Part 2: Chapter 4

Schooling

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

         Schooling these days is rather like a three-ringed circus with monkeys throwing pies, an elephant balancing on a ball, and a tiger jumping through a flaming hoop. There is no Ring Master, or rather, the Ring Master has promised not to poke his head out from behind the curtains and demand his animals' correct behavior, yet he refuses to move his own act to the back bedroom. This makes no sense to me. Who would want to remain in the midst of this madness?
	The newly set-up outdoor schooling space exudes a false sense of hope that today things will go smoothly. Today the work will get done. We go out onto the side porch where I've put a table and chairs for the twins. Their workbooks, folders, and pencil boxes are in a bin. I’ve laid out a mat and a box of fairly new toys for Johnny and I’ve fenced off the porch to keep him from straying into the muddy backyard.
	Upon summoning the children, they drag their feet to their places and fight over supplies. Someone gets scratched and rude names are called. Sort this out, while Johnny has discovered that the house door isn't shut and escapes inside. Run after him and upon returning discover that the children have finished their quarrel and are having a pencil flinging contest.
	Give them their assignments: one journal entry, five math problems, and one page of reading. Opal and Theo’s teacher provides about ten things a day for these first-graders to do, but I've given up on that. Three is my limit. I motivate them by promising "educational" games on their iPads when they're finished. Admit to myself that making media the reward is less than desirable, but as candy produces cavities and the budget doesn’t allow extra toy-buying, have no other ideas.
	They giggle and squirm as they get out their materials. In the shuffle, they dump papers onto the floor. Johnny darts in, grabs a page, and rips it. Rescue the papers as Opal begins to journal utter nonsense and Theo suddenly decides he has to go to the bathroom. Johnny escapes through the door after Theo and pitches a fit when I bring him back. Give Opal a specific writing prompt, speaking very loudly to be heard over Johnny’s protestations. Opal slumps in her chair, her pink bob-cut hairdo hiding her pouting expression. “Mama, I feel like I hate to write because of you,” she says.