Earth to school....huh? what? where?

[primsong]

This is our first year in the public school system and I have to admit it hasn't been too promising - the red tape is incredible. I may be mentioning it here from time to time in part to help myself see what's going on and how long it takes...

To be brief, she's way ahead of the level they are at and could take her GED today if there weren't a social stigma against GED's as equating "drop out" status. As a Freshman, they offer *nothing* advanced for her - It took four tries to get ahold of her "counselor" (schedule guru) at the school, who politely brushed me off (we'll see when she's older...). yadda yadda. Yeah, I know they maust face lots of parents who go "my child is a genius!" but this is ridiculous.

Meanwhile she's twiddling her thumbs pulling straight A's and bored out of her mind, studying my old college textbooks to keep herself busy. She debates with the teachers, helps with the staff at our school across the street after she gets out, and so on. Anything to keep her from falling into the apathetic trap.

I've enrolled her at the college, who will take her as soon as she turns 16 and will let her earn her diploma concurrent with college credit towards a degree. That gives us a year to "kill." Now we're trying to get advanced testing for her at the high school, to move her up to a higher level class for this year at least. Their response? They don't have that. No advanced placement until Junior year. "Maybe next trimester will be more challenging." Yeah. Right.

Excuse me? She's supposed to just sit there for two cotton-pickin' years, waiting to just get older??? I don't think so.

She's taking the placement testing at the college next week. This high-school stuff is useless.

Comments

[samarra.livejournal.com]

That stinks! They are definitely not being supportive of her talents.

I'm sorry to hear that, love. :(

Hello

[faramirgirl.livejournal.com]

Scott was like that, so what he did to challenge his mind was joined every club there was. (band, speech team, chess team, socer, and so) he also took a college math course in his 9th year. He had done everything by his 11th year and so his SR year was mostly nothing, but all his clubs keep him busy. He could of been done in his 10th year but they would not let him get his high school degree until his 12th year. It's a shame that schools can not do anything for kids that are so smart and get their minds challenge. He did not get his brians from me that is for sure.

an idea

[mousechief.livejournal.com]

see if the school has a "high school at college" program where you take college classes and get both high school and college credit. My sister is in one right now because there is an overflow problem at the local high school. She takes her core high school classes at the college, then takes college classes also. She gets credit for both and is enrolled at both schools. Some colleges charge a bit per credit, but it's usually a lot less for high school students.

Re: an idea

[primsong.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the kind of thing we are looking for - we've been told it exists, but no one seems to know anything about it, even within the school the answer changes depending on who you are talking to and confusion abounds. Looks like I have to be very proactive on it and go ferreting for information from the college end of things, as the high school is getting me nowhere. I'm so glad to hear that it is working out for your sister! Hopefully we can also plug into something like that. ((((mouse))))

[maidoforange.livejournal.com]

Yeah, K-12 can be rather pointless. The only real interest my mother ever took in my education was to get me into the gifted program when I was in 7th grade. It helped a little but Bluebell is, no doubt, smarter than me.

Anyway, if it helps, I know two friends of my brother's who went to college on GEDs. One is an engineer and one is a lawyer. It is doable these days. I wish I had done it instead of, essentially, wasting time in high school. I know you will make the best decision for your girl and help her all you can, (((Prim))).

[primsong.livejournal.com]

The stigma for the GED is less than it used to be in society, but the military still lumps it in with dropouts and homeschoolers (rolls eyes...that the two should be lumped is ridiculous enough in my eyes...). This means if she ever does pursue the Air Force, (one option, as she wants to go into linguistics and translation) certain promotions and perks would be closed to her. Phooey.

Offering Support

[earlybird7.livejournal.com]

Hi Prim,

Sorry to hear of the frustration with school. The lack of available academic challenge for your daughter makes me wonder what Advanced Placement classes really offer. The constant call for more $$ for schools on top of it all makes me frustrated just to think about it and I am not even involved in what you are dealing with! I have read and hear over the years of children who have excelled academically and finished college while still in their teens and now I wonder how they did it when there seems to be all these roadblocks thrown in the way of those who are truly gifted as they are and as your daughter obviously is. I would venture a guess that the parents were involved and as supportive as you are with your daughter. That is why I know that things will work out for you guys. I wish I could offer more than that, but I offer it just the same.
Hang in there.

[lizmybit.livejournal.com]

Wow, that must be frustrationg for both of you. There is nothing worse than being bored! I, however, never had that placment problem. I had to work my butt off for every A I ever got!

[cacrocks1.livejournal.com]

I hope you manage to find something. This coming from one of those kids who got the A's with no effort and had a hard time trying to find any where else to get challenged. My mom really had to dig around and kick the school's rear a lot to get me enough classes that I didn't go stir crazy.

So I sympathize and really hope you can get some good things going. That's one of the reasons I started writing seriously, I needed a hobby to take up all those extra boring hours.

[estellye.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, you just can't standardize children. Maybe if they stomp on her long enough she will lose her spark and fit their mold a bit better. Don't let it happen!