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Post by pensmama87 on Apr 18, 2017 18:54:45 GMT
It's complicated. (When is it NOT complicated, though?)
The school district we live in is widely seen as one of the top in the state. Our oldest is in kindergarten there this year. The school is within walking distance, it's safe, parents are involved, state test scores are high, class size is small, stellar fine arts and athletics, yadda yadda yadda. All the stuff that lovely suburbanite people want when they move to a place.
And yet...
This whole genderless bathroom thing is nuts. It's been implemented at the high school. Within the next year or two, it will be in the middle school, too. The elementary school library has books in the general circulation (available for kids as young as first grade) about same-sex parenting and other stuff I just don't think is appropriate to be talking about with six and seven year old children, especially if they aren't dealing with the situation themselves. I've read the curriculum and while there's nothing obviously objectionable about it, there are some "code words" that give me pause, especially remembering my days when I taught in public school myself. I've reached a point where I am nervous about what my child is hearing not just from other kids, but from the people I've entrusted to teach him well. I don't think in many areas of the United States that concern was nearly as widespread when I was attending public schools (which I did, K-12!)
I don't think of myself as a nutjob. Not that homeschoolers are by definition, but there's part of me that feels crazy for thinking maybe I need to say "no" to some of this stuff - stuff I already pay for, as a resident! To buy my own books and use my already limited time to instruct my children, while taking care of toddlers and babies at the same time! To parcel out - OK, I will teach you reading, writing, arithmetic, history, but maybe I'll schlep you over to the school just for fine arts and maybe a sports team. Yeah, that might be kind of crazy.
I do have a love for classical education, though. Even the best public schools are not going to offer that. Our parish school, while also academically very good and authentically Catholic, is just way too expensive for us, even with the tuition assistance etc. we would qualify for. There's great programming for homeschoolers in our region from museums etc. We're legally entitled to extracurriculars from the district even if not enrolled in the school. There are lots of homeschooling groups and co-ops. We have a support network that would help us get started.
A few months ago I was so, so happy that come next year, I'd have a decent chunk of breathing space each day. I'd have time to run errands, frequently with just one kid. My house would be quieter during the daytime. But I'd also miss my school-aged kids, a lot.
I know it's our decision to make as a family, but it's one of those things too where I see lots of pros and cons on all sides. Sigh. It's hard to be a parent in 2017!
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Post by pianistclare on Apr 19, 2017 0:11:13 GMT
I don't envy you. It's a difficult choice. Maybe it will only be temporary..and you can eventually secure a job at the Catholic school on the faculty. I agree that the "agenda" today is harmful. And confusing. If nothing else, why would anyone promote such confusion fro small children? Be careful around that other buzzword "Classical Education" There is a new Catholic Academy that started up around here....they are BIG on Classical Education. So far, it'sa mess. They have spent an entire semester on Mythology and the little ones are having nightmares. Sometimes the Administration just overthinks things in an effort o be "different" than all the other schools. I'll pray to St. Katherine Drexel for you!
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Post by pensmama87 on Apr 19, 2017 1:36:59 GMT
Thanks for the warning! The curriculum I'm looking at I'm very comfortable with. I more like classical because of the pedagogy, not necessarily because of specific texts (though an enduring pet peeve I had as a student and a teacher was an insistence on using truly awful texts.)
There is a classical Catholic school in our area now, but it is $$$$$$$$.
The plan right now is that I'll do a few lessons through the end of this year to see how DS and I do. I'll talk to a couple other families who homeschool and live in our district, too.
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Post by pianistclare on Apr 19, 2017 1:47:37 GMT
There should be alot of support....a co-op maybe. We have a cooperative that meets in Wednesdays at our parish. About 50 kids from around 20 families. Father says Mass for them each week and hears confessions once a month. Likely you can find something similar.
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Post by Professor Q on Apr 19, 2017 4:39:12 GMT
I feel for you, I truly do.
The Catholic schools where I live are Catholic in the sense that they offer Catechism classes, but that's about it. The syllabus is enforced by the government and meekly accepted by the concerned school authorities, and it often contains a lot of tosh (even way back in 1991, our history book made fun of Christian Europe, saying that it was only fit for churning out monks and nuns). The Catechism classes are also pretty much an eye-wash: one of our teachers was an ex-seminarian (booted out because he was a little too fond of the ladies) who made us study texts from the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Under the current regime, things are worse: children will soon have to receive compulsory yoga, and the history books will follow a hard-line, Hindu nationalist take on things. Even in Catholic schools, things like retreats for the students and First Friday Masses (which I was fortunate enough to have as a boy) are now very much in the past.
I think I should seriously consider this homeschooling concept, since it seems to be catching on (in an embryonic stage) among some Indian parents too, albeit for different reasons.
You, and all parents in a similar predicament, are in my prayers.
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Post by pianistclare on Apr 19, 2017 13:04:14 GMT
Wow. I had no idea.
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Post by Beryllos on Apr 19, 2017 15:14:40 GMT
There is a classical Catholic school in our area now, but it is $$$$$$$$. Perhaps your family would be eligible for financial aid.
