-=> Quoting James Prior to Regina Finan <=-
 -=> Regina Finan was shooting the bull with Zaynab Richmond about Re: adhd 
n
 RF> Regina
 JP> Hello, and please excuse the intrusion but as an Educator, I read the
 JP> state- ment about the child getting everything backwards, and your
 JP> reply about the possibility of the child suffering from dyslexia, which
 JP> is treatable and in most cases complete recovery is possible.  I would
 JP> urge you to have the child tested by an opthamologist....some one who
 JP> is a doctor, not just an optomitrist who is also a doctor, but not able
 JP> to perform surgery, etc.... 
 JP> Please keep me posted on the child's diagnosis and progress.
 Actually, I was talking to another parent who was saying their child sees
 everything backwards.  My child did have trouble at one point and still
 every so often does it, but he says he is not seeing them backwards.  He
 is claiming, which is extremely possible, that he just gets things mixed
 up in his head when he thinks and has to write it down.  I am not sure
 about this, but will check on it when finances become available.
 I would also like to reply here to the many messages you have sent to
 us homeschooling parents.  I understand your view point, but do not
 totally agree.  Many of us feel that what ever is wrong with the educational
 system is not the teachers fault.  We don't blame all the teachers,
 although you have some that are not qualified to teach regardless of their
 certificate.  I for one do resent the fact that you make us sound like
 we don't give a -------------- about our children.  I was totally involved
 with my children's education in school. The whole school knew me quite
 well.  Did that help my children? NO!!!  Well I do have two children who
 can not function in a classroom environment at this time.  For one child
 the stress was so overwhelming he was getting physically ill.  For the
 other he became so overwhelmed with the stress he lashed out physically
 and although he is not a troublemaker, he could not handle emotions. Both
 children have disorders the school system would not deal with.  I know the
 law and that they should have,but the fact of the matter is they did not.
 If you listened to the posts here, you will see that many of the children
 are learning more than when they were in school.  Yes, you may have 
homeschooled
 children whose parents don't teach their children anything.  But in any
 situation you are going to find good and bad.  We reserve the right as
 parents to decide what is best for our children.  And the government is
 reserving the right to make sure the homeschool parent is doing that.  There
 are procedures we must follow and at anytime the educational system may
 walk in and check as to what we are doing and whether the children are being
 taught properly.  Also when I notified the school I was going to homeschool
 the principle of the school had the opportunity to call and discuss it with
 me.  Did he?  NO!!!  How much did he care?   This action shows the proof.
 Maybe, the school knew I was competent, since they knew me quite well.
 It seems from your post that you may feel your job is in jepardy?  Well
 its not.  There are plenty of parents who would rather send their children
 to a public school.  We as homeschool parents don't condemn them for that.
 They as parents know what is best for their children and themselves.
 Since you do not know all the facts in the situations of all of us 
homeschooling
 parents, I suggest you get to know us a little bit better before condemning
 us on whether we care about our children. You may spend 8 hours or maybe
 10 at the most with kids.  We SPEND EVERY moment with ours 7 days a week.
 Since homeschooling is on the rise that should tell you what kind of faith
 parents have in the educational system.  What are you doing to improve the
 system?  Lashing out at us is not going to make us change our mind.  In 
act,
 what you have done is given us MORE FAITH in ourselves and LESS in the 
educational
 system that you are part of.
 Regina
... "Yield to temptation, it may not pass your way again." - L. Long
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