Posted in Ponderings
This past Sinday, we went to my sisters house for my nephews second birthday. I was watching Nascar (or "Fast cars" as my nephew kept saying) and I over herd Chantelle talking to my BIL.
She would really like to go to this agricultural highschool (Essex Aggie) but it has been a pain to try to get her in. They need test scores (we do not do yearly testing because our superintendent wants to see all work even though our "law" here in MA clearly states that the parents and school officials work together to choose the form of evaluation (see Charles). Ok that is intirely another post, that I will do at a later date.
So my BIL asked her why doesn't she just finish school at home. He stated that no matter what school you go to, they are all relatively the same. I agreed, in a way. The Aggie is a bit different, where it is more of a vocational high school. In responce, Chantelle said she is bored with being at home.
Yes, this hurt. Yes, we have been focusing on academics this year and will as well next year. (We decided to homeschool her for her first high school year using North Atlantic Regional Schools program for homeschoolers). There is no way we can "unschool". My dear daughter would do nothing all day if that was an option.
I don't have time (or money) to do all the fun things her other homeschool friends do. I have to work starting at 3:30 four days a week. Thursday is her 4-H day and is either her Nature Study or Book group day. Both of those are once a month. SHe also is taking a hunters education course and does archery every Friday night. Dad time for both of those classes because I have to work. My youngest is also in school, so I have to be thereto pick him up by 2:40.
Some of her friends are in an Aquarium School program put on through the Family Resource Center here in MA. I wasn't aware of it until to late and it is a bit pricey. Chantelle loves science. There are other classes through them that sound interesting, but they are either 1 hour away and on days that I can not do.
There is another option for outside the home classes from New Hope Tutorials. The classes are limited and from what I have heard, they are very expensive. The fact that no prices for the classes are online are a bit discouraging.
I don't know what to do next year now. Chantelle and I have already picked out what she will be using next year (infact we have already ordered and received most of it. I'll post what we will be using at a later date). I am afraid that this will be an even more boring year for her. I have to say that we are both burned out right now. My hubby and I have mentioned schooling year round to her, where it would lighten the load of work and she can do fun things mixed in and still do all the academics needed for her grade. But she wants nothing to do with that.
Oh, what to do.....
