K
Kjs
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Need opinions. In my town there are a few choice High Schools as well as the district High Schools. E-School is also one of the choice High Schools.
E-School is a fully accredited school. difficult child attends a technical school that is a college prep school. He has done much better as far as behavior, but still has trouble doing the actual assignments. He is very social, talks to everyone, including teachers. Very active in class discussions. Very good at getting his opinion and view accross. But physical homework...awful.
The principal is one of the smartests men I have ever met in my life. Very into his school. He is also the principal of E-school. He suggested a month or so ago that difficult child take his first two blocks on e-school and come to school for the last two blocks. That would not work because he does not have a ride at 11am.
E-school. Each student is assigned a teacher. The teacher is in contact daily via phone. The course is not comparable to the physical school course. You first take a 5 hour orientation and must pass that.
You are assigned a mentor that must log on every day to monitor assignments. That would be me. sigh.
You tell the computer how many weeks you would like to complete this course. The computer then tells you an average of how much time a day must be spent on the class. Your assignments are all due by Midnight Saturday. If you choose you can do all your work in one day.
I specifically asked, what if he has Myspace, AOL or games up at the same time. I was told this is a very sophisticated system and it monitors keystrokes and any transactions. If your mouse doesn't move in ten minutes it logs you off. But does monitor keystrokes and transactions. If he were to be playing a game or talking they would know.
If you need tutoring, there is a physical location at one of the schools where there are physical teachers to help. All final exams and tests must be taken at the physical school-on the computer.
After you say how long you want to complete the course, you are given a PACE chart. You must stay on PACE. Your teacher will be hounding you if you do not. The first three weeks of e-school is probationary. If you do not keep on pace you are kicked out of the program. Cannot re-join that class at school and subsequently lose a credit.
Principal is PRO eschool. Actually says it may become a graduation requirement to complete atleast one online course.
difficult child comes home yesterday all excited. Spoke to the guidance counselor and had the papers all ready for us to sign. He wants to move his first block class (7:30 - 9am) to second block which is after a 30 minute break and begins at 9:30. He wants to take his second block class - US History on E-school. sigh.
We had a very good family discussion last night. husband said if we decide to do e-school, there is no way, no chance that Myspace, or any other computer application will be up while doing class.
I told him I don't want to have to say, did you do your school today. Time to do your school. ETC. I don't ever want to hear, "I'll do it when I get home" or "I'll do it ALL on Saturday" or "I'll spend a couple hours at this time".
difficult child did not realize if he is off pace the first three weeks he loses a credit. He had second thoughts.
Postive is it is 24/7. Doesn't have to even get dressed. Can sleep in. And difficult child DID arrange a ride with a neighbor who is a senior and doesn't have class first block.
Positive is behavior...he'll be home.
Negative is - difficult child DOES want to do well and really thinks he will, but reality is he has never done his work.
Negative - difficult child is very active in class discussions. He is very social and talks to everyone. That won't happen. No class discussion.
Negative - he will miss the 30 minute break that he socializes or gets extra help.
Negative - He is an auditory learner.
Negative - No matter what you do all semester long in this class, if you FAIL the final exam, you fail the course.
He was so excited to do this. One of the e-school teachers I spoke to said kids that are that eager to do it usually do well. The ones that are forced to take e-school don't do as well.
After hearing all the facts, difficult child said he doesn't know if he wants to do it anymore. This decision is really stressing him out. They enroll daily upto April 1. If he does decide he wants to go forward with this, any and all work he has done so far in History is disregarded. This is an entirely different way of class. Comparable to online college. Same actually.
They offer every class on e-school. Even Phy. Ed.
I could see a happier difficult child. But I also see a sadder difficult child. I see fights over doing his work.
I just don't know. I actually see difficult child becoming depressed. He knows everyone, talks to everyone, likes everyone (even if they are jerks to him). He wants a friend so bad he puts up with everything. But, everyone is into the "Party" scene and he isn't. He told me it is really tempting. This could all change tomorrow. Once Puberty hits...I am terrified. Not a single person calls him or includes him in plans. Because they know he doesn't party. It makes me so sad. Even the therapist today told me his 17 year old is the same. Plays football, outgoing, knows everyone-yet sits home alone because the whole flipping football team smokes pot.
He is a late bloomer. No signs of puberty. Complete physical and blood work done. If we fight now, what will happen when hormones are in the picture. ??
As far as e-school, the fact that he has second thoughts (after he was so excited) tells me he realizes the reality of this. good and bad.
I hate to remove him from the social aspect of school because he does enjoy that, even though he hates getting up and he hates school in general. Since it is a small school, teachers and students interact very close and difficult child has really started to like that. Yesterday the principal said if I have noticed difficult child. ??? He said he is changing. He is changing into this wonderful kid. No problems with him at all behavior wise since last November. Oh,,,,I am so confused. On a good note we all (me, difficult child AND husband) had a very productive conversation. It was actually fun to be able to talk.
I told therapist that most of our fights at home begin with difficult child and school. Homework to be exact. I asked him if I should just not say anything, but I don't know if I could not say anything. He said. NO. It is good for kids to face natural consequences for themselves. But when there actions damage themself then we must step in. And allowing him to fail because he didn't do homework would be damaging.
