I have been thinking about pulling my 9 yr old out of ps for a while now (actually considered it last year) but finally had enough (of everything) and decided we'd take her out in January. She wanted to stay until Feb. though so we let her. We had a parent/teacher conference yesterday. I'm not even sure why we went since we're going to take her out in a week, but we went... As if it wasn't bad enough that her teacher tried giving my husband and I a guilt trip the whole time, and that she tried making my daughter feel sad about leaving but she said "Have you ever taught, ma'am?". I was speechless for a bit, all I could tell her was "uhh, yeah....I have 3 kids. I've been teaching for 9 years now. If you're talking about teaching in public school, then no...I haven't.". I can handle getting the guilt trip....no biggie. But the fact she insinuated that I am not qualified to teach her and that she tried to make my daughter feel sad really gets to me She also asked about curriculum and I gave a real answer, but in hindsight, I wish I would have just said "nahh, we're just gunna wing it" lol I can imagine what she'd think about de- or unschooling :lol:
I cant believe that teacher! I'm not good at sticking up for myself, so I usually think of witty things in hindsight....like at 2 am when I cant stop thinking about not being witty enough LOL. Then the perfect comeback comes to me and I run the conversation back in my head and I try vindicate myself...:lol: I need a remote like in that movie click, so I can pause in the middle of conversations, think of a good comeback and then push play again. Now that would be awesome! Ok that was TMI wasnt it LOL.
I forgot to say... Of course you can rant! I would write a letter to the principal or super intendant and complain about that teacher. Even though your pulling your dd out doesnt mean then can belittle you. I'd be so mad.
I'm the same way. I always think of a good comeback about two days after the insult! :lol: I'm sorry you had to go through that. We went through the same exact thing when we pulled our 3rd grader out of private school in Dec. 2006. I think they just hated to see our tuition payment go out the door, but they were totally insulting of our decision to HS, too. I figure it just goes with the territory...their bread & butter is in believing that institutionalized education is the best thing for a child. But I do not agree.
I would pull her out first, before you do anything else. If you respond before pulling her out, they will take it out on your child. Believe me. Take her out, then send all the letters you want to.
Rant away! And I'm glad that I'm not the only one who can't sleep at night wishing I'd come up with something witty. lol.
Yikes...why do teachers do that? You'd think one less student would make her life easier! Anyway, when we moved to VA last March...my kids teachers in KY knew that we were going to homeschool and were wonderfully supportive and so was the principal. Now it's a Dept of Defense school and so military folks and schools are used to homeschoolers AND I was active at the school, kids made good grades, etc so they knew that my expectations for my kids were high and that they would excel where ever we put them. So sorry you had to sit through that. I say yank and run!!! Welcome!! Rhonda C.
Sorry to hear you had to deal with that, When we pulled our boys out we didnt inform the school until after we sent the school board the notice that we'd be homeschooling and then only told the school when we went to pick up all the boys stuff that was still there That they wouldnt be back. For us the teachers were supportive and wished us the best it was the principal that got to me, as we were leaving she looked at my oldest son (who was the one having issues at school) and told him "Next Sept when you come back you better try harder" :x For me, I was shocked she would say that to a 10 yr old whos only issue with school started at "her" school, to place the blame on him because he was in her words "too sensitive" and the other kids were just "kidding" when he was getting picked on :shock: After that comment from her, I knew we were doing the right thing about taking both boys out of the school, Still not sure what were doing most of the time but were all learning
When my mom pulled me out of the school, some of the teachers really came down on her (they wern't any of our teachers, but taught in other classes) Suprisingly, our principal gave my mom everything he could think of to help her, down to books that the school had!!
That teacher has a lot of nerve! I think the naughty side of me would have responded, "No, my children have been raised by wolves the past 9 years. The only thing I have taught them is to hunt for food". Considering the teacher's bad attitude, you made the right decision!
I cant believe some of these teachers and principals! Especially when they are directing their comments to children. Ohhh... I'm getting mad just reading this thread.
