Dear Teachers,
First, I want you to know what hard work you do. I was you. I taught for 8 years in the public school system before I decided to take on the work of teaching my own children. You love those kids in your room deeply and you want them to learn and succeed. But, after reading about the
NEAs resolutions against homeschooling (B83), I was a little saddened. I used to think like that. How could any parent teach their children? Then, I taught for a few years. I saw countless amazing kids that didn't fit into the public school system. And then I had two kids the public school system wouldn't work for. It rocked my world. I always assumed I would send them, you see. I was looking forward to their first day. I wanted them to experience all the wonder that school can be.
But, I knew. I knew because I had taught children like my two. The kids who don't care and can't be motivated, no matter what you try? I have one of those. I used to think it was a lack of parenting thing. Turns out, it's not. It's a personality thing (insert huge slice of humble pie for me). She's the kid who would walk out of class, if you pissed her off and she didn't want to do her work. Probably by age 8, she would have been sent to the office for that offense. She could care less about your reward jar, your end of year party, your skittles. She isn't going to do it unless she wants to and good luck with that.
She is also the kid who is perfectly happy if you think she can't. She will play you like a fiddle, if it gets her out of doing whatever she doesn't want to. I am her mother and she does it to me. I catch myself all the time. I make myself stop and make her do it on her own. She grumbles and rolls her eyes to the high heavens the whole time. In a classroom full of kids who all need your attention, it would be easy to lose her. This isn't your fault. I know you would much prefer a ratio of 10:1, so you can know and help all those kids you love.
I have been through so many different reading programs to find the one that works for her. It was hard and tiring work. Throwing away and starting over, time and time again. I know you would be more than willing to do this, too. I know you would love more than anything to have the time, money and resources available to you to do this. I am so sad that you don't, because I know you hate having your hands tied with district expectations and funds. So, she stays with me. I can give that her, so she can get the best education possible for her.
She also needs someone who fully understands what an Auditory Processing Disorder is and how it effects her. While I know you would be more than willing to devote your time to this, I also know that there are so many other students in your class who need you. I can do this for her, so you can spend more time with your kids who need you.
Then, there is my second child who would not be successful in school. He has a sensory processing disorder, ADHD, and is probably severely dyslexic. He has some serious math skills, but his fine motor delay is so predominant in his life right now, it's much easier if I write for him. I know you would be more than willing to give him those accommodations. But, again, your plate is so full! His line of thinking is also outside the box, and I am not sure if he could conform to district standards in math, the one area where he can excel. I know you would see his strength, but your hands are often so tied, you would have to pull him back so he can do it the way the district expects.
He also does his school work bouncing around. Sometimes, he stands on his chair and rocks back and forth. He always has a fidget toy in his hand to mess with. He doesn't do still. I know you would be more than happy to give him a balance board, a yoga ball, bungee cords on his desk, and whatever else he needs. But, he would be distracting to all the other kids in the class with his constant moving. It could easily get frustrating for you. At home, he isn't bothering anyone while he jumps on his chair and adds in his head.
The SPD causes problems with self regulation. He has a hard time controlling his feelings, because he feels so much of them. They are so big and so raw he tends to explode when things don't go his away. I know you would be patient with him. You would be kind and help him learn to cool off. You would let him take notes to other teachers for no reason, but for him to take a break. You would send him to help the PE teacher, so he could get some heavy work in. You would also love those OT and Speech times when he left the room for a bit. (And I don't mean this in a negative way, I love them, too! I love when he goes to another room for a bit and uses his energy in a place that isn't right next to me).
Noise and crowds bother him. It may just be noisy for most of us, but for him it's painful. Sensory processing disorders are these invisible things that we often forget about. It's hard to remember that it isn't just annoying for him, it hurts his little body when he is overwhelmed. He is learning to cope and regulate in these situations. Making it all day in them would not be happening at this point.
And, sadly, in the wrong hands, I would be fighting his placement in a self contained class. He doesn't belong there, but he doesn't really belong in a class of 30. I can give him what you aren't able to, even though I know you would bend over backwards to help him. I can reduce the noise and the crowds.
We homeschooling families aren't doing this because we think you can't. We know you are a gifted group of educators. We know you love what you do and you invest in the kids in your room. We honor you! Please give us the same respect. We are doing this because we love our kids.
I could go through the resolution point by point, but I don't think it's necessary. That has been done. What I do want to say is this. We do not think less of you, because of what we choose. We choose it, because we know your hands are tied in so many ways. We wish you had more authority in your career. We wish that decisions in the field of education were not being made by people who have no experience in it. We want the powers that be to be asking you for advice on what and when to teach subjects.
So, we thank you teachers for your hard work. We thank you for your care and concern, even for our homeschooled children. It shows how passionate you are over what you do that you would even consider them! Please, come spend a day in my house. Come watch us learn! Most of us would invite you in! Watch for a week, and then come to a decision on how we are doing.
