Charles Co Dept of Ed has lost it's mind?

[Dakota]

This Friday, my sister would have been 37 years old had she still been alive. It is amazing to see how much has changed in the schools since she attended as a special needs child. A conversation between parents and school officials were practically non-existent and there were very few social outlets to get your story out back then. Not that any of that would have helped… because there were only 2 options for her… FB Gwynn Center (which anyone who is familiar knows they housed children with very serious needs then – which my sister didn’t fit into that mold as a mentally challenged child) and Special Education in the school system (which was unbalanced - meaning all the kids with special needs were clumped together in 1 classroom, regardless of their alignment, with 1 teacher and an aid). I often felt the public school teacher had far too much on her plate and that by tossing all special needs children together; it hindered the educational path of each child. My mother dreamed of children, like my sister, having the ability to attend a school that gave more individual attention to their needs… it just didn’t exist back then.

I don't know what program they are trying to send Logan to but if it is more specific to his educational needs – then in my opinion that would take precedence over a reasonable 30 minute distance and friends. Logan has the right to stay in school until he is 21 years old, so many of his friends may be long gone by then. I just personally would rather see the salary for additional positions get tacked on to a school that assists many children with special needs and not just one. A salary, such as the one I've seen stated, could fund several aids. I dunno.... I’ve seen the way things used to be… and I cannot imagine anyone wanting that for their child. It broke my heart to see my sister shoved in a classroom with others who were at different skill levels with 1 teacher and 1 aid.

 

[Bann]

This Friday, my sister would have been 37 years old had she still been alive. It is amazing to see how much has changed in the schools since she attended as a special needs child.
A conversation between parents and school officials were practically non-existent and there were very few social outlets to get your story out back then. Not that any of that would have helped… because there were only 2 options for her… FB Gwynn Center (which anyone who is familiar knows they housed children with very serious needs then – which my sister didn’t fit into that mold as a mentally challenged child) and Special Education in the school system (which was unbalanced - meaning all the kids with special needs were clumped together in 1 classroom, regardless of their alignment, with 1 teacher and an aid). I often felt the public school teacher had far too much on her plate and that by tossing all special needs children together; it hindered the educational path of each child. My mother dreamed of children, like my sister, having the ability to attend a school that gave more individual attention to their needs… it just didn’t exist back then.

No disrespect, but the introduction of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and subsequently the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142) which later became the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA in 1990) also gave parents the right to be able to dispute decisions made about their children's education. Parents also have the right to be notified of these rights. Back when your sister attended school, these rights existed - but who knows if anyone ever made them available to your mother. "You don't know what you don't know", etc. No matter, the onus was on the parents to disagree when they didn't feel something was right.

Anyway, back before the special education laws existed, students with special needs were lucky to be in a public school, and when they were, often they were relegated to a basement room with no windows and little to no interaction with non disabled students in the general population. Things have changed a great deal since then, though, which is a good thing.

 

[Dakota]

Things have changed a great deal since then and the internet has helped incredibly... now parents can research their rights and can discuss matters with other parents who are battling the same thing... even when those sorts of things are not fully explained or understood by a student's parents. I just remember my mother have option #1 or #2 and my thinking how they both sucked... just 1 sucked less. She did get to spend a summer at Shriners Hospital in Baltimore & they provided her supplies to assist her better in life. However, it was my grandmother that got her connected with their program... not the school system. My sister left public school in '92.

 

[Bann]

Things have changed a great deal since then and the internet has helped incredibly... now parents can research their rights and can discuss matters with other parents who are battling the same thing... even when those sorts of things are not fully explained or understood by a student's parents. I just remember my mother have option #1 or #2 and my thinking how they both sucked... just 1 sucked less. She did get to spend a summer at Shriners Hospital in Baltimore & they provided her supplies to assist her better in life. However, it was my grandmother that got her connected with their program... not the school system. My sister left public school in '92.

That is why now there are procedural safeguards in place to insure parents are informed of their rights &responsibilities. Also, there is every effort made (it's also part of the law that they have to now) to help parents understand them. However, as with many laws, there is a lot of ambiguity & they are not always easy to understand. I spent hours researching information & when I went to IEP meetings I came prepared with my 5" binder all sectioned out with areas of the law which pertained to us that year. Not to mention the documentation from specialist testing & various other documents I might need. I learned a lot from other parents online & am still friends with some of them to this day.

This is why I post information - so others may benefit from my experiences -like other parents did for me.

