Parenting Big Kids (5-8) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of big kids (5 to 8 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.
I'm relatively new to this community, as I usually post on the Parenting ages 0-1 community (that's where all the strife is, really). I thought I'd try to get involved somewhat in this community as well. My 6 year old girl is much easier to figure out than my 4 month old, but she indeed has her own little foibles that could use some fixing :)
I am curious to know what people's views are on the education that their children receive. Of course, we all want the best for our kids especially when it comes to their schooling, so that's sort of a no-brainer.
We have a unique situation here in Los Angeles. Our public school system has been under fire for quite some time for the quality of education that is being doled out to our children.
The dilemma is that folks that are well-to-do automatically send their children (not always, I am making a generalization) to private school, leaving the neighborhood public school to flounder and causing children to be bussed in from inner-cities to fill in the empty spaces.
It's not so bad anymore, as it seems more and more parents are choosing to send their children to the neighborhood public schools than not. I chalk that up to the ridiculous housing market where for most it's a choice between either living in a pilfery apartment and sending your child off to private school or buying an actual house and attending the little public school on the corner.
I have had my daughter in both private and public schools and to be honest, there really isn't that much of a reason for private school here. Jaquelin was lucky enough, or rather smart enough to get into the magnet GHA program at her public school, so we'll do okay until middle school when we have to figure out if the local middle school is good or not. I've known people to actually move thrice in order to get their child into the district or school they wanted. Seems sort of ridiculous.
The problem with the public schools here is that because they were and are under so much fire for low testing scores that they siphon all of their funding into reading, writing, and math--they teach to the test. Art, music, and other sorts of humanities are left behind. Sure, they get some of it, but not until after the other academia has been shoved down their throats. With the Magnet, we are lucky enough to get more of the humanities than the home part of the school, but it still lacks in giving the children an adequate amount of time away from the basics.
The good thing about the public schools here is that because they are under fire and a government entity, the teachers are always being reviewed and tested and kept up.
One of the reasons we left the private school that we were having Jaquelin attend is that the teachers were so under-qualified (despite the fact that she did indeed get more of the humanities than in public school). After doing some research because there was a second grade teacher at this said school that I could hear constantly SCREAMING at the children in her classroom, I came to find out that she wasn't credentialed to be a teacher at all, but instead a friend to the family that owned the school and an actress. Weird. And I found out that a lot of the hiring practices at private schools are not so kosher.
Of course there are those private schools that cost about as much as a private ivy league university costs to attend. They are generally good, as you can imagine, but frankly, I'd rather spend the money on college.
It seems that most kids, if they are going to do well, will do well wherever they are and rise to the occasion and if they aren't being challenged enough, that's where we as parents step in and do extra things wiuth them to stimulate the mind.
Does anyone have an opinion on this subject?
I am curious to know what people's views are on the education that their children receive. Of course, we all want the best for our kids especially when it comes to their schooling, so that's sort of a no-brainer.
We have a unique situation here in Los Angeles. Our public school system has been under fire for quite some time for the quality of education that is being doled out to our children.
The dilemma is that folks that are well-to-do automatically send their children (not always, I am making a generalization) to private school, leaving the neighborhood public school to flounder and causing children to be bussed in from inner-cities to fill in the empty spaces.
It's not so bad anymore, as it seems more and more parents are choosing to send their children to the neighborhood public schools than not. I chalk that up to the ridiculous housing market where for most it's a choice between either living in a pilfery apartment and sending your child off to private school or buying an actual house and attending the little public school on the corner.
I have had my daughter in both private and public schools and to be honest, there really isn't that much of a reason for private school here. Jaquelin was lucky enough, or rather smart enough to get into the magnet GHA program at her public school, so we'll do okay until middle school when we have to figure out if the local middle school is good or not. I've known people to actually move thrice in order to get their child into the district or school they wanted. Seems sort of ridiculous.
The problem with the public schools here is that because they were and are under so much fire for low testing scores that they siphon all of their funding into reading, writing, and math--they teach to the test. Art, music, and other sorts of humanities are left behind. Sure, they get some of it, but not until after the other academia has been shoved down their throats. With the Magnet, we are lucky enough to get more of the humanities than the home part of the school, but it still lacks in giving the children an adequate amount of time away from the basics.
