Flowers are red

I am unsure I have made any movement in either direction when it comes to Emma's schooling, but I am continuing to think about my dilemma of whether or not to send her to school in the fall. Although I did mention my desire for Emma to do well, this isn't my main concern. I know in somethings she will really excel, and with other things she will struggle.

The real battle is whether I am ready for her to move on to formal schooling. Whether Emma stays at home another year- to enjoy more of her childhood, rather than for her to move up in her class standing; or whether she joins the class rolls next fall- I am sure she will do fine. She adapts well to life's many adventures.

I want her to enjoy being a child- something that at times can be missing from today's Kindergarten classrooms. I want her to wonder, grow at her own pace and to love learning. I worry that sending her this fall may make those things harder to achieve, but I also worry I am being too protective.

Her vision issues may impact her success next year, but they may not. As a mom, I don't want to see her struggle, not because of my own quirky tendencies- but because I worry how those struggles might shape her views about school.

I have tried to think of how I would have responded to myself as a teacher. I vacillate between thinking I would have said "go for it; she is ready" and "if you are worried waiting a year isn't a bad idea either". Obviously, this hasn't gotten me very far.

I am fairly sure if I knew and liked her teacher for her kindergarten year- this would be a fairly easy decision. If Kendra or Jen were teachers in our district, I would have very few qualms about sending her to school. However, if her teachers are more like many other teachers I have known- I would mostly likely keep her at home another year.

So, although I have not made made any decisions, I think what has become clearer is finding the right fit. We have been to two open house and weren't impressed with either (more on those will come another day I am sure). Perhaps the best thing for us to do now is to visit a few more schools and hold tight to hear if other schooling choices will open up for next year or not (more on this later too).

On a final note for the evening, a Harry Chapin song comes to mind. It is one of my favorites and was used as the introduction to my masters thesis which explored the importance of play in the elementary classroom. Perhaps this better illustrates my concerns about sending her to school than my own ramblings do...

Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.

You can also watch the you tube version here