We're Not in Our Homeschool Anymore, Toto

A few months ago I posted that in the near future, my oldest would be heading to the local public high school to take a class.  It was a decision that came with a lot of thought.  I still think it is the right decision based on our circumstances, but I'll admit to having little doubts here and there. Last week I got a little dose of reality.

The last couple of weeks, I've been meeting a friend up at the high school to walk at the indoor track.  Since I plan to walk (or eventually jog) the track every day while my daughter is in class, I figured an early start couldn't hurt.  As I pulled into the driveway, around the time I will be dropping my daughter off next week, I saw four police cars, with several officers and police dogs entering the building. As I entered the building, there was a sign that announced a "non-emergency lockdown".  Basically, they were doing drug searches of the student lockers. Sigh.

I am not ignorant to what goes on in the schools, nor is my daughter. If I didn't think she'd do just fine, I wouldn't have her attend. I was less bothered by the fact they were doing drug searches than I was with the fact that a student couldn't leave the building for the hour it took place. I was sort of symbolic of the parallel the public school system has to a prison!  The regular students there know no different, but my student has experienced more freedom in her learning environment. She's had school in her PJs at home, in casual situations with friends at co-ops, in online classrooms, and at a university campus.  None of those situations have involved drug busts and lockdowns.  We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

My daughter knows that the environment of the school system is mostly smoke and mirrors, and not really any resemblance of real life. Her perspective and life experiences are completely different than the munchkins students existing within those walls. I'm fairly certain she'll enjoy the instruction of her choir class, but I do hope that she can connect with at least a couple students that aren't trapped in a suffocating mentality of the high school world. After all, this experiment with the local high school is a path from one point to the other.  It will be more enjoyable if she has some pals with which to travel down the road, and help her keep watch for lions and tigers and bears (oh my!).

Our countdown has now gone from months, to weeks, to DAYS.  I have no idea how this trial semester will go, and but I am comforted by the fact that we have options on whether or not to continue.  A click of the heels (and signing of papers) and she'll be home.