Calvin sat for the SAT exam today. Although I purchased the preparation book for him and encouraged him to study and take the online test – he did only a little of the former (studying during his breaks at work) and never did the latter. He put more time and effort into a new video game that he bought last week than in any preparation for the test. In two months he will be 18 years old. How hard am I supposed to push him at this point?
I paid for the test online and got his admittance ticket. I even printed a map to the local college so that he could figure out where to go to take the test. He was out of here by 7:15 a.m. without me having to wake him up, and he did also manage to get a sub at work, so at least he did some planning ahead.
He said some interesting things when he got back this afternoon.
1. “Mom most of those math problems had more letters than digits in them! Somehow, that’s just messed up.”
Somehow I agree.
2. “Some of the kids were crying. The boy next to me started to cry and I just told him, ‘Hey, it’s alright man.'”
3. “Mom, there were words on that test I don’t even think were in English. Who uses 13 syllable words!”
So… those will be interesting scores.
Look, this is a kid who couldn’t even read until he was 12 years old. And now he is passing in high school and at least able to sit through the SAT! Looking back, I think that’s a miracle. If he only attends community college for a few years that will be fine with me!
Sam got the results from his recent audition. He was not accepted into the Performing Arts School. He got 78% on the music theory test. On his performance piece (which he as attempting from memory which was NOT a requirement) he fumbled and had to pick it up in the middle of the piece. What I heard from asking around is that he did better on the theory test than a lot of the kids that go to the Jr. High Arts school. That’s comforting I guess. I did call the director of the music department and she said that they judged his playing to be a 2 out of 4 and suggested perhaps I should consider changing piano teachers. She also said that they were concerned that he was home schooled that they were afraid he would not be able to cut it academically or even show up every day since he had no “track record.”
OK so here are my thoughts. Sam attempted a piece from memory. He goofed up, but he didn’t freeze and quit. He attempted a recovery and finished. I think that’s great. The portions of the piece that he did play were as good as when he performed the same piece for the Music Educators Adjudication. I think he showed his musicality and the level of music he is able to attempt. I think he should get props for going in there and playing from memory when that wasn’t required. I also think considering they made him wait for over an hour he should get some props for that too but apparently not.
The comment about his homeschoolng concerns me a great deal. Obviously this kid has the ability and drive to set a goal and reach it (i.e. playing the piano and then attempting a memorized performance) and obviously he has the support of his parents, so I am a little unclear on why they think he couldn’t cut it in a regular public school!
It was also interesting to me that the two glowing letters of recommendation I put in his portfolio WEREN’T MENTIONED EVEN ONCE! They apparently had as much weight as two pieces of used toilet paper – not much.
I also think there may be some political things going on here. Sam is a white boy. His home school is significantly devoid of those. For “diversification” it serves the district for him to attend his home school instead of the performing arts school. I think also that kids from the jr. high arts school are going to get into the peforming arts high school before any “outsiders.”
I am not going to change piano teachers on the recommendation of an administrator who is taking the word of an evaluator who listened to Sam for a couple of minutes. Sam got great coments at the recent Music Educators Festival so I think he is getting good training. It was under this teacher’s guidance that he did as well as he did on the theory test.
I’ve been struggling with this high school decision anyway. I always thought that if it was God’s will for Sam to attend a public school He would open the way for him. So far, that doesn’t seem to be happening.
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