25-Mar-2008 - Public School Rant!!!
Last Wednesday, a friend from church got news that her mother had had a stroke. She asked if we would mind if her 5 children stayed with us while she went to be with her mom. We said, "Of course not!"
That makes 15 of us, which has been interesting considering our space limitations. But with some structure and creativity, it's working.
The kids are in public school. One of them has to be on the bus (bus stop is 20 minutes away from my house) by 6:15 each morning. Then I have to come back and get the other 4 ready for school and have them there at 8:30.
Like I said, it's all working, but my heart breaks for them.
The two boys are both 7 and they are in 1st and 2nd grade and they both have ADHD and IEP's. Their school participates in the Accelerated Reader program. Both boys have learning disablilities, yet they are expected to participate fully and successfully in the A.R. program. They are assigned a book to read, then they take a test on the book.
Here's where I have issues. If they don't pass the test, they aren't allowed to go to recess. Well, they go, but they're required to sit on the bleachers.
I just want to go to whoever made up this system and say, "Ummmmm, if a child has a learning disability, it might be possible that reading and test-taking might be beyond their ability. Then, if the child has ADHD (remember the "H" in that? HYPERACTIVE!!!) and they are not allowed to blow off steam by running around during recess, aren't you creating a vicious cycle?"
Inability to focus + learning disability = poor test performance = loss of recess = even more inability to focus due to not having the opportunity to "get the energy out" = poor school performance in general + poor behavior = CHILD WHO IS FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS!!!!
Unfortunately, it's not just these two. Imagine how many children deal with these kinds of silly "rules"! I would just love to see these kids homeschooled. There would be so many positive outcomes for them. They could wiggle their way through their school work if they needed to. They could take breaks when they needed them to blow off the buildup of energy. Their diet could be determined by someone who cared. Rules blindly made by someone who could care less about their wiggle needs would no longer apply to them.
I'm so glad my wiggly boys are home with me every day!
Comments
24-Mar-2008 - I Agree With You!
Posted by Jazzymom
Fortunately my kids have never had to go to public school (even now, though I recently became a single mom). I'm thankful to God for it every day. When people say "I could never do that" (meaning homeschool). I say "Really? I could never deal with the public school system".
Is homeschooling tough, oh yeah. Are there days I question my sanity doing this? Sure! But when I consider the alternative...I realize there really isn't one!
Who knows, maybe you will "rub off" on your friend!
24-Mar-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by tiarali79
That's interesting. The government here in Australia is on a big exercise kick in order to try and combat childhood obesity. If any school actually dared to stop children from playing, they would get in a lot of trouble. I wonder if the local newspaper would appreciate an expose on the school that killed recess?
25-Mar-2008 - Jazzymom & Tiarali79
Posted by leastofthese
Jazzymom~
You are so right in your response to folks. "I could never deal with the public school system." I agree 100%. I think it would be so difficult for me to do! I very much admire you homeschooling your kiddos as a single mom. That must be so hard!
Tiarali79~
Funny! "The School that Killed Recess" would make a great headline! Have you done much reporting--I bet you'd be good at it! :) Here, in the States, they claim to be "big" on exercise for school children as well, but the evidence might show otherwise.
Thank you both for visiting my blog! I hope you'll be back! I'm going to try to visit both of you today if I can find you! :)
Edited by leastofthese on 25-Mar-2008 at 8:22 AM
27-Mar-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cahanbury
You go girl! It's so true. I often wonder what my kids would be labeled in public school. To me, they are just fine! In fact, better than fine!
31-Mar-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Angie
I'm glad you have yours with you too! Right now we have 2 of the school age kids home but are hoping to add the other 2 next September. The 3yo is home of course. The second grader told me this morning that she would like to stay home the rest of the year. I hope that will be soon. I would like her home too.
Blessings to you and lots of rest for all you are doing!
31-Mar-2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by blessedmomof10
Everytime we see the school bus loaded with kids drive by at 4 pm each day.... we all sigh a sigh of relief... that could be my kids! How awful would that be to be gone from 7 pm - 4 pm each day! Ughh!
I am so glad my kids don't have to do that ! Our homeschooling freedoms are precious!
Blessings,
gloria
