I had the opportunity to share our fostering experiences recently with a brand new Foster PRIDE class here in town. There were several hopeful families that are nearing their training end and soon they will be official foster parents. I know they are anxious to get started and yet nervous at the same time. We were to. I spoke about some of our "success stories" and also about some of our sadder moments. Of course the obvious success stories would be our own two kids and then some of the saddest moments we've had as foster parents was having one leave via the bedroom window in the middle of the night and another leave via the police. Neither are ways you want things to end, but sometimes, things happen.
We began changing gears about the end of last semester concerning Presley and public school. Public schools here have always been rated very high through out the state. In fact, our public schools typically are in the top three school districts in the state! Elementary school here is now kindergarten through third grade, and that is with a recent change, when fourth grade was transferred to the Middle School. So Middle School here is now fourth through Sixth, then the kids change schools again and Junior High is 7th and 8th grades and finally the kids go to high school.
Presley had such wonderful teachers in elementary school and she actually got to be the last class that 4th grade was considered elementary. She was a little nervous for middle school; as we all were at one time. Sometime last fall, she began having troubles with some of the kids and that too, I suppose can be expected. I talked to individual teachers and ultimately when it was no longer childs play, I took it to the Principal. Without going into details, I will say nothing was ever resolved. It was buried and along with the administrations heads in the sand. Naturally, things didn't get better for Presley and bless her heart, she's a pretty easy going kid and she didn't really get all that upset. The sad part is most of what was happening to her, she didn't even realize it was "wrong" or inappropriate! Finally, during the last 9 days of school, we had had enough. She wrote us a letter, front and back about why she hated "that school" and "never wanted to go back!" My little Apple Dumplin' was fed up! She had had enough and now this kid who always loved school and wants to be a teacher herself someday hated school!
We immediately prayed as a family about things and it was decided, Presley would have to change schools. Thankfully, we have lots of options in our small town and two days later I went "school shopping." We have two traditional type Christian schools in our town and one I would call, non-traditional-until I did the research!!
It took us about a week of shopping, visiting, praying and talking before we made our decision and we are so excited on what we found!
Her "new school" as we call it is sort of a combination of home schooling and "traditional" type preparatory schooling as far as attendance is concerned. At the new school, she will only go twice a week as it is a University based model school. In other words, they offer classes similar to college courses are designed. On Thursday's the kids get the following weeks work and then have a week to complete it. Parents are given a curriculum to follow and to help the student with. The basis of the school is a biblical based school, so unlike a Christian school where a kid may have a Bible class, all the classes at this school are taught with a Biblical worldview. Parental involvement is first and foremost, just as the Bible directs us in Proverbs, "Train up a child in the way he should go."
But I think one of the neatest aspects of this school is they study and learn in a Classical Christian educational style!! I believe this approach is the way that best fits a kids needs. Instead of a kid conforming to way the government would have us to learn, you learn according to your own personality and style. Do you realize that classically trained scholars include Sir Issac Newton, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Presley's favorite president, John Adams! They studied and learned from the Bible as well as classical authors. They memorized the facts and learned to be analytic thinkers and logical doers.
One of my new favorite websites, http://classical-homeschooling.org/ says, "Educators are returning to classical education as modern educational methods continue to produce high school graduates who are not only functionally illiterate and lacking in critical thinking skills, but morally bankrupt as well." And this is true. I know the world goes round and round so to speak and my Mom has always said History repeats itself and I think we are going back to basics across America. Homeschooling is no longer out of the ordinary. Most of us, at least here in central Arkansas where we have a strong home schooling community know many parents who have chosen this option. So, its not far fetched to find a school that is nontraditional that believes the Biblical principle that we as parents ought to be our child's main influence. After all, why do I want other seven year old's raising and influencing my seven year old? I should have made this decision long ago.
But let me also say; in making our decision we have kept the kids in mind. John will not be changing schools. He has and continues to do well academically. He plays football and runs track and we just see no reason to change his routine at this point. He gets plenty of "family time" as our rules are still strict-even for a high school boy! And our baby? Well, lol, the verdict is still out...we haven't decided 100% just yet. We are still praying we'll make the right decision for her and her elementary years; but I defiantly don't see her attending our public middle school!
Thanks for reading and I hope y'all have a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!
Lola
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