RedGage

I don't know if I mentioned this or not but I am planning to take my kids out of public school and homeschool them this year until they are ready for high school.  Why?...I have no quality time with my kids what-so-ever.  I put them on the bus in the morning and when they get off the bus in the afternoon they're tired and it's a fight over doing homework usually until it's bedtime, not to mention all the extracurricular stuff like scouts, music, dance...Then on the weekend I go to work and work twelve-and-a-half hour days.

Then there is the fact that my kids teachers and school seem to think that they need to tell me how I should raise my children.  My kids get at least 1 to 2 hours of homework every night except Friday, barring that there isn't some ridiculous project.  One child is in kindergarten and one in grade 3.  Who the hell ever heard of homework in kindergarten?  I still wonder what's taught in the classroom because 9 times out of 10 I have to explain and teach them whatever is sent home.  If I don't sit down review and explain most things with my 9-year-old he won't know it for testing on Friday.  They have no time to be kids and I have no time to enjoy them.  I feel like the public school system has taken that away from me.  Both of my children's schools are high-ranking schools level five...but I don't see why.  I honestly think it's the parents who deserve the credit for such a high-ranking school if we didn't do the teaching who would?

Another concern is the fact that my 9-year-old is very bright.  I feel like he's stifled-he has more potential but he is not being challenged or motivated enough in the classroom.  I cannot motivate him in the classroom I can motivate him at home but as far as the classroom goes that is the teacher's responsibility.  I know he could be farther ahead than he is but he is not motivated to do it.  He spends more time in school than he does with me.  I think he should be with me to have the right examples of manners and behaviour. How can he learn that from a group of other 8 and 9-year-old kids?  He can't they don't know either.

I will have to continue this discussion tomorrow.  Don't get me wrong.  I admire really great teachers and they have a really tough job.  I even think they have a tougher job than a nurse does.  Some people have no choice but to send their children to public school and that's a fact.  I cannot help the lacking qualities of the public school they do not let parents into the classrooms at all...I also cannot expect special treatment for my children that wouldn't be fair.