From Stella Arbelaez on July 23, 2008 at 6:43 pm.  

We decided to home school after noticing how insecure and "instruction dependent" our daughter was becoming after 3 months of kinder garden. She no longer felt she could draw a simple animal without being told how to, and worst of all, she expected to be graded and recognized with rewards for anything accomplished. I did not think this was a healthy start to academic success. She was becoming afraid to be a disappointment to herself, her piers, her teacher or us (I believe in that order too)and this was preventing her from taking risks. I believe whole heartedly that taking risks is essential for growth to occur.
This was a real issue after her "Academic Achievement Award" ceremony. I want her to learn for herself, not to please others or think of herself as superior simply because a piece of paper says she can add better.
I also hate the pop culture craze of trade mark character back packs and teen idols invading every aspect of grade school life. From notebooks to pencils, stickers and clothes. There was simply too much media in her face pushing her to grow faster than she should at all times!