I just got a call and visit from a DCF officer this morning. Stupidly (in retrospect), I talked. It was over my son being pinched. Yes, thumb + forefinger grab some skin and pinch. It was a punishment for continually dumping sand in my truck from his shoes. After many a verbal warning, he got a physical punishment. He says it left a bruise, but I'm pretty sure the bruise is from him climbing trees because it's not near where I pinched, and it's similar to other tree climbing bruises.
Regardless, his pre-Kindergarten school reported me apparently - without even talking to me about it first (another W for homeschooling) - and next thing I know CPS is calling saying they'll be at my house in 5 minutes. Which wasn't enough time to research how to handle the situation. From what little I've gleaned since, it appears that if I bar them, they could just assume the worst and take the child into protective custody (which leads to a judicial hearing w/in 24 hours). Let me reiterate - ALL FOR A PINCH. We regularly pinch each other in play fights and wrestling. But I'm sure he came in crying because he got in trouble, told a teacher I pinched him, and they went running to CPS/DCF.
From what I understand, if the school sees a mark, they're required to report it. Which is ironic given how many times we've picked him up with a busted lip or bumps and bruises and they're like "please sign the incident report; he 'walked into a door' (or something)." I'm just shell-shocked and caught completely off guard - I'm not an abusive parent. I spank from time to time as an elevated consequence, and I give thorough explanation of why the punishment is carried out.
Anon for obvious reasons. My diction probably makes me identifiable to the astute.
Two hours of instruction is probably a week of indoc center instruction. Maybe two weeks. (They really only learn spitback and that is the govt measure of a smart child. Reptition in rules of math and grammar good-never having to apply it not so good.) And it does not have to be schooled between 9 am to 430 pm. There are online k-12 schools and probably schools that send actual texts and work books. Chalkboards are still amazing too. There's this other thing called Unschooling. Look into that one. Be advised, unschooling and homeschooling means you become the leader and gotta be consistent. Have some hard skills that require math like carpentry. Heck, wanna lay that cement patio? That's a week of unschooling, even planning what you need is a skill and why? Start planning secondary education for those teenage years as soon as you get comfortable with having that self-schooling dynamic. Network and find other parents to brainstorm with and cooperate. It could be a very exciting family adventure.
anon 0 points 6 hours ago
Two hours of instruction is probably a week of indoc center instruction. Maybe two weeks. (They really only learn spitback and that is the govt measure of a smart child. Reptition in rules of math and grammar good-never having to apply it not so good.) And it does not have to be schooled between 9 am to 430 pm. There are online k-12 schools and probably schools that send actual texts and work books. Chalkboards are still amazing too. There's this other thing called Unschooling. Look into that one. Be advised, unschooling and homeschooling means you become the leader and gotta be consistent. Have some hard skills that require math like carpentry. Heck, wanna lay that cement patio? That's a week of unschooling, even planning what you need is a skill and why?
Start planning secondary education for those teenage years as soon as you get comfortable with having that self-schooling dynamic. Network and find other parents to brainstorm with and cooperate. It could be a very exciting family adventure.
I hope all goes well the tyke.