John Eight Thirty Two

• Mar. 30, 2007 - ministry of education

If you were wanting a report back from our meeting with the lady from the MOE (as my Indian friend abbreviates it) you will be disappointed. I can tell you that my respect for them has dwindled even more. I am so glad my children are not under this crazy system..... The morning of the meeting, I got a 'feeling' that I should call and confirm. So, here follows a translated into English version of the call:

Me: Hello, this is me (told her my name)
Her: who? (very rude and abrupt)
Me: Me, the mother that home educates J and E and we have a meeting today at 2:30 at X marks the spot.
Her: 'Deer in the headlights' silence while she processes this information.

Please note that it took a long time for us to decide on a time and place for this meeting because she wanted to see us as a family but can't seem to grasp that my husband can not take time off work just to meet with her at her convenience, so this date was supposed to suit all of us. Well not me really because she wanted me to bring all the children's school work so that she could see it and I did not want to schlepp (good Yiddish word) the stuff anywhere.

So the call continues.....
Her: are you sure it was today?
Me: yes
Her: well let me make sure.
Me: I assure you it was today, we arranged it and I have it written in my diary.
Her: Oh. Well, I changed diaries.
Me: So this appointment does not suit you?
Her: no, today is not a good day at all.
Me: ok, well if you want to reschedule it will have to be for after the 20th of April because we have company coming and will be traveling all over the country.
Her: ok, how about the 17th.
Me: (patiently) no, it has to be after the 20th because of our company and traveling.
Her: but I was talking about April.
Me: yes, so am I.

Please note, I don't know which month she was thinking of anyway because her report has to be in soon and the 17th of March passed a while back.

Her: volunteers another date in the middle of the week
Me: remind her that my husband can not make it until much later in the day.
Her: (fiinally) how about 25 April at a 12:00?
Me: (very sweetly) Well, remember, at that time my husband can not join us.
Her: Oh
Me: how about you come to my house and see how we operate our little school here. We have a library and you can see the children learning in their natural environment, you will like it.
Her: (after a long silence)ok, well it sounds interesting to me, I have never seen anything like this before. *
Me: good it is settled then, Happy Holidays, bye
Her: Happy Holidays bye

*Well, believe me, I have never seen anything like this before either, some people get positions even when they don't deserve them. It turns out that she is a 'pre-school' teacher. That is her highest qualification but yet she has jurisdiction over all the private schools in our area.

So, there you have it

• Mar. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Tracy

You are actually very gracious, I would find the whole thing so stressful I would be jumping up and down but I am a drama queen. i was trying to get an appointment to assess my son and they insisted my husband be there, we never did set it up, I tried telling them there it is no use he knows nothing I can't tell you about this child, no offence to my husband but he didn't want to be there. They eventually told me the program was going to cost $6000 so i was gladly out of there :)
Tracy

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• Mar. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by bethanyrae

Oh my....that must be so difficult. I'm thinking you're not living in your home country(?) which would be stressful enough, without adding all this accountability stuff. I think you handled it well, as she's the one who dropped her own ball, so to speak. I hope it goes easier for you as the saga continues.
bethanyrae

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• Mar. 31, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

We are very blessed. In my home state, all that is required of me is that I educate 180 days and keep attendance records. That's it. AND I don't have to report this to anyone. This is "just in case" a truant officer would show up!!

Your patience and grace towards this woman will be rewarded!!
Laura

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