Home schooling in CA

[wendybeth]

My daughter had mostly very negative social experiences in school. We discovered kids can be evil little ****s, even in kindergarten, and teachers are largely clueless. I'll have to scan a pic I found not too long ago- it's of Tori in kindergarten, and she's glaring, with arms folded, at the kids who cut in front of her in line. So, we decided the 'social 'benefits' were outweighed by concerns for the amount and quality of educational information she was getting. I will say, it's been fun watching these kids turn into teens- most of the ones who were mean are now getting into all sorts of trouble, and the same parents who didn't seem concerned about their little darlings being mean to a deaf kid now fawn over Tori when they see her. Some are even considering homeschooling, like that is the only reason my kid turned out nice.

[MouseWife]

wendybeth, while this isn't on topic, I know of what you speak.

And, it is upsetting that the kids who do that sort of thing {cutting, bullying, controlling the situations basically} usually aren't reprimanded. I've experienced that they would rather not deal with it as it is too much trouble. They don't deal with it and make the other kids suffer to 'keep peace'.

I did not like that my child was supposed to just take it, it teaches them to take that shiet for the rest of their lives. My son was being hit on the playground, I told the teacher and said that I have taught my son not to hit and she said that was fantastic. I said, but wait, I am taking that back. There is no way I am going to allow my son to take that. She asked me to please wait as the school needed more parents like me. I said that I could not and if my son felt the need to strike back, he most definitely would.

Ugh, I really hate remembering the issues I had with grade school.

As for the PSs, every night I see on the news reports of budget cuts, problems with money, students, and staff. It is a business anymore, the focus taken off of teaching.

And, those damn tests. Fun has been taken out of learning just so that they can focus on the tests. No funding for fieldtrips, no fun parties, nothing. I would tell the teachers that I bet that they celebrate the holidays. You know in the staff lounge they always decorate and have lunches. But, the kids can't. That isn't fair.

Sorry if I am off topic but these are real issues I had to deal with during my time with my children in public school.

[cirquelover]

As usual, I'm late to the party!

We have a different kind of home schooling experience because technically Zach is doing the public school online. We have real teachers we can contact whenever he wants and now that he's in 6th grade he has a lot more teachers to keep track of. We are under most of the same guidelines as regular brick and mortar school kids but with more options. Zach has been allowed to take many electives for the last three years that wouldn't be offered in the regular school. For now it works for us.

I'm sure Connections Academy is in CA also, wonder if their rules are different. Some states only allow them to go up to a certain grade.

Originally Posted by wendybeth

My daughter had mostly very negative social experiences in school. We discovered kids can be evil little ****s, even in kindergarten, and teachers are largely clueless. I'll have to scan a pic I found not too long ago- it's of Tori in kindergarten, and she's glaring, with arms folded, at the kids who cut in front of her in line. So, we decided the 'social 'benefits' were outweighed by concerns for the amount and quality of educational information she was getting. I will say, it's been fun watching these kids turn into teens- most of the ones who were mean are now getting into all sorts of trouble, and the same parents who didn't seem concerned about their little darlings being mean to a deaf kid now fawn over Tori when they see her. Some are even considering homeschooling, like that is the only reason my kid turned out nice.

I can relate to this experience 100%. It's sad that people can be so cruel. I love it when they turn around and think that homeschooling years later will fix all the problems they have allowed to occur in their children

I know in Oregon, even homeschooled kids must pass State required tests at certain ages to make sure they are at least learning the basics. I think that's a good idea as I know parents who pulled there kids out just to avoid fighting with the child!! Um, HELLO, are you actually teaching Junior anything or just letting him sleep and stay out of your hair?! She's now paying the price as the State is breathing down her neck!