Life with a student in public school is different. Having always been a homeschool mom I am used to being free to do what I want, when I want, and taking all the kids along for the ride. Unfortunately, when you enroll a child in school you are committing to a schedule that you may or may not want to keep.
Summer break starts May 23rd, however, choir students are being required to return on the 29th for a practice and the 31st for graduation. If they don’t show up the teacher said she will lower their grade, (which will already be turned in), by 20%. If this didn’t affect her overall GPA I would say it doesn’t matter, she won’t be there. But even though we have a lot of family things going on that day, she will take several hours out to attend the graduation.
Such is life in the public school system! At least I don’t have to keep track of the grades or provide a transcript for college. I guess that’s worth an inconvenient Saturday. For what it’s worth, between this, and the fact that the same choir director showed Forrest Gump last year and did not delete the nude scene, Shelby won’t be in the choir again. She changed her schedule today.
On the bright side, a couple of her teachers have told her that it is “refreshing” to have a student that actually cares about her work and puts her best foot forward. I feel sorry for all the kids that have been in the system for years upon years and have learned not to care anymore. Once upon a time they were fresh faced, bright-eyed, five year olds who were excited about learning. But five is way too young to be forced to sit for hours a day and made to keep up with the other students whether they are ready or not. Nowadays, they are starting even younger. Who can blame them for burning out by the age of fifteen and not caring anymore? Especially if they don’t have a pleasant home life to balance out the rough days at school. Our school teachers and administrators have a lot to deal with these days. I’m thankful for their hard work. And I’m especially thankful for the ones that care and take the time to encourage the students on a personal level.
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