I have made some changes in the design of my homeschooling space - moved furniture, altered the placement of the existing furniture, and have begun to wrap my brain around a full week of homeschooling. I was even lucky to look through our curriculum, and set up a high level schedule for the school year.
Zoe and Evie's Kindergarten teacher came to visit us today. She brought all over Evie's papers and such from the end of the school year. I had contacted her through email and phone back in March, but I now realize that she wasn't avoiding me but just trying to save her own job, and/or finding a new one. The school situation was heartbreaking for everyone involved, including her. This woman, whom shall be called Barb, has always been a fantastic supporter of mine. In fact, she was pleased to announce she will be teaching homeschool art in her new home art studio. I'm really excited for her - and us (even though we already signed up for a fall art class, there is always future possibilities).
As much as I enjoyed our brief visit, I started having panic attacks last week as I remembered the hell my family experienced at school last year.
It has now been almost five months since I pulled the Ladybugs and quit my part-time job as music instructor at their private Christian school. Some felt I left as a result of the blog post from February 25th: Not My Kid, in which I described the bullying that was taking place at the school. Some parents sent beautifully written letters and note cards about how they will miss me and my family. But most have never spoken to me, and have physically avoided me in grocery stores and other public places. However, the sad part is that even after I was bullied by parents and my Zoe was bullied by students, I was bullied by the administration of the school. I was not certain how other teachers felt, but I was pleased to have the opportunity to talk to Barb.
Barb suffered a lot of heartache herself, as she had been at the school for a very long time. She was the matriarch of the school, and she also taught art classes. The Kindergarten thru 8th grade classrooms have been replaced by a larger preschool, but Barb was overlooked for the job. She definitely deserved the opportunity, but the administration was as narrow-minded as always. They had their chosen few to run the program, and Barb did not fit their plans. From previous conversations with the preschool teacher, I knew she didn't think Barb taught enough in her Kindergarten classrooms. In fact, I'm not certain the preschool teacher even liked children, let alone parents. The preschool matter was a difference of opinion, but I know that the school closed because of the group of people who wanted to expand the preschool and, thus make money for their already wealthy church.
The past is a chapter that I am happy to close, but I'm not sure why I always feel so horrible ending relationships with people. Maybe it is that I hate to have people end relationships with me. Regardless what is the reason for my feelings of remorse, I am going to acknowledge them and continue to move forward.
Here are two pictures of my homeschool area:
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