Keep Carlos Safe (and in School!)

Before I tell you about Carlos, I want to make sure that I am clear about a few things. First, as a public school teacher, I am not anti-public education. And personally knowing many rock star homeschool families, I am also not anti-homeschool. I am, and have always been open to the idea that every family, every child, every person is different, with unique needs. But when a situation is not healthy for the people involved (especially kids), then a change needs to be made.

Now. Let me tell you Carlos' story.

Carlos' family (see photo) needed a place to live. We've been blessed with more space than we can use, so they moved in with us. From the moment they came to live with us, we were impressed with Carlos' character. He is a quiet, respectful child- the kind who always says "please" and "thank you." He's the kind that tells you dinner was good even when it wasn't. When he gets off the bus, the first thing he does is feed our farm animals. We never ask him to do this; he just likes being helpful. It's the kind of human being he is. Carlos is full of love- as a son, a brother, and a friend. Knowing him as been a blessing and a joy.

One day, I found out the kids at his school were teasing him because he only had one pair of pants. That day I had a long talk with his mother about what Carlos was experiencing at school.
I already knew that Carlos' dad left him when he was 6 and his sister was only a baby. In the aftermath of being abandonded, I knew that they'd been pretty transient as they sought a place to call home. I knew that they didn't have a lot of material things, and that Carlos' mom worked very hard to provide the basics. I hadn't realized that other than his church clothes, the kid had one pair of jeans... and those were too small. (Well, I just thought all his pants were too short- and they WERE all too short...that is, the one and only pair he owned.)

The day  Carlos' mother and I talked about the school bullying, she told me what she feared most was that this school would be a repeat of  troubles he'd faced at his other schools. She said Carlos had been beaten up by other boys in past schools, and she talked about how she couldn't get help or any resolutions from the previous schools. So she moved to a more rural area to save him from bullying that was increasingly becoming more and more physical. At the next school they moved to, he was told by students that Hispanics weren't liked and were not allowed to speak at all.  He found it easier simply not to talk.

Talking with Carlos' mother shed light on a previous conversation my husband and I had with Carlos. Things were made very clear.

You see, Carlos confided to my husband and me that he wants to quit school. In the style all my husband's, Carlos was told, "Not if you want to live here."

My husband and I both know that a good education is very important for Carlos and his sister, Ashley. When I asked Carlos about his reasons for quitting, he said the other kids at his school weren't great role models and he didn't want to be like them. He told me he wouldn't totally quit, just do an online homeschool. Guys- let me tell you- I'm not anti homeschool. However, I know the hours his mom works. I know the hours my husband and I work. I know the program that is free for him to use. This would mean hours upon hours of sitting alone in a house at a computer. 

Carlos is a 14 year old boy. He needs interaction with human beings. He also needs assistance with his schoolwork that his mom won't be able to provide with the long hours she works.

My daughter attends the most wonderful Montessori School. I'd love to be able to afford to send Carlos and his sister there as well. (But I think I mentioned I'm a public school teacher.)

The school is eager to take Carlos and though they really want to do it for free, they simply cannot.  They have teachers to pay as well as the costs of running a private, independent school. They do have  scholarship funds, but those have been depleted on other children in similar circumstances. (By the way, just to illustrate how amazing this school really is: the teachers at this school already took care of the pants problem. Bags of clothes... cool clothes.)

I know the small, family-like atmosphere of this school. I know the deep,  genuine love every single teacher  has for every single child there. I know how happy (like, REALLY happy) the kids who attend this school are. I KNOW this school would be a great fit for Carlos. 

You can't beat Montessori when it comes to one-on- one attention. Carlos desperately needs one- on- one attention. You can't beat Harbour Oaks Montessori when it comes to atmosphere- the entire place is just happy. Carlos needs to be in a place where he feels loved; a place where he is safe to be happy.

I am trying to raise a year of tuition/fees and lunches. I would LOVE it if we could raise five years' worth. (Yeah, I know, that's like $50k. So I hesitate to hope that I could raise double that and send his sister, too.)

Please check out the school at http://harbouroaks.org/

Also feel free to call the school and verify this story- the school director knows all about Carlos. 

If you can, would you please consider helping to place Carlos learn in a learning environment that is safe for his soul?

If you can't donate--please, PLEASE would you consider sharing this page with anyone and everyone you can?

Somewhere out there is a rich person who understands- I feel it in my bones. =) Or maybe just 50,000 regular people who, together, can equal one rich guy.