Melissa Dietrick

hello,
Im a newish member of this list...
Just in case, I have 7 children, and I am unschooling my dd5 who is 8 years in May.

the older children are all schooled, but with as "unschooly" an attitude as possible, from
our side at anyrate. All are free to leave when they wish. They just arent wishing to yet.

My concerns right now, are about protecting my daughter's learning.

I have just come away from a conversation with the principal of the local school, which
buroucratically speaking is not "just" a principal. In Italy, the principal is the director of
the whole area's schools...

Last year's "director" had given me the information that testing a homeschooled child was
only required upon re-entry of the public school system.

This year's principal or "director" has come up with the "normative" (legislature?) that tells
me that I must test my child each year. Now if I were in the US I would not at all be
concerned but I am rather worried about the impact (on dd) of taking the sort of test they
give here in italy. I also am having trouble separating my own fears from what actually *is*
or may be...

I could write tons to give background, but I have two littlies that are begging for the
computer back...I would prefer to be asked questions to help me thru this situation.

I have been requested to provide what I guess is "curriculum" ( una programma) that is
ideona to a 2nd grader. I have translated Sandra's page that talks about this ( I will pass
that on to you, sandra, as soon as it is completely smoothed out)...Thankyou for that page,
it was such a life saver for me. Yet, I need to work out what I have actually done with her
as they will be basing the "exam" on "my program"...

Im full of fear, and excited as well. I really want to do this right, by my dd, but also for
others that may follow me...I know my oldest dd (lucia 20.5yrs) who just read today the
Unschooling UnManual, and called me to say that she plans to unschool her children.
:o)
I know if she says that, she will.

Ive posted elsewhere about a month ago about my worries of "ruining" my dd's learning
(unschooled) but no one gave me a response (no, thats not true,- one woman asked for
clarification but didnt respond afterwards)...

having a bit of trouble expressing myself, its hard to move back into english today for
some reason....sorry if this is choppy..
okay ive really got to go,

Sandra, if this is not the right place to post this, let me know and I will go there. But I do
want to go where you will be answering, lol.

thank you so much for everything past present and future,
melissa
in italy
mamma of 7

lucia 20yr, lidia 17yr, matteo 13yr, raffaele 10yr,
elena shanti 7yr, giacomo leo 4yr and gioele 2y



http://www.larimeloom.etsy.com
http://www.flauto.tk
http://www.attachmentparenting.eu

Melissa Dietrick

Hi, i think i want to clarify (quickly unfortunately)
I wrote:

-> My concerns right now, are about protecting my daughter's learning.

That is, protecting the unschooled learning when testing by grade level is involved...

thanks,
melissa




> I have just come away from a conversation with the principal of the local school, which
> buroucratically speaking is not "just" a principal. In Italy, the principal is the director of
> the whole area's schools...
>
> Last year's "director" had given me the information that testing a homeschooled child
was
> only required upon re-entry of the public school system.
>
> This year's principal or "director" has come up with the "normative" (legislature?) that
tells
> me that I must test my child each year. Now if I were in the US I would not at all be
> concerned but I am rather worried about the impact (on dd) of taking the sort of test
they
> give here in italy. I also am having trouble separating my own fears from what actually
*is*
> or may be...