Gud, is there a Gifted & Talented program in your district?

Yep. She did the testing and didn't qualify. She did do well and as above average in all areas, but above average isn't enough.

Gud, can I ask where you live? Some states are starting to have e-charter schools. (I work for one here in OH.) Doesn't exactly help with the socialization, but it allows for someone else to fulfill the role of teacher.

I think homeschooling is really really hard. I say that as someone who was homeschooled, for one year only. Because it was so hard on my mother and me and our relationship. My parents actually got divorced the following year, and while I don't think it was homeschooling's fault, the stress certainly didn't help.

I think it's good for kids to go to school with other kids. Nowadays even home-schooled kids have a lot of group activities (with other homeschooled kids), at least in this area. I think it's good for kids to be educated about drugs, too. It sounds like Mrs. Gud has some irrational fears about public school and her kids; maybe something that could be addressed if she's still in therapy?

We're in Missouri. I think there is a program in the works, but I don't think it is ready yet. The socialization is a pretty big issue for me.

The socialization is a pretty big issue for me.

That's my issue with our school, especially with elementary-age kids.

turns up the post-modern emo-cock-rock

Woo!

And in case anyone is judging me, I wanted to go see The National at the Metro last night, but no one would go with me.

Signed,
Hmph!

I say that as someone who was homeschooled, for one year only. Because it was so hard on my mother and me and our relationship.

That is probably the number one issue at the moment. It has been really stressful.

Wow, speaking of stress, I just heard from my cousin that her 7th grade niece is staying with her (across the country from the niece's mother, also my cousin), and that she's homeschooling her, outside of her regular full-time job! I have no idea what precipitated any of that, but I have the feeling there's a story there. Of course, around 7th grade is when all of those cousins started getting into Trouble (don't tell your wife, Gud), so maybe the girl's mother was trying to head it off at the pass.

She is even concerned about things like anti-drug programs even introducing the subject.

Frankly, this is a valid concern. The official slogan of the DARE program when I was in elementary and middle school was "DARE to keep kids off drugs!" but all the students knew it as "DARE to teach kids how and where to buy drugs!"

Granted, that may have been specific to the program as it was run at that time in the DC area, but still -- we weren't so much frightened away from using drugs as we were helpfully shown exactly what an ounce of cocaine looked like.

Hmmm... Maybe the DARE concern is a bigger concern that I thought. My anti-drug program was more along the lines of how drugs did really bad things to your bodies and people trying to get you to use them are not your friends.