I talked to a friend today. She was trying to find the right educational place for her crazy bright 7yo. She and her partner each work full time at jobs they both want and need. Oh ya, and there's a pandemic on, and wild fires, and smoke, and a heated election, and protests, and and and and.... On-line school, even at a progressive public charter school, is not working for this kid. (the busy work alone would be enough to make the kid crazy, but sitting still in front of a computer for that long?!? nope.) They've got an interview for an in person private school 20 minutes from their house, if their virus protocols seem safe, should they enroll their kid?
I don't know the right answer. All I could do was ask questions.
How does it feel right now? If you were to enroll at the private school how would that be? The commute? The cost? If you leave the public charter school could you get back in later? What is your child telling you about what they're experiencing and thinking about their school? If you chose to homeschool how would that feel? How would it work? How could you work? What would your child do while you're working?
In normal times I might talk about how much social interaction their child needed, but it's not normal times, and none of us are able to get "normal" social interaction. Even if schools are in person the safety protocols mean that kids can't play together they way they use to, so any concerns about socialization will have to be set aside for now.
For now the question is - what do the parents need to be functional, sane and safe? What does the child need to learn, be safe and sane? Where those things intersect, do that.
Whatever parents decide to do right now? It's fine. Short of beating the children, do what you need to do to get by. Keep your kids as safe as is reasonably possible in the midst of this maddness, but do it while taking care of yourself. You matter, your health, safety, sanity, they matter, just as much as your kids.
Whatever you do, remember - it's only for now. It will change. In a year things will be different, and we don't know what kind of different. We're all going to have to be flexible and resilient, ready to try new things, and to switch and try something different when that doesn't work.
Do what works. If it doesn't work, try something else. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It's only for now.
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