Frustrations
As I was helping SG with her homework, I became very frustrated with traditional school and how it is affecting her.
Let me start by saying that Nancy Hill Elementary is a great public school. The curriculum is really good. I would prefer a Waldorf inspired curriculum, but theirs is great for a traditional approach. I really appreciate their Math and Science programs. They have exceeded my expectations. The other subjects are great too, but I was leery of Math and Science for some reason. So seeing how great they are was a unexpected surprise to me.
The faculty is really great too. They truly care about these kids. SG's teacher is really sweet, and seems to be so patient and understanding. The principal is wonderful. She is so kind and takes the time to engage with students and parents. All the faculty does. Every time I am at the school I feel as though all the teachers know me, and I am by no means a PTA/PTO/volunteer Momma, so they really have reason to know who I am except for seeing me at pickup, drop-off and school functions.
And the kids...oh the kids. They are so cute, sweet and friendly. They don't have as much as families in other suburbs, and many of them don't have a great home life, but they really seem to be into school. I've been to 6 school functions in the last 3 months, and I have been shocked at the number of families in attendance. From curriculum night to the school festival, there has been a great turn out. I think this speaks highly of the families at Nancy Hill.
With all of those positives, I do have some negatives. One is the schedule. SG is 7 and in 2nd grade. I wish her school allowed more time for unstructured play. She goes to school from 8 AM to 2:20 PM. Here is her schedule:
8-10am - Classroom
10-11am - Recess and Lunch
11-1pm - Classroom
1-2pm - Mon - Music and Gym
Tues - Art
Wed - Music and Gym
Thurs - Computer and Library
Fri - Study Time (so there is no homework for the weekend)
2-2:20pm - Get school work together and clean up
We get home around 2:30 and have snack/relax time until 3pm. We do homework from 3 to 3:30/45 depending on how much she has. By the time homework is over, I have a weepy, touchy, moody little girl on my hands. Her mood does change for the better once her homework is put away in its folder and she's relaxed some more, but while she's working on it, her attitude stinks!
Between 8 AM to 3:30 PM SG only has 3 hours of fun/down time. And only 1 hour (recess and snack time at home) of those 3 is unstructured fun/down time. This frustrates me. I believe that children should have plenty of free time to play and use their imaginations. Maybe I should delay homework time so she gets more playtime before doing school work again. But I don't multitask very well (it's true!), so it doesn't quite work if I try helping her with homework while preparing dinner. And she doesn't seem to want to stop playing to focus on homework. It just seems better to do homework earlier... except for the nasty attitude that comes out.
The only other negative really worth mentioning is that Nancy Hill is not a Waldorf school. If we could afford Four Winds Waldorf, SG would be attending there! But right now my options are homeschool or the local public school.
I've been considering pulling her out of school over Winter Break and homeschooling for the spring semester. I'm wondering if I can handle the stress right now. I'm wondering if the kids can put up with me if I don't handle the stress very well. Ugh. I have two months to make up my mind.
With homeschool, I can give her the Waldorf approach to education, and I can give her plenty of unstructured play time. She loves homeschooling, and yes, she still has weepy, touchy, moody days at home. But these instances are more spread apart than they are now that she is in school. She loves being in school too though. She is a social butterfly and strives to be the teacher's pet. :) She is just the type of kid who will excel in either environment.
So what to do?
Prayers are appreciated!
Rachel Coltharp
Dear C,
I'm praying with you over your decision. It is a tough one no doubt. I trust that our Father knows what lies down the road, for you, for SG, and that he will give you peace about what to do.
You fellow I-want-to-do-whats-best-for-my-kids mom,
Rachel
November 1, 2011 at 5:33 PM
SoShawna
That's a tough choice Cheyenne. Wow I can really see your pros/cons. And you have homeschooling experience too, so you know better than I would about how well you can do that. I really want to homeschool Samuel; I see some bad attitudes coming out sometimes, or conversations about things I don't like for him to even know about but I know he heard it at school, etc. But right now he's getting so much speech therapy assistance and other help for his autism issues that I think it would selfish on my part to pull him out yet. Not until he's improved so much more. But SG is your precious daughter, and this is a huge decision. What does Robert think? I'm sure he supports your decision either way. One more option: does the Four Winds place offer scholarships or tuition assistance? I was amazed to discover that many of our local private schools have a number of scholarship or tution assistance students that they accept every semester. Maybe if you called them and explained your situation, and asked for thier advice? Who knows, maybe they know an alumni or local business person who would be willing to sponser SG? Will pray for you....
November 1, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Mindy
I wanted to scream " PULL HER OUTTTT!!!" but that is coming from a homeschooling mom who is "in love" with homeschooling! I'm sorry you are having to make such a tough call but at least you recognize that you have options, public school does not have to be a permanent decision. My neighbor was put in a situation where she had to put her children in public school after homeschooling them for a year, she hates public school but she has the mindset that this is temporary I can pull them out at anytime if I feel it necessary. Hope it all works out in the end. Oh and trust me on this, there are days when I am a mess and I know I'm not in the best position to homeschool , sometimes we skip homeschooling that day , other times I find if I just lay everything down and focus on schooling the day gets much clearer. I too don't like to mulit task, I find it quite annoying :) LOL. I'm voting homeschool but again thats coming from someone who views it as the best way to educate our children!
November 2, 2011 at 4:17 PM
Anonymous
What do you think SG would like? I feel your dilemma, would you feel happier and not overwhelmed? Would you feel more at peace? Would this be something you would commit to in the long run (assuming nothing gets in your way!)? Would SG feel okay if you had to re-enroll her in traditional school? You are a terrific mother and I know you want the best and will DO the best...if you ever need to talk and spout out your pros/cons, I am a good listener! ;)
Carol
November 2, 2011 at 7:58 PM
radiomorgan
Hey Cheyenne!
As you know, I don't have kids so I'm not really in a position to hand out parenting advice. I just wanted to share with you that my sister's kids (they are 10, so they're a little older than SG) were having a tough time focusing on their homework, so she moved reading time to breakfast and it's really helped. They read their books in the morning while they're eating and they aren't distracted by the thought of all the other fun stuff they'd rather be doing after school.
I was NOT a morning person as a kid (I'm still not!), so I don't think it would have worked for ME...but it's a thought!
You'll make a good decision, I'm sure of it. Remember, not everything is a case of better or worse - sometimes things are just different. ;)
Morgan
November 3, 2011 at 2:00 PM
melissa robitaille
Hi Cheyenne!
First I want to say that I miss you greatly and think of you often which is why I thought I'd stop by your blog for the first time in a while. Now, even though I am not blessed YET as a mother, I very much understand your dilemma because educating our children is such a crucial decision that influences so much of their future. As an educator, I am passionate about giving children the best opportunities possible while they are in my presence. Also, when I become a mother I most likely will have to face these same decisions as you are thinking about, and am actually already contemplating them since we don't live near any school that I find completely adequate. Whether it would be a Christian School or a Waldorf School, which to me, they both have their positive points, our choices are even more limited up here in the UP of MI. I love our home and enjoy our town, but it just isn't comparable to the Chicago suburbs as far as accessability, as you can imagine. Anyhow, I wish you the best in making these decisions during this Thanksgiving/Christmas and New Years' Season. May the Lord lead you in His wisdom to make the best decision possible for you and your precious SG and the lil cowboy too. (~;
Love, (((Hugs))) and Prayers from UpNorth ~ MeLissy (Webster) Robitaille
November 21, 2011 at 9:50 PM
