Back in December I wrote an angsty post about all the stuff that was weighing on me. (That was a rough month! I wound up just sending photo cards with no letter, on the principle of "if you can't say anything nice...") On December 29 I added a task to my Remember The Milk list: follow up with the principal about antisemitism.
It's still sitting there.
I don't really want to write the principal and say "Your response is unacceptable to me," but I feel that I ought to try again to communicate my frustrations and ask him to take action. I haven't re-registered the boys for 2017-18. I don't want to commit a five-figure chunk of money to a school that conflates partisan identity with Catholic identity.
Tonight at dinner we were talking about options. My freshman has applied to a magnet high school. "You can go there," I told him. For my junior I suggested student-at-large classes at Gladlyville U, followed by the GED when he turns 18. My husband thinks there's a GED stigma -- that it's mostly for people who dropped out and went back later in life -- but I'm not sure that's true these days, now that homeschooling is so much more common. And I'm not sure I care anyway.
I think, though, that I need to reiterate my concerns with the principal even though it makes me uncomfortable. Did you see this tweet?
Trump has condemned women who breastfeed in public more vehemently than he condemned antisemitism.
— OhNoSheTwitnt (@OhNoSheTwitnt) February 21, 2017
Pope Francis, sensibly, supports public breastfeeding and opposes antisemitism. I'd like my kids' Catholic high school to align itself more closely with Pope Francis than with Donald Trump. If they have credible reports that students are throwing around antisemitic slurs, they should address the issue.
So, friends, I'm writing this post as an anti-procrastination strategy. I'm going to draft an email tomorrow and send it Tuesday. Wish me luck. I'll report back.
I support you. Now more than before it's important not to keep silent about antisemitism. Maybe the recent news of vandalism, bomb threats, etc. targeting Jewish people will have come to his attention and make him more receptive to your message.
Posted by: bearing | February 26, 2017 at 11:59 PM
Our district has a program called Running Start where kids (especially Juniors and seniors) take classes at local universities rather than at the high school, and graduate with both a high school diploma and college credits (some kids pretty much have an associates degree by the end).
If your district has anything similar, maybe the senior can enroll at the public school to get his diploma, avoided the whole GED thing, and I think get a break on tuition costs as well (maybe not an issue with his connections).
Posted by: Beth | February 27, 2017 at 01:57 AM
Good luck. Go get 'em. And all that stuff.
If it comes to it, the are slot of high school diploma options for a motivated teen.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 27, 2017 at 04:48 AM
As far as school options go, double check with local high schools (even ones outside your attendance area) for online programs. Around here (I'm one state north of you) there are lots of options for online home schooling through a public high school. I can't speak to the quality of the curriculum of these programs, but if he's largely going to take university classes, that probably won't matter and his diploma will be through a brick-and-mortar school.
Courage for the letter! It's the right thing to speak up about. Perhaps the principal's ears will perk up this year during the Passion readings. Hail, King of the Jews!
Posted by: Colette | February 27, 2017 at 08:40 AM
Good luck. I'd be procrastinating, too. Gahh.
Posted by: mary d | February 27, 2017 at 08:42 AM
Prayers for you! I just have to say that your children sound like awesome people, and I hope that you all find a resolution.
Posted by: Kathy | February 27, 2017 at 11:43 AM
I think it is important to say something to the school not only about the weak response to anti-semitism but also about the pervasively un-Christian attitude your children report. No one will know there are objections to the way things are going unless someone says something. It probably won't do any good unless more than one person says something, but at least the school will know why there is some resistance and also that you're talking with your pocketbook by not re-registering the kids.
Posted by: Ariella | February 27, 2017 at 11:59 AM
I support you in this. I'm conflicted about the GED. Here is some food for thought on it: http://learningpath.org/articles/GED_or_High_School_Diploma%3A_Which_is_Right_for_You.html. Plus, the military considers it as lesser than a diploma for enlistment, if that is on the table.
Posted by: Celeste | February 27, 2017 at 07:46 PM
Oh dear... I'll pray for you as you write this letter. Sigh... and I love that people gave good suggestions regarding the boys' schooling next year. Let's hope you can find good compromises.
Posted by: L - Mama(e) in Translation | February 27, 2017 at 08:13 PM
Yes, I was going to suggest what Beth did. The GED is likely inferior in impression either to apublic-school diploma or a homeschool transcript. Public school or homeschool or online public school, especially with college courses, are all good options.
Posted by: bearing | February 27, 2017 at 08:58 PM
Good luck. It sounds like a tough email, but an important one. We all need to speak up.
Posted by: Pippi | February 28, 2017 at 09:21 AM
I believe Gladlyville Community College has programs specifically for hs juniors & seniors where they earn both HS and Univ credits simultaneously while being physically located at the community college.
Posted by: Rayne of Terror | February 28, 2017 at 10:19 AM