Last year, just after I started this blog, I posted on the issues with my step son. He has spent the last year living in the local area with his mother, so we are now able to see him regularly. This has been better for us, obviously, because we didn't get to see him very often when he was away at school. However, he does not seem to be doing a lot better, as far as school goes.
I mentioned in this post last fall, that his mother wanted to spend $1300 a month in tutoring. And, of course, for DSD to pay half. She is probably still angry that we chose not to help her pay. She did not use that tutor so the bill was cheaper anyway, but he was tutored for the entire school year.
In Florida, we have the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This is supposed to prove that No Child Left Behind is working. All it does is take time away from actual teaching to focus on the test. If a child does not pass the FCAT, he does not pass that grade. The FCAT is given in 4th (writing portion), 5th, 8th and 10th grades. And the LittleMan passed. (Ok, there are two stories here. Four weeks ago, his mother said he had passed everything except the math portion. Now she is saying that he passed everyting. It is possible that he has retaken the math portion in the last 4 weeks and passed. It is also possible she is a liar).
He did not, however, pass the 8th grade. He didn't do the work; he didn't pass the in class tests; he was suspended, twice.
So now we (that means they) have a choice. Allow him to repeat the 8th grade at the local middle school. Or pay to put him in a private Christian school, where he will be allowed advancement into the 9th grade and high school.
DSD explained all this to me last night and I gave him my opinion. I will explain my opinion in a future post, but I am curious about the opinions of those of you who live inside my computer. If you need more information to form an opinion, please let me know and I will be happy to supply it.*
*FYI: the cost of the private school is negligible. DSD can either pay for 1/2 of 4 years of private school or another 9 months of child support. There is maybe $500 price difference in the two.
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4 comments:
Sounds to me, without any personal experience in any of it at all, like six of one and half a dozen of the other. Maybe I and all the people around me early in my days were luckier in not having options like tutoring or private schools. You either sank or swam and largely on your own in the public schools, and that was it, period.
What would the stepson like to see? Anything?
Hmmm, that is a great question. But there is nothing FOR him to see. Or to bribe him with. He has everything a person his age COULD have, a cell phone, a laptop, an XBox 360. DSD actually got him XBox Live for his birthday (this weekend), but is not going to let him have it unless he passes his classes the first grading period. But I would put money on the fact that (if he doesn't pass) his mother gets it for him for Christmas.
In other words all his gadgets keep him so techno-stupefied that he couldn't care less about the school standing stuff? :)
Exactly.
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