10/16/2012

The Urge To Homeschool Strikes Again

Ironflower recently told me that she hates school.

Since Ironflower was the kid who cried when she had to leave preschool each day, this is not good. Not that it would be good anyway, of course, but in other kids it might make sense. Lovebug, for example, who is still struggling with the transition to the full day of first grade and who would rather be home playing with his Legos than just about anything, doesn't hate school.

When I went with her class to the Book Fair, I was uncomfortable. Her teacher had them pair up by asking each child to pick a partner, leaving the last two kids to pair up by default. They looked upset. No one seemed to care.  It killed me and it wasn't even my kid. When we walked to the fair, Ironflower held my hand the entire time. She did not do that in first grade or in kindergarten.

The class was the least cohesive class I've ever seen; pairs hardly communicated at all. When I went to the Fair with Lovebug's class, they all chattered with each other and Lovebug hung out with his buddies and his teacher didn't have them pick partners. Lovebug, my affectionate boy, hardly held my hand at all.

Since then, I've heard stories of bullying in Ironflower's class. I'm not surprised. The bullying upsets Ironflower even though it hasn't happened to her so far.

She picked out her outfit and hair accessory. 

And then there's the school work. It is piles of worksheets that cover the same topic. The same topic that Ironflower understood after the first work sheet. During independent reading time, Ironflower is not allowed to get more books. Some days she finishes two chapter books in the time allotted for reading, but she can't get more books. I don't quite understand. She seemed nervous when I suggested she bring a book from home to keep in her desk. 

Finally, there's the look on her face when I suggested that she ask her teacher something. She looked horrified. My friendly, assertive, roller coaster riding kid looked nervous. 

I never thought I would have trouble talking to my kids' teachers. But I have no idea what to say to this woman without being like, "Do you not know anything about children? Why are you giving them so many work sheets? Why do you want them to be bored? Do you not like the kids who are getting picked on? Can I just sit here and observe for a few days so that I can judge your professional competence?" 

I don't think those questions would be very effective. Any suggestions?