It’s not that I don’t like the public school system, I do. I just find it to be, well, not as effective due to the cookie cutter child issue.
Kids aren’t all the same.
Duh, right?
They all learn as differently as they look. Well, with the exception of those who are constantly wearing the “uniform” of Uggs and yoga pants. But, I think even the trendies learn differently, too. There is just that peer pressure urge to fit in, at least in the fashion sense. If Uggs, yoga pants and North Face jackets can even be considered a fashion. But ahhh…I digress majorly.
This is about kids learning differently.
They are unique little suckers. To say the least.
And, where public schools are failing is in not remembering that all kids are not created educationally equal.
Some learn better visually. Some, through listening. And some, a combination thereof. But, even then, there are varying degrees of each.
Beyond the learning academic lessons are the lessons in ramifications. For example, a kid doesn’t turn in a homework assignment due on, say, a Wednesday. Shame on them. For real.
Punishment for said slacker offense, in some schools, is a Saturday morning detention.
What lesson does that teach? It doesn’t teach the kid to care more, especially if that kid doesn’t care in the first place, right?
Reality 1 about Saturday detentions…it punishes the parent because we are the ones who have to wake up to get them to school at 7am.
Reality 2 about Saturday detentions and in-school detentions on a whole…which, listen, I’m all for if it’s deserved. But, for many kids, detention isn’t a behavior modification. The threat of detention, Saturday or otherwise, will not kick a kid into caring gear.
It just won’t.
It backfires. It makes those kids that already hate school hate it more. Especially when the detention is given for something like a missing homework assignment. And even more especially when this kid hasn’t even EVER been late for class and is, basically, a well-behaved, respectful student. Despite the fact that educational care is lacking on his part.
Yeah, I’m talking on a personal level right now. My kid.
We’ve been struggling with two issues for years now, when it comes to him in particular. Caring about school is one of them. And, quite honestly, you can force a kid to go to school but you can’t force him to change his mindset. The whole “horse to water” concept.
Public school has kind of been failing my son for years now. Listen, I accept my blame in the matter. I tried so many different tactics…rewards, taking things away, therapy, talking to everyone I could possibly talk to. Apparently, I didn’t do enough. I should have explored other options years ago. He’s not right for public school. But other options that I knew about were costly. And, costly isn’t something I can afford.
So tomorrow, Friday, I’m meeting with his counselor. Because these Saturday detentions for not turning in homework…broke this camels back.
We are going to talk about other options. He’s a REALLY, REALLY smart kid and that is coming from a mom who isn’t one to brag about her children. That’s another post but, no, I don’t like to brag about my kids despite the fact that I think they are awesome. Even the one who is failing school. He…is remarkable. Truly. I love talking to him, hearing what he thinks about thinks. He’s almost 17 but he is wise beyond his years. Always has been. OK…done bragging.
I’m considering online courses for him. He has one this trimester and he is excelling in it. For him, learning at his own pace has been an enlightening experience, one that he is surprised by and happy with.
And they offer online courses through public schools. I don’t know what the cost is or if there even is a cost. But, apparently, he does better one on one when he’s online.
As for these Saturday detentions…oh and…a suspension because he missed a Saturday detention…for not turning in homework. Which, by the way, I had sent an email letting them know that he wouldn’t be there. It was excused and he STILL received an in-school suspension notice.
Not happening. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime. The suspect will still be at large.
Public schools aren’t like they used to be and they are worsening by the semester. That is a shame.
I have a whole list of reasons and suggested solutions but, that’s not something I’ll go into.
I just know that my two bio kids won’t be attending the high school next year. My daughter will be going to another school, one that is still school of choice but it’s more on the alternative spectrum. My son…will most likely be home. Yeah, I said it. I will, most likely, be taking my son out of school and enrolling him in some sort of homeschooling program.
In my grade book, public school gets a major fail. I’m so disappointed in them. I wish they could do better. But, you can’t force a school system to care about a child anymore than you can convince a child to care about their school.
I homeschool my kids (although they are much younger than yours) which was not in my original plan. But it is working for us right now. Just wanted to encourage you. You can do it; your kids can thrive at it. Good luck! 🙂
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