A smooth start

Just a boring picture to soak up real life.

I was recovering from Covid and trying to be a normal human on the couch (instead of comatose in my bed) and Alison had just gotten home from school.  She made herself a pbj, just like a daughter of mine should, and got some love from Maya.  She told me about her day and I realized just how perfect her story was as a follow up to the last post.

She said that they have a quiz once a week and this week, the girl next to her asked her for the answers.  She said that she didn't need to give her the answers because it was an open book quiz.  The girl still didn't get it.  Alison pointed to the book and told her all the answers were right in front of her.  Even with an open book quiz, she said that most of the students were complaining about the quizzes and how they were bringing their grades down.  

She said, "Mom, I was worried that I wouldn't know things and I did not need to worry!  Most of the other students don't know basic things.  They don't know how to use the computer lab to type up papers or how to answer an essay questions in 500 words or how to find answers in a book!"

We talked about why this may be.  Was it Mira Costa?  Was it because this is an intro class that everyone has to take?  Was it public school kids? Or did they just not care and if so, why were they even there?

First of all, I'm thankful that this first class has erased her fears of failing and proven to her that she really does have what it takes to succeed.  Even though some of the classes are easy for her, I'm thankful for a smooth transition into college.

Second of all, it's made me think even more about American education.  I'm baffled quite frankly.

Homeschooling is in the minority and is mostly looked down upon, while public school is accepted and thought of as the norm.  Society questions whether my kids are "smart" because they don't have 30 other peers to compare themselves to, while they assume public school kids are super smart because they take AP classes.  Even more so, we assume that private school students are the elite.  Then all these students come together in college and some show up unable to find answers in a book.  What is happening?  What is happening all these years of 8 hour days and homework in the evenings???  How is that equating being unable to type essays and pass quizzes? 

On another aspect, I'm confused why it's insanely hard to get into college and then people are going into great debt for their education, to go to a class that is full of students unable to learn the material.