6th April, 2007
The Great Social Experiment
I am feeling a little sad. We have been making lots of decisions about school around here. My husband and I decided a few months ago that we would keep Elijah in public school next year for 1st grade. I have 1 year of school left to complete and to homeschool to kids with that schedule would have been to much for us. Our family would suffer, our education(s) would suffer, and our business which is our only source of income right now. From these discussions Joe has decided that he would like to go to 5th grade next year. He wants to use his “last chance” to be in elementary school and be with his brother.
I have to say that I don’t feel like a failure; I always thought I would if Joe decided to go back. He seems to be approaching this with the attitude of an anthropologic field study. We’ve talked about still continuing with history, science, and our foreign languages at home (because they for sure do not come close to covering them in ps). You know, just for fun. 
Joe looked at me and said, ” Mo-om (just like that), I’m still homeschooled, I just go to a school at the same times you do.” He is so cool.
I am however pretty certain that he will not be going to middle school. It scares me. Even more after being in the teacher training program. I sense this very toxic environment of children who are trying so hard to prove they are grown up. Many of them who have no compass to guide them. There is so much focus on peer groups and how they dominate everything from what you wear to how you feel about yourself. No thanks, amigo. What do you think about middle school? Or is high school worse in your opinion? I find the subject interesting.
Posted at 10:11 pm |
On April 7, 2007 at 11:37 am
Robin said:
April 7, 2007 at 11:37 am
I’ll comment since my two older children have already been through middle and high school. Middle school is much worse than high school. My kids were not my kids when they were in middle school. Once they got to high school I saw a radical improvement.
You are right, it is a toxic environment. They are trying SO hard to be more grown up. And the sarcasm is intense. They practice it all the time, and more often than not, I was the target.
I was so happy when my loving kids came back during high school. I don’t know if it is this way with ALL teens, but both of mine did the same things at the same times.
6th grade ~ they were unsure and timid
7th grade ~ the sarcasm and snippiness began and intensified.
8th grade ~ they honed their skills and were bitingly strong with criticism.
9th grade ~ they went back to being unsure of themselves, and didn’t criticise nearly as much.
10th grade ~ they were much better!
On April 13, 2007 at 2:22 pm sal said:
April 13, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I have to agree with the toxic environment. It is such a hard place to be. I have put two chldren through the public school system and I have to say by far junior high was the worst. High school was much better. Now I am doing it all over again with my youngest two while I attend college so I can one day teach myself.
On May 2, 2007 at 9:20 pm Anna said:
May 2, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Hi,
I was looking around on the internet for one room school houses still in operation today and i came upon your site. I hate public schools im now in 8th grade and i fear going to high school next year because the people are soo bad. I can hardly take this anymore. Why i love one room school houses so much is because i really love the 1800’s and i want to put my kids in a one room school house because the people at public schools are so influenced to do bad things. Im only in 8th grade and there is a girl pregnat. I hate the influences that todays socitey gives people ive even thought about homeschooing my kids when i have kids. Well Thanks.