If you haven’t done so already you can read the first part on our homeschooling decision here. It was originally a three parter, but I felt that each post was too long so have edited it into four parts.
Part three of this series will be posted tomorrow.
Why we decided to homeschool: Part Two
During Caitlin and Harry’s parents evening our daughter was told that yes, she was ahead in her maths. All her work was correct, her working out was shown and done correctly but it wasn’t the way they wanted it done.
The schools wanted some kind of drawing shown instead of calculation. (Is that what accountants do then, drawings?!). She was also told that she had to hold herself back because she was moving ahead too quickly and that wasn’t what they were meant to be doing. Harry was apparently two years ahead of himself according to his teacher and so was left to “get on with it” but instead of being supported and encouraged. Meanwhile extra teaching assistants were brought in to focus on the more disruptive children or the ones not yet up to speed. There were no resources to support the children who were able and willing to work.
Our son Harry was in year one. From his time in reception his level of reading was higher than the books they were sending him home with. I repeatedly had to write in his reading record that the books were too easy. Again, and again and again. He was eventually moved up seven reading levels at once, several months and one school year after I’d originally made my first comment in his reading record. It turned out that nobody had listened to him read at all since he began year one in September right up to the day we took them out of school in February, five months later. That’s a long time.
Harry was getting bored and would come home shouting or just being quite horrid to his siblings. He was indifferent to us and we weren’t impressed with the attitudes both Caitlin and Harry would display. School holidays were lovely as they’d settle down quickly and be their “normal” selves. Not always perfect but not displaying the behaviour and attitude they’d bring back from school.
The more we saw the less we liked. We felt the education system deteriorated throughout the last ten years that Ben and Stephanie had gone through it. Spelling, punctuation, grammar… it’s not done much if at all any more. And now there’s talk of lowering the compulsory school age. Soon they’ll be taking registration for new pupils in the labour wards. And don’t even get me started on them wanting to bring in compulsory sex education for five year olds.
We didn’t like that our children were becoming more distant from us. We didn’t like the fact that we were teaching them and encouraging them to learn and they were doing more at home. We didn’t like having a different problem to deal with every single day.
We resented being asked for money for something or other every single week without fail, yet never received a reply when we wrote letters about our concerns and how our children were being affected. I received three letters requesting payment for school meals for Harry, even though he had never had a school meal in his life. Despite four letters back to the school I never received either apology nor explanation although the requests for money eventually stopped.
I was dreading sending another child into the system the following September and remember hoping that Eddie wouldn’t like it so then I would have my reason to stop sending him.
You can read the rest of the series of posts here:
Why we decided to homeschool: Part One
WoW! I can see why you were concerned.
I have a sister who is a first grade teacher in NJ and she pours herself into her students. Sometimes it seems like she knows them better than their parents! Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you were fortunate enough to get a teacher like that.
I'm also thinking about homeschooling, so I appreciate your insights.
Best of luck with the Homeschooling!
Smooches,
Sassy Chica
visiting from sits:)
Thanks for the insights. My daughter is only two, but we live in an awful school district, so I am already concerned. It's good to hear stories of how other moms have made it work.
you are quite dedicated. i find the socializing to be most difficult with my kids. i had my son's class schedule changed and requested placement in advance courses, knowing it would be very difficult for him. i would rather he get C's in an accelerated course in a class room with kids who care about learning than getting A's in a classroom full of horrid kids. It turned out to be a great decision.
thanks for stopping by and best of luck on your home schooling.
Wi
Wow! I feel like I could have written so much of this myself! We have parents evening today so we will have big decisions to make afterwards!
Thank you for sharing this!
Good luck, emzie! Please do let me know if you have any more questions at all.