Parents and Our Education System

Yesterday we had a big wind storm. Big enough to knock out our power for several hours (some places, I read, are still without power). Big enough to close schools (this is monumental because feet of snow won't shut down our schools). As I was reading the comment board on an article posted on ksl.com, I could not believe that parents were complaining about how the school closures were being handled, about how it's such a pain. I kept thinking, "Really? Aren't you the parent here? Can't you just make up your own mind about whether or not you feel safe in taking your kid to school today instead of letting the city dictate that for you?"

That is not all.

Educators encourage parent involvement at school and in the home re: academics. I support it. I'm engaged. But here's what gets me. I had listened off and on to talk radio on my way to pick up Hannah from a school activity, and the talk was about holding kids back a grade. A parent came on and gave his opinion, that he thinks it is the school that makes the decisions. In my experience, I found that to be true. Then, a teacher came on and agreed with the parent. She said they do not hold children back because studies show it hurts them socially, and they tend to drop out of high school if they are held back. And, she disagreed with the "policy" of advancing children even if they are struggling.

Okay, studies do not represent my kid. In fact, you researchers do not know my kid. Her father and I know her much better than a researcher. What happens to our child if she's advanced when we feel she's really not ready?

1. She's at the bottom tier in her class. Why is this a big deal? Because she believes she is "stupid" because all the other "stupid" kids are in that group. No, don't tell me that it isn't like that. I was a kid, I remember. No amount of politically correctness is going to convince her that she is not stupid.
2. She develops a distaste for school. She struggles to understand what is being taught. Then she is sent home with the very thing that she doesn't understand. Enter Mom and Dad into the picture to help her with the homework and it becomes a daily battle of the wills. A young child should be out playing with her friends, not stuck with homework for hours at a time.
3. If we feel she's "young" for her age, and we feel it will not harm her socially, then why can't we, her parents, make the decision? Why is it up to the school?

Yes, I do believe at a certain age, it probably isn't wise to hold a child back, but ultimately, it is MY decision. It is HER FATHER'S decision. It is not the decision of the almighty schools.

Educators, you want us involved? Gladly. But let us do our job as parents, too. I have nothing against Hannah's former teachers. In fact, they are pretty awesome. But, it is not them specifically with whom I have my beef. It's the system.

As a result, I pulled my daughter out of mainstream public education and put her in our local charter school. It is a Montessori school, and it has been really good for all of us. The educators do their job, they teach. They let the kids be kids (within reason of course). They teach to the child, not to the test. It is amazing what Hannah has come home and taught us about. And, they let the parents be what we are supposed to be. The parents.

Toby's Book by Hannah and Mom

I love how Hannah's mind operates. The simplicity of her story-telling in "Toby's Book" that she wrote on Tuesday night. The ability to remember the details which really makes her not so simple. Watching this, listening to her, it's fascinating.

Her book arrived from walmart.com four days early. Talk about exceeding my expectations! The quality was pretty good, too. We excitedly thumbed through the pages, everything looking just as she had hoped.

I am so amazed at how far she has come. A year ago, she completely shut down regarding school. It was too overwhelming. She refused to read, she refused to talk about school work, and now...she's writing stories.

If you like to write, read. If you like to escape reality for a bit, read. If you want to learn something new, read. I can't imagine what life is like to be unable to read.

It Begins

That is, my blog. Well, I should say my family's blog. Wherein I shall share our news, which may include some tidbits of our everyday life, some hilarious Hannah moments that have me trying very hard not to laugh (as it embarrasses her), maybe some pictures, and any and all news that we want to share. I have the following accounts: Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, and now, a blog. How often I will update? With all the networking sites available, I cannot say. I'll forget where I posted what, and may end up repeating myself thnking that I've not said something on Facebook when in fact, I've already shared it but could not remember if it was really at Google+.

It's a hot Sunday afternoon, my family went to church, I stayed home to try and nurse a headache while getting laundry done, the kitchen cleaned, and dinner and dessert going. Thank you cards from Hannah's birthday need to go out. Ted's clothes to be set aside for an upcoming work trip.

He's going to Atlanta. Again. He is not a fan of business travel, being so tall and squished in coach class on the plane, having crappy hotel beds, and well, being away from us, of course. Since he took his current position, he's traveled a lot. I'm a little jealous in that he gets to go to places that I've never been. He's been to Atlanta a few times, I'd love to go there. He'd rather stay home where the bed is comfy and all is quiet. Basically. He's been to DC, Florida, Oakland CA. We used to live in the Bay Area, CA, so I am also jealous of that trip.

Hannah starts week two of school. A new school. A school that I must say, "I love you!!" As does she. Saturday morning, she woke up at 8:30am, shouting, "Mom! Where are you?" She located me, all comfy in bed, and asked, "Shouldn't I be at school?" That, folks, is history in the making. Aside from the fact that she tells us all about school now, whereas before, it was like trying to brush though her matted hair on a Monday morning. With the new school comes a dress code much like my days at Kamehameha. It's both good and bad, the good far outweighing the bad. Good in that she looks so put together, it breeds a more academic environment, and well, I enjoyed picking out smart-looking attire. Bad in that it is more expensive (sorry, honey, the American Express bill is going to be kinda big). Tomorrow, we start carpool. She gets to ride with another family, and well, I don't really need to leave the house, which means I can stay in my jammies all day long.

Speaking of me...

The things I like about being at home all day, no kid or hubs.

1. No TV. I relish in the absolute quiet of my home.
2. I can turn down the thermostat to 65 degrees and no one will complain if it's cold.
3. The dog pretty much stays out of my way, except for when he wants something, at which point he follows me everywhere until I comply.
4. No interruptions! Except for the above re: Toby.

My Toby boy is getting old. He's 13 years old, going blind and deaf. I read The Art of Racing in the Rain this weekend and bawled. I had to try and be quiet about it because I finished at 1:27am early Saturday morning, I did not want to wake Ted from his slumber. It was like I was already mourning the loss of my dog. I have book club on Tuesday morning, and I doubt I'll be able to contribute anything, other than tears. And no, the thrust of this book is not about a dog dying. If it was just that I would not have read it. It's a pretty fantastic book about a dog's life, the struggles his owner faces, lots of metaphors of course, and it is written completely in the dog's point of view. While the ending is supposed to be a happy one, it made me cry even harder.

The dryer has dinged and its contents must be handled. Blog time over.