Heyyyyy! I did NOT send my kids to school/daycare! I cannot justify taking my kids away from their mother for the majoirty of the day, the majority of the week, majority of the year! I am the primary attachment figure and do not find enough value in what a school provides(group activities, learning things albeit at a frenzied pace, getting a break from being 'mom') in order to participate in it. The cons far outweigh the benefits in my mind and the longer I'm alive, the deeper I dig my heels in. School serves one primary purpose: functioning as a state-funded daycare for working parents. I get wanting to go along with it, cuz us parents--specifically mothers--need space from our kids on a regular basis...totally normal. BUT the quality of whomever is replacing you as the guide/authority figure is an overlooked and critical issue. Kids are stuffed into a room all together, outnumbering the teacher 3 times over and the actual influence the kid is being affected by is his or her PEERS. The teachers do not have time to be giving quality attention to each kid and thus, kids becoming peer-oriented, concerned with impressing and being approved of by their peers instead of impressing and seeking approval from their parents, whom were the designated influencers of their kids...and this is just ONE flaw of our American education/childrearing machine.
I took the unschooling route and my 7 year old goes to a cooperative 2 days per week. We participate in other co-ops and activities on days she doesn't go.
It all depends on the parents' understanding of child development (they're affected by every single thing that happens to them, thus the need for conscious parenting revolution) AND the parents' priorities.
If you wanna see the difference between schooled children and unschooled children, go to a playground with homeschool kids then go to one with public school kids and you'll see the difference in how they treat one another.
OFC there are always exceptions but the difference between having a parent consistently available and NOT having a parent consistently available makes a remarkable and undeniable difference.
it's in the 'forest school' style. So, the younger ages (4-7) just play all day w/ supervision by adults that respect them. The older they get, the more subjects they introduce gently--it's def not taught to pass tests! Haha thank God for that... but my 7 year olds day is play, discussion, literature, science, nature, eating, socializing, singing, etc. I found it through word of mouth since it's off grid, a woman at Matriarch Rising told me about it.
The question of where to send Cade to school (or not) has been on my mind constantly for months now, and he’s only 2.5!!!! I’ve researched it to death. In California, there are like five schooling options, and I’ve narrowed it down to two: 1) homeschool charter or 2) public school.
I had a horrible public school experience growing up in San Bernardino County, and I wouldn’t wish that on any child. But I’ve worked in public schools in the SF Bay Area since 2015, and they are top-notch! Some are better than private schools, and they’re free. Public schools vary SO much across the country. Some are great, and others are terrible. So if I send Cade to public school, I feel pretty confident he’ll be okay here
My biggest issue with public schools is the jab requirement. I don’t want to give Cade any more stabbies beyond what he had as a newborn. But if we go with public school, we don’t have a choice
That being said, I’m still leaning toward homeschooling. In California, there’s an option that’s kind of like traditional homeschooling, where you’re at home teaching the curriculum you choose, but you get funding for supplies, books, forest school or whatever because your child is technically enrolled in a public homeschool charter. It also comes with a built-in community for homeschool kids and parents, which I love. No two-hour drives to co-ops like with traditional homeschooling 🫠 Here in the Bay Area, most homeschool co-ops are religious, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m not teaching Cade Bible studies, so I’m not interested in someone else doing that either.
With homeschool charters, jabs aren’t required until middle or high school, and even then, I think it’s just the DTaP
And then there’s the money issue. It’s really hard for us to live on one income here. We’re basically living paycheck to paycheck just so we can avoid putting Cade in childcare. We never planned to rely solely on my husband’s income, but here we are 😩 I’ll have to figure something out before Cade turns five. I’ve had a few ideas, but I’m still working on it.
The most important thing to me is that we adjust based on how Cade is doing. If I send him to public school and it’s not working out, I’ll happily homeschool, and vice versa
I grew up in Bay Area schools and while they were largely good for academia, they have gotten more “woke” for sure. California public school “injection” rules are also probably the strictest in the nation. I got some on campus in high school before I knew, even though I had bad nausea side effects.
The schools vary widely, too. I would argue that the reason the best academia schools are in the top vs the other Bay Area ones is because of the student culture being very pro-academia, and very Asian, as Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, etc Asians stress high academic performance. The “popular” kids were incredibly smart. Yet, my husband went to Bay Area schools and they had gangs. Something like 50% of Californians don’t read at grade level. Just search that phrase and the site will show up.
Many classes, even college, are getting more and more impacted than they already were. It was already an issue before, though. Maybe that’s cool until you needed that last spot in a class and can’t get it. Or if your kid needs a little more attention but the teacher is now spread very thin.
