Relaxing

Today I'm going to take it easy and relax with my hubby before he departs for California tomorrow morning.  Not sure what I'm going to do with myself over the next week.  I'm thinking... a girls night? A trip to Choctaw Casino?? Maybe watching movies or catching up on my DVD recordings???  I'm sure I'll figure out some way to keep myself occupied.  =) 

Oh yeah... I forgot to mention that, among all my other life activities, I have started homeschooling my daughter.  She has been struggling in school since the 4th grade.  The schools just kept teaching the next thing although my daughter was not learning what they taught her before.  It was so frustrating... Texas schools have gone downhill....  If you have a child that learns exactly the one way that teachers know to teach, then they will most likely excel, make great grades, and love school.  However, if you have children, like mine, who learn a different way; well, then your just up the creek as far as the public school system is concerned.  Those children get left behind, put in the back of the class, and accused of being "trouble makers."  My kids were not trying to cause trouble, they were just trying to understand why they were being treated so much different than the other kids.  They got less attention and less help although they actually needed more help than the others who could understand.  This year, my a couple of teachers actually accused my daughter of lying about the fact that she doesn't understand simply because she has to ask so many times for it to be explained!!!  And why does she have to ask so many times???  It's because they just keep explaining it the same way over and over again.  If a child cannot learn from the way you teach then maybe you should try another way to explain it!!  As a result, my daughter began to give up the fight.  She started not turning in classwork... not doing homework... not completing projects.... not because she wanted to be rebellious, but because she was frustrated with all the negativity she received from her teachers, athletic coaches, and even her cheer coach.  

When will the schools learn that we do not have "Stepford Children?"  They are not all from a cookie-cutter mold.  Each child has their own strengths, weaknesses, talents, and personalities.  Each reacts differently to any given circumstance... AND... many of them learn in a different way.  <<<Big Sigh>>>  Sorry for the venting, it's just the way I feel.  The public school systems have been failing our children for many years now.  I fought them through 2 children and I wish that I had gotten a clue earlier and done for my son what I am now doing for my daughter.  My son, who was mistakenly diagnosed as ADHD for many years, is so incredibly smart but could not understand things like the other kids.  I spent many years in the Principal's office conferencing with teachers.  I actually had one teacher tell me that she only knew how to teach one way and that was it.  If my son could not understand it, then she did not know what else to do.  I could not believe my ears!!  Where have all the great teachers gone?  Needless to say, my son continued to struggle, and fail, his way through school until he dropped out... he was 17 years old and in the 9th grade!!  It was disastrous.  Of course, along the way we found out he was actually bipolar and by the time he hit high school he was also struggling with drugs.  However, while I recognize that a lot of my sons later struggles were due to his undiagnosed bipolar, I also know that part of his struggles with drugs and bad behavior stemmed from years of frustration with the school system and with us as parents.  I was naive back then, and believed the teachers were doing everything they could, so the harder the schools pushed us, the harder we pushed my son.  I wished I hadn't been so blind.  However, I'm determined that my daughter will not suffer the same fate in her education... and so is she.  

Okay, enough venting.  I'm so excited to be homeschooling my daughter!  =)  It will be a challenge because my husband and I still have to work full time; however, we are all committed to this and are determined to make it work.  Thanks for reading my venting session, (I don't do it very often), now back to my relaxing.  


Thanks for reading "All About My Business"
Crystal Campbell
Crystal Campbell Photography

P.S.  My son is now 18 years old.  He is taking courses to get his GED and plans to enter college afterwards to study Forensic Science, (something he has wanted to do since he was a child).  I'm so very proud of him and tell him that every chance I get.  He still suffers with low self esteem, and thinks he is not very smart; however, I can see that he gains more confidence everyday.  I believe by the time he completes college that part of him will be conquered.  It is never too late...  Knowledge is Power!!!!!