by Deborah Bloom

Created on: January 20, 2009

I pulled my son Jesse out of public school when he was in the second grade. I did this because he was labeled by the professionals as a child who would never learn anything. I was told it was a waste of time for me to keep him in public school. They were right it was a waste of my time but more importantly it was a waste of Jesse's time and it was his time that really mattered.

The professionals came to their conclusions about his non-abilities because he was not keeping up with the "mainstream class" after pulling him out for two hours a day for "special education" and when they asked him what he wanted for lunch he said he wanted a blue ball. In other words he wasn't hungry and they had trained him that when they asked him a question they wanted an answer so he gave them one, they just weren't smart enough to ask if he was hungry or wanted to play instead. So because he said he wanted a blue ball they called a special conference with me to explain to me how seriously retarded my son was. In their professional opinion he would never learn to read, write, calculate or even be able to speak with coherent thoughts.

Their reasoning behind having him in two types of environments during the day was to address his social skills and his learning skills. Hogwash! I feel that when it became apparent to them that their two hour a day sessions with Jesse would not be enough they either had to send him to another school (more expense for the busing and specialized environment) or get rid of him by convincing me it was a waste of time.

After my conference with these "professionals" I withdrew Jesse's brother and sister out of the public school and never looked back.

Luckily my husband has a very good job and I do not have to work to help support the family but I think I would have worked nights if I had to in order to home school my children. I told my friends and family they might not end up being rocket scientists but they will get a good basic education and know their rights guaranteed in the constitution.

Having Jesse's brothers and sister at home with him was a tremendous help. They would spend the extra time helping Jesse that he needed whether it was reading to him or helping him with writing or just talking and listening to him. We all would make him say what he wanted we didn't care what it was he said just as long as he tried to tell us what it was. If it didn't make sense to us we would play thirty questions until we figured out what it was he was trying to tell

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