Seriously thinking of Homeschooling my Daughter

[ChikeeMomma]

So sorry for your daughter's experience! It is heart-breaking for mom and dad, too! My oldest is in 2nd grade (public school) now. I have always been allowed to volunteer where I am needed in her class. Our schools don't have problem with parents sitting in, either. I hope it gets better for you all! Some may not agree, but this is why I request teachers every year for my daughter. I can remember having a couple teachers, who should have chose another career! It can really ruin the year for the kids.

If it is truly an issue with the teacher, is there another kindergarten class that she can be moved, too?

I know for myself that I would not be a good teacher for my kids. Sure we work on stuff at home -- workbooks over the summer, projects during the year, etc, but I don't think that I could do them justice in the end. I do keep my nose right involved throughout the school year. Teachers have never had an issue with parent/teacher communication. Teacher, student, and parents even sign something of a communications agreement at the beginning of the year. If you feel like you can give her a better education at home then give it a try -- just really think it over whichever whay you go. Best wishes in whatever you choose!

 

[WhiteCochinLover]

I am homeschooled and i love it!!!!!!!!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Assuming you decide you really want to give public school a chance, I would immediately start making friends with as many other moms and dads of kindergartners and first graders as you can find. Join the PTO, talk to moms in the grocery store who look a bit familiar, check out the local midget sports teams. The idea is to compare your daughter's experience with the experience of other kindergartners in the school. Ask other parents about the school's teachers and administrators:what works for them, and who/what to look out for. Go through the hierarchy of administration with your problem. Be persistent and don't let them pacify you.
Schools are under enormous pressure to make test scores look awesome and many administrators will do anything and everything to get those scores. Conformity is also valued very highly and those that can't conform for any reason get left by the wayside. Kids lose individuality and learn to become part of the masses.
The only way to live with the system is to communicate with other parents and compare notes frequently.

Sometimes these things work out well and it's just a misunderstanding the first few weeks.
Sometimes there is a persistent problem with a teacher/administration/school that everyone knows about but is swept under the rug by pacifying complaining individuals.
Sometimes you have to change administrations by voting in school board elections.
Whatever it takes, you have to start talking to people to get to the bottom of the problem, starting with your daughter.
You know your child. If you are honest with yourself, your gut perception of the problem is likely to be correct.

Homeschooling isn't the huge burden it was only a generation ago. Today we have internet, cyberschools and charter schools everywhere. Is it the best choice? I think it depends totally on the particular reasons you have to do it and the individual makeup of the child and his/her family. I've known those who succeed and those who fail with both systems.
JMO-- mom of 5; grandmom of 10; and I work in the "system"

 

[SebrightLuver]

Quote:
I strongly agree. I often hear people complaining about them because of the drama and stuff that can go on, but no matter if youe homeschooled her not, thats what you'll have to deal with in the real world.

There is no single correct answer. Social issues can develop out of either scenario. A home school parnet needs to ensure that their child has access to other kids for socialization; from what I have heard, a very large percentage do so. However, some only have access to other kids from families with similar backgrounds and ideas. Not that there is anything wrong with the ideas, but kids need to learn to relate to a wide variety of people and opinions. By the same token, kids who attend a school are automatically exposed to other kids, often with diverse backgrounds and ideas, but may not be equipped to handle situations such as bullying or overwhelming shyness.

Thats true. Its hard to compare them because every school is different and every parent has a different way of homeschooling their child. I know that my school is much different then the school the OP described.

 

[HHandbasket]

I did not read all the messages in this thread, but I think if people CAN home-school their children (i.e., if your situation does not require you to have a full-time job outside the house during the day), I think it's wonderful!

When I see youngsters that are home schooled, they seem to be much more poised, confident, and SMART than most other kids.

If I had not had to work full-time outside the house when my boys were growing up, if I had even had the OPTION to home-school them, I surely would have done so. Our public schools are a mess, and many of the private schools are not much better. I think youngsters come out of school ill-prepared because teachers really don't get to teach anymore... they're too busy policing the kids whose parents don't bother to parent them.

I applaud those of you who homeschool your children and support the concept.

