Home schooling in CA

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by katiesue

For some kids homeschooling is the best option. But I think taking your kid out of a public school just because you think the quialty is low doesn't help. What if you instead helped out at the school? Your impact would be greater. Or lobbied to help fix the programs that are broken. Maddy's elementry school had an art teacher. Her salary was paid for by the PTA. The parents wanted art so they made it happen.

Someone who is orgainzed and motivated enough to homeschool their child would probably be a great help in the classroom or with the PTA. In my experience the schools are only as good as the parents who help keep them going. And motivated parents also work with their kids at home as well to follow up on things learned in school.

This assumes that the school is open to accepting the help you feel is needed. Your PTA wanted to support an art teacher and the school accepted that help. What if the school had said "we don't want to include art in our curriculum. Any donated PTA monies will be used to fund our pilot underwater basketweaving program"?

Wendy already mentioned Washington's obsession with the WASL. I certainly can't speak for all school districts, but I know local parents who have not been permitted to contribute additional enrichment activities because the school is all WASL, all the time, and will not devote space or time to non-WASL activities. (Goodness knows competent people graduated prior to the creation of the mighty WASL - why not try employing some of THOSE techniques? But that's a rant for another day.)

If I had children and lived where I do now and could not find a private school I found suitable, I would absolutely home school. I think they should have certain skills upon graduation, and receive a well-rounded education, but I want that education to be the goal, not passing the great and mighty WASL. Until the local public schools are freed to follow a similar goal, I wouldn't send my kids there.

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Prudence

This assumes that the school is open to accepting the help you feel is needed. Your PTA wanted to support an art teacher and the school accepted that help. What if the school had said "we don't want to include art in our curriculum. Any donated PTA monies will be used to fund our pilot underwater basketweaving program"?

Wendy already mentioned Washington's obsession with the WASL. I certainly can't speak for all school districts, but I know local parents who have not been permitted to contribute additional enrichment activities because the school is all WASL, all the time, and will not devote space or time to non-WASL activities. (Goodness knows competent people graduated prior to the creation of the mighty WASL - why not try employing some of THOSE techniques? But that's a rant for another day.)

If I had children and lived where I do now and could not find a private school I found suitable, I would absolutely home school. I think they should have certain skills upon graduation, and receive a well-rounded education, but I want that education to be the goal, not passing the great and mighty WASL. Until the local public schools are freed to follow a similar goal, I wouldn't send my kids there.

Thank you , Pru.

The WASL is a monstrous waste of time, resources and talent. It forces teachers to teach to the test, to the detriment of all other disciplines. That means very little to no art, geography, music, foreign language, etc. It's an incredibly high-stakes test created by a for-profit corporation and it's ruining our schools.

As far as changing things from within: fine, if you're into quixotic pursuits. I hope you enjoy bumping heads and egos with suburban soccer moms hopped up on Starbucks. Our PTO was a flippin' Peyton Place, and I have no tolerance for that kind of merde. It's not something I can even adequately describe- anyone who doubts will just have to experience it for themselves. Did it for two years and regret every second of it.