If you haven’t already seen this Salon.com article in defense of home-schooling, it’s worth a read-through. In his essay, Brooklyn dad Andrew O’Hehir touts the benefits of the option, especially in such a field-trip-rich city like New York, as well as trying to squash some outdated stereotypes:

“Some people suspect we have a hidden ideological or religious agenda we’re not telling them about. We may look like your standard-issue Brooklyn creative-class family—two 40-something parents, two kids, two pet rabbits and a battered Chrysler minivan—but who are we really? Home schooling has become a lot more mainstream and diverse in recent years, but familiar sterotypes endure. As Alicia Bayer, a Minnesota home-schooler and blogger who’s one of Leslie’s [O’Hehir’s wife and home-schooler of their five-year-old twins] online mentors, puts it, ‘People think we’re all conservative Christians who hate the government and wear denim jumpers.’”

If you still haven’t had your fill on this hot topic, check out our home-schooling essay from August.

By now, you’ve probably seen the headlines about President Obama proposing to cut down summer breaks in favor of more time in school, as well as extending hours and opening schools on weekends. And while inevitable moans, tears and tantrums may ensue from your backpack-carrying bunch, the effects could prove monumental—both to you and your tot.

Kids love summer vacation, but three months away from the classroom can be a scheduling nightmare for a busy parent. Instead of stressing over lining up and paying for after-school care, you might feel more at ease knowing your children are safe at school. But there are, of course, downsides. The cost would be extreme, especially in an economy that’s drowning in a swamp of debt, unable to adequately pay educators for their current hours. And we know exactly who will be footing the bill—you.

How do you feel about your youngsters spending longer hours in school on top of a longer academic year? Would you rather pay more tax money for extra school hours or are you content with your current arrangements?

You may have already heard about this group of talented fifth graders. The hype surrounding the chorus from Staten Island’s P.S. 22 includes jam sessions with big names (Tori Amos, Crowded House), props from celebs (Ashton Kutcher, Marcia Gay Harden) and even a cameo on Passion Pit’s debut album, Manners. The elementary school’s music teacher, Gregg Breinberg, the leader of the 70 or so rock stars, uses music to engage his students and helps them excel in both arts and academics. The world has definitely fallen in love with these kids, as their YouTube videos have racked up over 8 million views! The group’s covers range from old classics (Journey) to new hits (their version of “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay got me a little choked up), and their rendition of Lady GaGa’s “Just Dance” has blown up in the viral video world. The best thing about the vids is their palpable passion for music. Watch them belt below, then head to their YouTube channel or their blog to hear more. Keep making music!

By now I’m sure every NYC parent with a kid in public school is aware that, due to the snafu in Albany, the Board of Ed has been resurrected with Joel I. Klein as chancellor. But it sounds like it may not last for long: According to the NY Times, the board voted, 6-0, to call on Albany to renew the mayor’s control of the city’s schools. One of Bloomberg’s cronies opened the meeting with the following statement: “We need to ensure that as a result of the inaction in Albany, we protect the students and schools of New York City from any chaos and allow them to continue to function.” Those of us who went through the convoluted pre-K lottery process this year know how laughable that statement is. (And, as my mommy friends with kids who tried to get into middle-school this year tell me, what I went through was a cakewalk). The public wasn’t allowed to give feedback at the end of the meeting, and the board adjourned until Sept. 10. So, fellow public-school parents, what do you think? Will you be freaking out all summer, or just wait calmly (ha!) to see how this shakes down?

I freely admit that this post is a personal rant. And I figure any other parent waiting for the DOE’s UPK lottery results will understand why. This is maddening! First we were told that we’d be informed of our child’s placement, if any, the week of May 18, with an assurance that those of us who applied online would get an email. Monday came and we did get an email…saying we’d find out at the end of the week of May 18. Guess what? It’s the end of the week (unless they mean Sunday?!) and we’re going into a three-day weekend and we still haven’t heard word one (or rather, I haven’t and neither have any of my friends. Maybe we’re just unpopular?)

I know the folks at the DOE are overwhelmed and doing the best they can…but it’s really just not good enough. Results for the TAG tests were late, as were middle-school placements. I won’t even go into the whole West Village kindergarten debacle. How are we supposed to have any faith in the public school system if we can’t even get our kids into the institutions?

Update: According to a user comment on InsideSchools.org, UPK placements will go out next week. This is unofficial of course. “I just wrote to the DOE about Pre-K notification and was sent this response: “You will receive your Pre-K information next week.”

So…as we go into a holiday weekend, I ask my fellow parents in the dark to vent below! You know you want to…

Update II: So the emails (at least for some folks) have gone out. Everyone I know received notice around 7 p.m. (who knew the DOE worked that late?) My child was lucky and received a full-day UPK placement. We realize how incredible this is. How did everyone else fair?

Have you been checking the DOE’s universal pre-k page every single day for info on the 2009-2010 school year? I know I have. And I just got an email (which was subsequently forwarded to me by three friends who also have kids who turn four this year) with updated details about the application process. If your kid was born in 2005, here are the key dates to note:

Friday, March 6: The UPK application period begins. Directories and applications will be available via the DOE site or public schools on that day, and you will rank schools according to preference.

Friday, April 3: The UPK application period ends.

Week of May 18: The DOE finally tells you which school, if any, your child has been accepted into. (Although there aren’t enough slots to accommodate all applicants, remember that for 2008-2009, the DOE was still accepting kids up until January! The fact is, many folks vie for the same few programs. So if they don’t get their first choice, they keep the kid in daycare/with the nanny, etc.)

May 18 - May 29: Families pre-register at schools.

This process is, more or less, the same one as last year, with the DOE centralizing all applications. There are numerous downsides to this process. First and foremost: Even if your kid is accepted into your first-choice school, you will have to reapply next year for kindergarten, assuming your kid is even eligible for that school. Ex: If you happen to get your kid into a UPK program in a talented and gifted school, your child will need to pass the TAG test in order to be admitted to kindergarten there. Or, if you choose to send your kid to a UPK that is outside of your district or zone, you may not be eligible to continue at that public school. Another bummer: Even unzoned schools like Central Park East I and II and Ella Baker are being forced to adhere to the centralized application process, which means they may not end up with the economic, ethnic and geographic diversity that they have had in the past. (I received an email from CPEII, explaining that siblings of current students will get priority followed by students who live in District 4, which has not been the case in the past, when they accepted kids from all over the city based on the school’s own criteria).

The upside to all this? At least we finally know the deal. I urge all parents to sign up for the DOE’s email alerts (it’s the best way to stay on top of all the news). There will also be information sessions throughout the five boroughs about the process, beginning on March 3. Check the DOE’s site for the schedule.

So…how pissed are you? Care to share? On a personal note, I just hope my daughter is accepted somewhere so I can stop paying for daycare!