Alison and I went to the DMV today to get her an Arizona photo ID. She's not old enough for a driver's license, but she needs a photo ID to take a placement test at the local community college. Come to find out, in order to get an AZ photo ID, she has to show a photo ID. Umm, where does a person get a photo ID if they need a photo ID to get one? Brilliant. Well, the alternative is to bring three other forms of ID. Okay, birth certificate, expired passport with baby picture, and what -- library card? homeschooler ID card (no photo) issued by the county? opened personal mail addressed to her? We'll go back in the morning and see what passes.
This all started with an exploratory trip to the community college to see if we can get her enrolled in a free class or two next fall. Don't panic. These would be online classes only, not on campus classes. Maybe accounting or English or a history class, not sure. What am I sure of is that while this child has great potential to be a good student, she needs 1) more self-discipline, and 2) someone other than ME to be accountable to. For now we are just looking into this.
As we were getting ready to leave the house, her mother from the dark ages reminded Alison to bring a couple of number 2 pencils, and, since she has never taken a standardized test before, I gave her some brief instructions on how to fill out the little IBM test answer sheet. You know, fill the circles in completely, and all that. Silly Sally! Don't you know those tests are completely computerized now?
So, does that mean that once you answer a question, you don't get to go back and change it later? Or that if you skip one, you don't get to return to it? Ooh, maybe this age of computerization has changed test-taking strategies. I guess we'll find out!In order to qualify for free tuition for some sort of dual enrollment or early start program, Alie would have to take the GED. I am not too keen on the GED, because I know that if she takes that test she will pass it with flying colors, and then she will think she does not need any more "school"! I am not ready for her to quit "school" yet. But I am sometimes curious to see just what she would learn and how she would continue to learn on her own, if she did not have my rather in-the-box approach to education constraining her. I'll be more ready to find that out when she is eighteen.
So wish us success with the bureaucratic process. DMV first, college later. Maybe.
Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
Proverbs 19:27
Proverbs 19:27
Find x - hahaha
ReplyDeleteWow, let us know how it goes!!!
That's the government for you! And as for standardized testing... I asked my oldest (about to be 7th grader) if he knew what that they were. He had no clue. I am thinking I have done a good job. :-) But, I often do wonder if I should expose him to them. Maybe as we get closer to college. That would be a good idea. For now we will enjoy our innocence.
ReplyDeleteJenn
Oh my, you really are embarking on unchartered territory :-0. This should be interesting. Please keep us updated with the progress. And just gotta add that I'm sure Alie won't have a problem with any of it, she seems such a level-headed young lady.
ReplyDeleteBurnin' the candle at both ends and highly convicted, Julie (OSM)
You guys are so fortunate that you don't have to do those standardized tests. You know, we have to do them every year to age 16, so this is the first time Amber doesn't have to take one. Not even the public schools have to do them that often. But rest assured, they are graded soooo on a curve that even if you do poorly, the score is still high. The girls usually test the equivalent of a college person taking the tests. Hope you get the photo id thing worked out, lol.
ReplyDeleteOK, kids -- when you think your Mom really did have to hunt dinosaurs, just remember Solomon's writings:
ReplyDeleteHearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. [Proverbs 23:22 KJV]