Common Sense....Not so Common

Okay....this post is a continuation on a theme lately I guess and one from the not so distant past. I really have issues with public schools and bureaucracy. Most of you are familiar with the whole "if your daughter doesn't pass this test we are going to send her back to 8th grade" BS that the school put J through at the beginning of the school year. She kicked ass on the test and was able to tell them I told you so. I was highly irritated at the time because they made assumptions about both myself and my child before they even spoke a word to us and realized we weren't the "typical" homeschool stereotype. Well, that ugly little assumption has raised its head again and I'm so not a happy camper. The schools do what they call "flex time". At the end of the year, if you've performed well on your TAKS test, passed all your classes, had good attendance, etc., you are allowed to finish school a week early - Calendar 1. If you haven't done these things, you have to attend 3 mandatory Saturday schools between now and the end of the year to prep for the TAKS, you aren't allowed to be exempted from any final exams, and you have to attend that week of school - Calendar 2. We received all three kids first semester report cards last week. I was very proud and happy to report that all 3 maintained all a's for the first semester in all classes and they are taking primarily honors courses. In fact, J did so well, she is getting a military ribbon in Jr. ROTC for academic achievement. So, you would think that all 3 kids would be on Calendar 1 right? WRONG! J got stuck on Calendar 2 and it is simply for no other reason that she was homeschooled last year. Being the bitchy mom that I am....I went to the school to have them explain to me just how my daughter is stuck taking Saturday school with kids in remedial classes and she is assigned to the Peer Tutoring program as a tutor. Does that sound like someone needing extra time in school to review for the TAKS? You would think that common sense would apply here right? WRONG! Apparently, common sense is really not common in the public school systems (or life I guess but today my rant is about the schools). So...not only have they sent these letters home and blindly made these assessments without looking at the whole picture/whole child. ....they sent ALL of the counselors and academic program staff to a training. So let me get this straight...you take all the people who can assist parents/students with this calendar 1/2 issue...and send them to a training right when you send these letters home and parents will have questions and want to resolve them? Wow, what mental giant decided that?!? I am so happy I wasted my morning at the school only to be told that no one on staff can help me....not even the Freshman principal because this isn't up to him it is up to someone that reports to him?!? Start the bail fund now....because I'm NOT sending her to Saturday school. She shouldn't be punished for being an intelligent young lady who kicks ass at everything she takes on...including their stupid rules.

Protective Pandora wishing you a happier day!

XoXo