 

[DuckyGurl]

I am homeschooled, and would never in a million years go back. I love it. I honestly think you should.
Just my 00.2 cents.

 

[danielle82]

I would be upset as well. I homeschool, and we love it.
If you want her to continue there at that school, I would set up a meeting (in person) with the school psychologist and tell him that they loosed your daughter in the hall, that she is just sitting at her desk and getting in trouble for it, that you are not allowed to help in her classroom to aid in her adjustment, and that she has started having accidents. There might be something he can do. The squeaky wheel gets the oil

 

[eggbuster]

We had issues with our kids in school; be about 16 yrs. ago now. It started with our son becoming withdrawn and hating the place. It turned out to be the teacher and most of her students were having difficulties and the school refused to do anything about her. We switched him into a new school, but then one day we were called into the principles office and raked over the coals. He was in grade 6 and my hubby was helping him with his math homework; taught him how to solve some equations using algebra. Apparently a big no no, and only the guess method was acceptable as the problems were considered not solvable. My husband had a few things to say about them teaching his son to guess the answers in math and needless to say, we were accused of undermining the school system and banned from teaching our own kid; Kid # 1 now home schooled.

One of our twin daughters was suffering severe migraines and vomiting at school and became very withdrawn. We checked out the school; didn't ask their permission first and got the low down on the bullying the teacher was allowing in class towards what she thought were the slower students. We got her out the class, but determined that she could barely read at all and wasn't understanding the math instructions. We worked with her on her reading and determined that she could do the math if she could literally see it happening on the desk in front of her. We gave her a jar of pennies, dimes and nickels to visualize carrying numbers ect.. and she started doing very well, then some one objected and banned it. She was labelled and back came the migraines and vomiting. Kid #2 and #3 now home schooled.

We home schooled for 2 years and then hubby was transferred over seas and we had an opportunity to send the kids to the private international schools. Our kids were tested and all were placed in grades ahead of where they would have been had they stayed in the public system. Even the girl who was 'learning disabled.' They all completed the international baccalaureate program and all won scholarships to Canadian Universities back home.

Moral of the story is: if your child is collapsing in on herself, and you feel strongly that it is the school system and not the home environment, get her out of there. The public system is geared to the average kid and if yours is on either end of average or just plain learns differently, she is in deep doodoo.

 

[violetsky]

I decided to home school my sophmore daughter this year and believe I made the right decision. A lot of schools in
my state are under a lot of financial pressure and are suffering all the ills related to that. 50 percent of teachers are
quitting within 5 years. I believe the standards have drop quite a bit from when I grew up. Teachers at this high school
are known to cuss and even one gave a girl 5 points on a test for wearing a see through top. In the past this kind of behavior would never
had been tolerated from a teacher.. The students are also not showing a lot of respect for their teachers. It's not uncommon for the kids
to bring a new young teacher to tears. Extreme noise and rough housing in the hallways is tolerated. Like you I tried to get
some one on one time with my daughter's teachers to find out why her grade were slipping and got no where. We need to
make sure we get good people on our school boards and elect politicians that will fund our schools. It's very hard to keep
good teachers when they are faced with the craziness going on in our schools today and I'm getting so cynical I think if you raise
your children to be well-behaved and respectful they won't be able to compete as there seems to be a value set that doesnt honor that.
I also believe cheating plagerism etc. and over parent involvement are expected. A recent national expose at a highly rated high school
revealed that almost an entire class of honors students had to cheat to keep up with the amount of home work and keep a high enough GPA
to meet college expectations and pressure from their parents. When interviewed they all said they would rather keep their honor and integrity but
the pressure to keep high grades and the amount of work made it impossible. I still believe good students and good teacher out number the rest
but we need to support them as home schooling is not an option for most of us and should not be a choice of necessity. I honestly believe I taught
my daughter more in the month of August than she learned all last year in her public school which incidently is one of the higher rated in my state.

 

[SunnyDawn]

Quote:
nails, heads and the hitting of come to mind.

Ok Borris, loved your first post but I'm afraid this one's going right over my head.

I'll probably feel like an idiot when you explain it (especially if it's a duh) but now I gotta know! ???