Considering our options...

by Cyndi D.

Our favorite part of homeschooling our middle school child is choosing the best way for them, that our schedule can be flexible, the child is never "failing" because they don't go on until they understand the material, and the child learns how to navigate their own life-long education.

And it was going great, until this year.  We have been with virtual schools for the past four years.  But now, our virtual school program isn't happy that my daughter is five months ahead of "her class".  They insist she get back on track with her class (as though being ahead is something to be ashamed of.)   The virtual school program isn't happy that she doesn't attend online teaching sessions for work she did four months ago because they are a waste of her time and attention.  No, they want her to attend so she can help her classmates understand the subject.  And the program keeps heaping on demands for weekly checkpoints, and monthly samples, and attending this, and doing that....  It feels like we've lost all control.

So we are coming to a decision for our middle school homeschooler.

I hate to leave the comfort of what is familiar and great, but the virtual school is becoming more and more like regular school with the teacher dictating every little move and penalizing those who dare to excel. It is no longer working for her, it is working against her.  Any teacher who would consider that instead of promoting her when she finishes in February, instead she would be doing "make-up" work for five months to wait for the rest of her class to catch up with her isn't considering if it is good for her, but rather what is convenient.  The virtual school is becoming a drag on her education and I will not allow it. 

After a lot of conversation and consideration, today we presented the options to her.  And though I have agonized over it, she was pleased to move on.  She has decided she wants more control, and the right to move ahead at her pace.  We are going to put her back into full homeschool mode.  She is excited to consider the different possibilities, including how soon she could try our local community college. 

We're going to be spending a few weeks combing through curriculum reviews, and getting ready for the transition.  I do so with a bit of fear and trepidation, but she looks forward to the challenge.  The change does not frighten her, it excites her to see what comes next. And in this moment, I realize my middle school child is so capable and so much more ready to face the future, if I just free her to try it.  I guess I learned something today.  So off we go! :o)