Homeschooling/Immunizations in TX? (Houston: schools, colleges, statistics)

[TootsieWootsie]

I have no idea how dangerous whooping cough is, but I had it at 6. They took out my tonsils and cured it. All I remember is the ice cream my grandfather promised me afterwards..haha!
I do remember coughing and waking up in the middle of the night. You can't catch your breath with whooping cough. I remember that much.
Agree with momof2dfw: If you cannot stay disciplined and on track about having your kids do their work, then give up the fantasy of homeschooling. It is not an excuse just to keep your kids from learning. And you really do have to stay on them about it, too, as not many kids say, "oh, goody! I get to do homework now!"

[Mom2Feebs]

The DTP is being phased out in favor of the DTaP. The DTaP is an acellular vaccine rather than containing the whole active bacteria, like the DTP. Your child will most likely not get a reaction from the DTaP as they would the DTP so be sure and ask your pediatrician which one they use.

Texas requires 5 doses of either DTP or DTaP, unless your child has had 4 doses of either with the 4th dose given on or after the 4th birthday. It is also recommended they receive a booster at 11 or 12. (source: Texas Department of Health, Protect Texas (broken link))

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Sadly, this is all to true. I've known people that have no business even having kids that keep them home from school saying they "home school".

Yeah, that happens a lot. I think there should be more oversight, personally.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Yeah, that happens a lot. I think there should be more oversight, personally.

Even trying to turn in the ones who abuse the system (and their children) is useless. When I found out about one case that the stepmother was using the older kids as her free babysitters by "homeschooling" them I lost it. She bought some workbooks at Walmart for their "schooling". Even these kids grandparents tried to turn them in to no avail. They were also keeping the lil ones out of school because they had already been removed by CPS once but only kids that were old enough for school got picked up (while at school). So much for "No Child Left Behind". In this case the state did absolutely nothing when several of us made calls about neglect and that they were NOT "homeschooling" the kids.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Even trying to turn in the ones who abuse the system (and their children) is useless. When I found out about one case that the stepmother was using the older kids as her free babysitters by "homeschooling" them I lost it. She bought some workbooks at Walmart for their "schooling". Even these kids grandparents tried to turn them in to no avail. They were also keeping the lil ones out of school because they had already been removed by CPS once but only kids that were old enough for school got picked up (while at school). So much for "No Child Left Behind". In this case the state did absolutely nothing when several of us made calls about neglect and that they were NOT "homeschooling" the kids.

Yep. It's disgusting, isn't it. I'm sure most homeschoolers are at least making an effort to homeschool their kids, but it's such an easy and convenient cover for abuse.

I've seen on other message boards where women who didn't even finish high school wanted to homeschool their kids. I find that terrifying; they thought they were better qualified than the college-educated public school teachers.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by nativeDallasite

Yep. It's disgusting, isn't it. I'm sure most homeschoolers are at least making an effort to homeschool their kids, but it's such an easy and convenient cover for abuse.

I've seen on other message boards where women who didn't even finish high school wanted to homeschool their kids. I find that terrifying; they thought they were better qualified than the college-educated public school teachers.

As a college educated person myself............... I stopped helping my gifted child w/ math homework in the 3rd grade. There is NO WAY I could keep up w/ what she is doing in school on the level she is at. I'd be up all night just trying to research EVERYTHING in order to keep her on track and satisfied. Right now if she stays on track in the public school system in her program she will start college as a junior.

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

As a college educated person myself............... I stopped helping my gifted child w/ math homework in the 3rd grade. There is NO WAY I could keep up w/ what she is doing in school on the level she is at. I'd be up all night just trying to research EVERYTHING in order to keep her on track and satisfied. Right now if she stays on track in the public school system in her program she will start college as a junior.

That's pretty cool. I was almost a junior when I started college and I only got credit for four AP test scores.

[angelfire4957]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Be aware that Texas has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country and that there is a significantly higher chance of contracting several diseases, whooping cough just being one of them.

Let tell u i have lived in texas for 55 years all my live. I have never got diseases. and the schools here make sure you have all your shots or you can not go. I have 15 year old in school now. They check his shots ever year. STOP PUTTING TEXAS DOWN

[Trainwreck20]

Immunization rates in Texas by region:
Immunizations Branch, Texas Immunization Rates by Public Health Region

According to the Texas Medical Association:

Texas’ 2006 vaccination rate of 74.7 percent dropped the state to 34th place from its 24th-place spot in 2005. Texas vaccinated 76.8 percent of its youngest children in 2005. The 2.1 percent rate decrease led to the 10-place fall.

However, there seems to be a discrepancy in how the DTP vaccines are counted in Texas that may have added to the poor DTP rates. It is a little confusing, but it appears that the CDC schedule (used to determine who is vaccinated by 35 months) conflicts with the Texas schedule, that has the last shot of DTP after 48 months. So even if you are 'on schedule', you would potentially not be considered vaccinated.
Texas Vaccine Rates

Based on the CDC info, you can sort their spreadsheet for vaccination rates (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-su...igen_state.xls) for each series, and you get the following (the numbers are state percentage vs national average):
4 series DTaP - 43rd (81.4 vs 85.2)
3 series polio - 37th (91.7 vs 97.8)
MMR - 28th (92 vs 92.4)
HeB - 40th (91.5 vs 93.4)

There is data on several other vaccine series, but without trying to copy over the details, Texas is 33rd, 37th, 34th, 42nd, 42nd, 43rd, and 36th.

The only one were Texas is above national average is varicella. Texas is 15th for 1 or more doses of varicella (90.8 vs 89.3).

Btw, I am not trying to put down Texas, just relaying some facts. I admit I don't know anything about the methodolody in obtaining this numbers and am just copying them from the CDC . I believe that the 74.7% must be for kids that are COMLETELY vaccinated, not for any particular vaccine.....

[CandaceK]

Hi Sadie, I homeschool my 3 in Houston and there are no laws about keeping records or checking in with anyone like I had in CA. You might look into becoming a member of SETHSA. We don't vaccinate either and I haven't had any problems with the pede's like I did in CA which is odd enough b/c there aren't as many health conscious medical people here as there were there. Still, I recommend a family doctor if you run into pede's who won't see your children if they aren't vaccinated. I've had good experiences with Chinese born doctors who have been raised in Chinese medicine and then schooled in traditional... they are usually the most welll rounded and informed. I've been here 4 years and haven't heard anything within this very large homeschooling community about pertussis or TB altho I don't doubt it's a problem in some circles. Generally you're a lot safer from all sickness with your kids at home. The hardest adjustment for us has been the weather but if you like warm and humid you'll be great! Best wishes!