 

[kimx6]

A couple of points here:



If you want public support on this (I assume that was why you went along with allowing your letter to be published) you need to be public about these issues. You can't try and rally people to your cause while at the same time telling them to mind their own business.



What is going to happen after high school when all of his friends go away? They'll be going off to college, moving out of town for jobs and just be otherwise busy starting their own families and such. You've put your child into a position now where he's never had to make new friends and all of his old ones are mostly gone.

After high school I assume the goal is for him to be able to be self supporting and self sufficient. His school buddies are not going to be at whatever job he's holding. He's going to have to learn to make those new friends from scratch. I think you are denying him an excellent opportunity to learn how to do this while in a protected environment.

and finally:



I hate to be a jerk, but the schools are incredibly strapped for money right now. Accommodating your son is going to be expensive. They will probably have to hire extra personnel (even if it is "just" an aide) and upgrade their programs. To do that I'm sure you have to go through a big bureaucratic mess where people need to come in and evaluate what is already in place, evaluate your son to find out what is still needed, so on and so forth. It's not cheap.

Demanding that the school spend this money so that your one child is accommodated is unfair to all of the other kids who attend this school. The money to accomplish these changes doesn't come out of thin air. It has to be taken from currently existing services. Are you willing to take current services away from many children just so that your son can go to school with his friends? Or finance the changes yourself?

Now, if no other schools existed in the area that had the programs your son needs, I could really understand pushing this issue. But that isn't the case. There is a school that has a program that your son's advisors feel is best for him.

With regards to the bus ride, what is it about long trips your son doesn't deal well with? Could you put him on the bus with a book, game boy, one of those handheld dvd players? Something to occupy him for the ride?

I really do respect that you are fighting for your son. I just don't think that that this is the battle you should have chosen. Best of luck to you and your son.

I do thank you for your interest in our story. I am amazed at many people that do not us, nor our son or are even in the same county have expressed an interest and opinion on the matter at hand. I will try to address the points that you made.

First, this is not a battle that we chose. We were deceived. We were led to believe that we had a part in determining our son's placement. It was not until we actually walked into the meeting that we were told they did not agree with the decision that we had made regarding his placement. They had a "support" person there for the BOE (who is usually not at IEP Meetings), but since they hadn't let us know we did not have any additional representation on our behalf (if the roles had been reversed and we had brought in an advocate or attorney-we are required to notify them in advance). To back track a bit, we had one transition meeting prior to our last meeting, at which time they did recommend the other school and we brought up him going to his home school. No decision was made at that meeting and they "welcomed" us going to both schools to examine the programs. After considering everything we called and told our decision-totally believing that when we went to the next IEP meeting we would be writing his IEP for his home school. Now I am sorry, but no parent that I know wants nor deserves to be treated like that-at least they could have been honest from the beginning of the transition process.

As far as the money/funding issue all I can say is I do understand that that is a very sensitive subject with the shape that our economy is in. At this point I nor you could have any idea as to the cost it would entail to keep him at his home school, because we were not even given the decency of them discussing what modifications might need to be made (if any-it still has not been verified by outside experts that supports would be needed). Again, another point that we cannot determine at this point.

To the friends issue-how many people do get jobs with their friends? My older kids haven't. I don't see that as an issue. We are not debating whether or not he can make new friends. Although plenty of kids from his elementary went to his middle school, there were other elementary schools zoned to his middle school and he did make new friends. The issue is that in high school, he will be separated from the general school population much more than he was in elementary school. In elementary school for some of the years he was fully included all day long, meaning he was never separated from the general population. Ask typical children if they would like to start at a high school where they do not know anyone? The ones I have asked, say no that would not be their preference. I can see the friends issue being a moot point, however I still stand firm in saying that it is essential to my son's access to an appropriate education. I don't expect you to understand that and don't believe there is anything I could say to convince you-that would come from knowing him and watching him interact. He loves his friends and has many, although the greatest joy has come from watching his friends interact with him.

Your statement about telling people to mind their business is harsh, I have not said anything like that at all-nor would I. I am not that type of a person, I see no benefit in rude behavior to help accomplish a task. I cannot address every issue. An open forum is not the proper venue. I will not do anything to hurt our case. I can tell you that thankfully the issues that we have had this year have been documented with the proper authorities and in having done so long before this IEP decision was made will not look like just "sour grapes" on our part.

I truly do thank you for the interest in our story. I look at the questions raised by the people that have never known or worked with my son as preparation for our case-so for that thanks again.

 

[DipStick]

What school are they trying to send him to?

