I was thinking this afternoon about the session with the high school people -- the principal and the guidance counselor who will have my daughter's class -- in relation to what I can expect -- what I can reasonably expect -- in the way of communications from them. And not just communications, but support, and insight.
I wasn't impressed with what I saw. The people were friendly and competent, but the impression that I got was that they were, pretty much, giving me the standard line, saying the standard things. Although they nodded and smiled, I didn't get the feeling that they were all that interested in knowing what we thought and wanted. Now, part of that might simply be that they figure that most parents essentially want the same thing -- success for their child, possibly specific attention as they need it (and maybe a bit more). They want to know, to varying levels of detail, how their child is doing in school; whether they're meeting expectations, whether there are problems or opportunities on the horizon. Its my impression that they're aware of this, and they do what they can to meet those expectations. I don't think they do enough, but I think that they do what they can, within the strictures that are set on them.
Which makes me wonder: is the elimination of those strictures what home-based education is all about (other than those who do it for religious reasons)? And, more generally, what would it take to bring the benefits of home-based education to the masses? What would that conceivably look like? How would that conceivably work?
I may write more about this - I'd really like to talk to other parents about what they think is possible and reasonable (who knows: I could be expecting too much) -- but I don't think the opportunity for that is going to occur. So, for the nonce -- any thoughts?
I wasn't impressed with what I saw. The people were friendly and competent, but the impression that I got was that they were, pretty much, giving me the standard line, saying the standard things. Although they nodded and smiled, I didn't get the feeling that they were all that interested in knowing what we thought and wanted. Now, part of that might simply be that they figure that most parents essentially want the same thing -- success for their child, possibly specific attention as they need it (and maybe a bit more). They want to know, to varying levels of detail, how their child is doing in school; whether they're meeting expectations, whether there are problems or opportunities on the horizon. Its my impression that they're aware of this, and they do what they can to meet those expectations. I don't think they do enough, but I think that they do what they can, within the strictures that are set on them.
Which makes me wonder: is the elimination of those strictures what home-based education is all about (other than those who do it for religious reasons)? And, more generally, what would it take to bring the benefits of home-based education to the masses? What would that conceivably look like? How would that conceivably work?
I may write more about this - I'd really like to talk to other parents about what they think is possible and reasonable (who knows: I could be expecting too much) -- but I don't think the opportunity for that is going to occur. So, for the nonce -- any thoughts?
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