Wards of the State

*rappin* "Ward of the state being locked down, locked down a m*tha f*ckin ward of the state. . . ." - Askari X.

I now know the true meaning and purpose of compulsory public school education in the United States. I used to believe, optimal word BELIEVE, that it was to actually educate and shape young minds. Well I got the "shape minds" part correct, however I fell into another realm on the "educate" part. According to the constitution, public schools are not for educating and parents have no rights as to how their children may be publicly educated.

According to Justice H. Walter Croskey of the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles who quoted a 1961 court ruling,

A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation as a means of protecting the public welfare

In addition, the Children's Law Center of Los Angeles is not concerned with the QUALITY of a child's education but instead

[Their] being in a place daily where they would be observed by people who had a duty to ensure their ongoing safety

*looking into camera* I had no idea that the state was better equipped, prepared, trained, socially responsible, morally correct, better educated and spiritually in tuned with the greater good to be able to care for, teach, and protect my offspring better than I or their father as their parents. Forgive me for even thinking that I could raise children to NOT be wards of the state. How ignorant of me. Let me turn over My Loves this very moment for immediate and absolute indoctrination.

The First Line of Defense

I was told by a great man that, "the first line of defense is your family." Meaning that family will be the first to jump right into the mix of things when you decide to "upset the apple cart" and go against the status quo. And I don't mean they'll take up arms and fight with you. All too many times, they try and turn you back to the way you were. So I'm feeling myself being slowly worked to "conform" because I keep putting out into the universe (and among family and friends) that I'm really really serious about homeschooling my children. Well it was just an idea a few years ago but now as my oldest is "school age" because she just turned 5 years old, the barrage of questions from both sides of the family are picking up speed. The once subtle suggestions about why one should send their children to school are now becoming "concerns." And since I am not an island those "concerns" have a way of planting themselves in my head. So of course it causes me to doubt myself and then go re-check all the things I've check about a million time already. And sh*t my thing is, if I'm f*cking up my kids anyway because I'm sequestering them and not allowing them to be "socialized" in a school environment or a day care so they can play with other kids, well then I'm sacrificing for not. I may as well go to work out side the home right this second. Dump my oldest off at the nearest public school, take my 2 little ones to the KinderCare up the street and send the baby to some sitter off CraigsList. I mean cuz really, what's the point, right? Because my kids are gonna be even more messed up because I don't wanna send them to public school, or parochial school, or some private school where they are gonna be about 1 of 10 African children in the ENTIRE school. So what the f*ck am I doing? May as well kill two birds with one stone, make some money from a 9-5 and mess up my kids so we can all be just like everybody else, right? One big azz "Stepford" family. I mean since they gonna be messed up anyway because they are at home with their mother all day and don't get to socialize with other children 8 hours a day.

My thing is, why is it such an issue with homeschooling? I mean dayum ain't like I'm a high school drop out. And even if I were, does that mean I shouldn't try and see what's the best fit for my children vs. I'm just doing whatever and ignoring their different personalities and how they may interact with others. I don't want to just suppress who my children naturally are and squelch their individual beings. And frankly I think alot of schools do that to children. Parents are also guilty of this. Sh*t I'm guilty of it too because it's sooo easy to just do it the same way my parents did it. But just because that's what "everybody" is doing, does that make it the right thing to do? *sigh* Dayum DJ was right when he said "it's hard out here for a pimp ma'an" *chuckle to self* I wouldn't be me if I wasn't able to laugh at sh*t.

*smoochies* Lady A, the Non-Conformist (a work in progress)

Home schooling, Help and whatever else

As much "research" as I've done in trying to figure out the best way to begin "educating" my oldest it seems that the option of homeschooling is the best one. I'd gone back and forth because I was unsure of how to do it with other little ones who still needed to be cared for while I was "teaching". Then I toyed with the idea of an African-centered school when we were still living in Cali. The only problem would be the distance from in which we lived from ANY school that would be suitable (that's what happens when ya azz move to the 'burbs). Well after moving to Washington, not only can my azz NOT find an African-centered school, I can't even find a dayum private school that's run by black folks, for black folks. . . Well that ain't quite true, I did find ONE in the entire f*ckin state of Washington. It's in Seattle. *shakin head* But it's not African-centered so the curriculum ain't exactly what I was looking for. Then the same problem would be getting her there and pickin her up. *sigh* So then the thought of homeschooling pops up again. I guess what they say is true, that if you want something done right you've got to do it yourself.