I do thank you for your interest in our story. I am amazed at many people that do not us, nor our son or are even in the same county have expressed an interest and opinion on the matter at hand. I will try to address the points that you made.

First, this is not a battle that we chose. We were deceived. We were led to believe that we had a part in determining our son's placement. It was not until we actually walked into the meeting that we were told they did not agree with the decision that we had made regarding his placement. They had a "support" person there for the BOE (who is usually not at IEP Meetings), but since they hadn't let us know we did not have any additional representation on our behalf (if the roles had been reversed and we had brought in an advocate or attorney-we are required to notify them in advance). To back track a bit, we had one transition meeting prior to our last meeting, at which time they did recommend the other school and we brought up him going to his home school. No decision was made at that meeting and they "welcomed" us going to both schools to examine the programs. After considering everything we called and told our decision-totally believing that when we went to the next IEP meeting we would be writing his IEP for his home school. Now I am sorry, but no parent that I know wants nor deserves to be treated like that-at least they could have been honest from the beginning of the transition process.

As far as the money/funding issue all I can say is I do understand that that is a very sensitive subject with the shape that our economy is in. At this point I nor you could have any idea as to the cost it would entail to keep him at his home school, because we were not even given the decency of them discussing what modifications might need to be made (if any-it still has not been verified by outside experts that supports would be needed). Again, another point that we cannot determine at this point.

To the friends issue-how many people do get jobs with their friends? My older kids haven't. I don't see that as an issue. We are not debating whether or not he can make new friends. Although plenty of kids from his elementary went to his middle school, there were other elementary schools zoned to his middle school and he did make new friends. The issue is that in high school, he will be separated from the general school population much more than he was in elementary school. In elementary school for some of the years he was fully included all day long, meaning he was never separated from the general population. Ask typical children if they would like to start at a high school where they do not know anyone? The ones I have asked, say no that would not be their preference. I can see the friends issue being a moot point, however I still stand firm in saying that it is essential to my son's access to an appropriate education. I don't expect you to understand that and don't believe there is anything I could say to convince you-that would come from knowing him and watching him interact. He loves his friends and has many, although the greatest joy has come from watching his friends interact with him.

Your statement about telling people to mind their business is harsh, I have not said anything like that at all-nor would I. I am not that type of a person, I see no benefit in rude behavior to help accomplish a task. I cannot address every issue. An open forum is not the proper venue. I will not do anything to hurt our case. I can tell you that thankfully the issues that we have had this year have been documented with the proper authorities and in having done so long before this IEP decision was made will not look like just "sour grapes" on our part.

I truly do thank you for the interest in our story. I look at the questions raised by the people that have never known or worked with my son as preparation for our case-so for that thanks again.

 

[rolltide]

More at stake

What you don't understand is that, while the whole emotional issue is supported, once a special-needs child is placed in a teacher's classroom, it is the teacher's job to see that he/she passes the same state tests as any other student. It's not ok for a child to just sit in the company of his/her friends. Schools are for teaching, learning -- scholarship. Even if the parents are willing to waive any expectations of academic achievement, the school must follow the law. Fights like these cost taxpayer money and stress on the education system. So, if it makes them feel good to fight the system, they do so without my support.

 

[acommondisaster]

What school are they trying to send him to?

I'm willing to take bets that it's Stone.

 

[acommondisaster]

To the friends issue-how many people do get jobs with their friends? My older kids haven't. I don't see that as an issue. We are not debating whether or not he can make new friends. Although plenty of kids from his elementary went to his middle school, there were other elementary schools zoned to his middle school and he did make new friends. The issue is that in high school, he will be separated from the general school population much more than he was in elementary school. In elementary school for some of the years he was fully included all day long, meaning he was never separated from the general population. Ask typical children if they would like to start at a high school where they do not know anyone? The ones I have asked, say no that would not be their preference. I can see the friends issue being a moot point, however I still stand firm in saying that it is essential to my son's access to an appropriate education. I don't expect you to understand that and don't believe there is anything I could say to convince you-that would come from knowing him and watching him interact. He loves his friends and has many, although the greatest joy has come from watching his friends interact with him.

I may be presuming a lot, since I only know what you've told us. I now get that you want him in "general population" as much as possible - that probably isn't what he needs. Have you looked at the long term goals on his IEP, or are you just focusing on the one thing you disagree with? It seems to me that you agree with the goals, but then say "but you must make it work on our terms". You want his goals met, but while he's in a setting where it can't happen.

