Hola (new here)

[JenniMiller]

Hi! I discovered school-survival.net and this forum when I was trapped in a public school that I hated. I didn't feel academically challenged, I didn't make many friends, and the teachers and staff didn't care about the health and well being of the students, so I began to fear going to school, and ended up flat out refusing to attend. I was made fun of because I am a transgender individual. I was made fun of because of my religious beliefs. I'm a Buddhist, which mind you is not at all common in Butt Fuck Indiana. I suffer from depression and anxiety and even attempted suicide. I was in a very bad place.

It took a lot of convincing but finally my mother agreed to put me in an online public school. Most of the curricula are the same, but I'm taking Creative Writing. This is the one class that I enjoy because I aspire to be a writer. I've self-published a novelette on Amazon Kindle and I frequently submit short fiction and poetry to literary magazines all over the country. Currently I'm working on trying to find freelance work, writing articles for blogs and websites, translating documents from English to Spanish or from Spanish to English, etc.

I feel that I'm wasting my time in high school, because I know what I would like to do and I feel that with each day my creativity and individuality are being drained more and more. The few other kids that I have talked to who attend my online school are just as much generic/cookie cutters as in any other public school. Creative Writing is the only truly creative class that I have ever taken--even most art classes that I have taken are ridiculously structured and formulaic and do not focus whatsoever on what the individual truly wants to express. My mother wants me to stay in high school and I am trying to please her as hard as I possibly can, however ridiculous and counterproductive it may seem.

I know that even if I did drop out I could pass the GED. My grades aren't so good, but that is because I refuse to participate in a system that does not work for me and that does not work for the majority of other students, either. Grades are only a measure of obedience. They are by no means an objective measure of a student's creativity or intellectual prowess. If I took the GED I could get into a college and take classes that I actually enjoy and make something of myself. High school does very little, if anything, to prepare me for this. I'm stuck learning about earth science and geometry and reading incredibly biased "history" textbooks when all I want to be is a writer. This does not make sense. It baffles me every single day.

Anyway, this was longer than I had planned for it to be, but if you've read it all I thank you and I'm glad to finally be a part of this lovely forum.

[Alistoriv]

leave while you still can

[Ky]

Welcome to School Survival!

A lot of us can relate to parts of your story - some here have been the targets of relentless bullying, others have experienced depression, still others can give a point-by-point analysis of what is wrong with school (just as you have), and many share a combination of the above.

Do you think it would be possible to somehow convince your mother to let you drop out and take the GED?

[brainiac3397]

welcome!

[JenniMiller]

(02-06-2015 02:14 AM)DoA Wrote:  Welcome to School Survival!

A lot of us can relate to parts of your story - some here have been the targets of relentless bullying, others have experienced depression, still others can give a point-by-point analysis of what is wrong with school (just as you have), and many share a combination of the above.

Do you think it would be possible to somehow convince your mother to let you drop out and take the GED?

Thank you, and others, for welcoming me to the forum.

I've tried to convince her to let me do so, but she won't budge. It took over a year to convince her to let me leave my traditional public school for an online alternative. She dropped out and took the GED after failing grade 10, and she wants me to "do better" then she did--she later attended a two year college and had a steady job for seven years. The only reason she doesn't have the job now is due to the fact that we moved twenty miles away, making it extremely inconvenient for her to commute to and fro. There's no convincing her to let me drop out, so I'll have to wait another ten months, until I turn 18, to do so.

[Ky]

(02-06-2015 03:09 AM)JenniMiller Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 02:14 AM)DoA Wrote:  Welcome to School Survival!

A lot of us can relate to parts of your story - some here have been the targets of relentless bullying, others have experienced depression, still others can give a point-by-point analysis of what is wrong with school (just as you have), and many share a combination of the above.

Do you think it would be possible to somehow convince your mother to let you drop out and take the GED?

Thank you, and others, for welcoming me to the forum.