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Post by pensmama87 on Apr 19, 2017 17:42:59 GMT
I feel for you, I truly do. The Catholic schools where I live are Catholic in the sense that they offer Catechism classes, but that's about it. The syllabus is enforced by the government and meekly accepted by the concerned school authorities, and it often contains a lot of tosh (even way back in 1991, our history book made fun of Christian Europe, saying that it was only fit for churning out monks and nuns). The Catechism classes are also pretty much an eye-wash: one of our teachers was an ex-seminarian (booted out because he was a little too fond of the ladies) who made us study texts from the Jehovah's Witnesses. Under the current regime, things are worse: children will soon have to receive compulsory yoga, and the history books will follow a hard-line, Hindu nationalist take on things. Even in Catholic schools, things like retreats for the students and First Friday Masses (which I was fortunate enough to have as a boy) are now very much in the past. I think I should seriously consider this homeschooling concept, since it seems to be catching on (in an embryonic stage) among some Indian parents too, albeit for different reasons. You, and all parents in a similar predicament, are in my prayers. Oh, my goodness. That is not something I'd want to subject my kids to (and I think about all these threads...around...about yoga, and now I'm thinking, maybe those crazies were right?) I've been putting together a rough outline of a schedule, just to get a sense of what our days would look like. I know it's going to require some serious work from not just me but my husband. I'll need "respite" time, probably more than I get now. We'll have to be even more solidly connected with our friends (most of the people we're close to are already in a co-op together.) Prayers for you, too.
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Post by pensmama87 on Apr 19, 2017 17:55:57 GMT
There is a classical Catholic school in our area now, but it is $$$$$$$$. Perhaps your family would be eligible for financial aid. We would be, but even that wouldn't do it. It would be a huge stretch even with the financial aid available for our parish school, which is several thousand dollars per year cheaper than this school. We'd have to have some serious outside fundraising, or quit eating.
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Post by pianistclare on Apr 19, 2017 18:11:39 GMT
Who needs food? You can forage for nuts and berries, right? LOL Yeah. It's a shame when following the directive to educate your children in the faith is cost prohibitive. I remember when the USCCB had a document out there in 96 that started with this statement: ANY CHILD WHO DESIRES or SEEKS A CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL NOT BE REFUSED ONE. Wow. Imagine if that were enforced!
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Post by pensmama87 on Apr 19, 2017 18:29:05 GMT
Who needs food? You can forage for nuts and berries, right? LOL Yeah. It's a shame when following the directive to educate your children in the faith is cost prohibitive. I remember when the USCCB had a document out there in 96 that started with this statement: ANY CHILD WHO DESIRES or SEEKS A CATHOLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES SHALL NOT BE REFUSED ONE. Wow. Imagine if that were enforced! Well, we *will* be getting one. I'll just be the one implementing the lessons. I have heard about the model in some dioceses of tuition free schools. I think that would be amazing, but it requires a lot of generosity. We have been making a very big effort to contribute more to our parish, but we're still not close to what a year of school would cost for one child. And I don't imagine it would be appreciated if we stopped putting anything in the basket just to pay a tuition bill. Part of it, too, and you know this as an employee of a parish, is that paying laypeople involves a lot more expense than paying a religious brother or sister whose living expenses are much more minimal.
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Post by pianistclare on Apr 19, 2017 18:43:27 GMT
Right. We should have never run off all the sisters. Those poor women worked for three hots and a cot an nylons back in the day. Parents also demand more of schools: latest technology, more languages, and the Catholic schools feel like they are competing with Private schools, which is just so wrong, but that's how they justify their tuition. The other thing around here is also the decline of "parish schools". Most are regional and considered PRIVATE. The seminaries do not offer any coursework in School Administration, and the priests are very frank to say that this is an added headache that they are ill equipped or flat out not interested in taking on. And don't even get me started about the parishioners who don't want to help educate other people's children. That's the saddest thing of all. And then they complain the kids are not "catholic" enough. Sheesh. If I win the lotto I'll fund your kids Catholic schooling.
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Post by xanvoorhees on Feb 8, 2018 23:26:15 GMT
Depending on your area, you may find a good co-op. There is SO much for the littles to do these days. I homeschooled my niece last year and she just took off academically and socially. At the same time being diagnosed with ADD and Aspergers. She went from a first and second grade level (from her Catholic school that just kept saying she was a late bloomer) when she was supposed to be done 3rd to testing at near 7th in Math and 4th at all other subjects except for reading where her disabilities most manifested. We did a co-op for STEM activities, she went to one homeschool and two after school activities at the library, we did a homeschool field trip every other week and on the odd weeks we were a 2.5 hour class at the local fish hatchery.
If you're proactive and in the right area its an amazing thing. But a whole lot of work!
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Post by adamcsc on Dec 28, 2020 6:23:31 GMT
Depending on your area, you may find a good co-op. There is SO much for the littles to do these days. I homeschooled my niece last year and she just took off academically and socially. At the same time being diagnosed with ADD and Aspergers. She went from a first and second grade level (from her Catholic school that just kept saying she was a late bloomer) when she was supposed to be done 3rd to testing at near 7th in Math and 4th at all other subjects except for reading where her disabilities most manifested. We did a co-op for STEM activities, she went to one homeschool and two after school activities at the library, we did a homeschool field trip every other week and on the odd weeks we were a 2.5 hour class at the local fish hatchery. If you're proactive and in the right area its an amazing thing. But a whole lot of work! I am an aspie and I think I would have done SO MUCH BETTER being homeschooled.
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Post by katy777 on Feb 15, 2021 21:24:14 GMT
It's not a choice anymore. My daughter learns virtually when someone tests positive for covid-19 and snow days. I know it's different from homeschooling but she hates the isolation as she's extroverted.
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