I wanted to just post my review, having had two kids graduate from the Three Dragons program, but I'm just aghast at the lies in that smear piece by WeareAnon review. They are apparently from SF, so not a local, and this appears to be the only review they've offered Yelp. (Pretty suspect, Yelp admins)! Moreover, this person seems to misunderstand both the program AND how Homeschooling works up here, legal-wise.
The lead teachers have 30 years experience. Trained in ECE and K-12 Education. They literally were public school educators. Also, they are current guest and resident instructors for several private schools. They earned multiple awards and award nominations for teaching. The leads were also invited by a statewide group of teachers as featured educators in last year's Statewide Thespian Conference. In short, Anon's choice to attack their teacher credentials was... hilarious.
BigBad schools? Sure, let's be fair. A lot kids do fine in public school, and a handful even thrive in it. But those kids aren't TDA customers so I know that can't have been Anon's kid. Some kids (people) are square pegs, some struggle. Kids that are 'too bright', too self-reliant, too fast, too innovative and creative, too neurospicy, think too deep, too outspoken and especially those full of 'too many' questions.
And TDA is the Perfect Home for kids like that. Our oldest is ND, loud, hi-anxiety, and didn't know when to stop talking, and I'm so glad that P and A taught them. They were the first teachers to 'GET' them. Other schools had PUNISHED those qualities and gifts. TDA was finally safe. TDA teachers LOVE kids that are creative and weird and bright and questioning. They have a magic ESP about what those kids need most!
About the hypocritical and false 'zero oversight' complaint: When a parent signs the homeschool Declaration form, you address this. What WeRAnon is loudly revealing is they have no idea how the law works: Anyone homeschooling in Washington knows exactly which Law provides the oversight required over core academic coursework. Only PARENTS can be responsible for that curriculum and Anon really should've known that.
Also TDA isn't that. TDA teaches the things schools cut and provides group lessons and enrichment, much like SchoolOfRock lessons, the Children's Theatre, or NWBoyschoir. And TDA has exactly the same licensing, public health codes, and every other 'system oversight' the same as those comparable orgs. It's also ironic that Anon, someone who *willfully signed up for and paid for crunchy artsy homeschooling* is apparently also, by the end of their rant, all about bureaucracy and government overreach and handholding. More suspect.
The thing though that lets me know that Anon is not only false but morethanlikely some underinvolved weekend dad critiquing his ex's schooling choice (for the kids they do little of the work to raise) is that they chose to use Yelp to communicate. Anyone actually involved in TDA knows that they can get a personal conference with the lead teachers at the drop of a hat. P and A are always there to hear the concerns of parents or kids. They are refreshingly blunt about taking care of things right away.
Parents, this is a great, safe, innovative alternative education place for camps and for a part-time academy for homeschoolers. Our kids were 4th years before aging out. I would have stayed for high school, if they offered one. read more
