Please no comments on how homeschooling is bad, but I homeschool my son (7) & started?

Question

taking him to school for only PE & Music. He liked it at the beginning & asked if he could stay a little longer, so I let him do alternating science & social studies (1/2 hr each day) Anyway, the principal is pressuring me to have him start coming even earlier. I told him that I homeschool & that takes away from my homeschooling time (I work nights) & that this is the last year I will be able to homeschool. He keeps pressuring & asking me how do I know my son will be able to handle 2nd grade at school next year since they probably do different cirriculum. My son does good work & I think it's rude of him to suggest that. HE wants to have talk w/ me more about this tomorrow in his office. I know he has no right to tell me what I have to do, but just so I'm ready for the conversation, what are some good points I can make to state my case? BTW, I would LOVE to homeschool as long as I could, but my husband insists that he go to public school next year.....full days.

Answer 1

My daughter was in home school until the 6th grade, then she went to public school. She had no problem fitting in with the class and socializes really well with all the other kids. I think home school gives your kids a great advantage over public school, because of the one on one technique, but also there is time when they need to go to regular school. I think your boy will make a smooth and normal transition, and the principal has no place to advise you on the situation, so I suspect he may try to intimidate you, but I may be wrong.

Answer 2

Do you know the public schools lose a lot of money when children are taken out? I found that out really fast and I don't talk to anyone I don't think I need to talk to. Of course he wants your child there.  lol

This may not sound very nice.... but I am not sure I like your husband.   : )

Answer 3

Not sure this is what u want to hear,...

but if ur hubby... requested him to go to public school in the first place.. then u need to put ur foot down..

and tell him to go to the school..... and talk to the principle..

u have done all u can...

why should u be the one being pressured..???

is ur son .... liking school  now???? if so... I am so glad.. he was having such a hard time for a while..

good luck

Answer 4

The reason they pressure you to put him in full time is because they get a stipend of money every day for each child in attendance; and they want the money for your child.  Please try to have your husband reconsider forcible public education.  Home schooled children usually do far better academically and socially.  I know that most anti home school people will disagree, but which is more social for a person of any age, being able to socialize with all types of people or being forced to sit in a room of 25 kids their own age that they are not allowed to talk to?  Also in many home school co-op's there are programs for home schooled kids in music and PE, you may want to look into them.  YOU are the parent, don't let the school bully you into making a decision that only benefits them and not your child.

Answer 5

yea, homeschool your seven year old child and destory his childhood

Answer 6

Ask him what *exactly* he expects that your son will learn in the public school now that will magically make him 'able to handle 2nd grade' next year. Ask him why he thinks trying to make your son adjust now, in the middle of the year, will be easier than the beginning of next year when all of the students need to adjust after the long summer. Point out that your son is handling the science and social studies, even though he is not with the class the rest of the time, so why is the principal suggesting that he isn't managing? Also ask him if he would normally suggest that a child start class in the middle of a school year, rather than the beginning of one and whether other students who change schools in 2nd grade tend to have difficulty.

Then ask for the full curriculum that the current teacher is using, since he clearly thinks it is so important. Ask also for a list of the 2nd grade teacher's expectations, so you can best prepare your son for the future (but make sure not to promise that you will use the information). Ask how much kids typically forget over the summer, so you have an even better idea of how much your son needs to know.

Throughout the whole conversation, be calm and courteous. They are all reasonable questions, but ones which will annoy him since he is expecting to interrogate you.

BTW, why does your husband "insist" that your son go to public school?

Answer 7

It's awkward for educators to have a student half in and half out of their school.  From an administrative standpoint, that creates additional paperwork.

As a teacher, I'd tell you that having students who are not present frequently (even if they're out for good reason and are otherwise inteligent and diligent) have great dificulty catching up, and make it harder for us to teach everybody else at the same rate, as we have to spend that uch more time getting your student up to speed.

Additionally, in this age of testing, schools are responsble for all students who attend.  If the school is responsible for your child's test scores, but only get to work with him a limited time, they would be justifiably nervous.

Either take him in 100 percent or homeschool him 100%.

Answer 8

I would just re-iterate to him what you have already said and tell him that this is the end of the matter and you do not wish to have any further discussion on the matter. Be blunt but straight forward. I have been having problems at my 7 yr old daughter's school and have told them I don't want to hear about it anymore. I have been left alone. I have wanted to homeschooling my kids for so long but when I looked into it , it turned out to be expensive to start and I thought I was too silly to teach them anything. I am seriously thinking about it for my 7 yr old as she is having nothing but problems and isn't doing well at all and just last week she was called stupid by her mean and grumpy teacher for not understanding the work. Her and another boy were crying and the teacher couldn't give a hoot. Luckily my daughter is getting moved into another class. But stand your ground and tell this principle what you have already said and who knows you might find other things to say once you get into his office.  :)

Answer 9

he just wants whats best for your son, ive been homeschooled since 4th grade and i liked it the first 6 months....then realized i had no desire to do it anymore and no motivation to learn. im in tenth now and my parents insist that i cannot go to school....if your son asks you to let him stay at school longer he probably doesnt want to be homeschooled. let him go to public school and make some friends his age and eat snacks and take naps...its part of growing up

Answer 10

On average, a public school receives a check for around $5,000 per student enrolled. Since it only costs them about $2,000 to educate a child for one year the remaining $3,000 can be used for either extra-curricular programs or for padding the administration's expense accounts (please note that the average private school is able to educate a child for around $1,000 a year and the average homeschool child can be educated for less than that).

This of course raises the question of "why wouldn't they pressure you to enroll your child?". Since it is all about the money anyway (it is no longer about education) they will do whatever it takes to get that additional money per student.

Answer 11

I think it is difficult to try to use the system part-time. They are convinced they have a great system, and you are sort of acknowledging that by asking for their programs.

In any meeting, concentrate on thanking them for the opportunities they have shared with your son, and point out that it's important for your family to preserve the opportunities that are special to homeschooling.  He'll be there soon enough. :o)

Good luck. It's always hard for parents to stick to their principles when they get criticised (even politely) for their childraising. You are the one who makes the call, though. ((((HUGS))))

Answer 12

Care to share *why* you insist on isolating your poor boy?

Answer 13

Don't state your case....

I'm miserable....

And hate it!

Some people love it!

I think it's one of the worst things ever done....

=)

All my best!

-Max

Answer 14

sounds like you need assertiveness training before your kids needs home school

Answer 15

You do not have to justify your decision to the principal. You don't even have to go talk with him if you don't want to. You should have your son take the same standardized test that the other students take at the end of the year to make sure you are covering all the standards that need to be taught and he is learning well. The whole argument that home schooled kids can't fit in socially is a very weak argument. What they gain in one on one learning and not picking up  the bad attitudes and influences  from the other kids make home schooling great. The one thing that you could ask your principal for that might make him less worried is for a list of state and district standards that are taught in first grade so that you know for sure you are covering all he needs to know.

Answer 16

I personally wouldn't go see the principal, or not stay. I'd tell him that we've talked about the issue enough and I'm not changing my mind and I'd appreciate it if he'd respect me as a person enough to not bring it up again.

Answer 17

depends where you live but homeschool can improve a childs life i would have rather just sat around all day at home to but at school they can start taking drugs and fighting even a 7year old i knew a kid that started smoking weed at 7 schools are c**p at teaching most stuff anyway you get smarter at home cuase you lern at your own speed