Arrrrrhhhh – school is shit!

Bloody hell I feel homesick. Properly homesick first the first time in months and months. I hate Sophia’s school, with an absolute passion. I feel like I have a little ball of despair rolled up inside of me every time I drop her off. So many people had told me how awful the schools out here were but its difficult to know until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. Yes, the schools have had massive budget cuts over the last few years but its not just that, all creativity has completely died. Sophia has spent the last 2 weeks colouring in. She has not been challenged in any way. Shes had to write nothing but her name (which apparently the majority of the class can’t do and these children are all at least 5). There is no art, no music, no PE. No, ...well, no anything really. You can have a music lesson by bashing on an ice cream tub, it doesn't take money, it takes people who care. The last straw is the back to school night we have just attended. The curriculum apparently is not as important as a lengthy discussion as to what the kids can and can't bring in on their birthdays. And just as an aside, there will be no reading books for the kids this year, at all, at any point, whether they can read or not. Its difficult to know whether or not I'd I felt the same if we'd stayed in Mountain View.  Part of me feels that while it may not have been as bad, I'd still be unhappy.  I suppose there is a reason California is right at the bottom of the pile when it comes to their schooling.  I know how hard this is going to be for Sophia but I'm off to check out some private schools. Sophia deserves more than this.