Teachers unions withhold most of their funds for their own bureaucracy and don’t really help with teacher pay, and then the public school teachers go on strike (which impacts taxpayers who pay their salaries that unions don’t help with, and students who suddenly are without a college professor for a week), unions argue for more funding and get it and keep paying themselves, in a corruption cycle. The unions vote for only Democrat politics, get more funding under Democrats, and again use it on the unions and hardly any on the teachers.
We are not planning on sending our kid to daycare and won’t send him to public school unless that’s something he himself wants to do later and shows good critical, independent thinking.
I am not a parent, but I am a teacher, and... look, I don't necessarily believe all my students' parents have the ability to teach them the way I do (not to memtion the inclination), but I do believe that forcing 11 year olds to sit inside while reading the absolute dullest material known to mankind, and giving them anxiety over weekly tests, and shuffling them between classrooms a minimum of 4 times a day probably isn't the best way to create a society of kind, curious, creative individuals.
My 4.5 year old goes to school two days a week. 9-11:45am. I absolutely love this place because it's not your typical American preschool setting. Their learning style is based on current research and models like Reggio Emilia and Highscope- focusing on child development and family systems. I appreciate their views so much because they align with mine. The kids play outside most of the time (win) and the teachers are always offering support for me since we are going a through really challenging time as a family. I couldn't be more grateful for this place. They do a wonderful job at creating a nurturing environment for not only the kids, but the families as well... imagine that... a family centered school!!! A miracle in our modern world. It's also extremely affordable and they work with parents who may experience financial hardships. Sure, not getting many "breaks" is it's own challenge since im with my kids most of the time, but I genuinely don't trust our educational system in America so I'm trying really hard to do things differently- "against the grain" as some would say. My girlie is thriving and happy as ever 🩷
Sent my 3 year old to a private Montessori Preschool for AM half day program, 4-days a week and I don’t regret it at all. He was very excited on the first day and it went smoother than I could ever expect. I understand the importance of children having their education and learning be at home with the people that love them however I also balanced the thought of an educated choice and well researched options, if you family has the means to seek them out. He has truly thrived and it’s only been a little over 2weeks, I already see such a glow within him, of independence and self confidence, building connections, and his love of learning are all being met there. I know it’s not like this with every private Montessori school, but we really found a gem in our rural area of Connecticut. I don’t know what I’m going to do once he completes his final year at that school, but I’m hoping to start a homeschooling co-op in the near future with friends! For now this works for us!
We didn't start "school," but my oldest has a new early intervention therapist and a new schedule coming up! Next fall, when he's almost 4, he'll probably have a space at a local integrated preschool for special needs kids.
Hello! So I think the arguments for homeschooling are strong and I’ve known a few homeschooled people who are brilliant and well-adjusted. But they are the exception. When I was as teaching, I could always spot the homeschooled kids: generally academically unprepared, socially stunted, and narrow-minded. They were also sitting ducks for predators. Mind you, I was very young and teaching in a Christian university.
My husband is principal of the best performing school in our area (across all metrics) and we homeschool our own kids. I would suggest, gently, that you as a teacher see the worst cases, the homeschoolers who failed, as opposed to the successes. Because those who are able to get their kids into med school without the public system are not the ones bringing their kids in every October ;)
We actually started on August 1! Mine are in 5th and 7th grade and have always attended public school, though we had to make a change to another (open enrollment) district, where there was a school that better fit my oldest child's needs (and ended up also being a good fit for our younger one). They are doing great - thriving! Despite my younger one losing 2 of her best friends to a school transfer, she's getting straight A's so far, even in Spanish - doing so well in fact, her teacher sent us a not, commending her hard work in Spanish, a class he knows has caused her difficulty in the past. We are thankful for a strong 5th grade teaching team. My older daughter is in her first year at middle school - complaining a bit about new teachers and their approaches, but finding joy in classes she didn't expect to. She has a wonderful group of friends and is playing Softball. Other than the usual tween problems (where is all the silverware?!), I'm a lucky mom and so thankful for our amazing schools. I encourage you to check out your options and make the choice that is best for your specific kids - the school district they attend would not have been the one I'd have expected to find our great fit.
Elementary (K5) has minimal if any homework - in lower grades studying spelling words and reading, now 30 minutes a day of reading and occasional project or finishing up classwork. Middle School (6-8) has homework, but due weekly, so they can plan out when they do it - my daughter is taking many honors classes, so one of her rotating electives (every other day) is a Study Hall and she gets most everything done in there.
