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need some help with homeschooling sitation???
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Question:
I don't know if anyone out there can help me, but I'm totally frustrated &
need some advice as to what to do next.
Here's what's gonig on. As I've posted previously to this I am currently
homeschooling our 5th grade son. This is primarily due to difficulties he's
been having emotionally with the school setting-- he was the target of some
school bullies (whom the principal, et al refused to do anything about)
which helped lead him to clinical depression, suicidal behaviors, paranoid
thoughts, and acting out
against other children. The school principal, despite 2 years of my telling
her a problem was developing, suddenly deteremined that they was a problem
last april. However, rather than look at the whole picutre, she decided that
there was something wrong solely w/ our son. She further determined that
she knew the best way to help him and we did not. This, depsite the facts
that 1)I have a degree in educational psychology and have worked with
emotionally disabled kids, and 2)we had been telling her for years that this
was happening.
Anyhow, she called two days ago, and stated that she had heard our son was
not enrolled in school, asked why. I infomred her first that it was none of
her business. When she perisisted I informed her that we were
homeschooling. She stated that she did not feel that was apporpriate. I
told her that was not her decision to make.
Since then I have recieved calls from
1) CPS, who recieved an anonymous tip that our son was not in school; when
informed that we were homeschooling they were satisfied;
2) the registrar of the local school distsrict, who simply asked if we were
aware of state required forms. I told her we were and the forms were in the
process of being taken care of. She was siatisfied.
3) the person in charge of homeschool applications, who happens to know us
and knew that we would not simply with hold our son from school even though
he did not yet have a form on file. I told him it should be there in a few
days and he was satisfied.
4) the chair of the district's special ed comittee, who was concerned as to
how our son's emotional/behavioral needs were being met. We had a lengthly
conversation and she stated that she was satisfied with what we were doing.
She also verified that she had recived a call from the principal which
initiated her call.
My concern is this: Does this woman have any right to follow our son & our
schooling/care of him like this? What can we do,if anything, to get this
meddling arrogant woman out of our son's life?
Answer:
- I would presume she has the right to make sure kids are being schooled,
probably even a legal obligation to do so.
Tell your story to every parent in your school district, to your principal's
boss, i.e., school board, etc. I'd make sure she changes her tune regarding
how to handle kids or seek to have her removed from this most important
position.
- I agree. I think she does have a right and a responsibility to make sure
that all the children in her district are receiving the proper education.
However, I also think this principle REALLY needs to work on her people
skills. First, it is the school official's responsibility to listen to the
parents. Only a parent (primary caregiver) really knows their child's
disposition. If a parent says that there is a problem 99 times out of 100,
there is a problem. This situation should have been dealt with two years
ago. Second, this principle should have informed you of the necessary
procedures and the steps that she was responsible for taking in order that
there be no misunderstanding.
On how to get her off your back. I don't have a clue other than to report
your concerns and past events to not only the school board, but also to the
superintendent.
- Did you document what you were telling her? This may not help you, but it
is a lesson to learn. When you report a problem to a school or other
government agency, put it in writing. If you can, get them to sign it or to write
their reply down and give you a copy of it.
Evidence that she needs to listen instead of judging people, imho.
When she called I would have given her the benefit of the doubt.
It is possible that she was inquiring out of legal duty or even out
of caring motives. However, the report below suggests that this
was not the case.
Get the fact that the agencies were satisfied in writing if you can do so.
Document, document, document. This is important since you are suspicious
of the principal's motives here.
Well, there is little you can do to stop her from calling and inquiring,
I think, but as I said, start now making a paper trail. Document every
call she makes. Write down dates and times and then document
your own responses as well, so that you will have defenses against
any actions she does take. And let her know that you are doing this.
It might be enough to stop her simply because everything she does
will become public record.
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