Buy Your Own Damn Supplies

[UTfball68]

Thing is, these things come in waves. When my daughter started third grade, we went to her first awards ceremony and she got her little slip of paper that said A honor roll. We were all proud, but then I thought.... how hard can it be to get all A's in third grade? WAY more than half her grade had A honor roll, and well over 3/4 had some kind of honor roll. Happened again the second honor roll, but a little less this time. I compared it against the 4th grade class, where it was more like 15%/ and 50% respectively. I figured that it will get tougher to get A's in 4th grade, and Lily continued to work and get A honor roll each semester. In 4th grade, her grade was still continuing with a very high percentage of a and A/B honor rolls compared to the current 3rd grade class. On into 5th grade, same story. All together, there were 14 kids in her grade that had A honor roll all throughout their 3rd-5th grades. None of the teachers remembered that many consistently getting A honor roll prior. I attribute a little to the switch to 90% A grade vs. the previous 93% A, but that changed between 4th and 5th grade for them, so it would not have brought anyone's previous grades up to A's from B's.

Comparing to the lower grades currently and they also do not seem to shine. I have two kids that are at the same school and their classmates do not seem anywhere near where my older girl's classmates were. So it looks like we just had a really good year for kids, not necessarily a bunch of stellar teachers. Don't get me wrong, the teachers are good, but they aren't miracle workers.

Totally understand not every class will be as bright and shining as the one before or after. In my scenario, the schools were consistent performers at the top and bottom of the scale. Meaning, 'schools of distinction' vs schools that average less than 5 kids per class that pass their EOG testing. Completely different demographic profiles if you catch my drift.

 

[rockcity]

Its already happening.
K-10 Virtual Public School | North Carolina Connections Academy

Yeah those have been in the works for years. But there is no way the state public system will be reduced and turned into this. Charter schools have some more flexibility but many parents cheer with joy when the kids go back to school from the summer (for their own reasons). There is no way to change that or the parent's need for classroom settings.

Many stay at home parents can take advantage of the remote classroom. But many cant stay home and need the classroom.

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

Many stay at home parents can take advantage of the remote classroom. But many cant stay home and need the classroom.

X2. There are way too many familes with both parents working for the classroom to go away.

I was in Portland a few years ago. One of the school systems there, dont start class until 10a. They said it was started years ago to give kids/parents time to perform their morning work before needing to bring their kids to school. It is still done now because of tradition vs need. I was suprised at all the parents out walking/standing with their kids as they went to school. Here I dont think it would work as well, but its not what people have planned for a hundred years.

 

[ManglerYJ]

Totally understand not every class will be as bright and shining as the one before or after. In my scenario, the schools were consistent performers at the top and bottom of the scale. Meaning, 'schools of distinction' vs schools that average less than 5 kids per class that pass their EOG testing. Completely different demographic profiles if you catch my drift.

Roger that...

 

[ManglerYJ]

X2. There are way too many familes with both parents working for the classroom to go away.

I was in Portland a few years ago. One of the school systems there, dont start class until 10a. They said it was started years ago to give kids/parents time to perform their morning work before needing to bring their kids to school. It is still done now because of tradition vs need. I was suprised at all the parents out walking/standing with their kids as they went to school. Here I dont think it would work as well, but its not what people have planned for a hundred years.

We made a choice for me to stay home with the kids when I lost my job. I was working 60+ hours a week in sales/service industry and my wife was working 10 PRN hours as an OT. Now, I stay at home and see my kids more than she did and she works 33 hours a week and sees them more than I did. I could go back to work and put kids in daycare, but why? Majority of my paycheck would go to the daycare and then I'd have no control over what goes in their heads.

I know not everyone can do that based on income potential, but it works for us. We have had to sacrifice a lot of "toys" as a result of it, but I think in the long run it's the best thing.

 

[VortecJeep]

We made a choice for me to stay home with the kids when I lost my job. I was working 60+ hours a week in sales/service industry and my wife was working 10 PRN hours as an OT. Now, I stay at home and see my kids more than she did and she works 33 hours a week and sees them more than I did. I could go back to work and put kids in daycare, but why? Majority of my paycheck would go to the daycare and then I'd have no control over what goes in their heads.

I know not everyone can do that based on income potential, but it works for us. We have had to sacrifice a lot of "toys" as a result of it, but I think in the long run it's the best thing.

Good for you! My wife and I made the decision several years ago for her to stay home with our daughter. She was a microbiologist making good money, but in the end, it was right choice for us. Also, She spoils me to the point that I'm not sure I'd want her to go back to work. She gets up with me every morning at 4:45 and cooks me breakfast before I go to work.

 

[justjeepin86]

Good for you! My wife and I made the decision several years ago for her to stay home with our daughter. She was a microbiologist making good money, but in the end, it was right choice for us. Also, She spoils me to the point that I'm not sure I'd want her to go back to work. She gets up with me every morning at 4:45 and cooks me breakfast before I go to work.

Funny, my wife would tell you she would rather take a bullet to the head than stay home with the kids, all day, every day. lol Of course, we love our daycare. I think it's great though, if that's what you want and can afford it.

 

[paradisePWoffrd]

We made a choice for me to stay home with the kids when I lost my job. I was working 60+ hours a week in sales/service industry and my wife was working 10 PRN hours as an OT. Now, I stay at home and see my kids more than she did and she works 33 hours a week and sees them more than I did. I could go back to work and put kids in daycare, but why? Majority of my paycheck would go to the daycare and then I'd have no control over what goes in their heads.

I know not everyone can do that based on income potential, but it works for us. We have had to sacrifice a lot of "toys" as a result of it, but I think in the long run it's the best thing.

That's awesome. I commend you for it. After being home with mine for a 10 days while my wife recovered from surgery, I was ready to go back to work. When they get older (now 1 & 4), I might change my mind.

My wife, does stay at home with them, and while I wish we had more income, I am glad that she's at home. We have talked about home/online school. I think my oldest would do ok with the online school, but him and my wife butt heads alot, so we would need a HomeSchool Share setup for that to likely work. There are a number of them around, so thats not much an issue either. We've got a year to decide.

 

[Lizooki]

Its already happening.
K-10 Virtual Public School | North Carolina Connections Academy

I suggest you TRIPLE check accreditation of this through the State board of education. My wife works at Forsyth Tech and sees people all time from places like this who "graduated" but don't have enough credits or whatever to be accepted into college.

BTW- Anyone see the new tv commercial where Forsyth Co.(?-I think) is wanting to pass a bond referendum to build more schools?
More Lotto money NOT at work.

Matt