I've tried to convince her to let me do so, but she won't budge. It took over a year to convince her to let me leave my traditional public school for an online alternative. She dropped out and took the GED after failing grade 10, and she wants me to "do better" then she did--she later attended a two year college and had a steady job for seven years. The only reason she doesn't have the job now is due to the fact that we moved twenty miles away, making it extremely inconvenient for her to commute to and fro. There's no convincing her to let me drop out, so I'll have to wait another ten months, until I turn 18, to do so.

Our pleasure.

All too common a reaction, unfortunately, but it was worth a try.

On an unrelated note, I'm also an aspiring author - would you happen to have any advice on the process of writing short stories?

[JenniMiller]

(02-06-2015 03:55 AM)DoA Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 03:09 AM)JenniMiller Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 02:14 AM)DoA Wrote:  Welcome to School Survival!

A lot of us can relate to parts of your story - some here have been the targets of relentless bullying, others have experienced depression, still others can give a point-by-point analysis of what is wrong with school (just as you have), and many share a combination of the above.

Do you think it would be possible to somehow convince your mother to let you drop out and take the GED?

Thank you, and others, for welcoming me to the forum.

I've tried to convince her to let me do so, but she won't budge. It took over a year to convince her to let me leave my traditional public school for an online alternative. She dropped out and took the GED after failing grade 10, and she wants me to "do better" then she did--she later attended a two year college and had a steady job for seven years. The only reason she doesn't have the job now is due to the fact that we moved twenty miles away, making it extremely inconvenient for her to commute to and fro. There's no convincing her to let me drop out, so I'll have to wait another ten months, until I turn 18, to do so.

Our pleasure.

All too common a reaction, unfortunately, but it was worth a try.

On an unrelated note, I'm also an aspiring author - would you happen to have any advice on the process of writing short stories?

The best advice that I can give you, I suppose, is to read a lot of short stories. The more you read, the more you will be able to limit your scope for writing within whatever word limit you choose. Just perfect your craft by writing. The best way to learn writing, effectively, is simply to read and to write (Stephen King said that--if you're looking for some really fantastic short stories, he has loads). Experiment with perspective, language, and style when you feel so inclined. You will only improve the more you write.

[MurkScribe]

First off, I'm glad that you came to School Survival, this network will help you wrestle with the lies and propaganda you're constantly fed everyday along with a group of very open minded individuals;some others however rather misogynistic and ignorant. Also I know nothing about Buddhism, teach me the ways......aefaefaahfuai

[JenniMiller]

(02-06-2015 04:14 AM)MurkScribe Wrote:  First off, I'm glad that you came to School Survival, this network will help you wrestle with the lies and propaganda you're constantly fed everyday along with a group of very open minded individuals;some others however rather misogynistic and ignorant. Also I know nothing about Buddhism, teach me the ways......aefaefaahfuai

Thank you for welcoming me here. Living in a small conservative town in Indiana, misogyny and ignorance are something that I have to deal with every single day. I don't get angry about it anymore; I just roll my eyes.

I'm always happy to talk with people about Buddhism, so I'll give you a brief synopsis of what it's all about. If you'd like to know more, you can send me a PM.

Basically, Buddhism is built on the idea that craving/desire (a concept known as tanha) leads to suffering. Tanha can encompass anything, really: material possessions, money, cigarettes, etc. This is inherently self-centered, and fogs our awareness of the world. The idea is to achieve complete awareness and enlightenment, a state known as nirvana, or, otherwise, buddhahood. Typically this is achieved through mindfulness techniques, which may or may not include meditation, yoga, etc.

[xcriteria]

Welcome! It's interesting how many people are doing online school, but still saying "I hate it" because of it being the same academic structure.

@Lisafromjackson and I are actually launching an online learning community that's an alternative to that... something credible to parents, but totally based on interests, learner choice, life-relevant learning, and connecting with people.

Our Gofundme campaign has a description of it -- http://www.gofundme.com/l0z104 -- and I have building the website, and guide for parents, on my TODO list. Actually, Lisa can share a draft of her guide for parents if you want, we could use help in making it better.

We're in touch with quite a few parents and teachers could could talk do your mom, as could I, if she was open to doing a hangout or something.

