Sarah

Hi Nicki,

I've been thinking about this post a lot today. You're in Ketchum,
right? I went to elementary school at Hemingway. It was a fair
experience (email me off-list for specifics, if you want). I have
cousins that go to The Community School, and they like it, for the most
part. In fact, I will be in Ketchum this weekend for a baby shower.

I do not think it is coercive to tell your child everything you know
about kindergarten. This includes the good. Does she know she has to
get permission to go the bathroom, for example? Does she know that she
cannot eat whenever she wants, that she will have to sit in one place
for a good portion of the day, that time with friends is very limited?
Does she know that there are plenty of opportunities to interact with
other children outside of school in classes, playdates, the park, etc.
If she knows all of these things, and she still wants to go to school,
maybe she'd like you to schedule a time when the two of you could
observe the kindergarten classes in the area. Maybe she needs to see it
for herself. If she loves it, you can do lots of things to help her
have the best possible experience. You can see how many days a week you
could volunteer in her class, join the PTA, send really great snacks,
get to know the children she likes so she has plenty of opportunities
outside of school to interact with them, etc. Let her know that she is
welcome to come home whenever she wants.

Utah allows homeschooled children access to public school activities and
certain classes, does Idaho? If so, maybe she would like to go to
Kindergarten only on art days. Or assembly days. Or PE days.

Talk to her teacher and make sure she will have access to a telephone to
call you if and whenever she wants.

Sarah
sld29@...


> Marianne,
>
> How old is your dd? My 5 this wed. dd is now voicing that she
> wants to
> go to school. I am so bummed. I am having nightmares. I always said if
> my
> child wanted to go I would let s/he. I decided when I was very young I
> would
> school through life,I had no idea there was even such a thing as
> unschooling,honestly. School was so bad for me I knew what would be
> right.
> Now what? I could cry thinking of it. I am afraid if she does attend
> she'll
> come out a different child. Or what if K is fun and she decideds to
> keep
> going and by say 8 wants out. Then I have 4 years to unravel.
>
> This kid is so spirited and different I fear how it will go. She
> still
> pretends to be a dog 1/2 the day and we have to call her Jenna the dog
> and
> treat her as a dog. She still occaisionally makes dog faces at mean
> kids in
> the playground. She really isn't an extrovert though the way she is w/
> dh and
> I you'd think she was. She clams up w/ other kids and adults. This is
> fine by
> us and we understand her personality. I can see the first time she
> gets told
> to not do something or corrected.she will be crushed. I am so
> concerned for
> her self esteem. School ruined me along w/ my mother's controling I
> became
> someone else to make it through.
>
>
> I would love to go off on why she doesn't want to go but I feel
> that would
> be brainwashing or coersive. What to do?
>
> Any advice? NICKI~