getting a bit of a hard time because he is the new boy and because he started in the middle of term. If he and you can stand a few more weeks you’ll probably find it settles down a bit. Good luck.

By: Dana

Dana — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 04:47:36 +0000

Wow. I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time with the transition back to school. I guess I hope that it either sorts itself out or you find that you need to take him back out.

But he has you on his side…that is the great equalizer.

By: Super-Mommy

Super-Mommy — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:23:40 +0000

OMG! That really doesn’t sound like a very healthy environment. I hope things start to turn around for you guys.

By: ella

ella — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:37:46 +0000

Cesca – thanks for your comment, it was enlightening to see the difference between our two schools, particularly regarding the curriculum. The UK has a terrible National Curriculum, and the only way to get round that is to go private, but in many ways they are worse because of the focus on maintaining academic standards and even longer school hours. I also can’t understand why school playgrounds can’t be better supervised with more teachers in charge and zero tolerance of bad behaviour and bullying incidences. I hoped this school would be better – the head was quick to point out that Harry’s year still did role-play for instance, even though he hasn’t yet – and I think the playground is better but there is still too much fighting and I’m not sure there is much I can do about that.