It was time to register our children for the upcoming school year and we needed to choose something quick! With so many options, we had to weigh our options and pick the best choice for our family while understanding the circumstances.
Before we made a decision we understood the concept that children are the most impressionable creatures on earth and are oftentimes overlooked, especially those entering the public school system.
Children from birth to 5 years old are in the most influential stage of life, where the brain is still growing and developing. Studies suggest children are most influenced by their parents. This is because most times parents are the custodial caregivers, who the children spend the majority of their daily lives with. Therefore, it’s safe to say that parents and caregivers are the best instructional teachers for children growing up. Children learn all of their basic learning that is required for success in early childhood. Some of those basic teachings are learning how to crawl, walk, speak and acquire language. Children learn best in a healthy and thriving environment with the loving of caring parents.
With this said, we followed the educational system that was set before us and sent our children to public and charter schools. This was the norm especially for our generation growing up in the North East. Neither Antwan nor I had many friends growing up who were “homeschooled.” Now we have had several friends that have been expelled from school and then needed to have a tutor however, this was different entirely compare to being homeschool by choice. Honestly, I’ve never considered the idea of homeschooling; until one day!
After moving to Jacksonville, FL from upstate NY, we had to get acclimated to the new Public-School System.
Let me tell you, it was dramatically different, to say the very least. Let’s just put it like this, we missed the educational systems back in New York. Therefore, at that point, we seriously regretted all of the bad things (hence: the name-calling) that we said about the educational system in New York. I am being so transparent, we used to talk so much smack about this and that about the schools in New York (sorry, New York).
Moving to the south, truly gave us a brand-new perspective on the whole educational system.
We realized that the educational system in Florida was not as efficient as we would have hoped. We moved to Florida late summer of 2017 and didn’t have much time to research the elementary schools. What we did research and found, was that the schools on the Southside of town in Jacksonville, Florida were better in terms of school grading than the schools on both the North and Westside of town which we live on.
Therefore, through the Duval County Public School Choice’s option which grants parents and students the right to choose any school throughout the county to attend with the only stipulation being the lack of school transportation. Basically, parents could send their children to any school and they would be responsible for providing transportation. We took advantage of this opportunity and sent our children to school on the Southside with the hopes that the school would be a better fit for our family.
In the meantime, being that we’re educators, we searched for all of the instructional and administrative positions available in the area. This was solely due to the fact we had 3 children going into the public school for the school year. Lisa was going into the 4th grade, Antwan Jr was going into kindergarten and Lea was starting the VPK program. Therefore, we figured it would be best if we applied to these positions at their school and those surrounding. We felt that it would be convenient to work in the same school for multiple reasons.
Transportation was a huge reason. Jacksonville’s traffic is the absolute worst!
Especially coming from people who were natives of New York and who knows how bad traffic could be. Jacksonville traffic is just horrific. The amount of car accidents is insane. Therefore, we were really considering schools on the Westside in our neighborhood for this reason. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive any offers in time for the school year to start.
Therefore, our children started the school year mid-August on the Southside, and things seemed to be going well for the first 3-4 weeks. After that, the Public Schools’ Fiscal year begun, and they realized that they didn’t have the appropriate amount of funding to keep some of the new teachers that started the year already. Unfortunately, Antwan Jr.’s kindergarten teacher was one of the ones who had to be cut due to this funding issue. What a total bummer!?
We seriously found out the day before the teacher was cut and Antwan Jr. was going into a new class with another teacher. This was absolutely inconvenient not only for the teacher that was cut since it was “new” news to her but it was such an inconvenience to the children! Just think about the transition that the children had to experience. Not only this, before there were 5 kindergarten classes and then it reduced to 4 which meant that the class sizes were expanded (hence: 1 teacher = 30-35 children). We were highly upset at this one and as parents, we begin to advocate and voice our concern. However, we were informed that this simply was one of the ways that the Public Schools operate in Duval County.
After a few months into the school year, I was offered a position at a charter school close to our home. It was seriously 2 miles almost exactly from our home. We were able to place all of our children there and it was great! I immediately was excited and thankful. Things were finally looking up for us and we were grateful. We disenrolled and transferred our children to the new school. Just in the short time that our children were at the public school on the Southside, our son was bullied not only by the students but also by his teachers. Literally, it was a huge deal. We just knew that a change in school was what we needed for a fresh start.
Unfortunately, shortly after starting at the new charter school, we realize that the school was absolutely horrible. I tried my best to stick it out for the travel commute convenience. Especially because we were able to walk back and forth to school. However, both our children were bullied, and we didn’t find out at the end of the school year. As an instructor, I have seen some of the most corruptness school system here in Duval county.
I was teaching children who were in the 5th grade and being promoted without knowing how to probably read and write (the basics). There were many students who weren’t efficient in reading and counting basic mathematics. While I was teaching there, I advocated for students and the parents. I just knew that the system was getting over on minority parents that lack the education and resources, Therefore, these parents were unable to properly advocate for their child.
I just had a bad experience overall and at the end of the school year, I refused to continue to go on and sign a new contract. So, I began yet again job searched for other teaching positions. I was then offered a position for the upcoming new school year. Again, I was excited as I was able to claim a spot for each of our children. However, after doing my research I realized that the school had some major issues as well.
After denying the offer, we started to reconsider our options. We looked into some private Christian schools and consider that until they told us the tuition (Which was more than our monthly mortgage). Therefore, we were back at square one and the school year was starting in just a week. After deep prayer and meditation, I jokingly sort of asked Antwan what he thought about homeschooling? He immediately agreed that would be great especially because we were expecting #5. I also had already begun the makings of working from home, so this would have been ideal.
However, I was really nervous about it and we went forward and began planning life as homeschoolers. It was and is the best thing we’ve ever done! Our children are no longer bullied nor being harassed. We get to know each other. We’re all still new to this experience however, we love having our children home with us. Now that Antwan works from home, it’s so convenient having the help! We were nervous and I contemplated just sending them back to the public school (I really did). I sometimes would threaten them that I will send them back to the public schools when they don’t behave. It usually straightens them right out. Lol!
Most importantly, I admire the fact we as a family took a chance and began breaking generational curses. We are the first in our generation who have and are homeschooling our children. I have people who are always asking and searching for ways to advocate for their children. We encourage you to speak up and stand p for your children. The public school system is not getting any better, unfortunately. Your child’s education is ultimately your responsibility. We encourage you to research your options and pray that God will make a way for you to homeschool if that’s your desire.
Tell me what you think about this post? If you like this post, check out our transition into homeschooling listed below.
Please leave me your comments and questions if you have any. I truly love reading them from my readers. Until next time, remember that we love you and you are purposed for the life that you’re living.
