Schools

[Stormchild]

Am trying to devise a strategy whereby I can homeschool and earn money at the same time.  At present not working, but need money to homeschool.  Also need to work from home.

Not impossible, because I used to run my own PR company, but daunting, to say the least.  However, God is good.  (Sometimes!!)

    Hmmm. If you were good at PR, and clearly you were, you'd be a gifted teacher, and I am sure you are. So much of teaching is first getting their interest and then holding it.

Are there... restrictions... on doing tutoring, perhaps? We now have a lot of tutorial shops in the States that run right after school hours... there might be a way to homeschool your daughter on an overlapping schedule... and pick up a few extra pounds tutorially... just a notion, only that.

But oh, what a lovely poke in the snoot for these so called educators who aren't doing squat to help you.... if it could be done, and if it went somewhere...  

[Anonymous]

...And then some JWs knocked on the door. Wrong day, guys!!!!!

October, you made me giggle again this morning!  I had this picture in my mind of these JW's in black suits, with arms loaded in pamplets, slicked back hair, big smiles, as the door opened to meet.........

October.......who was notttttttt in the mooooooooood!!!

Look out boys!!!!!  (heeheehee)

You're doing good October!  I'm sure it's not easy for you to deal with these school dumbos and JW's all on the same day!!!!

If they don't soon smarten up (the school reps).....maybe you should consider dumping the "good working relationship" goal and go for the-- expose them to the media route??

I don't know.  I know your daughter deserves better than they are giving her.  I know you are doing your best to get them to see that and provide what she deserves/needs.  I know if something isn't working...something needs to change.

I hope they pay attention and start including you/treating you with more respect.  Perhaps you could suggest to them, in person, that things do need to change and that you are hoping it won't be necessary to inform the general public of the deficiencies so far noted in their system, in order for them to take note and make improvements??

I agree that it might be best not to put all that in writing.  Just mention it??
In passing.  Bye the way......    Rather without much emotion....just a fact.

Good luck October!  Hope things go better from now on.

GFN

[gardener]

October, you may find this site useful, it also mentions flexi-schooling.

http://www.home-education.org.uk/menu1.htm

Our youngest daughter has Insulin dependent Diabetes and was home-schooled for the last 7-8 months of her school years. Due to illness and bullying (over her condition)
If I'd known it was an option years ago I would have home-schooled her from her early years .....
UK Schools are struggling so much now that they seem to forget those outside the gates.... our daughters school eventually 'forgot', despite prior agreement, to even enter her for her exams.
She's now looking at applying for college on a catch-up course.
I wish you the best outcome for your daughter.
As long as you come across as reasonable and level-headed, the LEA's seem to treat people fairly well.
PS It must be the season for JW's they were out in force here the last 2 weekends.  

[Anonymous]

Hi October,
Sorry you have such trouble over there with home schooling. My wife homeschools our daughter here and the schools are pretty helpful. They get paid by the state per student, including home schooled ones, so they make sure they keep track of every one. They pay for all her supplies, unless of course it has the dreaded G(od) word in it.
Hope you can get someone on your side in the system there.

As far as JWs. They have been a special project of mine for some time, trying to get them to see the Light so to speak.
If however its been a long day and you don't want the bother, the one sure way to get them to head for the hills is to step out on the porch and ask them to pray to Jesus Christ with you. To them He isn't God so they hit the ground running, rather than blaspheme.  
Even atheists can succesfully use this method.  
Although praying to JC can be pretty hazardous to an atheist also.

mudpup

[October]

Well, I will tell you the JW story from the other day, when life was really horrible.  There was a young boy, early teens, and a woman, with a posh coat.  She was holding the Watchtower, so I knew immediately who they were.

I opened the door, and she said, hello how are you?  Through somewhat gritted teeth I said, fine.  Standard polite response.

Then she starts into her prepared talk about the magazine, and whether I am aware of x, y, z; the apocalyptic end of the world kind of things.  So I interrupted her and said, excuse me, why exactly are you here?

She then told me that they are doing what Jesus did.  So I asked her for the Biblical reference that shows that Jesus went round knocking on doors giving away magazines.  After a bit of flustering, and her unable to find such verse ( ) I said, ok, what about one where he even knocks on a door uninvited?  Now here she could have had an answer, but apparently is not familiar with the 'behold I stand' verse (which is of course allegorical rather than literal anyway, so even if she had used it I would not have accepted it as an excuse for knocking on strangers' doors).

Instead she said, 'They didn't have them in those days.'  So I said, you are trying to tell me they didn't have doors in Biblical times?  That is just plain daft.  (She probably meant magazines, but was giving an answer to the previous question, rather than the most recent one, so I pretended not to know that.  I am very wicked and will go to - the infernal regions.)

Then I turned to her young companion, looked him in the eyes, and told him, she is telling lies.  Then I closed the door.

No doubt they went away and prayed for my wicked unredeemed soul.

My next door neighbour was in the house, but didn't bother to answer the door, although she said they knocked for ages and the lad even went and looked in her living room window.    Perhaps that is a kinder way to deal with them.  

I had a friend who was a JW and who died last year, so I am not anti JW as a whole.  Just anti misinformation.

Sorry if I have shocked anyone.  I don't normally behave with this kind of brutality.  

[October]

October, you may find this site useful, it also mentions flexi-schooling.

http://www.home-education.org.uk/menu1.htm

UK Schools are struggling so much now that they seem to forget those outside the gates.... our daughters school eventually 'forgot', despite prior agreement, to even enter her for her exams.

