Re: grades and principals
Carol & Mac
Ren wrote:
night was the first night of badminton club for the season. The club is
run at the local school, by two teachers, who are into badminton
themselves, but it is not a school activity. I get on well with them,
especially as I have been their most active parent as far as taking
turns with supervision! When some more homeschoolers turned up last
night and were asked what 'year' they were in they looked completely
blank. (We used to have 'standards' and 'forms' where you have 'grades',
but now have 'years' that count from age 5, but the change is so recent
that all homeschool parents went through the old system) Seeing Hayden
looking confused and slightly panic-stricken, and watching his mother
quickly counting in her head, I piped up, "Oh, Celia," I said, "
homeschoolers don't worry about that sort of thing, we just go by where
our kid's at in whatever he's doing." She replied, "Sorry Hayden, I
forgot, oh well, if any one else asks, just tell them you're year 7"
She is such a nice woman :-) But it is a chance to slide a message in.
The homeschool kids were definitely at an advantage at one point,
though. The principal of the school stood up to give the initial talk on
how the club is run, starting with an introduction: "Hi, I'm Malcolm".
He paused and there was a stunned silence. He continued, "This is the
Badminton Club. It is not run by the school, but by the club, and Celia
and I are here because we are members of the badminton club, not because
we are teachers. It is important that you recognise that. So. My name is
Malcolm." One of the oldest kids bravely piped up, "Please Mr Cox, does
that mean we can call you Malcolm?" Nervous sniggers all round (except
for the homeschooled kids who were looking slightly bewildered at the
conversation). "Certainly," he said. And then went on to talk about warm
ups, and referees, and where to buy raquets etc. I'm willing to bet that
most of the kids will not be able to call Malcolm anything at all while
they are at badminton! Except, of course, for the homeschooled kids <g>
and mine, at least, never though of calling him anything else, all last
season, because that's what I call him.
Carol
New Zealand
>When adults ask that standard question "what grade are you in?" myIt is a question that can be used to promote homeschooling though. Last
>kids actually get a very befuddled look and turn to me for
>help. "What grade am I in?"
>I usually answer "IF you were in ps, you'd be in_____???" and then I
>have to pause and really think about it because I don't know
>anymore!!!!
>Another answer they give (to the "what school do you go to?" thing)
>is "we don't go to school".
>Period.
>No explanation needed.
>I usually get a kick out of the look on people's faces when they say
>that.
>Ren
>
night was the first night of badminton club for the season. The club is
run at the local school, by two teachers, who are into badminton
themselves, but it is not a school activity. I get on well with them,
especially as I have been their most active parent as far as taking
turns with supervision! When some more homeschoolers turned up last
night and were asked what 'year' they were in they looked completely
blank. (We used to have 'standards' and 'forms' where you have 'grades',
but now have 'years' that count from age 5, but the change is so recent
that all homeschool parents went through the old system) Seeing Hayden
looking confused and slightly panic-stricken, and watching his mother
quickly counting in her head, I piped up, "Oh, Celia," I said, "
homeschoolers don't worry about that sort of thing, we just go by where
our kid's at in whatever he's doing." She replied, "Sorry Hayden, I
forgot, oh well, if any one else asks, just tell them you're year 7"
She is such a nice woman :-) But it is a chance to slide a message in.
The homeschool kids were definitely at an advantage at one point,
though. The principal of the school stood up to give the initial talk on
how the club is run, starting with an introduction: "Hi, I'm Malcolm".
He paused and there was a stunned silence. He continued, "This is the
Badminton Club. It is not run by the school, but by the club, and Celia
and I are here because we are members of the badminton club, not because
we are teachers. It is important that you recognise that. So. My name is
Malcolm." One of the oldest kids bravely piped up, "Please Mr Cox, does
that mean we can call you Malcolm?" Nervous sniggers all round (except
for the homeschooled kids who were looking slightly bewildered at the
conversation). "Certainly," he said. And then went on to talk about warm
ups, and referees, and where to buy raquets etc. I'm willing to bet that
most of the kids will not be able to call Malcolm anything at all while
they are at badminton! Except, of course, for the homeschooled kids <g>
and mine, at least, never though of calling him anything else, all last
season, because that's what I call him.
Carol
New Zealand