A new adventure...Homeschooling

I never thought of myself or my husband as the home school type but that is what we have become. After my oldest son was bit at school and the principal told me that 'what parents don't understand is that the school has 800 students which means they have 1600 parents and he can't be everywhere all the time.' I was stunned to hear that. I understand the numbers and the fact that one person can't be in more than one place at a time, but please, you're the principal. I thought principals could delegate. I thought principals could tell the office staff or at least strongly suggest to the office staff to act like the school as a whole was concerned that a child was bit by another student, especially if the nurse's office called to say that it is suggested I take my child to get a tetanus shot.

I have directed my disgust toward the school district with a letter and I am sure they are letting the heads roll at the elementary school (LOL just joking) but what I think is funny is that our decision to home school is not because of the poor quality education the kids were getting or because of the teachers and not because we were super overly concerned with "little punks" at school, but we pulled our kids out because of the principal and the office staff. Sure, we were concerned about what and how the kids were learning but we were involved parents who worked with the kids at home. Sure, we didn't care for all the testing that was constantly done but isn't that what schools do? We loved the teachers and there were a few who went above and beyond for our son. But the office staff...and then the 'principal couldn't be everywhere' when it comes to a child getting bit.

No we didn't freak out over one incident. But this was not the first.

Well that is my rant about our previous school. But now we have started a new time in all of our lives...homeschooling. The kids are excited and we are excited. Now that their learning rests completely and totally on our shoulders, their little every day questions take on a new meaning. I realize how much they want to know and how happy they are to learn. I knew this before, but now it's like the Claritin commercial. The can see but it is much clearer when the slightly fuzzy screen is lifted. So now school and learning has become "Claritin clear."

Before I end my post this evening, I have to recommend a book. It is by Linda Dobson, The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child. It ha been such a help to me and I am sure I will talk about it in more posts.