I keep misplacing the tuition subsidy forms for 2011/2012. Not just because I don't want to pay the thousands of dollars I still owe them from the past school year, though that’s part of it.
I just really, really don't want to send her back there – or anywhere. :-(
It is creating a level of stress that our family simply does not need… but the tough part is putting my finger on exactly what “it” is. Some of the stress is normal teenage stuff we would have even if she wasn’t in school full-time. But I think stress over school is adding to that, very unnecessarily.
Leaving school would KILL her social life. Not just decimate, but perhaps destroy it. Indeed, social life was one of my main criteria for choosing this particular school – not that there were a ton of choices, but it’s a school where the girls seem happy and there’s a lot of fun stuff going on all year.
I mentioned getting together with friends outside of school, but when all your friends are there from 8:30 to 5:30, there is no “outside of school.” Plus, at school, they’re interacting with each other constantly, so you’re automatically an outsider if you’re not with them all the time.
But what about the fact that the school isn’t doing its core job – educating my daughter? Or perhaps she’s not doing her part – getting an education. When her personality clashes with the teachers’, she learns nothing. This past year, that meant history and math were pretty much write-offs.
I haven’t seen her complete report card yet… and I’m pretty sure it hasn’t arrived. I thought it got snagged in the mail strike, but that’s over and it’s still not here. So I don’t know exactly what the damage was in most subjects. Do I want to know?
Her bottom line: She doesn’t want to leave school. Says she WON’T leave.
My bottom line: I don’t want to keep pouring money into an institution that I can see every day is making her miserable.
Do I get to make this call just because I (sometimes) pay the tuition bills???
If her marks are suffering in any case, and you don't imagine that will improve next year, then why not consider it just a social outlet? Take the pressure off for her to get the marks, let her stay home as often as she wants this year... let her fail the year, if need be. She can always get her GED later, go through College to University (or whatever happens in Israel).
ReplyDeleteNot about marks (my were good), but in terms of staying home, I stayed home several days a month, for health reasons, and I was still able to keep up with schoolwork. So more days home doesn't mean more failure. It might be just what she needs to recharge and do better?
@Shira "why not consider it just a social outlet?" Because $500 or so a month is a LOT to pay for a "social outlet." :-o
ReplyDeleteI could increase her "mental health days" for this year. But I don't think it will help.