Homeschooling: Public School Woes -- Part 2

So David has moved.

Without this extreme student at school now, everything seems "normal". My son and I are calmed down, and my son is back to being a good student again.

But without that single-minded focus, I now have the opportunity to actually "see" school now. I'm still working at the school, so I'm also getting an "inside view" into what really goes on at school.

The girl from our kindergarten class was growing up and actually calming down. The boy who used to throw furniture and computers is now worse. He runs away. He punches all kinds of kids and adults. He's constantly in the principal's office where he waits for his mother to get off of work (she won't leave work any more).

I'm also seeing the "normal" behavior of kids. Hmmm... "normal" here is filthy mouths, disrespect to adults, and an "I don't care" attitude about achieving in school. Bullies abound. To like to read is "uncool". My son had reading books ripped up and/or stolen while he was being made fun of for liking to read. I was told by the principal that it probably wasn't a good idea for my son to bring a book to school. (!)

By the end of third grade, my son actually rescued another boy from being beat up and actually bloodied the kid's nose! Whew, he finally "got" it!

And, by the end of third grade, I was really REALLY getting tired of "undoing" what my son was learning in school on a daily basis. For example, no bad words, have respect for adults, etc. His attitude was beginning to not be the best IMO.

But in defense of my son, he only had about 2 friends at school. But they were friends he sees in his chess club and on his hockey team, and they were really good kids. He didn't "like" the other kids -- and this was becoming a concern of his teachers. I was thinking the opposite -- that he was showing good skills in who he was associating with! I didn't see many kids that I thought displayed good behavior that I would WANT him to associate with!

I was also realizing that I was undoing a lot of what he was learning in the classroom -- the subject of "multiculturalism" in particular comes to mind. I was getting questions from him like "Why are people with brown skin bad?" Huh??? Where the heck did he get that from? Well, it turns out that his textbook for "multiculturalism" is kind of disguised racism. It's part of the requirements for that "No Child Left Behind" act.

Oh -- that "No Child Left Behind" act? Our poor teachers! Good heavens! They have become bureaucrats! They have to log in how each child is doing now -- and I don't mean just grades. And the structure of teaching in the classroom is SO RIGID now that there is barely room for the teacher to be creative! Our teachers are so stressed now over whether their students will be able to pass those standardized tests the kids have to take. I was finding that most of the teaching was actually teaching the kids the material and how-tos of how to pass those tests! It wasn't teaching for information -- it was basically teaching to the tests!

Oh, let me also back up here. In kindergarten he learned about drugs. He had no clue what they were and was constantly questioning me about them (he didn't have the concept and of course has never been around users). He also was taught about weapons and could spout off a list of weapons. And "stranger danger" was another extreme lesson. I had no control over these -- even when I requested to be let known when these lessons would happen. I NEVER was notified. Even though those lessons I felt were valuable, they are really taken to the extreme nowadays! I wanted to temper his lessons, have a more realistic view of them. Instead, I now have a VERY paranoid son around people and who now can spout a list of weapons and drugs!

By the beginning of fourth grade, my son started imitating the other kids' behaviors and attitudes -- not only at school, but at home. And it was getting to the point where I was having a very hard time undoing his new skills.

And, I was so sick and tired of the treatment not only I, but my co-workers were receiving from the kids at school. How do you report/send to the principal 500 out of 700 kids? You don't. You deal only with the worst kids, and then your time is spent. The principal was basically doing the same thing -- he also didn't have the time. So what you get is bad behavior and attitudes that have become the norm for a body of people. And the minority of the kids who do display good behaviors and attitudes start to think that it is okay to act that way -- especially when there are no consequences for bad behavior and attitudes -- they think it's "normal" and that their parents are just out of touch with the way things REALLY are. Hmm.

Before the first month of fourth grade was done, I had started researching private schools. They all had their problems, including our charter school. Not too much different, unless you include the priciest private school that was producing snobs. We had friends that transfered over there, and they were not too happy.

With as much as my son and I like to travel, I started researching homeschooling. What a wealth of information there is out there about homeschooling! After about a week of research, I had definitely decided on homeschooling! It would be perfect with our schedule and likes!

I gave our notice at the public school -- my son's exit date and my last day at work. I made our last day coincide with the end of the first 9-week period. During that waiting time, I did research on which curriculum I would use, and what I wanted him taught.

Before our time was up, I ended up filing another police report -- this time against a 9-year old. I truly believe he would have killed someone if there was even a stick around that he could have gotten his hands on.

Our last day FINALLY came, and we left to lots of good-byes and hugs!