May I tell my story? I truly want to believe my child can get a good education in the public schools, but I'm starting to have my doubts. My daughter started kindergarten in a magnet school this year. She missed the lottery for all day, and goes half day in the afternoons.
For the last two years she has gone to Montessori preschool full time and the second year she did the kindergarten curriculum and then some. The problem is that she is 19 days shy of the September 1st cut off. She has always been academically advanced and has demanded much in the way of academics. Last December the preschool suggested we really try to get her into kindergarten then, and we were put on the magent school waiting list and never got in. I was told by the principal to get her in kindergarten this year, they would asses and then she could be moved up. We'll now they're heming and hawing. At our parent teacher conference (joined by the prinipal - for us problem parents) they decided the best thing like the older grades, unlike the other kindergarteners, would be to give Cayla a work plan. This was to happen before the teacher went on maternity leave and to asses again down the road. The teacher is gone and it never happened. She and the principal never return(ed) our phone calls or written notes. Meanwhile, we were trying to work full time and having to home school her in the mornings too. She is now back in the mornings at her old preschool. The plan was to drop her off in the mornings and have the bus take her to the public school for afternoons. Turns out the preschool is 4 blocks outside the bus range and they won't do it, so we have to pick her up and take her mid-moring. When asked - guess which school she feels more challenged? Of course - her preschool! I'm now starting to believe the public schools are not interested in the individual successes. The excuse is that she is not ready - very slightly shy of some math works, she has to also be able to read the clock, and count money to go to 1st grade. How many kids know this going out of kindergarten? So here she is stuck repeating everything, not going beyond 3 and 4 letter reading words and acting out since she is bored. I have taken great pains to ask other teachers and her afterschool program if she is socially ready and they have all have said absolutely yes. So, here she is being shuffled around to two different schools and then afterschool, and I feel guilty and horrid that we are doing her such an incredible disservice. And this is only the beginning... Liz Greenbaum Longfellow -- __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