My daughter told her teacher right after Christmas break, I didn't even think to suggest that she not say anything. This didn't help that something I have been struggling with is her losing the social aspect of school....I've been sad for her (even though I'll be the first to say that the socialization wasn't all that great at times lol). It makes it so much worse that her teacher is trying to make her feel the same. I thought about sending a letter along with copies of some of the stuff we'll be working on over the next several weeks to her teacher. Show her that yes, parents can teach their kids and let her know then just how inappropriate I thought she was. Hopefully, she'd think twice if the situation ever comes up for her again and she doesn't make another family feel like crud.
Honestly, I wouldn't send her anything. All that will do is show her that she's gotten to you. The best thing to do is to not pay her any mind.
I wouldn't give her anything either. She has no rights or say so. You do not want her to think that you are accountable to her. You are doing the right thing by taking your child out. ... and personally, I think that the socialization public schools offer is way over rated. It isn't what I would consider REAL socialization. This teacher is obviously ignorant to how homeschooling works. To bad for her.
The teacher was clearly in the wrong to question your decision and your ability to homeschool your child. She probably takes it as a bit of an insult herself that you are removing your child from her teaching, ya know? She may feel threatened or maybe taking it personal. She may also feel that her years of college and experience have been dissed by you. LOL. Now, I not defending this woman who was clearly out of line. Just saying that maybe she spoke from a feeling of insecurity. Which is to say....don't you take it personally. Some teachers are simply insulted when those without teaching degrees teach and often teach better. LOL. No offense to any teachers!!!! I love teachers! I have known quite a few good ones. I have about 3 or 4 that go to my church. All are very nice and very supportive of my homeschooling my kids. None felt threatened in the least.
Ava - you're right. I do think thats a big part of it. My husband has his bachelors in elementary education, but he is teaching college level biology. Everyone in that department acts as though he couldn't possibly do as good a job as they do because he doesn't have his masters - kind of the same. And I agree I don't owe her any explanations or justifications. I was tempted to let her know though just for kicks...my husband has a bachelors in elem. ed, working on a masters in community college admin, my father in law also has his bachelors in education, masters in curriculum development, and I am nearing completetion of my degree psychology...so really, if we're worried about education and degrees here....she's much better off with us anyway neener neener neener lol Of course, I didn't mention any of that lol BTW...my husband is all for homeschool He agrees that public schools are "lacking". He decided after his student teaching that he had no interest in actually teaching in ps lol
We have many teachers, or actually former public school teachers here, and they all agree that their certificates do not make a difference when it comes to homeschooling. The whole dynamic is different. So for the teacher to ask if you ever taught is simply silly. But again, it goes to show her ignorance regarding homeschooling. The beauty of homeschooling is that we can mold the curriculum to fit our child's needs and likes. A certificate will not teach any teacher how to do this. Who knows a child better than the parent?
2 teaching degrees and a psychology degree, nice. I'd be sooo tempted to throw that back in her face.
I agree with those who said that it is better to say nothing. People either "get" homeschooling or they don't. By argueing, I think the only press it gives homeschooling is negative. If you gave her anything at all, send her a copy of John Taylor Gatto's book Dumbing us Down! He was a New York State Teacher of the Year - and he tells it like it really is. I also agree that she probably feels insulted with the fact that most parents ARE able to teach their own children. We don't have to learn "crowd control" like the school teachers do. (Okay, maybe some of the larger homeschool families have to learn crowd control!) A teacher friend of mine said that....in the past when a child misbehaved in class, that parents response was that they would "take care of it" at home, i.e. they were sorry that the teacher had to deal with their child misbehaving. Now she says...when a child misbehaves, the parents want to know what the teacher is or isn't doing, which is causing their child to misbehave. They actually put the blame on the teacher! I'm sure there are exceptions to every rule....but overall, I think the more POSITIVE stuff we put into the world about homeschooling, the better for all of us. Getting angry and defensive is understandable. But, do as you are, and vent to the people who understand!!