Heyyyyy! I did NOT send my kids to school/daycare! I cannot justify taking my kids away from their mother for the majoirty of the day, the majority of the week, majority of the year! I am the primary attachment figure and do not find enough value in what a school provides(group activities, learning things albeit at a frenzied pace, getting a break from being 'mom') in order to participate in it. The cons far outweigh the benefits in my mind and the longer I'm alive, the deeper I dig my heels in. School serves one primary purpose: functioning as a state-funded daycare for working parents. I get wanting to go along with it, cuz us parents--specifically mothers--need space from our kids on a regular basis...totally normal. BUT the quality of whomever is replacing you as the guide/authority figure is an overlooked and critical issue. Kids are stuffed into a room all together, outnumbering the teacher 3 times over and the actual influence the kid is being affected by is his or her PEERS. The teachers do not have time to be giving quality attention to each kid and thus, kids becoming peer-oriented, concerned with impressing and being approved of by their peers instead of impressing and seeking approval from their parents, whom were the designated influencers of their kids...and this is just ONE flaw of our American education/childrearing machine.
I took the unschooling route and my 7 year old goes to a cooperative 2 days per week. We participate in other co-ops and activities on days she doesn't go.
It all depends on the parents' understanding of child development (they're affected by every single thing that happens to them, thus the need for conscious parenting revolution) AND the parents' priorities.
If you wanna see the difference between schooled children and unschooled children, go to a playground with homeschool kids then go to one with public school kids and you'll see the difference in how they treat one another.
OFC there are always exceptions but the difference between having a parent consistently available and NOT having a parent consistently available makes a remarkable and undeniable difference.
Tell me about the 2 day a week co-op! How did you find it? What do those two days look like?
it's in the 'forest school' style. So, the younger ages (4-7) just play all day w/ supervision by adults that respect them. The older they get, the more subjects they introduce gently--it's def not taught to pass tests! Haha thank God for that... but my 7 year olds day is play, discussion, literature, science, nature, eating, socializing, singing, etc. I found it through word of mouth since it's off grid, a woman at Matriarch Rising told me about it.
Alex looks so big in his backpack, it's hard to reconcile that he's my baby who still asks for milkies 😳
The question of where to send Cade to school (or not) has been on my mind constantly for months now, and he’s only 2.5!!!! I’ve researched it to death. In California, there are like five schooling options, and I’ve narrowed it down to two: 1) homeschool charter or 2) public school.
I had a horrible public school experience growing up in San Bernardino County, and I wouldn’t wish that on any child. But I’ve worked in public schools in the SF Bay Area since 2015, and they are top-notch! Some are better than private schools, and they’re free. Public schools vary SO much across the country. Some are great, and others are terrible. So if I send Cade to public school, I feel pretty confident he’ll be okay here
My biggest issue with public schools is the jab requirement. I don’t want to give Cade any more stabbies beyond what he had as a newborn. But if we go with public school, we don’t have a choice
That being said, I’m still leaning toward homeschooling. In California, there’s an option that’s kind of like traditional homeschooling, where you’re at home teaching the curriculum you choose, but you get funding for supplies, books, forest school or whatever because your child is technically enrolled in a public homeschool charter. It also comes with a built-in community for homeschool kids and parents, which I love. No two-hour drives to co-ops like with traditional homeschooling 🫠 Here in the Bay Area, most homeschool co-ops are religious, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m not teaching Cade Bible studies, so I’m not interested in someone else doing that either.
With homeschool charters, jabs aren’t required until middle or high school, and even then, I think it’s just the DTaP
And then there’s the money issue. It’s really hard for us to live on one income here. We’re basically living paycheck to paycheck just so we can avoid putting Cade in childcare. We never planned to rely solely on my husband’s income, but here we are 😩 I’ll have to figure something out before Cade turns five. I’ve had a few ideas, but I’m still working on it.
The most important thing to me is that we adjust based on how Cade is doing. If I send him to public school and it’s not working out, I’ll happily homeschool, and vice versa
Bay area is filled with amazing public schools! Are there good forest schools?
I grew up in Bay Area schools and while they were largely good for academia, they have gotten more “woke” for sure. California public school “injection” rules are also probably the strictest in the nation. I got some on campus in high school before I knew, even though I had bad nausea side effects.
The schools vary widely, too. I would argue that the reason the best academia schools are in the top vs the other Bay Area ones is because of the student culture being very pro-academia, and very Asian, as Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, etc Asians stress high academic performance. The “popular” kids were incredibly smart. Yet, my husband went to Bay Area schools and they had gangs. Something like 50% of Californians don’t read at grade level. Just search that phrase and the site will show up.
Many classes, even college, are getting more and more impacted than they already were. It was already an issue before, though. Maybe that’s cool until you needed that last spot in a class and can’t get it. Or if your kid needs a little more attention but the teacher is now spread very thin.
