I am a little fired up tonight.
This past weekend, I enrolled both of my children in Escondido Tutorial Service‘s Great Books class. They were both enrolled in the class two years ago while we were homeschooling in CA.
I had been considering it for several weeks and had already talked with a school administrator about this when I visited to one of my son’s teachers. Last Friday night, I noticed that the deadline for next semester’s payment was due on Monday (12/15)! I made my decision, signed them up online and mailed the check.
I went in to the school yesterday afternoon and cleared up all of the scheduling changes for next semester. An administrator said that we will need approval from the school district for my son’s last semester to count toward his graduation requirements but she assured me that it shouldn’t be a problem as they know that this program is very well thought of.
However, that does not change the fact that it is a state school. And if it is a state school, then its ruling paradigm is that the state is god.
My wife and I (and our children) do not hold that opinion. We believe that God is God and that he has given parents the authority and responsibility to educate their children as they see fit.
Today, the two teachers learned of my decision.
My son’s teacher evidently talked with the wrestling coach. How do I know this?
For the FIRST time, the coach asked my son if he was thinking of wrestling in college. When my son answered affirmatively, he said that he might want to reconsider my decision “because the colleges are very strict in what credits they will accept. You might be jeopardizing your chances with this move.” Prior to this, he has expressed no interest or excitement in my son’s future. Now, out of the blue, he’s “concerned”???
My daughter’s Comm Arts teacher questioned the decision also. “As an educator, I don’t think that this is best for you. I’m concerned about your reading skills. (she scored in the 74th percentile on the PSAT while testing as a just turned 16 year old junior!) I think your father has made a mistake. Is sounds like he did this without talking to you. Are you O.K. with this?”
I find it interesting that in both instances they appealed to my children as though it were their decision to make. But that is understandable. That is one of the foundational tenets of public schooling in our formerly great nation.
I’m actually grateful for this conflict. My children are witnessing first hand what we have been teaching them all of these years.
