by Midnite Writer -- Kim
Member since:
August 24, 2006

Public or Private? Join my chat anytime!

September 20, 2007 09:42 AM EDT (Updated: September 22, 2007 02:55 AM EDT)
views: 39 | rating: 10/10 (7 votes) | comments: 16

GREETINGS GATHER FRIENDS, here's some food for thought... 

Do you send you children to a private school?  If so, what are your reasons?

Or, are you of the mindset that public is just fine; they all are on the same level.

If you plan on having kids, where will you send them to school?  How involved will you be?

You are blessed if you have outstanding public schools in the area you live.  You can check their test scores online and also go to www.greatschools.org.

I have gone to both and sent my son to both. Honestly, public schools worked better.  The parochial schools were too limited in resources and classes and tended to be elitist. 

Or... WHAT ABOUT HOME SCHOOLERS OUT THERE?  I give you credit!! I could never do this!  Only have 1 son and he needs other kids around.

I dunno if I'm that much of a "kid" person.  I like them, but I like my life, too.  Hmm... 

AND...I don't miss tuition payments, do you?  Home school is good because it's frugal.  YOU decide what and when they learn.

 Chime in!  Connect with me if you have not already.  Send your friends over my way! Check out both my groups if you wish.

 

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Comments: 16

Michael C. Sep 20, 2007, 9:50am EDT
Both of our daughters go to a "private" Christian school.
We actually did have our oldest daughter in Kindergarten in the public school for a while, but with 23 kids in her class (and no aide) and hearing some of the things that she would say to us that she either heard on the bus or at school, we opted for Christian education. Plus it is a place where our beliefs can, and are, reinforced and taught openly.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 20, 2007, 9:56am EDT
That's good you found a Christian school like that. Ours did not live up to that standard. In fact, it hurt his faith. Now he is back on track. Classes out here are as large as his was in the private school. That's interesting!
Moh H. Sep 20, 2007, 10:19am EDT
Public, public, public. Seperatism and elitism bother the heck out of me.
♥ Adair ♥ K. Sep 20, 2007, 10:34am EDT
Both my daughters go to public school. We are in the best schools district in our county.

I have meet some parents during the years that had their children in privite schools in the area. When the kids came into the public school, they were actually behind our kids and had to be caught up.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 20, 2007, 10:37am EDT
This is true! See? They don't have the resources that public does. Well, just do what works for your child.

Keep the comments coming... on any of my articles and I will return the favor! :)
William M. Sep 20, 2007, 11:50am EDT
Some good questions raised, Kim. My kids are grown and I don't have to worry about it.
Deborah M. Sep 20, 2007, 12:02pm EDT
I live in a very rural, small community so my choice was to send my daughters to public school or transport them 30 miles into town to attend the only private school (a Catholic school, we're not Catholic and we were told by the school it would be an issue). So, I sent both to public school. My oldest didn't fare well, not enough versatility in the curiculum and little to no help for kids who fell behind. I pulled both of them out in middle school and home-schooled them for a year. My youngest, who did well in public school, asked to go back and we allowed it. Home schooling allowed me to spend the extra time to help my oldest daughter and public school allowed my youngest (the more social of the two) to spread her wings and learn to network in a social setting.

There are benefits and drawbacks to any of the choices. Some parents can't afford the tuition for a private school. Some public schools are little more than drug infested killing grounds. Home schooling cuts into the social experiences a child needs to grow. I can't say one is better than the other but a parents has to do their research and make informed choices that fit both their lifestyle and their child's personality.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 20, 2007, 12:08pm EDT
It is difficult, isn't it? There is no "one fits all solution." I am thankful to know what others have decided and why. I liked your "some schools are nothing more than just drug infested..." statement. It is true! Like if I lived in a major city, I definitely would go private or another district. We have that in this state.

Good points, thanks for taking your time out to read my article!

