I  have never been know for my demure, delicate demeanor. Though lately the Lord is laying it on my heart to be softer. When it comes to being a Mommy I can be very soft, but mess with my kids and I am a big mean Momma bear.

Recently we pulled Steven (our 7yo) out of Public School. He was in a regular (albeit out of control) 1^st grade class in the morning and The Developmental Learning center in the afternoon. His afternoons were nice,. He had a structured caring teacher who knew her job and loved children. The mornings were chaos and his teacher was young, arrogant and had no control. Long story short, she targeted Steve, simply b/c she thought she could. Most folks out where we live are the rural poor, and many children come to school dirty and hungry. Steve came clean as a whistle and ready to learn with a full tummy. For some reason this bothered her. After a lot of pettiness and her being backed up by the Vice-Principal (her mom, no kidding)) and the Principal (Mom’s best friend) I got him out. Many things were said and opinions exchanged, but at one point I knew it was time to shake the dust off my feet and walk away. Unfortunately the public Schools are much like the Emperors New Clothes. It is a world of denying the inner problems. We all know that, it is one of the reasons so many of us Home school.

I thought the whole thing was over. The Special Ed teacher had encouraged me to remove him as she said it was an impossible situation and nothing she said to the Principal made a difference. There is one Math game Steve loved and she promised to leave a copy at the front desk. Yesterday I went to pick it up and sign him off of his IEP. I was literally met at the door by the Director Of Special Services. In her most condescending tone she told me how I was not allowed to remove Steve from Special ed. It was the Law! I replied. “No it’ not, you’ve misinterpreted the law, I ABSOLUTLEY CAN remove him, refuse your services and seek private resources on my own” Oh no you can not. Very calmly I said. “Oh but I can, in fact and I am.” She continued to get more condescending in tone and said “Perhaps you don’t understand, we are the School system and you can not.” I replied “Oh but I do understand the law you have misinterpreted. I know you are the school system, I am his mother and in this state I have all the rights over his education and you have none! Shall we take this up with my Attorney?” She got a little red, kept insisting I had to bring him back every afternoon. I looked at her and said sweetly, yet firmly, “My son will NEVER walk through these doors again, and I am well within my rights. I also kept repeating “No he does not” to every “He has to!” she said. I left. Had a lovely day in town with all 8 of my little ones.

Later that afternoon the director of the Districts Home school Program and I met to talk. She is so awesome and loves Homeschoolers and has created a very separate place for Homeschoolers to come together and get such things as Karate, Piano, French, Art. She pulls in some wonderful teachers. She is a champion of home school rights. Anyway, she was outraged at how I was treated and went over to the Elementary school. Told the Director of Special Services that I was well within my rights and she could do nothing. At which point the Director said she could force the issue. Diana the Homeschool Director. Said “NO you can not. He is in my program and I have been a Certified Special Ed teacher for 25 years.” CASE CLOSED!

Diana was a big help to me, without her I still knew the law and knew I had the right to remove Steven. With the Creighton case still fresh on our minds, I think it is important to know our rights as home schoolers and as parents. Very important!