What do you all think.
E-School is a fully accredited school. difficult child attends a technical school that is a college prep school. He has done much better as far as behavior, but still has trouble doing the actual assignments. He is very social, talks to everyone, including teachers. Very active in class discussions. Very good at getting his opinion and view accross. But physical homework...awful.
The principal is one of the smartests men I have ever met in my life. Very into his school. He is also the principal of E-school. He suggested a month or so ago that difficult child take his first two blocks on e-school and come to school for the last two blocks. That would not work because he does not have a ride at 11am.
E-school. Each student is assigned a teacher. The teacher is in contact daily via phone. The course is not comparable to the physical school course. You first take a 5 hour orientation and must pass that.
You are assigned a mentor that must log on every day to monitor assignments. That would be me. sigh.
You tell the computer how many weeks you would like to complete this course. The computer then tells you an average of how much time a day must be spent on the class. Your assignments are all due by Midnight Saturday. If you choose you can do all your work in one day.
I specifically asked, what if he has Myspace, AOL or games up at the same time. I was told this is a very sophisticated system and it monitors keystrokes and any transactions. If your mouse doesn't move in ten minutes it logs you off. But does monitor keystrokes and transactions. If he were to be playing a game or talking they would know.
If you need tutoring, there is a physical location at one of the schools where there are physical teachers to help. All final exams and tests must be taken at the physical school-on the computer.
After you say how long you want to complete the course, you are given a PACE chart. You must stay on PACE. Your teacher will be hounding you if you do not. The first three weeks of e-school is probationary. If you do not keep on pace you are kicked out of the program. Cannot re-join that class at school and subsequently lose a credit.
Principal is PRO eschool. Actually says it may become a graduation requirement to complete atleast one online course.
difficult child comes home yesterday all excited. Spoke to the guidance counselor and had the papers all ready for us to sign. He wants to move his first block class (7:30 - 9am) to second block which is after a 30 minute break and begins at 9:30. He wants to take his second block class - US History on E-school. sigh.
We had a very good family discussion last night. husband said if we decide to do e-school, there is no way, no chance that Myspace, or any other computer application will be up while doing class.
I told him I don't want to have to say, did you do your school today. Time to do your school. ETC. I don't ever want to hear, "I'll do it when I get home" or "I'll do it ALL on Saturday" or "I'll spend a couple hours at this time".
difficult child did not realize if he is off pace the first three weeks he loses a credit. He had second thoughts.
Postive is it is 24/7. Doesn't have to even get dressed. Can sleep in. And difficult child DID arrange a ride with a neighbor who is a senior and doesn't have class first block.
Positive is behavior...he'll be home.
Negative is - difficult child DOES want to do well and really thinks he will, but reality is he has never done his work.
Negative - difficult child is very active in class discussions. He is very social and talks to everyone. That won't happen. No class discussion.
Negative - he will miss the 30 minute break that he socializes or gets extra help.
Negative - He is an auditory learner.
Negative - No matter what you do all semester long in this class, if you FAIL the final exam, you fail the course.
He was so excited to do this. One of the e-school teachers I spoke to said kids that are that eager to do it usually do well. The ones that are forced to take e-school don't do as well.
After hearing all the facts, difficult child said he doesn't know if he wants to do it anymore. This decision is really stressing him out. They enroll daily upto April 1. If he does decide he wants to go forward with this, any and all work he has done so far in History is disregarded. This is an entirely different way of class. Comparable to online college. Same actually.
They offer every class on e-school. Even Phy. Ed.
I could see a happier difficult child. But I also see a sadder difficult child. I see fights over doing his work.
I just don't know. I actually see difficult child becoming depressed. He knows everyone, talks to everyone, likes everyone (even if they are jerks to him). He wants a friend so bad he puts up with everything. But, everyone is into the "Party" scene and he isn't. He told me it is really tempting. This could all change tomorrow. Once Puberty hits...I am terrified. Not a single person calls him or includes him in plans. Because they know he doesn't party. It makes me so sad. Even the therapist today told me his 17 year old is the same. Plays football, outgoing, knows everyone-yet sits home alone because the whole flipping football team smokes pot.
He is a late bloomer. No signs of puberty. Complete physical and blood work done. If we fight now, what will happen when hormones are in the picture. ??
As far as e-school, the fact that he has second thoughts (after he was so excited) tells me he realizes the reality of this. good and bad.
I hate to remove him from the social aspect of school because he does enjoy that, even though he hates getting up and he hates school in general. Since it is a small school, teachers and students interact very close and difficult child has really started to like that. Yesterday the principal said if I have noticed difficult child. ??? He said he is changing. He is changing into this wonderful kid. No problems with him at all behavior wise since last November. Oh,,,,I am so confused. On a good note we all (me, difficult child AND husband) had a very productive conversation. It was actually fun to be able to talk.
I told therapist that most of our fights at home begin with difficult child and school. Homework to be exact. I asked him if I should just not say anything, but I don't know if I could not say anything. He said. NO. It is good for kids to face natural consequences for themselves. But when there actions damage themself then we must step in. And allowing him to fail because he didn't do homework would be damaging.
What do you all think.