How maddening...

People often ask why do you homeschool. Which is fine, I understand that the concept of educating your kids at home is "different" or "weird". But then I read things like this article...

http://myfox8.com/2014/04/27/up-to-half-of-forsyths-third-graders-may-have-to-attend-summer-reading-program/

or this...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/26/kindergarten-show-canceled-so-kids-can-keep-working-to-become-college-and-career-ready-really/

And then parents wonder WHY their kids hate school. THIS is why we homeschool. We want our kids to have a love of the learning process, not just taught to the next test. Not worrying at 6 & 7 how their work would make them college/career ready. We want them excited to learn new things, and different approaches to problems. We want them excited to discover how things relate to each other, not forced to complete something with the threat of a six week - all day intensive course that would drive most ADULTS crazy, much less kids who are 8 or 9 years old based on ONE test score. If this many kids are flunking grade level reading, the school has more issues than just one! Why are that many kids "behind"and 10 days of testing at the end of the year? That sounds pretty scary to me and then add in the "threat" of summer school to get them to pass..Yes, it's no wonder kids in first grade are already complaining that they HATE school. It's not LEARNING they hate, it's the SCHOOL. There is a difference. Most kids LOVE learning new things. They have a natural curiosity about the world around them. It's the way schools approach learning that kids hate. Schools don't care if you enjoy learning... They don't care what your learning style is, they don't care if your a hands on learner that doesn't learn well visually. They don't care if your having other issues that may affect your schoolwork, they don't care if you don't master a concept or figure out how two things may be connected. They DON'T CARE...All that matters to them is that their test scores are at a certain level so that THEIR funding isn't in jeopardy, so that THEIR "reputation" is undamaged. This is no longer about learning, it's about passing a test. As long as you memorize what that test is about, they don't care if you are actually LEARNING...