We still haven't made a decision on the immediate future of Jack's schooling. We've decided to try and put off the decision for at least a week. We were feeling an irrational pressure to make a decision quick so that he could start at the local school next Monday. But we needn't be pressured into making the decision right this instant. There is nothing magical about Jack starting public school this coming Monday.
We are so blessed. We have a wonderful network of friends here that are a huge support to us. That was evident after I posted my last post (discussing the current predicament of Jack's schooling). Phone calls, emails, and Facebook messages came out of the woodwork with encouraging words, suggestions, and love. This life was not meant to be lived in isolation but in community. And I am so thankful that we are in a loving community!
So a SHOUT OUT to all of you who have offered kind words. I'll respond to all the messages. I promise!
Currently we are trying to weigh providing opportunities through playgroups and classes with putting Jack in public school. There are homeschool playgroups out there; whether or not they'll fit into our schedule or we like the parents & kids there will be another question.
W don't see public school as evil. Not at all. Cade goes to public school (at least for the time being). We just don't think it's the best education option out there. The school teachers are bound by the TAKS test and have to teach according to what will be on the test. Add to that the wretched student teacher ration of 22:1, and you have the opposite of an ideal learning environment. At home, there's a student teacher ration of 1:1 (that could go all the way up to 3:1 if I end up homeschooling all the kids) which means we can go however slow or fast we need to, depending on the child's abilities. We can also choose what we teach our kids, including studying God and a Christian worldview. Public school just isn't able to compete with that.
But the thought of putting Jack in public school is just frightening to me. I'm not an overly protective parent. I don't hover over them, making sure they never get hurt or have disappointments. But with Jack, I feel the need to be protective because he's got "special needs". He's physically behind his peers. He stutters and prolongates his words, which makes him difficult to understand sometimes. He's also got the potty training issue (the best way I can describe this issue is that he is unfamiliar with his body). And then there's the overwhelming anxiety that he deals with.
I don't want Jack to be made fun of. I don't want him to shut down and stop talking. I don't want him to feel like he is inferior because he sometimes can't physically keep up or do what other peers are doing.
But his therapist thinks that the peer pressure will be good for him. It will show him that certain behaviors aren't acceptable (peeing in your pants, for example). But there's those other things (the stuttering, being physically delayed, etc.) that he can't control. He can't do anything about those things, and I don't want him to be laughed at because of those problems. But I guess that's part of life, right? Having to deal with what other say to you, good or bad.
I am planning on taking Jack up to Cade's school next week and walking him around the kindergarten area. I want him to be able to see the rooms and the grade area in case we do decide to enroll him. There will be less unknowns if he at least knows where he'll be all day.
Please be in prayer with us. We seek God's wisdom (which will be given to us if we ask for it - James 1:5) and His desire.
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