Hi, John
I just wanted to validate your instincts about homeschooling. Parents know
best most of the time. It'll be what you make it. I have four of my own bio
kids and am seeking guardianship for a 22-yr.-old young man with severe CP
and related issues. He has been in our home for three years and we've
undertaken quite a bit in terms of his care. We are fortunate to live on the
Colorado Front Range, and there is a lot to do here. I have homeschooled two
of my own kids for a substantial portion of their K-12 years. Both have done
very well. My daughter "graduated" from high school 2 years early and is now
enjoying college life. The social atmosphere is much, much better. She just
finished her first year, 30 credits with straight A's, and she is very happy
about the decision. My son has done well also. He got his GED a year early,
worked for a year, and will be attending community college in the fall. We
are also working on an independent day care program for DJ, the young man
with CP. His medical needs are pretty profound, and we feel a one on one
situation will work much better for him. He will do therapeputic swim twice
a week with his peer, bowling once a week with another community group of
peers, and misc. outings with us. The day program through the county is
understaffed and has a hard time getting him around to this degree. We are
excited about the change, however, and will hire someone to help with his
program approved by the county. I am not sure if help is an option for you,
or even a necessity. It is for us, so we will use it.
I encourage you to give homeschooling a try especially since you already
seem convinced that it's the right thing to do. Sensitive kiddos sometimes
have real trouble in public school. I can definitely see why you are
concerned about the unrealistic expectations they may have for Mary since
she "presents well". Social anxiety is paralyzing, it's not a character
flaw. She shouldn't be made to feel like a failure over it. And, if it
doesn't work out as you'd hoped, Mary can always return to public school.
Good luck,
Sundie R.
On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 11:46 AM, JOHN RUNER <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Regarding homeschool and testing. Even at public school Mary has so Many
> learning area issues that they will not give her a score at least fifty
> percent of the time, the tests just do not go that low. I have a gifted
> student who is flunking because the teacher grades him down for "reading"
> and writning that is "too adavanced! and does not meet the assignemnt
> description"h he read at sixth grade level in first grade as well as helped
> with my college homework! He also said school is not challenging and is too
> boring! He was and a and b student until this year. The testing at Idaho
> Virtual Academy could kick Mary out for not passing and recommend a brick
> and mortar school. Mary has mild physical Cerebral Palsy symptoms yet has
> major nuerological issues, which the schools seem irritated with. The
> doctor explained it like this she is cute and cooperative and that works
> against her blinding educators to her multiple disabilities she is nine but
> has the overall fucntion and understanding of a six to seven yer old.
> Testing even at the hospital was extremely low on balance, strength,
> reasoning etc. yet very high in artistic/visual expression. She needs to
> be treated as an individual not as another seat filler.
>
> John Runer
> Challis, Idaho
>
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