It is my opinion that you would be doing him a great disservice to insist that he continue to be mainstreamed (or whatever the latest touchy feely word for it they use this year). The next few years are getting him (and you) ready for when he ages out of the program. Believe me, IEP's are nothing compared to what comes next. You will deal with more agencies and more paperwork than you could ever expect, and unless there's a crisis sort of situation, you can pretty much figure on taking what you can get. Right now, take every single opportunity to get him prepared for life, and they've told you another school will do it best.

Did his middle school teacher warn you ahead of time? If the answer is no, then it's probably because he/she also thought that this recommendation was best as well. On serveral occasions, my daughters teachers warned me about recommendations on her upcoming IEPs so that I could have my ducks in a row to counter them. A teacher will do that when they think something is inappropriate for one of "their kids".

He will cope. He will be more resilient than you think he will be, and you'll all grow from the experience. I don't know what else to tell you. You seem hellbent on getting your way on this, regardless how it affects your son in the long run. Don't you think that there'll be other kids in the same curriculum as him at the new school and that will be a good reenforcement for him? Instead, for your convenience, and for the sake of some school buddies, you're willing to sacrifice what's best for him.

I ALWAYS fought for SERVICES for my daughter. I'd have driven her from one end of the state to the other if they'd have told me I could get some better training for her somewhere else. You, on the otherhand, want a short ride. I think what you'll wind up with is the short end of the stick.

 

[Bann]

I do thank you for your interest in our story. I am amazed at many people that do not us, nor our son or are even in the same county have expressed an interest and opinion on the matter at hand. I will try to address the points that you made.

If you put your story out there, you're going to get noticed. Many of us who are posting have some interest in special education issues and that is why we are responding. You said that you wanted to get the story out there and you have.

First, this is not a battle that we chose. We were deceived. We were led to believe that we had a part in determining our son's placement. It was not until we actually walked into the meeting that we were told they did not agree with the decision that we had made regarding his placement.

With all due respect, you WERE given a part in determining your son's placement. You just stated here that there is a disagreement. Fine - there are ways to handle the disagreements.

They had a "support" person there for the BOE (who is usually not at IEP Meetings), but since they hadn't let us know we did not have any additional representation on our behalf (if the roles had been reversed and we had brought in an advocate or attorney-we are required to notify them in advance).

At this point, you were fully within your legal right to halt that meeting and request a new one when you could prepare. I believe you didn't stop the meeting at that point, but after they gave their recommendation, but I might be wrong on that point.

To back track a bit, we had one transition meeting prior to our last meeting, at which time they did recommend the other school and we brought up him going to his home school. No decision was made at that meeting and they "welcomed" us going to both schools to examine the programs. After considering everything we called and told our decision-totally believing that when we went to the next IEP meeting we would be writing his IEP for his home school. Now I am sorry, but no parent that I know wants nor deserves to be treated like that-at least they could have been honest from the beginning of the transition process.

If they wanted you to look at the two schools, and you did, but you disagree with the BOE on the placement - then how is that deceiving you and how is it that you are being treated poorly. I'm not understanding. Parents DO have the right to their input, and they ARE the most important people on the IEP team. But there are other IEP team members who have to have input. it all needs to be considered. If you are in disagreement, then you are within your rights to due process. They bring in specialists, you bring in specialists (that you pay for separately) and your specialists will compare notes. The BOE doesn't have to choose your specialists' recommendations, although they do have to consider them.

To the friends issue-how many people do get jobs with their friends? My older kids haven't. I don't see that as an issue. We are not debating whether or not he can make new friends. Although plenty of kids from his elementary went to his middle school, there were other elementary schools zoned to his middle school and he did make new friends. The issue is that in high school, he will be separated from the general school population much more than he was in elementary school. In elementary school for some of the years he was fully included all day long, meaning he was never separated from the general population. Ask typical children if they would like to start at a high school where they do not know anyone? The ones I have asked, say no that would not be their preference. I can see the friends issue being a moot point, however I still stand firm in saying that it is essential to my son's access to an appropriate education. I don't expect you to understand that and don't believe there is anything I could say to convince you-that would come from knowing him and watching him interact. He loves his friends and has many, although the greatest joy has come from watching his friends interact with him.

Many of us are wondering how the best interests of your son are NOT being met simply because he would be going to a school where he doesn't know anyone. Lots of kids do this EVERY DAY. My son changed schools quite a few times, because his father is in the military and he had to. Period. Changing schools & having to make new friends are not the most detrimental thing that could happen in a child's life. And certainly, if your son is the charming, outgoing & gregarious person that everyone has said he is (and I don't doubt for a minute that he is) I am sure making new friends will be very easy for him and not as stressful as you seem to be predicting it will be.

