Homeschool Girl Denied Access to College Due to Age

I can also speak from experience here. I and my siblings were held back when we wanted to move forward. All three of us have scars from it... my brother's are by far the worst, and he was by far the smartest. I also went to college with a 12 year old. He was in my algebra class. His mom accompanied him to school each day. He was light years beyond brilliant, but there were little things in the way. For example, he'd never used a calculator before. We were required to have a fancy-schmancy one for the class, and I had to show him what it was for. (Of course, after a tiny intro from me, he went on to kick my butt... but that's beside the point! LOL!)

People tell me all the time that I'm "pushing" my kids. When they say that, I invite them to spend a day with us to see exactly who's doing the pushing. Prime example... I *just* took school work away from my son and sent him to his room for a much needed nap (after a morning of physical therapy and time at the library). He bawled his eyes out because he'd rather do school than breathe. His therapist tells me he can't focus in the gym because his mind gravitates to print. If there's a word in a room, he'll block everything else from his mind and read it. He taught himself to read when he was 22 mos old. Is it pushing if I let him go to the library and pick up things from the junior non-fiction section rather than the board book section? Isn't it much worse to take all his books away and tell him to go play like all the "normal" kids (I get tired of hearing that one! *roll eyes*)

Ok, ok... there's a point to this...

If all goes as planned, he'll finish high school when he's 15, and that includes 6 years of upper level sciences and 5 years of upper level maths. It includes 9 years of foreign language. It includes computer science. It's not like there's a whole lot left that parents CAN teach after that. His only choice would be to attend a community college (NOT the type of university that requires him to live away from home!).

Here's the thing... both of my parents work at a community college. One is an administrator. I know how a community college campus works in comparison to a 4-year university. I was held back, so by the time I was able to take CC classes, I felt as if they were high school level.

What about online or distance education classes? Is that pushing?

People often throw the "maturity" card out as fast as they do the "socialization" card. Every child is different. Are 13 or 15 or 17 year olds ready for college? It depends on the type of college, the type of classes, and the maturity level of the individual. Can I say for sure that my son will attend college at 15? Absolutely not! However, I'm not going to hold him back if he's ready. If a college tries to tell ME that MY child isn't ready without even taking time to shake his hand and get to know him, you can bet I'll be fighting mad. It's my job to raise him (them) to the best of my ability. It's my job to shape and mold them. If I've put 15 years into preparing my child for college, I don't want someone to take 15 seconds to dismiss their application!

 

Very well said.

 

I read the article and I read some of the comments here...My jr. college offers the chance to get an entire degree via distance learning, you have to take the right combo of classes on line, in a self paced format but its possible. They also have televised courses too, as I understand it. So it could be possible for her to attend the school without ATTENDING the school. She'd get the credits and could go with her parents to select events but wouldn't be unduly exposed to everything on and around a college campus.

Maybe the parents should consider finding her the opportunity to travel abroad and maybe do a year in a foreign country with gifted students in her age range. Or maybe just travel around the country a bit. This is a good time for her to do a 500 book challenge at the library, or learn some new skills. Maybe she can tackle technology to get a more modern edge, depending on what she's been doing already.

The parents might want to go on campus every few days for a MONTH. I mean it, visit the campus every other day, or every 3 days for a month and just observe and listen and decide if this is the sort of environment you want your kid in. I know that my school, while the teachers and facilities are nice, there are a LOT of weirdos around, and many of them...well, exercise their weirdness freely and obscenely...

I know there is a 13 year old who attends MLK's school (Moorehouse?) At least, he was 13 when he started....