:)

Keep the comments coming! Read all my articles, send your friends, make connections...
Kimberly Ripley Sep 20, 2007, 12:38pm EDT
Our three older kids (now all in their twenties) attended and graduated from our city's public school system. Our younger two (now 16 and 13) have been homeschooled starting in grade 6. Our city's middle school is horrible and sadly the high school is on a bit of a decline.
Holly J. Sep 20, 2007, 5:32pm EDT
If I could afford it I would like to send my baby to a privite school one day. I'll most likly just have to deal with public schools though, but I will check them out thoughouly before they enroll. Homeschooling is nice on the aspect of what they learn,but I'm more worried about what they don't learn. I know a few people who were homeschooled, and compared to normal socity they're 'a bit off'. Even though they have the book education they don't have the street smarts, not even necc. street, but just social skills in general. Even the people I know who's parents made sure to put them in social situations still don't completly have it. If it wasn't for that, I would definitly home school. I plan on teaching my child (and hopefully children) before she starts school, and I will continue teaching her stuff over school vacations or holidays. I'll make it fun though, I've done that with a lot of children I know and they love learning.
Amy D. Sep 20, 2007, 7:37pm EDT
Two daughters started off at a Lutheran school. When it became to expensive (to ashamed/proud to ask for aid) we sent them to public. The grade school was great, but my eldst was exposed to alcohol, drugs and violence. These things should not have been happening at a middle school anywhere. Coming from learning Bible verses as an assigment to this was a complete shock and she was claiming to be sick at least once a week. Her grades dropped. At the end of the first half, both were yanked from public school and put back in the Lutheran school and we struggled financially. She graduated and a new, public alternative school opened. Maybe you have heard of Edison. Anyway, sent my next daughter there, middle school, which she attended for 2 years. She returned to the Lutheran school in 8th grade to graduate with her friends. My son, only attended the Lutheran school in kindergarten. The public Edison school has worked well for him an he doesn't want to go to the Lutheran school. If we did not have this alternative, we would be using whatever means available to keep the kids from attending the middle school in our district. It is just this one, out of all of the middle schools that feed into the high school, and we just happen to live in the district. The public high school is great. As far as education, I think it is fairly equal, in my experience from the current school and the Lutheran school. The middle school previously mentioned, is not even on the radar. I think it all comes down to where you live and what school options are open to you. I attended public school my entire life and it was wonderful. Times have also changed a great deal as well.
Elizabeth Madrigal Sep 20, 2007, 9:21pm EDT
Most of the time it is the kid's best interests that make it imperative that parents give this some thought. With the current climate of ignoring the gifted kids - who drop out at exactly the same rates as the kids at the other end of the spectrum - this is not an easy decision.

Public school prepares a child for dealing with all kinds of people - but some of us have that in our own families anyway. Private schools can be narrow and highly competitive and some kids may not flourish.

It's a big, big question, and certainly every American should insist that our public schools be improved and held to the highest standards. Why? Because education is truly the great equalizer and every child deserves a great one.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 20, 2007, 9:27pm EDT
Great thoughts! As a parent of a middle schooler, I hope that drugs are not prevalent here. I know it happens, but it's rare. He was exposed to horror movies, M games and everything in between at the Lutheran school which was scary!

We should insist on better public schools and maybe more Edison, Montessori and Alternative type schools. Not everyone can learn the same way! Good thoughts, keep 'em coming!
arlene (no shame in my game) w. Sep 21, 2007, 7:20am EDT
I think I am just a bit late. I think if I had kids, I would home school them for a while.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 21, 2007, 8:45am EDT
I would if I had more than one... for awhile. Try to teach him things informally at home as well!
Midnite Writer -- Kim Sep 22, 2007, 2:56am EDT
Ironically enough we found out that his public school teacher goes to our church!! How 'bout that. Guess there's no worries this year in a new school. Although there's no religion I know he's in good hands! Seems like a nice guy.

Chime in everyone! I like hearing about what you decided to do...

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