[HSList] Why I homeschool (was 1960s & the homeschool movement)
Judy
Be my guest Elaine. Just wrote it from the gut. You are right, individually
they all seem trivial, but added together, they do add up to a most
unpleasant situation.
judy
-----Original Message-----
From: Elaine Harvey <meha...@exis.net>
To: homes...@efn.org <homes...@efn.org>
Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 12:07 AM
Subject: Re: [HSList] Why I homeschool (was 1960s & the homeschool movement)
>Wow Judy,
>I'm printing this one for my records. Although it all sounds familiar, you
wrote
>it out so well, There has to be a story, article, something in here
somewhere...
>Mind if I pass it on to sympathetic friends? I guess it's such an
eye-opener
>because it's all so real and trivial when taken one issue at a time. But
when
>one realizes that this is a child's life day in and out it mounts up so
>miserably. Good for you for working so hard on your son's behalf.
>EHH
>
>Judy wrote:
>
>> My own personal battles with pubic schools may be picky, but I even
started
>> to enjoy them. This is a small sample of what eventually lead us to home
>> schooling.
>>
>> K- They insisted my child had to use paste. I sent glue sticks. Not only
was
>> he used to using them, but I had long since decided they were better
suited
>> to small hands than paste. He was punished. (no recess till he brought
>> paste) I stood my ground, but it took sometime and several threats.
>> Incidentally, the next year it was glue sticks on the supply list and not
>> paste.
>>
>> 1st- Son came home and said they put mustard on his hotdog, hence, he
would
>> not eat it. Not first time they had put mustard on something and he had
not
>> had lunch. (I do not have a picky eater by any means, but he hates
mustard)
>> Went to the school. Told they did not have "time" to listen to individual
>> request. Since I was one of only two parents paying full price for his
>> meals, I insisted strongly. They never put mustard on anything he was
given
>> again. (told them I had the time, and I could be there everyday to
monitor
>> the lunch line if necessary)
>>
>> 2nd- Son came home and said he was being punished. What for? He had no
idea.
>> Trip to the school. Chase teacher around the room until I get her
cornered.
>> (no kidding) She said I would have to speak to the principle as she was
not
>> really sure. Trip to principles office, principle rolls eyes as I walk
in,
>> she is use to me by this time. Ask why he is being punished. Seems the
whole
>> 2nd grade is being punished because there has been a report by the duty
>> teachers that there has been pushing and shoving on the play ground.
>> Couldn't they see who was doing the pushing and shoving? No, there were
too
>> many kids out there. (k, 1st, 2nd & 3rd all had recess together) Is K,
1st &
>> 3rd also being punished, NO. Then how was it narrowed down to the 2nd
grade?
>> That was just what was reported. Son is not to be punished without cause.
>>
>> 3rd- Son came home and said teacher screamed at them all day. Spent
better
>> part of next week standing outside classroom. Teacher screamed at kids
good
>> deal of time. Had to go all the way to school board with this one.
Finally
>> resolved. Teacher tried to take it out on son. Spent good deal of next
month
>> at school. "They" may not have liked it, but several parents thanked me
for
>> my efforts.
>>
>> 4th- Son comes home and says they are putting throw up on his tray. Go to
>> school. Learn it is baby green lima beans with little chuncks of ham. Am
>> told the kids do not have to eat everything on their plate, but they must
>> GET everything. Think about that for a bit. Decided that is not good
enough.
>> Would YOU want to eat ANYTHING on your plate if you had once compartment
of
>> what you preceived as throwup? Finally resolved after threatening to come
>> monitor lunch line daily.
>>
>> 5th- decided by this time they were running a concentration camp
curriculm.
>> Sit down. shut up, and I will tell you what you think. Little tired of
>> seeing kids sitting in the hall instead of the class room on my numberous
>> trips to school. Find out son cannot take a question and look the answer
up
>> in the book. Final straw- I decide he must look up the answers to the
>> question himself, and throw away the "official" answer sheet. Test comes.
>> There were three things listed for one of the questions. On test teacher
>> wants 2. Teacher does not like two son uses. Says that was NOT what was
on
>> "her" answer sheet. Pointed out it was correct as found in his text book.
>> Told she would not change his grade and she would not change the way she
was
>> teaching (and I use that word loosely)
>>
>> Son goes to private school. Son had been A & B student. According to
private
>> school test, he is not cutting the mustard. Put him in 5th grade. He
loves
>> it. Grades are poor. Figure out he can not meet their standards. Go to
>> school and observe. He is unable to work in a group which is their
standard
>> operating system. Almost seems he is afraid to work in a group. Decide it
is
>> from his public school years' conditioning. Son finally figures it out
close
>> to end of year. Decide to keep him in 5th AGAIN. Does wonderful this go
>> around.
>>
>> 6th private school again. Extrememly pleased, son doing great.
>>
>> 7th unable to afford private school anymore. Will NOT send back to
public,
>> hence, that is how I became a homeschooler. Took us a while, but now we
are
>> in the groove so to speak.
>>
>> I know my story is long and it barely touches on the unmeeting of the
minds
>> we had, but you should get the idea.
>>
>> judy
>>
>
>
>
>
Jean Riskus
Thanks Elaine. It does help to know I'm not alone. This is a great ng, and
I feel a lot of support here just by knowing that others go through what I
am.
Jean
----------
> From: Elaine Harvey <meha...@exis.net>
> To: homes...@efn.org
> Subject: Re: [HSList] Why I homeschool (was 1960s & the homeschool
movement)
> Date: Wednesday, April 08, 1998 2:00 PM
>
> Hi Jean,
> If it helps to know that you are not alone, then know it. Sounds alot
like what
> I went through with my boys (almost exactly to tell the truth) and I came
to
> the same conclusion you did. And now enjoy the same positive results.
Hang in
> there, in the end you answer for having done your best. Sounds like you
are to
> me.
> EHH
TIM BANDY
In a message dated 4/9/98 2:47:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rri...@ez-net.com
writes:
<< We've been to the
principal because of marks on him, from abuse from other kids, when he got
home. My girlfriend's son was beaten up on the playground >>
A major reason to homeschool, in my humble opinion, is that most public
schools today have a peer environment that is unfit for children.
Tim B.