Check out Ken Danford's talk here for an idea of how it'll work (just online instead of in-person.) You might even show it to your mom.

http://forums.school-survival.net/showth...?tid=34944

I was able to convince my parents to let me drop out when I was 17, take the GED, and go to college a year early. High school is such a waste of time if you aren't into it. There's no reason to be there. Some people like school or get something out of it, but if you don't, there are a growing number of allies who agree, find something else instead.

College could well be an option, and a lot of people like it better than high school (I did!), though these days there are also options beyond completing a college degree, if you have career plans like what you explain. It'll be less about a credential, and more about producing content, connecting with people, marketing yourself, and learning something about businesss... all of which can be done without completing a college degree, especially in 2015 (or 2020, when you'd possibly graduate.)

Anyway, welcome again. Check out Dialogue on Education in my sig if you're on FB, a lot of the active users from the forums are on there, along with some of these parents, teachers, etc. who are open minded enough to discuss these things.

[Missile]

You plan on getting a GED?

[SkullFucker]

I'm a artist in a few trades, makeup, hair, and drawing. I like learning things from math and history and all that shit but to each his own.

[JenniMiller]

(02-06-2015 09:36 AM)xcriteria Wrote:  Welcome! It's interesting how many people are doing online school, but still saying "I hate it" because of it being the same academic structure.

@Lisafromjackson and I are actually launching an online learning community that's an alternative to that... something credible to parents, but totally based on interests, learner choice, life-relevant learning, and connecting with people.

Our Gofundme campaign has a description of it -- http://www.gofundme.com/l0z104 -- and I have building the website, and guide for parents, on my TODO list. Actually, Lisa can share a draft of her guide for parents if you want, we could use help in making it better.

We're in touch with quite a few parents and teachers could could talk do your mom, as could I, if she was open to doing a hangout or something.

Check out Ken Danford's talk here for an idea of how it'll work (just online instead of in-person.) You might even show it to your mom.

http://forums.school-survival.net/showth...?tid=34944

I was able to convince my parents to let me drop out when I was 17, take the GED, and go to college a year early. High school is such a waste of time if you aren't into it. There's no reason to be there. Some people like school or get something out of it, but if you don't, there are a growing number of allies who agree, find something else instead.

College could well be an option, and a lot of people like it better than high school (I did!), though these days there are also options beyond completing a college degree, if you have career plans like what you explain. It'll be less about a credential, and more about producing content, connecting with people, marketing yourself, and learning something about businesss... all of which can be done without completing a college degree, especially in 2015 (or 2020, when you'd possibly graduate.)

Anyway, welcome again. Check out Dialogue on Education in my sig if you're on FB, a lot of the active users from the forums are on there, along with some of these parents, teachers, etc. who are open minded enough to discuss these things.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention! It sounds very intriguing and I'd like to know more. When do you think it will become a reality?

---

(02-06-2015 11:36 AM)Missile Wrote:  You plan on getting a GED?

Probably, yeah.

---

(02-06-2015 01:45 PM)SkullFucker Wrote:  I'm a artist in a few trades, makeup, hair, and drawing. I like learning things from math and history and all that shit but to each his own.

I enjoy history, but I find that the history being taught is incredibly one-sided and biased.

[Missile]

Like how when they teach about the crusades it's the Christians that are the bad guys and the Musliums were non-combatant?

[SkullFucker]

Everything is biased and you will never read a true to life report on anything. There are a few sources who aren't as biased but nobody writes things down as fact I've noticed. There's always opinions slipped in and things filtered

[JenniMiller]

(02-06-2015 01:51 PM)Missile Wrote:  Like how when they teach about the crusades it's the Christians that are the bad guys and the Musliums were non-combatant?

Like how my world history teacher last year demonized left-wing political ideologies and actively attempted to force his worldview onto the students.

[brainiac3397]

History Question:

Was Pearl Harbor unprovoked?

[Missile]

(02-06-2015 01:59 PM)JenniMiller Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 01:51 PM)Missile Wrote:  Like how when they teach about the crusades it's the Christians that are the bad guys and the Musliums were non-combatant?