The good thing about the public schools here is that because they are under fire and a government entity, the teachers are always being reviewed and tested and kept up.
One of the reasons we left the private school that we were having Jaquelin attend is that the teachers were so under-qualified (despite the fact that she did indeed get more of the humanities than in public school). After doing some research because there was a second grade teacher at this said school that I could hear constantly SCREAMING at the children in her classroom, I came to find out that she wasn't credentialed to be a teacher at all, but instead a friend to the family that owned the school and an actress. Weird. And I found out that a lot of the hiring practices at private schools are not so kosher.
Of course there are those private schools that cost about as much as a private ivy league university costs to attend. They are generally good, as you can imagine, but frankly, I'd rather spend the money on college.
It seems that most kids, if they are going to do well, will do well wherever they are and rise to the occasion and if they aren't being challenged enough, that's where we as parents step in and do extra things wiuth them to stimulate the mind.
Does anyone have an opinion on this subject?
I sort of have an interesting perspective on the public private divide. Having attended both systems in Australia. Finances drive parents choices here as well as poor public school results due to lack of funding. But there are still good and bad in both systems. For me personally public school was right academically, that is not to say I didn't gain alot from the private system. The study skills and analytical thinking came from there, which has been invaluable in tertiary study. It was unfortunate that socially and emotionally the highly competitive and bitchy atmosphere of all girls private school was not right for me.
I kind of agree with your closing comments in that most kids will succeed despite the environs. But in my experience both personally and professionally it is necessary to find the a school to suit your childs unique individuality. Finding the right fit for your child is important as is further their love of learning at home.
Anyway that is just my opinion and it is a tough decision for any parent to make. I could rant on about this subject for hours and I am not even going to start on about the importance of humanities. Let me put it this way though humanities studies are essential for developing life skills, global knowledge but perhaps most importantly empathy and understanding of others. While the basics are important nothing develops strong social and emotional foundations like the humanities.
In our situation my daughter is in the best school in her district. It also happens to be the closest school to our home. Other kids bus in from all over town to go there. It also goes up to 8th grade so we don't have to worry about middle school. So far I am satisfied (as much as I can be) with her education BUT I do teach her at home what I think they lack in her class. I will never let her go to the district high school. Our high schools are violent gang ridden places. And the graduation rate is less than %40. I will move half way across the state if I have to.
There is no way I could ever afford private school on our income. And I don't think homeschooling is for me. Although it is big around here and many of my friends love it. I am just not that organized. We do also have a new internet school program here. There are two choices for internet school in my state. The children are connected to a real teacher and can interact with them. This might be something I look into at the high school level if I feel I have no other options. But I will do whatever I can to get my child an education and keep her safe.
Why choose a Private School?
1. Higher Bar- child will likely be challenged to a higher academic standard.
2. Student Teacher Ratio-Private schools tend to focus on controlling their class sizes.
3. Exposure to the Arts- Private schools have the ability to create their own curriculum.
4. Potentially More Funds-The tuition that you pay often will go toward developing and funding special programs that would be restricted in public schools.
5. A Push Towards College- Accourind to a data from the NELS of 1988, shows that "Students who had attended private school in 8th grade were twice as likely as those who had attended public shcool to have completed a bachelor's or higher degree by their mid-20's.
6. Community Service and Sense of Values-Private Schools often put a major emphasis on personal values.
7. Discipline and Safety: Beyond the fact that smaller classrooms are by thier very nature eaiser to control, most private schools put special emphasis on discipline.
8. Word About Teachers- Private schools must maintain their reputations and create positive word of mouth to survive.
9. A Community in Itself- Your family becomes part of a network of families with the same goals.
"Despite the numerous benefits of private schooling, it must be said that private school is not for every child. Some children would benefit fromt he diversity a public school can offer. Some parents would prefer their children to be more focused on the core subjects rather than the arts and extracurricular interests. And, of course, the financial burden that a private school brings is considerable. No student is exactly the same as another, and only a parent can know what the best option is for his or her child. Any child, wheter in private or public school, will need the active participation of his or her parents in order to achieve true success."