A Busy Week – Seasoned With Stress

This past week has been very busy for me. I have had several appointments, one with a physical therapist for an evaluation, one to get measured for my new walker, and one with the doctor for a physical for summer camp. Whew! But at least it kept me from worrying so much about a possible dilemma with my home schooling.

We received an email from our umbrella school that our state’s Department of Education intended to send an amendment to the Education committee of the State Legislature which would require all teachers of grades 9-12 to have a Baccalaureate, or Bachelor’s Degree. The amendment was attached to a bill which would make all home-school and what they call category IV diplomas valid - which now they are not - for state jobs. A member of the Education committee felt that if they must recognize the diplomas, they wanted control over the teacher requirements.

If you’ve been reading my posts, you know my mom doesn’t have a degree, so that requirement would be a total disaster for us. And while my health seems to be improving away from the allergens in the school, it would surely go downhill again if I were forced to return to public school. Our state does have a waiver, but the Commissioner hasn’t granted one in at least 10 years. I fear a “health” waiver would not be in my future.

Mom called the members of the Legislative committee and urged them to vote in favor of the primary bill but against what they dubbed as the DOE amendment. The State Legislature was to meet that day at 3:00 p.m. And even though every Legislator that my Mom contacted said they were not planning to vote for it, I was still worried. We waited and waited to hear something, but no word. We waited some more…..no word.

Mom said there was no use in worrying until it actually came to pass, but I just couldn’t help it! I was upset; I just knew they had passed it!

We didn’t hear anything until the next day.  We received word that they did not even bring the amendment to the floor. I guess so many people called expressing their negative feelings about it that the committee members knew it didn’t have a chance.

The legal department of our umbrella school did say, however, that this is just the beginning and they think every year will pose another challenge. Sooner or later, someone will sneak an amendment through which will give the state more control over home schooling.

So….for now I am safe. I don’t know why they have such a sour opinion of home schooling. All of the home schooled kids I have met are very intelligent, and they all make good grades.  IMHO they just want total control over everything.

Oh, by the way, I still haven’t had a soda!!You really should try going soda-free, it gets easier as time goes by! And I really feel much better.

Until next time…stay safe, healthy and happy!