Like how my world history teacher last year demonized left-wing political ideologies and actively attempted to force his worldview onto the students.

Which teacher dosen't force his worldview on his students? My teachers were left-wing, but their attempted brainwashing backfired when it came to me

[JenniMiller]

No, Pearl Harbor was not unprovoked.

[brainiac3397]

Lol

Most teachers are left-wing as far as I know.

And especially college professors.

[JenniMiller]

That isn't the case here in Indiana. The exact opposite is true.

[SoulRiser]

Welcome to SS!

Good at writing you are... perhaps I might have need for your services at some point, because I am lazy.

Buddhism seems cool. Reminds me of the force in Star Wars, kinda. Although I also kind of like... well, wanting things. It's fun to strive after stuff sometimes. You know, when I'm not lazy... which does happen sometimes.

[xcriteria]

(02-06-2015 03:09 AM)JenniMiller Wrote:  I've tried to convince her to let me do so, but she won't budge. It took over a year to convince her to let me leave my traditional public school for an online alternative. She dropped out and took the GED after failing grade 10, and she wants me to "do better" then she did--she later attended a two year college and had a steady job for seven years. The only reason she doesn't have the job now is due to the fact that we moved twenty miles away, making it extremely inconvenient for her to commute to and fro. There's no convincing her to let me drop out, so I'll have to wait another ten months, until I turn 18, to do so.

Any plans for what you might do next?

There are so many ways to do "better" -- and so many paths to them. I guess she doesn't see that?

The GED and accept-anyone college can still be a path to selective colleges if you do well and transfer after a year or two. Depending on the college, many other factors than your high school records will matter more.

Anyway, 10 months isn't that long, and it may not be worth the effort to make additional efforts to convince her... you could focus on just making the most of the time you do have. But, if you want help making further efforts, there might be additional things to show her, and if she's open to talking to some of us, who knows.

I wasn't always so fired up about persuading parents despite the odds. But now, vs. in years past, I've found of mountains talks, articles, stories, videos, and evidence that show how ridiculous school is, at least some of it coming from sources parents might pay more attention to than John Taylor Gatto and so on. Quite a few educators, as well as parents, and documentarians, and speakers and authors all see the same thing: if you really don't want to be in school, and you can find another path to education, there's no reason parents should force their kids to stay, especially if they're already okay with online school.

I think that if parents are open to talking to other parents about things, there's a good chance they could come to see another angle. Parents who refuse to even get in conversations about their kids' educational options and well-being, that's a much more challenging situation.

One angle to take is, show how chronic boredom and disengagement is not only a waste of time, but really not good for one's mental health. There's quite a bit of evidence for that... how powerlessness and lack of control over one's day can exacerbate depression and so on, but how to turn that into an argument for parents who don't want to listen is an open question.

(02-06-2015 01:46 PM)JenniMiller Wrote:  Thank you for bringing this to my attention! It sounds very intriguing and I'd like to know more. When do you think it will become a reality?

It's already partially a reality, since it overlaps with some of the more active users on School Survival. For example, I've been working with Mo the jo, even though he's still is in school, just helping him learn beyond school. He's exploring interests in programming, learning about computers, and so on.

Some of us are also planning a series of Google Hangouts focused on learning things. A number of us have done hangouts at times, but the plan is some that are more frequent and focused more directly on learning and doing.

The biggest think that isn't quite "finished" (but we're working on) is materials to show parents that show how what we can help facilitate is really a better learning environment than school or virtual school, for at least some students. But, we do have at least one bona fide experienced high school teacher as part of our core team, and we'll find more if that's what it takes.

(02-06-2015 03:09 AM)JenniMiller Wrote:  

(02-06-2015 01:45 PM)SkullFucker Wrote:  I'm a artist in a few trades, makeup, hair, and drawing. I like learning things from math and history and all that shit but to each his own.

I enjoy history, but I find that the history being taught is incredibly one-sided and biased.

These could all be good topics to explore.