for those of you with kids in private school...

I think you ought to do what you think is best for your child's education. You are the parent and you and dh have the right to put your child where you think they will be educated the best. Education is not just academic subject matter, either. It includes social behavior and morals as well, and from what you're saying the school your child attends now isn't conducive to behaviors in those areas that you would like to see.

That said, I am a teacher in a private Christian school. We have our share of problem children, too. We do try to work with them and their parents to maintain the standards we set. Overall, they are the exception, not the rule. The whole class then can benefit from a better environment and a teacher who can teach and not have to put up with discipline issues. Do be aware that your child may need some extra work at home if he's not academically at the same level as the grade he's placed in. Usually there are placement tests of some sort to determine this, and the school will work with you to make sure he's learning the skills he needs to be able to do his classwork.

I do have friends that work in the public school system and I do respect them greatly. I know they work hard to try to teach with the limitations that are placed on them.
 
Hi,
I send my son and my daughter to private Catholic School. My husband and I are not rich by any means, we struggle. We are not snobs, we are grateful for whatever we have and that is not much. We have the neccessities, a roof over our heads, food to eat and clothes on our butt. I went to the public and my husband went to private 4-8th grade. He loved school. I hated school. My kids love school. They are not perfect, they get into some trouble. But they amaze me all the time. They are so kind hearted and generous. I was not that way as a child and I think it comes from school. For example they had a tiny rummage outside of church and put up a sign; We are trying to raise $10.00 to send to children who are victims of the hurricanes. They took toys that they still played with and clothes they liked to wear. They raised $21.50 and most people were just donating but others bought things. I would never have thought or done anything like that as a child.
Yes, some kids at their school are not nice but I believe this is the exception not the rule. Academically they are ahead and the public school even acknowledges this. My brother always says when he went to high school he could always pick out the kids from Catholic school, they were smarter, better study habits and more polite.
We started them in private Christian preschool where I now teach and it was not Catholic but Lutheren but at that age it doesn't matter and as an assist teacher they don't care about my religion either. They now have a Catholic 4K but not when my kids were that age. I think the preschool gave them a good base as it started at age 3 two days a week and 4yr old three days a week and only 2 1/2 hrs/day.
To sum it all up what good is it if your kids get straight A's if they are not a good person in their hearts?
Good luck with your decision, let us know how it goes! We have never regreted the money spent.
Colleen
 
Just wanted to say "thank you" once again to everyone! I'll be sure to update when we've finalized our decision!

Michele
 
Every time I see one of your posts I think it's me--LOL! There aren't many of us one "l" Michele's.

Good luck with your decision.

Michele:)
 
Hi Michele!

You're right...the one L'd Micheles are a rare breed! I always thought my mom must've screwed up my birth certificate!
 
As a public school educator, I wish we had more parents like you, who are concerned with their child's behavior. I fight parents every year who defend their child no matter how disrespectful or diruptive their child has been. One teacher in my school was told by a father NOT to call him at work no matter what. This child was oppositional and would literally walk over to her shelf and begin throwing things when he did not get his way. Luckily for her, the family moved out of our district. That being said, this is YOUR decision and b/c of the discipline problems and attitude I usually get from parents, I won't be retiring as a pulic educator. I also want to say that THIS current school year as been an exception and I have had wonderful parents who work with me but that I'm afraid has been the exception to the rule. Good luck with your decision and please do what you think is best for YOU and YOUR children. I'm glad we have choices.
Angela:7
 
You hit the nail on the head Sparrow and I'm a special education teacher. I guess I really should refrain from making anymore comments. I'm all for IEP's and meds where they are TRULY needed. I teach a kindergarten behavior class where I'm teaching the children replacement behaviors and working closely with another "regular" kindergarten teacher to get these kids ready to function in a "regular" first grade classroom. It is an awesome program and we've tracked many of our kids over the past few years they have stayed and been successful in regular ed. Many of our students do need to be taught how to behave and what they SHOULD DO and our teachers just don't have the time to do what the parents should have already done.
Angela:7
 
Interesting question. I live in Louisiana, where anyone with 2 nickels to rub together chooses private for their kids, so there is a wide range of tuition from about $3 K to $12 K where my kids go. Is it the best in town? Well, heck, I'll never know but I'm satisfied. There is a wide range in private schools in terms of quality and philosphy. We did not care for the Catholic philosophy, which is large classes and that kids should be very obedient and quiet. Straight lines. We went with Episcopalian, which seems to me to focus on lots of choices and stimulation for kids. Check the schools out thoroughly. Ask them what their philosophy is. Are they welcoming to kids with "problems"? Is so, what types of problems (because some are not going to interfere with other students, but some will)? What you're looking for is that they have a low tolerance for behavior disruption and they don't try to attract that.
 
I am doing the same thing as you with no hesitation. My 5th grade daughter brought home a piece of paper from public school that gave the definition of "faggot." It was this ugly story about how the word came about. Apparently some kids use the word in school and the guidance counselor wanted to teach them what the word really meant. I don't want my kid to know the origin of the word, OK?? It's enough to say that it is a derogatory term and don't use it. That, on top of the constant discipline problems, I made the decision to leave the public schools. I live in a small town and not all the "rich" kids go to catholic school so I guess there isn't that perception. Go with what you think is best for your kids, you don't have to answer to anyone. It makes it easier for me that I am catholic. Best of luck to you.

Angie
Monroe, WI
 
I think that finding the most appropriate school for your children's individual needs is important. If that happens to be a private school in your particular area then it is no one elses business but yours the rationale behind the decision.

That being said, just because one pays extra for an education, does not make it better. Discipline issues occur everywhere, and kids are not sheltered from the evils of the world in a private school.

I grew up in one of the best public school systems in my state, and it was not the most affluent people who sent their kids to private school, it was the ones that had very strong religious convictions.

I did however, go to a Catholic college (but attended the public grade & high school) and found many differences. Many of the professors were very bias toward religious views and could not be open-minded to discuss any topics without strong religious overtones. Alternate viewpoints were put down and discouraged. To me, that is not the essense of education. Supporting open discussions and the free exchange of ideas promotes self discovery and personal development.

Just my experience. That is why in any individual community it is best to find the most appropriate choice for your situation.
 
Interesting thread. I live in a small town and private school is really not an option for us. We have 2 middle schools and I am lucky that both of my older kids go to the one that they do. They have a special program for academically advanced kids. They have the same teachers the entire time they attend middle school. These teachers have advanced education and certification to teach these kids. They have their own wing in the school and are together all day except for the electives (art, etc). So they are away from some of the sex and drugs that is going on in the school. The problem? Some of the teachers are "prejudice" (for the lack of a better word) against the kids and teachers. I guess maybe these teachers are making more $ and they resent it? Not sure. They recently had a fund raiser and this section had the most sales and was entitled to a pizza party. Some of the teachers actually told the principal that they should not get it since they are already getting so much extra attention. Huh? It seems perfectly acceptable to spend time and money on "special needs" kids that are disruptive or academically behind. But let's not give the advanced kids any help - just hold them back. Marniex(
 
I've been on both sides of this fence. I think where you choose to send your children is totally up to you and other parents have no right to question you. However, I would caution you to carefully research the schools you are considering. We have done both public and private and the quality varies greatly in both.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide!
Marie
 
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