Swimming in the Pensieve

I had a chance to chat with some parents from Robinson Academy today, at which time some very interesting things were said. Apparently, we have been billed by the admin-types as having run away from LBUSD to “homeschool” our children. I suppose, given a very narrow definition of the facts, that could be held-forth as being a true statement.

However, a larger and more balanced perspective would articulate the facts as more along the lines of our having removed our children from an unproductive and punitive educational environment and enrolled them in a California State Charter School which allows us the freedom of educating our children at a grade-level appropriate to their individual needs; and, pretty-much wherever we want to educate them–home included. Should we so desire, we have the choice to educate them at their Grand Parents’ home; or in transit to some other location. We also have the benefit of a traditional (aka: ‘Harvest’) academic year calendar.

I did mention at some point, the fact that we discovered missing and falsified documents in our daughter’s Cumulative Academic Record folder; and that the district finally complied with the legal requirement that they remove the forged paperwork only after we strategically leaked the word that it was our intent to publicly litigate against LBUSD, should the documents remain. We’ve learned since the first of this year that, compared to overt threats, rumor works wonders when it’s fed to the proper people in lower administrative positions–particularly when one speaks loudly in front of the school in the afternoon; ostensibly unaware that certain individuals are cooperatively listening to, and reporting back, every word uttered (Thank you. You performed flawlessly!).

At any rate, well-received was the fact that, since CAliVA@Kern is a public school charter, we don’t have to pay for any of the curriculum materials nor computer. I mused that the mere existence of CAliVA will cost LBUSD something on the order of 1 million dollars this coming academic year (2005 - 2006); and, given the abysmal state of education in this district, that cost factor should rise geometrically until it flattens out a bit after 5 years or so. I think that qualifies as healthy competition in the venue of education, don’t you? LBUSD is chasing away their own students and, unless they dump Steinhauser and get their little-selves on the ball, very tough times will be just around the corner. This is a good future picture for those of us who actually care about educating our children.

From what I’ve seen so far, CAliVA definitely isn’t perfect but, it is the preferred alternative to the low-ball education we would have to settle for from LBUSD. Our gifted children will definitely get the education commensurate to their academic needs. As far as I’m concerned, that’s nothing but a win-win situation for us; and you can always come back here to see how we’re doing with the program.