Parents and school involvement

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Parents and school involvement
2586
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:49am

My question stems from a personal experience. My middle child is starting kindergarten next week. I've become fairly close with one of my dd's friend's moms- this is her first child entering the school system. She WOH, I do not, plus I have experience with the school, so she's been calling me with questions and comments.

It started to go bad when she called to complain that the kindy orientation is during the day- when she is working. Then it led to complaints about the parents' read aloud program (when the kids are in library) and other opportunities for volunteerism in the school. I get that these things aren't convenient for her, but I'm getting annoyed with the complaining. How can the kids have an orientation at night when they go to school during the day? None of these events are mandatory for parents or kids. And plenty of activities are scheduled for evenings: Back to school night, the PTA picnic, etc.

She thinks because she can't participate, no one should be able to, apparently. Plenty of WOHP do show up for these things. I think she's being unrealistic if she thought she could put a couple of kids through school without ever taking a vacation day. Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:27pm
That doesn't mean she doesn't have that discipline though.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:28pm
I guess standing in a line isn't high on my list of academic priorities.;-)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:28pm
Yes, I think she said she is homeschooling 3 of them right now. I know they are not the same age and they are sisters. That is not the same as going to a classroom with different types of children. I don't personally know how she homeschools but I do know other people I have "met" online who do not have a structured day and week like a school setting would.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:30pm
I never said she didn't. How structured is your homeschooling situation though? Sometimes (not saying you do this and just by example of someone else I have met online) the homeschooling situation to me personally, is a little too lax. She did not teach 6 hours a day, everyday and they would take off for 2 weeks at a time.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:32pm

my oldest started tap and ballet when she was 4 but she was never there for 2-3 hours at a time, 2-3 days a week, of course we werent taking it too serious at 4 years old.

to answer you question i think it is important for kids to learn to create and maintain friendships of their own choosing from among a group of kids. and i do think it takes repeated exposure to develop true friendships. and in my expereince kids act differently when mom is present than when she is not

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2007
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:34pm
Obviously I can't speak for her but from the posts I have read I don't think Shari has made that assumption. She has said she feels it is ok to work if you have to but not ok to work for material things or just because you want to.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:35pm
I have to agree. That is why they have separation classes now. My newphew was really bad in the beginning and the parents were allowed to stay, in another room, where they could see in but the kids could not see them. He now has no problem going with anyone and goes to preschool and camp for a couple of hours a day, a couple of days a week. He really needed this and sometimes you don't know if they need it unless you try.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:36pm
it certainly isnt an academic priority, but there are plenty of things in life that kids learn that are not an academic priority. academics are the least of my concerns for my 4 year old. but lets stick to my only point which was that not everything that is accomplished in preschool can be accomplished at home - period.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:36pm
Do you think your kids are learning every minute they are in school? Homeschooling three children is efficient. It doesn't require 6 hours a day. I consider our homeschooling to be very structured though. My 7th grade dd is taking three highschool level courses outside of our home. My oldest dd who is now in public school got academic honors last year, so I obviously did something right in the way I taught her.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 5:37pm

Sounds like the transistion was wonderful!


My boys started school a couple of weeks ago, they are in the 6th and 4th grade.

PumpkinAngel

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