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Pen, you just have to chuckle yourself and forgive her for any perceived disdain as she it just doing her job. I got to deal with this in reverse when I put my daughters in public school in 7th and 8th grade. Principal and counselors made a few snide comments, asking if I was sure the girls would be able to make it in public school. They did very well in middle school, I volunteered quite a lot the first couple years, and I think gained a grudging respect from the teachers and counselors who knew the background. By the time they got to high school, no one even remembered they were ever homeschooled, and they’ve proven to have a better work ethic and achieve higher grades than most of their peers.
“I want the first-grader to come to school three times a week because he loves being around the kids.
She says no. He’ll fall behind.”
I would bring this matter to the school board for a decision. I wouldn’t do it secretively or make it personal. I would just appeal her decision at the next level up. Also, why would the school go “mayhem”? Is this just inflexibility on the school’s part? Inflexibility is a reason to home school according to your friend Lisa in NYC. I can’t remember or find her last name on this blog because her guest post is no longer available.
Mark, are you referring to the guest post by Lisa Nielsen? (http://homeschooling.penelopetrunk.com/2011/07/if-the-school-wont-customize-take-your-kid-out/)
Thanks for posting the link. I’m having navigation problems here. Trying to decide where the guest posts should live. So right now, they are getting swooped up into a black hole.
Penelope
Thanks for the reply Claire and Penelope.
Lisa Nielsen and the link is correct.
I found it later yesterday, after posting the comment, in the right-hand column under Archives and the category Guest Post. I should have done a follow-up comment with the info.
the note thing is genius. kudos to you.
when your kids are older, they can probably elect to take certain classes at high school and ignore the rest (say, driver’s ed or chemistry) — at least, they allow that here.
you should look at signing him up for after-school care for a few days a week. he could be home all day and then spend the afternoon playing with other kids. and he could stay all day on the days when school is out (which around here seems to be every third week). if you didn’t like the mix of kids, you could try another daycare program.
caveat — make sure to *not* choose an after-school program that offers “enrichment”. he gets authentic enrichment all day as a hs’er. he just wants free play, not adult-organized activities where the kids aren’t allowed to talk to each other or run around.
also, unlike school, they would never complain if you didn’t show up.
This post makes me sad. I have a friend who is considering home schooling her daughter. The daughter’s IQ is 150 but the school refuses to let her skip a grade because her IQ does not meet the cut off. It sometimes feels like nobody really wants to take a look at what is best for each child and its all or nothing. I’m sorry, I hope you find a solution.
I’m not sure if you have seen this http://www.k12.com/wiva/home but it might be worth checking out. It’s a virtual charter school in Wisconsin. They also organize social activities.
Have you thought about Montessori method; especially for primary years.
Montessori was popular among my neighbors when I lived in Park Slope, in Brooklyn. So I know about it.
I live on a farm. I should put farm photos on the homeschooling blog I think, to make that more clear. I live on a farm in an unincorporated part of Wisconsin, surrounded by cities that have less than 2000 people in them. To say there are no Montessori programs here is an understatement.
Penelope
Dare I venture to say that the school district is ecstatic that you are home schooling? Or are they worried that they will have to pick up the pieces when you fail at this attempt?