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  • SAD LETTER

    Filed at 6:11 am under by dcobranchi

    I was all set to suggest homeschooling until I got to the very end of this Letter to the Editor of the Wilmington News-Journal. Still, I wonder…

    Mother is frustrated at child’s behavior

    I read the letter from a mother whose 8-year-old is being teased. I have the same problem with my 8-year-old son, who is constantly picked on at school and home.

    His self-esteem is destroyed. He cries at the drop of a hat and is easily frustrated. He has been seeing the school counselor since the middle of last year but I don’t see that it helps. I am a single mother who works full time. I don’t know what to do. I know I am not alone.

    Chrysti Maculley, Newark

    8 Responses to “SAD LETTER”


    Comment by
    Laura
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 6:59 am

    “…who is constantly picked on at school and home.”

    He’s picked on at home too? Doesn’t sound like homeschooling is the answer for this kid.


    Comment by
    Daryl Cobranchi
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 7:06 am

    Yeah, I caught that, too. I chose to interpret it as being picked on by the neighborhood kids after school. No way of knowing, of course.


    Comment by
    Chris
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 8:25 am

    A good martial arts instructor can do wonders for a kids self esteem.


    Comment by
    speedwell
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 11:57 am

    My heart bleeds. No, really, for once I’m not being sarcastic 🙂 I’m going to be thinking about this for the rest of the day and I’m not going to get a whole lot of work done.

    I’m going to rephrase the question as: “I send my son to school because it’s the only place I know of where he will be both taken care of and educated during the time that I am at work.” I also agree that being picked on “at home” is a neighborhood-kid thing. I’ve experienced this myself as a child in a cheapo, crowded, city apartment complex.

    I have a question for those of you who are more familiar with applicable laws: Is it permissible for a parent in this or a similar situation to have their child homeschool with another family? Some sort of exchange would probably be part of the package I’m envisioning–money, barter, professional services–even shouldering some of the eeducational responsibility when the parent gets off work, since homeschoolers are more or less free to make their own schedules.

    Is there anything like a network of homeschoolers who are willing to “adopt” a child in this way?


    Comment by
    Daryl
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 12:29 pm

    Under DE law, no:

    Ҥ2703A. Homeschools defined.
    For purposes of this Chapter, a homeschool shall be considered a non-public school and there shall be three types of homeschools defined as follows:
    (1) ‘Single-family homeschool’ means the education of one’s own child(ren) primarily by the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of such child(ren) mainly in their own residence.

    But, there’s a way around this. For instance, if she found someone to watch her kid at night, she could work nights and homeschool during the day (or vice versa). Homeschooling by single parents is possible. It’s certainly not easy but still possible.


    Comment by
    Andrea
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 1:49 pm

    I don’t think I would trust another family to homeschool my child any more than I would trust the public schools with her welfare.

    Becoming a single mother or having to return to work for whatever reason is one of my greatest fears regarding homeschooling. As it stands now, we can barely pay the bills on one income but my returning to work at this point would not make any sense as day care, taxes, clothing, and other expenses of working full time would exceed my income from working.

    I think I would find a way to continue homeschooling but it wouldn’t be easy. Heck, it’s not easy now. I’d be interested in hearing how others homeschool with a baby in the house and the constant interruptions that go along with a baby.


    Comment by
    Traci
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 10:59 pm

    Just an update to interpreting DE law & Daryl’s last comment… disclaimer
    (** PLEASE NOTE I’M NOT A PROFESSIONAL LAWYER nor have been one on TV*** :-)This is not in anyway sustitute for legal advice)

    While the parent is the main educator with DE law… You can Co-op or share SOME teaching time w/ other homeschool parents & their children as long as no $ changes hands… for services. It’s a common thing for a subject or two.. at some time during homeschooling years & Some of us get together at times & may hire a tutor or two for some harder or extracurricular subjects but we make sure parents are present fo legal reasons…

    ( trick here is to find a good evenly matched reciprocating family so no one feels taken advantage of … easier said than done at times)

    We have some single Mom’s in our support group that homeschool… While they work day or night they have a family member or friend stay with their kids & then homeschool them when the come home.. DAY or NIGHT… sometimes leaving assignments for their kids to do while with grandma or another GOOD friend & following up later kinda reverse homeschool homework

    We all have some time at the end of the day to teach, (very few of us come home at 5pm & go straight to bed….after work) The kids homeschool so what if they sleep a bit or at grandma’s in the mornings. Heck when my wee one is a roll to learn something new she may stay up & read till midnight… & If she sleeps in till 10am big deal… Who would I be to stop a learning child just cause it’s dark out..??? & it takes far less time to homeschool than public school because we don’t waste time switching classes… standing in line… & all the other crowd control that goes into orgainizing mass #’s of kids.

    As for Andrea & the ? how to homeschool w/ a baby in the house I suggest finding a good support group & talking w/ the other mothers & hear what works for them & weigh that against your talents & what you think would work for you…

    Most of the people that I know that homeschool multi-ages teach higher subjects like history & some science to the oldest child’s level… The little ones suck up what material they can…( You’d be amazed how much little bro & sis can learn by tagging along)

    then they Teach Reading & Math to each kid at their own level because every child is so invidualized in how they learn these subjects..
    It’s not abnormal to have some kids that are 6 & read at 3rd grade level & still do math at 1st/grade age level & visa versa… the older kids get a bit more MOM time but also can work independantly when the baby needs attention…
    the little ones play quietly or watch ED TV when the bigger ones need help…
    It’s really not much different that raising a few kids & trying to cook dinner…( not that I’m trivializing the homeschooling effort or motherhood in general)

    I know that in some states none of these options are available because homeschoolers are so heavly regulated that they must account for every minute of teaching time & such by regular school hours…

    Blessed be that DE does not… Our property Tax is much cheaper to.. So there PA!!! ( sorry just a little friendly rivalry between states) yep PA you are still free to smoke like chimney at public places. I’m still staying here..

    I think Homeschooling like almost anything else if it’s something you really feel like doing you’ll find away to do it & do it well…

    & speedwell I really feel for this kid too…I know it sounds a bit nuts but I truly believe that in a small way just you & the rest of us by acknowledging his hurt in our hearts will I hope will bring some cosmic goodness into his world…
    & make us all love the ones close to us a little bit harder today… I too was in his shoes at one time & chose to become stronger for it because someone believed in me… All it takes is one person to care…
    Ok enough of the sappy stuff, I’m signing off for now.


    Comment by
    traci
    October 23rd, 2003
    at 11:16 pm

    A PS. on my comments above I apologize for the poor grammar & lack of good spelling & typing.It’s the end of a long day of motherhood & homeschooling combined with that occasional after dinner beer that can bring out the public school education in me… I beg your forgiveness & will be retiring for some much need brain rejuvenation.. I need to fresh in the AM to make sure my kids get a better education than I did. 🙂