Last night I called my sister. She has 4 kids and all four are in public school. Two of the kids have some learning disablilities, dyslexia, and so they are in, or have been in, remedial classes for most of their school career. She was called up to the school a few weeks ago in which they discussed the possiblility of taking her oldest daughter out of the remedial classes and putting her full time in her 6th grade classroom. My sister went back this past week to oppose it and was told, according to Texas state laws, they were doing away with all remedial classes and that all children would be expected to do grade level work, regardless of disabilities or execptions. In Texas they do the TASP or TACS test for grade placement. My neice would have three chances to pass it or would have to repeat the grade. Still disastified, my sister continued to protest, until one of the remedial teachers approached my sister and told her that if she wanted to fight this new law, then she would need to become an activist, but even then, it would not help her kids, but it would help other people a few years down the line. Even so, her best bet would be to homeschool her daughter.

We talked some about homeschooling and what is out there as far as resources and groups and curriculums. She still didn't seem very sold on the idea, and as a person with severe dyslexia, I could understand why she wouldn't have very much confidence in herself. After Curtis and I talked today about it, we offered to do homeschooling for my neice, but I think that is a ways off too and a big chance.

But this did get me to thinking. What is going to happen to these children that need remedial help? Are they going to be fed to the wolves, bound to repeat classes 2 or 3 times and end up somethinglike 19 years old and still in the 10th grade? How is this going to affect society? How many angry and unconfident children will this produce? But while I'm thinking about these things, forgive me if I step on some toes or hurt some feelings, are you not suppose to be your child's advocate? And if you are not your child's advocate, really, who is going to step in? I have met some real fruitcakes out there homeschooling, but this is not the norm and I dont' understand why there is such a taboo feeling about homeschooling. For us, it has been one of the best things we did for our kids. Our stress levels have come down, our children are intelligent and moving forward, they have manners, do chores, and go to bed at night and rise in the morning pleasently. There have been wonderous changes in all of us because we homeschool.

I don't quite know how to end this article, except to say that the more I read, the more I see, the more I hear about what is going on in public schools, and though not all of it is bad, I become more pro-homeschooling everyday, just because I see more benefits of homeschooling than I do cons! I wish others could see that. I wish others could see what happens when parents take charge and are their child's advocate!!