It’s a question of fairness. If a kid who needs extra support to get up to the standard levels of achievement enjoys that extra support as a “right”, then my kid who is well beyond them deserves extra support to go beyond them and achieve their potential, as well.

We tried private school initially, knowing our kid needed extra challenge, and thinking private school would have flexibility and be a better fit. It was worse than what we found in public school. The school’s ‘extra’ efforts were all focused on the kids with behavioral issues.

So here we are. We are okay for now; next two years should be okay. It’s middle school I worry about. And making sure that my little one gets into the gifted program, and trying to advocate for her needs in those early years. I’m actually glad she’s on the young side of her cohort, b/c that will provide inherent challenge.

I say, if we make a good case that school is either making our child miserable or she’s not living up to her potential, then refund our tax dollars so that we may buy a better education with it.

I knew exactly what you meant. . My point was, for those interested, I learned that it’s easier to homeschool than to push the school and fellow parents. For those interested but who think they can’t do it. There is a better way.

“Actually I don’t want to call the shots 24/7. I need a break from being a parent in order to be a good one.”

I hear you. My decision to homeschool resulted from all the homework sent home. I theorized she’s spending all that time on it at home anyway, may as well call it homeschooling and make it official! The extra time allowed me to do what I yearned for, time to be that parent.

“We must push because I believe no one should have to homeschool in order to get an environment that supports their kids’ needs.”

There you make a good point. I have friends who left school because the situation was untenable and homeschooling proved that blessing in disguise. It enriched their lives immensely yet they were still left angry that their tax dollars were going to educate other people’s kids while they felt they had to leave because their children’s needs were not met.

“Likewise, it isn’t right that kids on the right side of the curve should have to stay home to have a supportive educational experience.”

That’s a very seminal topic to discuss here. It is not right. And I wrestle with that. Homeschooling is a marvelous lifestyle and I wouldn’t have reached it if I’d been happy with the school system. And that’s the conundrum. It took unhappiness with school to find that much better path. Had school worked, we would never never have found it. And I’m glad we found it!

I say, if you make a good case that school is either making your child miserable or she’s not living up to her potential, then refund your tax dollars and buy a better education with it.

Actually I don’t want to call the shots 24/7. I need a break from being a parent in order to be a good one. For me, work supports mental health as well as a financial health. If I won Lotto, I still am not constitutionally suited for being in charge at home 24/7.

Many reasons homeschooling isn’t a good fit for our clan now, maybe ever. I will say that even with colorcutandglue, our K kid has taken off with reading since school started. She is clearly loving it. Can’t be all bad.

We must push because I believe no one should have to homeschool in order to get an environment that supports their kids’ needs. It wasn’t okay when kids on the left of the curve had to stay home (before mainstreaming) and people worked very hard to get that fixed (or at least improved). Likewise, it isn’t right that kids on the right side of the curve should have to stay home to have a supportive educational experience.

Learn from my mistake. Newbie, if you didn’t have to work, you would be considering homeschooling. Or should. Just kidding, I don’t tell people what to do!

I didn’t work then, laid off and I still didn’t homeschool. Inserting yourself and pushing pushing pushing is a full time job. Why not take that same energy and drive and make miracles happen on your own watch? Wouldn’t you rather call the shots than be the cheerleader?

The best I have come up with–as one of the lucky ones whose kid is in a center program, who is very happy with it, indeed–is to go on the positive offensive. I talk about how I deeply wish EVERY kid had more tailored curriculum available, that I worry about the endless sequencing “color-cut-and-glues” my kindergartener is getting every day. And how I would love to see as much support for those on the taller end of the bell curve as the lower end. “Fairness” doesn’t mean the same thing for all, but it does mean everyone gets what they need.

And I will continue to wish I didn’t have to work, so I could insert myself into the school and push push push from the inside.

Since we don’t have integrated gifted curricula, we need magnets for the kids who really are outliers. Helping someone else thrive does not mean you can’t, too (even if you or your kid is an underserved outlier). It’s not a zero-sum life.

Blair is wonderful. Did you see The Washingtonian’s write-up on Thomas Jefferson in VA? It’s October’s cover article and the title is “Why You Should Hate This School”

I wonder if there is more jealousy here, since so many of the parents are “Type A”, driven people.

I am trying to put my jealousy to the side, and cheer for successful children; but how many of the parents can’t do the same (or can only cheer for their own child(ren))?