Observations of a Quixotic Femme Noire __One Percent - 1%__ Warrior-woman; a Valkyrie. I'll always be yours. Always...and never.



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We have bought a homeschooling curriculum from Calvert School: Homeschooling provider since 1906.
I called and got information about having my son enrolled at a Montessori School. However, they stated that SIX year old children were to OLD for their method of teaching. Odd, being that in the state of Maryland...children from the age of five through sixteen must attend school, with a one year provision at age five...meaning, PARENTS/GUARDIANS are MANDATED to have their children in school by SIX. This is very important. The "admissions contact" did not care when I told her that I had a child being stifled by the Baltimore County School System...she merely stated that he was "too OLD" for their particular school and other schools may allow him to attend. Other Montessori schools used the AMS (American Montessori Society) as their reason for not allowing him to attend their school: these particular schools want children at the ages between 2 and 5 for whatever reason. It doesn't matter...after thinking about it, I truly believe that Dr. Maria Montessori 1929 ~ 1952: Founding President AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) did not feel that only certain aged children were entitled to being allowed to learn in a hands-on environment with plenty of leeway for emotional and personal growth...but for all children. Who would have thought that her idea would be commercialized to the point that a boy or a girl was not allowed to attend such a school simply because he/she was "too old." I really don't know what to think about that...but again, no matter.
I've had in my heart and mind, before we had the children that I would home teach them. I knew that there would be opposition to how I believe children should learn. Oddly enough, I have always held in my heart that children should learn hands-on...that is the best way of learning firsthand; to be able to "see" how the theories actually work; that would also allow a child to learn at their pace. Because when one comes down to it...all children WANT to learn...we are programmed by WHOMEVER...The Great Spirit...God...The Alien...instinctual; internal wonder and desire to learn and understand what goes on around us. If people, children are allowed to learn at their own pace, they would be adolescence, teenagers, adults...humans that would be their own people, think of things on their own, come up with a new concept that will make changes. All people are taught in school to wait on others, after a test, you must wait until everyone else is done. If you understand the lesson being taught in class, you still must wait until the bell rings. If a teacher is only one dimensional in their understanding of a concept, you must accept what that teacher says as law or you will fail. You must think for yourself on your own time and GODFORBID you come out and say it lest you are thought of as weird or a nerd or just left out...abnormal by the commercialized society...
anyway, enough of my WEIRD thoughts...I'm scary.

So, here we are. A 1.5 year delay but nevertheless, I am beginning where I thought would be best for my children from the beginning. I have learned many things from the experience of my son being in school. The negative is obvious...it allows only "normal" people a place to learn. Don't get me wrong, the school system can be wonderful but it very much disallows thought or action not deemed appropriate. What child is appropriate?! oh well, I'm getting off subject again...

I will talk of the positives: Bren is a wonderfully popular kid in school. He finds playmates and interacts beautifully with most children he meets. Some kids do give him a hard time, but it is amazing to see once they interact with him, how he wins them over. It fills my heart. It makes me tear up.

His Kindergarten teacher was a woman that saw his potential. She saw his intelligence and believed that he was capable of learning higher concepts and used his talents. She really did guide him in a way that was necessary, but allowed him to be himself. There are some wonderful teachers that do wonderful things for their students. Those men and women are roses amongst the thorns working in a system that tries its damnedest to teach so many without really challenging their students...it's mostly for the test scores...a percentage that shows the worth of American children in an International learning race. Thank goodness for these few...they give the children they teach hope and give some the yearning to teach the same message. Those teachers are a gift.

School showed Bren that there is more out there than just what he wants to learn...what he saw makes him want to learn those concepts as well.

Bren shows his sister what he has learned and tries to teach.

My dude and I, as well as my mother, have renewed confidence that we can teach our kids...my mom will only help with review work...she wants to maintain her "Grandma" status, and I understand that completely. I think that is an excellent idea and decision on her part.

We can do this. I hope to have Bren and Guin learn at home until they are about 13...we want them to go to High School and of course college. They can also take online college courses at any age. And if that is something that they would like to do, as further education to what they will be learning from 5 - 13...then that is great and we'll support and help them.

This is exciting and of course a little scary...fear of the unknown. I know that we will do a great job. This is too important to allow pride or any vanity to taint our vision of what is best for our children. They are our future, and more precious than any possessions I own...or any thought that one should have about us or our decision or our family. We want nothing but the best for our children and their future...because it is our future too.

So I wish love and happiness on this new journey we shall embark upon.

I'm still going to continue to work. At least I work part time. That may change to less hours soon...B- wants to have me stay home...but it isn't possible right now. Besides, I need to work. I like knowing that I am contributing monetarily to the household in some capacity. Hahaha..maybe a 10 hr a week job...enough to buy groceries and clothes. *grin* I dunno, I like my away time from the house and family...it keeps me sane!

holla@me posted by MobiusRazor at 02:53