I'm glad to hear of a successful home schooling for your daughter, although I am sorry you  had to go that route becasue of her health.

You are right about the forgetting bit.  Having drafted the letter I had no energy to actually send the thing, and probably won't now.  But yesterday my daughter did go to the school, and while she was there she was given her report, which I should have received in March.  There is a reply slip with it to return by 18 March.  

Also, the report says she has had 76 unauthorised absences since September.  I have asked her tutor to investigate this for me, because as far as I am concerned there are no unauthorised absences whatever.  

Not strong enough to write any more letters today, and in any case they get me nowhere except labelled a difficult parent.  

(And perhaps I should write to the Times with the first JW spotting of the Spring. )

[Portia]

Not shocked here October! Surely you’re doing anyone a favour if you test their faith? Surely faith is mean to be tested? Then it can become stronger maybe.

I talk to JWs these days, quite enjoy it sometimes. They usually say ‘you’re an interesting person’ and leave. I guess they think I’m either mad, bad or wrong, but I really don’t care what they think of me. I’m on a personal crusade to get people to think for themselves.

Someone used to leave Watchtowers in the reception of where I worked. I used to throw ‘em out. I reasoned either you have stuff from all religions, or none at all.

Hope the tutor sorts it out for you. Take care October.

[Anonymous]

Not strong enough to write any more letters today, and in any case they get me nowhere except labelled a difficult parent.  

Being labelled "A Difficult Parent" is a badge of honour.  Wear it proudly. Remember when I said that my "crying" became the issue.  Well the school folks love to use terms like "difficult parent" to totally difuse the real issue.  If you are indeed difficult, then they are indeed criminal.  Sorry...This is still quite an issue for me and I may sound extreme.  If this is of any help, my kids are quite proud of the war I waged against bean-counters parading as educators.  In fact, one of my kids once said that she felt I could do anything since I took on the entire school district single-handed.  Actually, we all did.  The kids and myself.  When you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that the message you are giving your daughter in invaluable.  You consider her important and deserving.  What message is the educational  beuracracy (I don't know how to spell that!)) giving her???  Sorry, I know I am ranting but I would really like to be just very supportive of the path you are taking.  Did you check out:

mothersfromhell2.com

It always gave me a needed laugh and validation.  And my kids are all adults now and doing great.  I'm taking a few years off to recover and recoup

[Anonymous]

Oops...that's

mothersfromhell2.org

not .com.....

[Anonymous]

Guest:

Well sign me up!  Believe me I am the Queen of Difficult when it came to meeting with the school with regard to my autistic son.  I have been a "difficult parent" for about 18 years now.  I wear the badge with distinction.

I know that when I left one particular school district they probably broke out the champagne.  No matter.  One of their best teachers resigned because she did not want to work for the school system after I left.  I really supported her with regard to the bureau rats in the central office.  So when I left, their "Teacher of the Year" left as well.  Central office knew why their teacher left.  I am persona non grata there I can tell you.  So wear that badge with honor and don't let them get the best of you.  The longer they stonewall, just sit there and stare them down.  Patz

[October]

Rewrote letter yesterday, addressed to head of Education at LEA. Posted copies to MP, Chair of Governors at school and head teacher.

Lights blue touchpaper and stands back.    

Have now received information from Education Otherwise.  Looks like a good stress free option.  Have given C truancy card, which she thinks is dead cool.  If she is stopped by the police in school hours it tells them to let her go her way unhindered, because she is being educated out of school.  

[dogbit]

Patz...Good for you.  It's good to be Queen.  In my long "career" with our school district, they sent a new Program Director to me to show me "appropriate" placements for my kids.  They had not told her my name.  When we met and introduced ourselves, she said, you know...I've heard that name before....I just smiled.  The way I figured it out, there were two ways to go.  Either just go away or fight.  Because of some personality quirk, I chose to fight.  Mainly becuase I had some notion that no one messes with my kids.  And, having two of them, plus a minor nuisance of having one more "normal" kid who needed a life also, I chose to go to battle because we just didn't have enough money to provide an "appropriate" education for two.  Maybe one, not two and because of their particular disabilities, home-schooling was not advised or recommended.  I feel myself spiraling down the path of ranting....I'll quit for now...Gosh it is still such a trigger for me to become angry again.  October....Keep up the good fight.

[dogbit]

October....have a funny story for you after reading about your daughter's get out of truancy free card....

School does something which has been specifically defined as something not to do to my daughter.  She's called to Principal's office to explain her defiance in not doing what she is not supposed to do.  Daughter says, I don't have to do it and my mother has a lawyer.  Principal repeats to me with a glare what my daughter has said after I've been called to the school to deal with this.  I asked the principal which part of my daughter's statement is she is having a problem with?  It was a real who is going to blink first moment.  And I just wanted to bake cookies.  Gosh, I am going to quit....

[Anonymous]

dogbit and October:

When it comes to your children and meeting their needs, you are the only ones there to be their advocate.  Schools strive for the middle ground anything else around that , stretches their capabilites.  If you don't stand in the gap for your children, no one else will either.  That squeaky wheel gets the grease.

dogbit:

As far as rants are concerned........been there many times over and I know even now 15 post years since my son has been in that situation, it does not take much for me to go off on a tangent.  The stories I could tell you!

I remember sitting around a conference table with a whole room full of bureau rats and just me.  I just made them sweat and waited them out.  Finally got what I wanted.  You just have to wait them out like a bunch of rats.  Patz