So, Sam and I are still trying to decide whether to homeschool or public school for high school next year. There are pros and cons to either decision.
The public school district that we are zoned to attend is racially unbalanced, 90% black and the rest Caucasian and other. It also scores the lowest on all of the standardized testing. All of that coupled with the crime rate (gang rape in the school yard for example) and we’re opting out of that school.
During the month of March, our school district has Open Enrollment, where you can apply to attend a school that you are not zoned to attend. There are however lots of restrictions and limited space (how that can be when they also complain about lower enrollments is beyond me but anyway…). I would be very interested in Sam attending this school for their music program and for sports. To participate in the music program requires an audition in April.
So I set out today to meet all of the requirements for the open enrollment before the deadline. First, I had to track down an open enrollment form which was NOT available on the internet. It was available at the board of education building and at the library. I was able to pick one up at the second library I visited. The questions were pretty standard (although I was leery of putting Sam’s social security number on the form because of identity theft, but I didn’t want him to get weeded out just for that.) I also had to attach two proofs of residency, a copy of his birth certificate and his shot record.
Sam’s pediatrician lives about 45 minutes from us. We choose him because he is not an immunization Nazi and has allowed me to pick and choose which shots to give. Today we drove out to pick up his shot record. Then we stopped at the UPS store to make a copy of it and a copy of the other items. When we were all set, we stopped at the board of education to finish the process.
The sign on the door said to walk right in. We did, only to be told to have a seat in the hallway. I am assuming they meant sit on the stairs because there were no chairs in the hallway. When we were finally invited in the secretary looked at our application. Turns out we did not need the shot record (the form hasn’t been changed). And it also turns out that a copy of my driver’s license does not count as proof of residency. I think the look on my face told her that it would have to do and she said she would accept it.
She then told me to call the administrator about the performing arts program to pick up my packet. When I got home, I called. This administrator was very pleasant, but it seems that their performing arts program DOES NOT include piano or key board. She wondered if he could do anything else. I mentioned that he has sung in a choir a bit, but that he would be auditioning on the piano. She also told me that I would have to pick up the audition packet which was AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICE THAT I HAD BEEN TO THAT AFTERNOON! Grrrrrrr.
Sam thought the whole rigmarole was ridiculous. I pointed out to him that the very nature of any institution included a whopping portion of inefficiency and bureaucracy and that if he learned anything in public school, that would be it.
So we’ll see. I really want him to audition just for the experience of having an audition. Even if he continues to homeschool I think that will be a valuable experience. But at this point, even if they accept him, it is still questionable that we will accept them.
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