Grrrr....need to rant (not writing related)

[MarikaRamos]

I just discovered that my kid's school has excluded her from the standardized testing because "we have decided to retain her in 3rd grade this year". And she's not the only one-they've pulled this same stunt on five other students that I know of. I think they're trying to fudge their test scores, because they are eliminating kids left and right from the tests, starting in third grade. Yet my daughter is "helping" other kids take their tests! When asked how she's helping, she tells me she's giving them the answers!!! These morons are teaching my kid that it's okay to cheat, while at the same time cheating her!
Oh, and I should mention that she scored in the 98th percentile in science and social studies in the middle of the year, but she's being "retained" because her handwriting was horrible and she could barely read. In two weeks of home study, though, her handwriting has improved so much that it's better than her teachers', and her reading has gone up two full grades (because WE taught her basic phonics-the school hadn't bothered)! So, she now reads on a fifth grade level, understands basic algebra, writes beautifully, and understands more about world economics and environmentalism than most adults, but she doesn't take tests well, so she's being flunked!!!
Okay. I'm finished ranting. Expect several scathing reports about the education system from me over the next few weeks, lmao....

[mskatmoon]

I am so sorry that has to happen to you. It's one of the reasons I pulled out my oldest from the school system and am now homeschooling her. Because she doesn't do tests well and because tended to get carried away with things (They wanted me to label her ADD or ADHD to get her on medications so they could "handle" her. I didn't think so and was very vocal about my being against it), they wanted to keep her back.

But she is doing well. My oldest is the opposite of yours. She excels in reading (but her handwriting was a bit sloppy, but we fixed that with practice and age helped) but is only average in math. She also is a very artistic child and would not have been able to persue it I fear if she was still in the system.

It doesn't make sense that they would have her "help" the kids but she was excluded because they were retaining her. I see that as a poor reason to retain her.

If I were you, I'd set up a meeting with the school officials and let your voice be heard. It could be happening to others. Perhaps if things get done, they might stand up with you. Good luck and I hope things work out well for you.

[Keesa]

The education system in America (and a lot of other countries, actually) has some serious problems. I'm grateful, over and over, that I was homeschooled. When a school punishes a child for not learning the things they haven't bothered to teach her, something is seriously wrong with the system.