Some would probably wonder why not public school? Cuz after teaching in one for a few years, I'm cool on public schools. (funny thing, I'd probably have her in one right now had I'd never taught in one) And it ain't because of the other students either. It's because of the teachers and the dayum SUPER political azz administration. Most would not believe some of the things teachers say about their own dayum students. And the administrators? *shakin head* You don't even wanna know. Frankly I was appalled and angry. Cuz it just made me really realize that public education was NOT meant to education any child who walked thru it's doors. And I don't care if it's a "hill" school in a nice neighborhood, a "flatland" school in the ghetto, a school out in the "boonies" them sh*ts all the same man, they all the same. Don't get me wrong, it ain't like if yo child is pure genius and sh*t they won't be able to excel in any "urban" school where they have school security guards. They'll excel anywhere you put them. But what about the babies who need encouragement and some coaxin? Or the ones who need for folks to just believe in them and not put them down? I'll tell you, it's way more kids who need a kind hand and a hug, then those who are like Einstein. Anyway, I don't know how I got into that.

So it looks like Lady Seneyat will be home schooled for the time being. I was worried that I'd have to jump thru a bunch of hoops cuz she's not in Kindergarten. But Washington state law doesn't expand it's "compulsory" education laws to any child under the age of 8. So I have a few years to figure out if I'm in it for the long hall or not.

In other news, life with 4 little babies is not so bad. I was all stressed out when I was pregnant thinking that I was NOT going to be able to do this without some kinda long term hired help. Well after searching and not being able to find an "ethnic" helper I just kinda said f*ck it. And just decided to see how I'd fair on my own. I've been on my own for 2 weeks and it's been okay (touch wood). Of course my azz is runnin on fumes, but that's what happens when you have 4 lil azz babies and don't have Oprah money. (I'm sure she'd have no problem findin help if she had just 1 child - sh*t ol' girl even have "dog nannies"). Of course I still have the once a day fall-out from at least 1, if not 2 of my babies. I just don't get all stressed out about like I used too. If you want to fall down and out cuz I can't jump and fix cereal or get a toy or fix the dvd, then oh well. I just walk away. They cry for about 10 minutes (or rather scream at an ultra high pitch, once believed that only dogs could hear) and then it's done. I've found that my children need me in their audience in order to "perform". LOL. I still would have liked someone who could have taken them to the park or watched them while I got groceries, etc. But oh well. I guess all that sh*t just has to get squeezed into the week-end like we've been doing. My poor Hunny. I know all he wants to do is rest but when the week-end comes I'm like a dayum road warrior. LOL

That's it for me. I have the Royal Sumehra wrigglin on my lap. She's barely a month old and I can't put her azz down for 2 seconds cuz she'll holler like she's being put out on the street. That's a shame. Maybe if I knock her out with enough "booby juice" I'll be able to get my stinky azz in the tub. (oh how I took for granted the simple things like bathing). Now I see why many women use formula instead of breastfeeding. Cuz your child is TRULY your second skin, 24 hours a day. Ohhh and don't think just cuz you by a dayum $300 breast pump and put some precious juice into a bottle, the baby is gonna drink it. Why? Cuz ain't nothing like being able to get that liquid white gold fresh and direct from it's source. LOL It seems that formula fed babies just get so filled up with "food milk" they azz sleep all day. *chuckle to self*

Okay, I'm done for real. Cuz now I have the Queen Sarai wanting me to wind up her little plastic toys. Not to mention my big azz is hongry, yes HONGRY. ha!

*smoochies* Lady Richardson