Teachers unions withhold most of their funds for their own bureaucracy and don’t really help with teacher pay, and then the public school teachers go on strike (which impacts taxpayers who pay their salaries that unions don’t help with, and students who suddenly are without a college professor for a week), unions argue for more funding and get it and keep paying themselves, in a corruption cycle. The unions vote for only Democrat politics, get more funding under Democrats, and again use it on the unions and hardly any on the teachers.
We are not planning on sending our kid to daycare and won’t send him to public school unless that’s something he himself wants to do later and shows good critical, independent thinking.
Yeah we have a few forest schools nearby that I'd love to send Cade to
I am not a parent, but I am a teacher, and... look, I don't necessarily believe all my students' parents have the ability to teach them the way I do (not to memtion the inclination), but I do believe that forcing 11 year olds to sit inside while reading the absolute dullest material known to mankind, and giving them anxiety over weekly tests, and shuffling them between classrooms a minimum of 4 times a day probably isn't the best way to create a society of kind, curious, creative individuals.
Well said!
My 4.5 year old goes to school two days a week. 9-11:45am. I absolutely love this place because it's not your typical American preschool setting. Their learning style is based on current research and models like Reggio Emilia and Highscope- focusing on child development and family systems. I appreciate their views so much because they align with mine. The kids play outside most of the time (win) and the teachers are always offering support for me since we are going a through really challenging time as a family. I couldn't be more grateful for this place. They do a wonderful job at creating a nurturing environment for not only the kids, but the families as well... imagine that... a family centered school!!! A miracle in our modern world. It's also extremely affordable and they work with parents who may experience financial hardships. Sure, not getting many "breaks" is it's own challenge since im with my kids most of the time, but I genuinely don't trust our educational system in America so I'm trying really hard to do things differently- "against the grain" as some would say. My girlie is thriving and happy as ever 🩷
Sent my 3 year old to a private Montessori Preschool for AM half day program, 4-days a week and I don’t regret it at all. He was very excited on the first day and it went smoother than I could ever expect. I understand the importance of children having their education and learning be at home with the people that love them however I also balanced the thought of an educated choice and well researched options, if you family has the means to seek them out. He has truly thrived and it’s only been a little over 2weeks, I already see such a glow within him, of independence and self confidence, building connections, and his love of learning are all being met there. I know it’s not like this with every private Montessori school, but we really found a gem in our rural area of Connecticut. I don’t know what I’m going to do once he completes his final year at that school, but I’m hoping to start a homeschooling co-op in the near future with friends! For now this works for us!
We didn't start "school," but my oldest has a new early intervention therapist and a new schedule coming up! Next fall, when he's almost 4, he'll probably have a space at a local integrated preschool for special needs kids.
Hello! So I think the arguments for homeschooling are strong and I’ve known a few homeschooled people who are brilliant and well-adjusted. But they are the exception. When I was as teaching, I could always spot the homeschooled kids: generally academically unprepared, socially stunted, and narrow-minded. They were also sitting ducks for predators. Mind you, I was very young and teaching in a Christian university.
Yeah religious based homeschooling can get VERY dark and isolating!!!
My husband is principal of the best performing school in our area (across all metrics) and we homeschool our own kids. I would suggest, gently, that you as a teacher see the worst cases, the homeschoolers who failed, as opposed to the successes. Because those who are able to get their kids into med school without the public system are not the ones bringing their kids in every October ;)
We actually started on August 1! Mine are in 5th and 7th grade and have always attended public school, though we had to make a change to another (open enrollment) district, where there was a school that better fit my oldest child's needs (and ended up also being a good fit for our younger one). They are doing great - thriving! Despite my younger one losing 2 of her best friends to a school transfer, she's getting straight A's so far, even in Spanish - doing so well in fact, her teacher sent us a not, commending her hard work in Spanish, a class he knows has caused her difficulty in the past. We are thankful for a strong 5th grade teaching team. My older daughter is in her first year at middle school - complaining a bit about new teachers and their approaches, but finding joy in classes she didn't expect to. She has a wonderful group of friends and is playing Softball. Other than the usual tween problems (where is all the silverware?!), I'm a lucky mom and so thankful for our amazing schools. I encourage you to check out your options and make the choice that is best for your specific kids - the school district they attend would not have been the one I'd have expected to find our great fit.
That’s great to hear! What’s the homework situation like these days and how do you approach it?
Elementary (K5) has minimal if any homework - in lower grades studying spelling words and reading, now 30 minutes a day of reading and occasional project or finishing up classwork. Middle School (6-8) has homework, but due weekly, so they can plan out when they do it - my daughter is taking many honors classes, so one of her rotating electives (every other day) is a Study Hall and she gets most everything done in there.
I feel like in high school in the late 90s i had an hour to 2 hours of homework every night!