Maureen and sezell.... What sort of social issues concerned you enough to pull out your kids? I'm just curious. I think your kids are close in age if I am correct and I would like to know what is going on at 11, 12 or so. I know even in kindergarten(when I taught ps) I had kids that loved to talk about inappropriate things and even wanted to fight with others. So, I understand what you mean. I just thought you might share a little more about the problems they are experiencing...sort of encouraging the homeschool advantage here. Also, sezell.... If the social situation is bad then that is good enough reason in my book to hs period. I always consider my kids opinions but mine sometimes outweigh theirs since I have more experience and wisdom. Know what I mean? We all probably questioned (still sometimes question) if we are doing the right thing. However, when you see all the wonderful positive things occuring when you hs it makes you quickly get over your fears.
Missy, I hate to use this terminology but my DD is one of the "popular" kids. But I think that comes at a price. The names that even her friends call each other is not even ok for me to use in print. She gets very upset by the name calling and "back stabbing" and claims that she doesn't do those things. But I don't think you can survive in those conditions without partaking. Otherwise, you will be eaten alive. She may not be using that language and things yet but I DO believe it is only a matter of time if she stays in. Her "friends" dont' understand why she gets so upset because "everyone talks that way" Well, I don't think that's true. She is begging me to send her to another middle school next year (which isn't going to help) almost every Sunday, she becomes ill and you can't talk to her about anything without her crying and telling me that I don't understand the pressures and stress that she is under. I believe she is crying for help. I find it interesting that when you mention hs to anyone the very first thing they mention is socialization. You would think the first thing they would be concerned about is what kind of education they will receive. The bottom line for me is that the socialization that she is getting now is not good. If she were at home I could control more of what she is exposed to. I told her principal last weeek that I don't let my children see PG13 or R rated movies because of the content. And yet everyday I drive my daughter to school and kick her out the door to be exposed to all the things I protect her from at home. Does that make sense?
Also, Missy, I agree with you that this is my decision. I was talking the other day with my DS8 about hsing and he asked if we were going to do it. I told him that I wanted to but was worried becasue his sister was going to really hate me for it. He said "Well, you're the Mom!" Out of the mouths of babes!
Isn't it a tragic irony? Some of the things I have heard of in highschools would be considered pornography - X rated! And I agree with you on the socialization issue - at what cost are we willing to expose our children? I wasn't when I was raising my boys, but I am now on the radical side as I support the Exodus Mandate and the Get The Kids Out programs.
I feel so heartbroken that my kids can't be kids for very long because of the things they are exposed to. Where did all the innocence go?
I could go on forever about the reasons I pulled my dd out of the 6th grade but the straw that broke the camels back was when I received a phone call that my dd had been "involved" in an incident where three kids brought alcohol to school and drank it at recess. She was not suspended or diciplined in any way other then the phone call to me. When I asked why? The vice principal said that she wouldn't admit to drinking so they had no hard evidence. Three weeks later one of those same kids brought marajuana but since she tossed it before she was hauled into the office......they had no direct evidence....therefore no punishment. I asked again how do you justify this? They said that with people ready to sue for anything they can't just expell/suspend a child with no hard evidence and all they had was the word of about 5 other students. This all took place within the first 2 months of 6th grade. Once my daughter was home for a few months she opened up and has told me stories that literally had me in tears. I can't believe that my barely 11 year old knew this stuff. (I am from a very small town...the whole school K-8 only has 400 kids in it.) This is why I am bringing my 3rd grader home as well..maybe I can save her from having to deal with this kind of junk.
