Why Did You Take Me Out of School?

This was the question I heard today.  Yep.  Fully one week and one day after being out of public school Beauty has completely forgotten why.  Actually she suggested it was because of the mean kid.  This is one part true.  

One part has to do with beliefs.  We believe one way about things and most others don't believe the same.  My understanding is that a lot of class time is running interference and crowd control.  There's not a lot of time or interest in making sure activities or learning is refined to everyone's beliefs.  Once Beauty came home from school we were running interference on attitudes, etc. picked up from school.  After one week of home school we have noticed a much more pleasant Beauty.  

The second part is she was not learning to read well.  There are people in every profession who simply do not want to be there.  There's also the fact that just because a person went to college for a degree in a certain profession, means they're any good at it.  I work in a field which requires college education.  Some have more education than me and some have less.  I can tell you they are not automatically better for having more education.  In some cases worse.  I think this is probably found across the board in every profession.  While true, teachers have gone to college and have been exposed to, hopefully, the best the profession of teaching has to offer, it will not automatically make them a great teacher.  

Beauty also has a different learning style and Mr. Father and I reached a point we were moved to halt the ever onward progress of the collective group (her class) in favor of Beauty actually learning to read.  We couldn't accept Beauty being in school for 8 hours, then being asked to attend an after school tutorial session, and then coming home for more reading homework.  We couldn't rationalize Beauty being made to feel she was "behind" when maybe she isn't.  She is now reading every day and at her pace.  She feels less pressure and now likes to read.  

The third part is time.  We are no longer on a traditional schedule.  I like this a lot.  I'm still getting used to it.  As a family we are more relaxed because we don't have to follow the "It's a school night" schedule.  Things don't have to end by a certain time.  We can stay up late, which never happens because we like to go to bed early, but we could if we wanted.  Beauty can sleep according to my her schedule.  Oh sure, she still has to get up but it's not in the "night morning."  One thing we enjoyed last night without the school night schedule was a fire, roasting marshmallows, and looking at the moon and stars.  Lovely, simple, tranquility.