182 replies to this topic

[Parizienne]

And I think there is a process you have to go through to register them as homeschooled. I could be wrong, though. I know that in order to avoid violating the compulsory education law, there has to be some communication between the homeschooling family and the school district. Also, districts are supposed to provide materials , or have working relationships with neighboring districts who can provide materials, to homeschooling families.


Pari.

Seriously, do you really think that's constructive? CSR is gone for this year, and we need to move on. A more constructive approach is to elect new board members that will look at the situation honeslty and not be predisposed to any particular agneda.

That person is JoAnne Reinking.

P.S. Do parents know that refusing to send a child to school is punishable by a fine of $1000 (Ed. Code 48293)? Possible jail time (Penal Code 272)?

[tessieca]

The district also has a K-8 homeschool charter school if you wanted to stay within the rules of the State but also want to homeschool. It's been a successful school.

[rightwingknot]

The district also has a K-8 homeschool charter school if you wanted to stay within the rules of the State but also want to homeschool. It's been a successful school.

So, you are in favor of a 3rd grade parent strike as proposed by bordercolliefan and awood?

AWESOME IDEA!! Everyone who has a kid in 3rd grade and feels like their kid is being hurt by too many kids in the classroom, PULL THEM OUT IMMEDIATELY! Keep them home and homeschool them until someone starts to take you seriously!! (Or at least until my kid is in 4th grade!! ) That'll show them whos boss around here. WTH alot of those kids are too young to be in 3rd grade anyway...a year off at home with mommie dearest would do wonders!

[pet lover]

She was very good as the PTO prez at Oak Chan when I was there. I would vote for her too.

Agreed. JoAnne would be awesome, and I was *very* pleased when she told me she was running.

My kids have gone to school with two of her boys, and her husband was my son's baseball coach for a few years, so I've known her a long time and know how involved and active and dedicated she is.

[pet lover]

I agree with you, but they also chose to jump into the mess so they should professionally take the flack.

Maybe it is in the delivery? Board members are people too, and will put up defensive walls if attacked. I have presented to the board, and I found all of them attentive and receptive. Even if I didn't get everything I wanted, I felt as if I had been heard. I even watched some taking notes, including Ms. Stanley who has been singled out in this thread.

[tessieca]

So, you are in favor of a 3rd grade parent strike as proposed by bordercolliefan and awood?

What? That's quite a leap from providing information about homeschooling options within the district.

[tessieca]

I agree with you, but they also chose to jump into the mess so they should professionally take the flack.

The key word being "professionally." When it gets personal it's a problem and undeserved.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

Homeschooling is a serious and time-consuming commitment and shouldn't be done in haste. It's an excellent alternative to in-class instruction if you are truly prepared to do it and do it right. If your goal is to stick it to the district and you choose to homeschool through the district's program, I'm not sure what you'd be accomplishing since they'll continue to get funding for your child's participation in the program. You'll probably be doing them a favor by lowering class size with your child's absence.

[tessieca]

You'll probably be doing them a favor by lowering class size with your child's absence.

I suspect most parents are considering their own child's needs and not over-concerning themselves with the needs of the district.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I suspect most parents are considering their own child's needs and not over-concerning themselves with the needs of the district.

I was responding to the concept that homeschooling children would somehow "show" the district or stick it to them.

[tessieca]

I know. I just don't believe that any parent would select a schooling alternative that wasn't in their child's best interests just to "show" the district.

[rightwingknot]

I know. I just don't believe that any parent would select a schooling alternative that wasn't in their child's best interests just to "show" the district.

Glad to see you saw the context of the thread. I would also hate to see parents use their children as pawns in a statement to the district that would certainly not be in their best interest.

[bordercolliefan]

I think somehow the "jest" part of the strike idea got lost.

I am very unhappy with the 32-urchin class size, but as Tessieca said, I would not elect to homeschool my daughter, because I just don't think it would be in her interest. Even with a huge class size (which the teacher told me today is "very tough and exhausting"), I recognize that the teachers have skills, expertise, and experience that I just can't offer. They probably have a little more patience than I do, too.

I should clarify that as unhappy as I am with the class size decision -- and while I have many questions as to whether it was the only option -- I don't feel as a parent that I know enough to blame the school board. Things get very ugly when there is not enough money to go around. Everyone starts fighting with each other as to "Why did they get money and we didn't" and loses sight of the root cause of the problem, which is that there just isn't enough money. We've been down that road before on this board: arguing that too much money goes to special ed kids and not enough to GATE kids, etc. (and I know I've participated in those discussions).

I'm guessing the big picture answer is that in California, we just don't budget enough for schools. --Now, I know we have one of the highest state tax rates in the country, so where that money goes, I don't know.

[Jolene]

Glad to see you saw the context of the thread. I would also hate to see parents use their children as pawns in a statement to the district that would certainly not be in their best interest.

I agree, but I also hate to see Teachers use the children (and their parents, really) as pawns every time they strike because boo-hoo, they didn't get a COL raise this year.

I DIDN'T EITHER and oh yeah, my job got reorgged to Florida, too.

[Steve Heard]

It's late. I'm tired, but can't sleep. Started reading myfolsom, and ran across this rather lengthy thread.

We have a great school system here, with very nice facilities, some excellent teachers, lots of parent involvement, and high test scores.

From this and other threads, it seems that despite all of this, many parent are still unhappy.

So, we want smaller class sizes. That would mean hiring more teachers and building more schools, or classrooms in existing schools. Where's that money gonna come from? Are you all ready to pay higher taxes? Are our kids failing because the classrooms are too crowded?

As for the candidates, I really only know Teresa Stanley, though I've met Conrad through volunteering in the community (by the way, how many complainers actually volunteer their time?). I know guys who grew up with Conrad, and they tell me he's always been involved in the schools, sports and volunteerism.

As for Teresa, I know her to be a reasonable, sane, caring person who follows the letter of the law and wants to do what's right for our kids and our community.

I'm always amazed that folks move her because of the great school district, and the city amenities, then we start complaining about the elected officials who help us grow and maintain the things that attracted us.