I wish you the best of luck in your fight. I hope it all works out for the best for your son.

 

[vraiblonde]

You said that you wanted to get the story out there and you have.

Exactly, and a fine job she's done of it. Instead of amazed, I'd think she'd be happy to have all the attention this story has brought. I'm assuming that was the goal.

 

[pelers]

As far as the money/funding issue all I can say is I do understand that that is a very sensitive subject with the shape that our economy is in. At this point I nor you could have any idea as to the cost it would entail to keep him at his home school, because we were not even given the decency of them discussing what modifications might need to be made (if any-it still has not been verified by outside experts that supports would be needed). Again, another point that we cannot determine at this point.

Have you tried politely asking them what sort of modifications would need to be made and the associated costs? This right here seems like it could be a great starting point for you. Work with the BOE, get an estimate. Then once the numbers come in, if it's manageable, you could possibly start fundraising to help defray costs. A friend linked your Facebook page to me, you seem to have plenty of support on there.

Your words say you are willing to put forth effort so that your son can go to the school of your choice. Put some action behind them!

I can see the friends issue being a moot point, however I still stand firm in saying that it is essential to my son's access to an appropriate education. I don't expect you to understand that and don't believe there is anything I could say to convince you-that would come from knowing him and watching him interact. He loves his friends and has many, although the greatest joy has come from watching his friends interact with him.

The issue is that in high school, he will be separated from the general school population much more than he was in elementary school. In elementary school for some of the years he was fully included all day long, meaning he was never separated from the general population.

I do not understand why it is ESSENTIAL that he go to school with his friends. In the second quote there you've said that he is going to be kept apart from the general population. I'm sorry, but this seems contradictory to me. Please, I am more than happy to listen to your reasons about why it is essential but you are being insulting to me by assuming I wouldn't even listen or be capable of understanding. I may not agree with your reasons but if they are valid I am certainly capable of changing my opinion.

Your statement about telling people to mind their business is harsh, I have not said anything like that at all-nor would I. I am not that type of a person, I see no benefit in rude behavior to help accomplish a task. I cannot address every issue. An open forum is not the proper venue. I will not do anything to hurt our case. I can tell you that thankfully the issues that we have had this year have been documented with the proper authorities and in having done so long before this IEP decision was made will not look like just "sour grapes" on our part.

But you have said things like that. Not those exact words but the sentiment was quite clear. We are not asking you to address every issue, people on here have asked several questions and you have refused to respond to any of them. Is it because the responses would "hurt your case" ?

Here's a quote from your Facebook group:

Emily Benish
There has got to be more to this story here. Every student with disabilities has a right to an education in their home school under FAPE/Section 504. It's not possible the board of ed simplm said he can not attend because he has down syndrome, period end of story. There may be other behavioral or developmental considerations helping the board make their decision. There's more to this than this sensationalistic post.

Let Logan Jenkins go to Westlake High School ‎
@Emily-I am not sure as to what post you are refering to as sensationalistic, but it can't be the title of the page that is the TRUTH-nothing sensationalistic about it. True, there is MUCH more to our story, But it would not be appropriate... to bring it out here on this page. I will not sacrifice my integrity as we stand for what we believe is appropriate for our son. FYI, this page was started as a page to support our quest as we attempt to have our son placed in his home school. While we recognize that everyone, including us, has the right to freedom of speech this page is not an open forum for unsubstantiated arguments by those who do not know our son or all the facts surrounding our case. We will not accept accusations or volatile posts. They are not appropriate here as those who enter this site made a choice to enter the page by Liking it. If you don't LIKE it then you should not enter the page.

This woman did not make any accusations, and I don't consider her post to be volatile. Yet you told her to leave because she wanted to hear the BOE's side of the story. Though you didn't use the exact words "mind your own business" you certainly shut down any possibility of a discussion on the matter.

Anyone else who asked for more details was ignored.

Kayla Friedrich
what is the school system saying he should do rather than going to westlake? i'm a student at north point and i agree he should have the right to go to his own school.
Tuesday at 8:10pmLet Logan Jenkins go to Westlake High School likes this.

Bao Dinh
What was the board's rationale?

