She has a homework folder that she is required to complete and hand in on Fridays and must read four books and/or chapters of a book a week. I do not think I was assigned homework until somewhere around fourth grade.
I find the school setting very unnatural. If you think back to your school days-What stands out the most? For me, it isn't time spent in the classroom. It is more the bizarre social interactions that are taking place between classes, at lunch and at recess. It is hard enough for a child to learn all they have to learn without all that static going on in the background.
On another note, my neice just graduated from high school two years ago. (NYU, now). My sister and I got on the subject of schooling and began talking about private school. My neice piped in and said. "Please, private school kids are the worst..more drugs, more sex and more money to do all those things"...
I know absolutely nothing about your circumstances or those of WhyisaTexasgirlinPA, but please keep in mind that there are millions of parents all over America who sigh and shake their heads at stories in the newspaper about how bad the public schools are...
... and then say "thank goodness the schools are good in my area!"