Homeschool or public school?

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
by Jerry Russell

While I have not had to deal with placing our autistic son in public schools yet (he’s only two), I have had to deal with the special education needs of a child with extreme bipolar disorder and will very soon have the issues of a very animated child on the spectrum to deal with. If he’s lucky enough to attend a military run elementary school, these issues will be dealt with as they arise, the military is good at that.

If and when he attends a public school, I’ll have to deal with the administrators there. Needless to say part of our final decision on where to live when my wife retires is heavily influenced by school systems.

Getting an IEP in place can be a headache. Getting the school to adhere to it can be a nightmare. Being vocal can get you branded as a “problem Parent” or as “Overprotective”. I’ve had these experiences and I’m not alone. The following person dislikes the way the system works so much that she has chosen homeschooling rather than face the public education system again. In an article for the Houston Examiner, she writes

Last night, at a friend’s invitation, I went to a meeting of our local school district’s special education parents’ group. We had moved recently, and while I’m homeschooling now I thought “why not learn more?”

I did.

Perhaps not surprisingly, our new special ed program is just like the old one. The administrator’s job, in essence, is to keep costs down… parents quiet…. and teachers submissive. If the special ed kids do well, that’s great. If they don’t… that’s life.

Meanwhile, parents are in a panic, trying to manage IEPs that don’t include the accomodations, therapies, supports or social skills programs they asked for. Should they sign the IEP, so their child can get at least SOME services right now? Or hold off, hire an advocate, and demand what they’re entitled to – meanwhile leaving their child in legal limbo for months?

[From Homeschooling Examiner: Why my child with autism is NOT going back to public school]

I can understand the frustration here, but shouldn’t we all be working to get the school systems to realize that this is less a problem of finance than an issue of importance?

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4 Comments

Jill

February 11th, 2009
at 10:20am

All I want to say is learn the Education Policy for the state you live in when you decide to homeschool. All states are see home education differently and have different requirements.

Since you’re moving back to California, they have ALWAYS required home education parents to have teaching certificates from the state of California.

Texas looks on home education with the same eyes as high priced private schools. Texas is the last of the free states. Private schools & Home education have very little requirements, which means freedom to raise your child(ren) with the most love and most education as you see fit.

That’s all I want to say, Study the Education Policy of your residing state and find the lawyers for the home school coalition of that state. You want them in your corner preserving your parental rights.

Judy

February 11th, 2009
at 10:21am

This is going to be a long one…I have 2 children (girls 3rd and 1st grade).

One is highly gifted (3rd grade) and the other is “challenged” behaviorally. This is their first year in Public school and I have to say that I am so impressed with what they are doing with them. At the beginning of the school year I was given the option of advacning my 3rd grader to 4th. I chose to not do this based on her age and when I wanted her in high school. We agreed to get the gifted testing done. This is an IEP. Until now I have had no idea what one was. She is now in the gifted program and having a wonderful time.

My youngest I decided to not have an IEP done based on the fact that she is a young 1st grader. 6 yrs old through the whole year with a birthday in August. I don’t want her tested for ADD/ADHD as I would really like to figure out how to work with the child and don’t really believe in labeling them. Now can you believe this? The teacher is working with me on all of it. Either I just got incredibly lucky and found a great school or it’s all how it’s handled by the teacher. Yes my daughter is in a desk at the very front of the classroom but she even realizes that it helps her focus and do well in school. I do volunteer a lot of time to her classroom. Pretty sure I owe the teacher quite a bit!

i guess what I am trying to say is that I have done private and public school. Not home schooled because I would not be good at it. Out of the 2 I have tried I love Public School and I truly beleive that if you are in a good school (they are all rated now) you can work closely with the school to get the results you need. Volunteering is the best way to guarantee special attention for your child!

I love your closing statement here! “I can understand the frustration here, but shouldn’t we all be working to get the school systems to realize that this is less a problem of finance than an issue of importance?”

Lauren

April 9th, 2009
at 12:55am

Sorry, but the information about California is not correct.

I have lived in California for over 25 years. I homeschooled my four children from K through 12th grade. I do not hold a credential in ANY state.

California does NOT require a parent to have a teaching credential to home school. They do require that you inform them of your intent to homeschool and teach the state standards.

Jerry Russell

April 9th, 2009
at 6:43am

Lauren,
There was a play by the CA school systems to mandate teaching credentials for homeschooling pertaining to an old law on the books. Thankfully the Governator squashed that one. In any event, I’m still not sure which way I’m going to go.

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