Tuesday at 6:07pm

Danielle Fluker
Are they suggesting another specialized school for him, maybe one in which he would have more of an opportunity to thrive and excel? Or are they suggesting home education? Perhaps I am out of the loop but I find it hard to believe that they would straight deny an education without providing an alternative education option.
Tuesday at 2:13pm

Something else I notice from many of the supporters on this page are that they seem to be under the impression that the BOE told you that Logan could not go to ANY school. You have made no attempt to correct their bad assumptions.

I truly do thank you for the interest in our story. I look at the questions raised by the people that have never known or worked with my son as preparation for our case-so for that thanks again.

If you consider this practice you really do need to start formulating some answers for questions people have raised. Telling the BOE that it's "essential" your son go to school with his friends but that they couldn't possibly understand the reasons isn't going to win you anything.

You also never addressed the question regarding the longer bus ride to a different school. Not knowing WHY a longer bus ride is an issue I made several suggestions to keep your son distracted on the ride. Were my suggestions way off in left field, or are you just refusing to see any other possible solutions?

I really don't mean this as an attack on you. If you have a valid case for why your son needs to go to Westlake then I am more than happy to support you. I have yet to hear your valid case because you refuse to explain the reasons behind your demands.

If you want to hone your argument against BOE, please do it here. This community has a lot of resources and people who are more than willing to spar with you and point out gaps in your logic to help your argument.

 

[DipStick]

I'm willing to take bets that it's Stone.

That would be a district issue then. Statistically, Stone's the better school.

I get that she wants him to be with his friends but making new friends and meeting new people is part of life.

 

[DipStick]

I'm in Charles County, worked at Westlake for a year.

I do thank you for your interest in our story. I am amazed at many people that do not us, nor our son or are even in the same county have expressed an interest and opinion on the matter at hand. I will try to address the points that you made.

I'm going to ask again, What school are they trying to send Logan to.

 

[sockgirl77]

I'm in Charles County, worked at Westlake for a year.



I'm going to ask again, What school are they trying to send Logan to.

Good luck getting an answer. She's refused to answer anyone that has asked here, FB, and the Baynet.

 

[sockgirl77]

That just gives me more reason to suspect her motives are not in her son's best interests and gives me more reason to hope that the CCBOE sticks to its original decision, instead of using tax dollars to cave in to this apparent sneak.

I can remember being devistated in the 8th grade when I figured out that 75% of my friends were going to GMHS and only a few were going to LHS with me, but my mother certainly did not ask to have me transferred. I am not sure if Logan is necessarily zoned for Westlake. All I have seen is Mrs. Jenkins post that it is his home school. Just because it may be closer does not necessarily mean that it is the school he's zoned for. I've been hearing that he's zoned for Thomas Stone. I also know enough people in the CCBOE to know that Stone is more than capable of accomodating his needs, as is Westlake. So :shrug:.

 

[acommondisaster]

I know that Stone has an outstanding Life Skills class and have very capable loving instructors involved. I wasn't thrilled about my daughter going to Stone, until she went. I'd heard Stone was a "rough" school - it turned out to be anything but that. Turned out to be the best school she attended. Westlake was closer to home for us, too, btw.

I'm willing to bet it's Stone - and her objections have zero to do with the drive, the homeschool, his friends.....I'll bet it's because it's Stone.

 

[DipStick]

Good luck getting an answer. She's refused to answer anyone that has asked here, FB, and the Baynet.

I bet if I looked at the zoning maps, I'd have an answer to that.

"Wanting" your kid to go to Westlake, this is the first time I've heard of any such thing.

 

[DipStick]

I know that Stone has an outstanding Life Skills class and have very capable loving instructors involved. I wasn't thrilled about my daughter going to Stone, until she went. I'd heard Stone was a "rough" school - it turned out to be anything but that. Turned out to be the best school she attended. Westlake was closer to home for us, too, btw.

I'm willing to bet it's Stone - and her objections have zero to do with the drive, the homeschool, his friends.....I'll bet it's because it's Stone.

Like Westlake isn't a "rough" school

I could write a novel of what I saw, between being a student there and working there.

Because of a two mile move, I was transferred from La Plata to Westlake... I was not happy because the education I was getting at La Plata was far superior to the "education" I got at Westlake.

 

[acommondisaster]

Like Westlake isn't a "rough" school

I could write a novel of what I saw, between being a student there and working there.

Because of a two mile move, I was transferred from La Plata to Westlake... I was not happy because the education I was getting at La Plata was far superior to the "education" I got at Westlake.

It's a perception thing. As long as I can remember, Stone's had a bad name. Plus Westlake is newer, it must be better.