Catholic instead of Public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

Most succinct way to sum it up: big, co-ed Catholic schools remind me of what my public high school was in the 1980s/early 1990s. Discipline is enforced; disrespectful, disruptive or violent behavior is not tolerated; the school doesn't insert trendy political/sexual stuff into the environment (although there is a religion class and of course there are the Christian principles that are part of the school messaging, which we are fine with); etc. The vibe is actually "nicer" and more friendly than what I remember from my public school days and what we experienced in FCPS when our kids were there.

+1 Episcopalian with atheist kid loving Catholic HS

That’s great! How’s he doing with the theology requirements? My son is also atheist or pretty close and we’re headed to Catholic school in the fall

I’m curious about that too. The episcopal schools have lighter religion requirements, but I think most Catholics have a heavy theology requirement usually for all four years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

Most succinct way to sum it up: big, co-ed Catholic schools remind me of what my public high school was in the 1980s/early 1990s. Discipline is enforced; disrespectful, disruptive or violent behavior is not tolerated; the school doesn't insert trendy political/sexual stuff into the environment (although there is a religion class and of course there are the Christian principles that are part of the school messaging, which we are fine with); etc. The vibe is actually "nicer" and more friendly than what I remember from my public school days and what we experienced in FCPS when our kids were there.

+1 Episcopalian with atheist kid loving Catholic HS

That’s great! How’s he doing with the theology requirements? My son is also atheist or pretty close and we’re headed to Catholic school in the fall

I’m curious about that too. The episcopal schools have lighter religion requirements, but I think most Catholics have a heavy theology requirement usually for all four years.

It’s not just the Religion in the curriculum. It’s also the Religious practices and ceremonies and the fact that just about everyone else at the school (students, teachers, staff, alumni and other parents) are Catholic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My gay son went to a Jesuit MS and HS. Nobody cared much except one parent who wanted her son switched out of his homeroom. The school said no. She threatened to leave but in the end, she piped down.

So my daughter went on a spring break trip to Europe this year with her catholic HS school. Her roommate was another female and her best friend that happens to by gay. He is so out that the school didn't even call us to ask if it was okay - it was - he's a great kid. My DD said when the teacher shouted out the roommate assignments as they were heading to the hotel there wasn't even a gasp by students (as if it was something verboden) it was like - yup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

Most succinct way to sum it up: big, co-ed Catholic schools remind me of what my public high school was in the 1980s/early 1990s. Discipline is enforced; disrespectful, disruptive or violent behavior is not tolerated; the school doesn't insert trendy political/sexual stuff into the environment (although there is a religion class and of course there are the Christian principles that are part of the school messaging, which we are fine with); etc. The vibe is actually "nicer" and more friendly than what I remember from my public school days and what we experienced in FCPS when our kids were there.

+1 Episcopalian with atheist kid loving Catholic HS

That’s great! How’s he doing with the theology requirements? My son is also atheist or pretty close and we’re headed to Catholic school in the fall

I’m curious about that too. The episcopal schools have lighter religion requirements, but I think most Catholics have a heavy theology requirement usually for all four years.

Most Catholic HS's have the same general religious process. The 1st year talks about the bible with a general historical context. Then there is a year on other religions. Then the last 2 years are some combination of teaching about ethics, morals, social justice (not the current view of the world but in a context of how to help the poor and downtrodden), just wars, etc. It is heavily dosed in Cathlocism but that should be expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools in the DMV are a waste of money

What if your local public sucks. And you don’t have the money for prep or sidwell?

Any MCPS HS is better.

If you feel that way, then just stay and enjoy your school, including the:

-locked bathrooms
-frequent fights
-overcrowded class sizes
-mold infested portable classrooms
-lockdowns, bomb scares, gun scares
-frequent standardized testing (waste of time)
-gender dysphoria in a third of the population
-severe grade inflation
-over exposure to AP classes and consequent student burnout (for motivated students)
-lack of writing instruction/little to no feedback on submitted papers and essays
-over exposure to unmotivated students and risk of your student becoming one

I could go on.

I assume the W public schools don’t have these problems, except overcrowding.

I know Marshall has locked bathrooms and standardized testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My gay son went to a Jesuit MS and HS. Nobody cared much except one parent who wanted her son switched out of his homeroom. The school said no. She threatened to leave but in the end, she piped down.

So my daughter went on a spring break trip to Europe this year with her catholic HS school. Her roommate was another female and her best friend that happens to by gay. He is so out that the school didn't even call us to ask if it was okay - it was - he's a great kid. My DD said when the teacher shouted out the roommate assignments as they were heading to the hotel there wasn't even a gasp by students (as if it was something verboden) it was like - yup.

WOW i love this. Not my experience at a Catholic school in the 90s. Including going to Europe. HA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

My local public school sucks, and my son needs a safe and rigorous environment to succeed. He wants to see girls, so that put DeMatha and Gonzaga out of the running. I don’t have the cash for Bullis or Maret, so SJC was a nice sweet spot, and I got ample aid.

St John's is very similar to public. More strict. But similar in all other ways.

Wow I’m looking at it for my daughter are fights regular?

NO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here. I just love how some posters say it’s a matter of priorities and isn’t it great when parents value education. As if most parents of kids in public don’t value it. So inaccurate and condescending.

This. I would never send my child to a Catholic school because we're not Catholic. We didn't even consider it--it wasn't even an option for us.

I considered it for my child. I grew up Catholic and love the Catholic Social Teachings. When my kid came out as gay, I decided it was a bad idea. Keep that aspect in mind.

It has to happen that gay kids are in or come out in Catholic middle or high schools. I’m curious how the admin/teachers/students respond

There are LGBTQ+ kids at most Catholic schools. In our experience, they just don't make a big deal of it. No parades or flags, just another kid in the class like anyone else. Comply with dress code like everyone else. Go to prom like everyone else. Play whichever roles in the theater you want (and get picked for).

I get why some would see to avoid it, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here. I just love how some posters say it’s a matter of priorities and isn’t it great when parents value education. As if most parents of kids in public don’t value it. So inaccurate and condescending.

This. I would never send my child to a Catholic school because we're not Catholic. We didn't even consider it--it wasn't even an option for us.

I considered it for my child. I grew up Catholic and love the Catholic Social Teachings. When my kid came out as gay, I decided it was a bad idea. Keep that aspect in mind.

It has to happen that gay kids are in or come out in Catholic middle or high schools. I’m curious how the admin/teachers/students respond

There are LGBTQ+ kids at most Catholic schools. In our experience, they just don't make a big deal of it. No parades or flags, just another kid in the class like anyone else. Comply with dress code like everyone else. Go to prom like everyone else. Play whichever roles in the theater you want (and get picked for).

I get why some would see to avoid it, though.

Boys go to prom with boys and girls with girls, or not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here. I just love how some posters say it’s a matter of priorities and isn’t it great when parents value education. As if most parents of kids in public don’t value it. So inaccurate and condescending.

This. I would never send my child to a Catholic school because we're not Catholic. We didn't even consider it--it wasn't even an option for us.

I considered it for my child. I grew up Catholic and love the Catholic Social Teachings. When my kid came out as gay, I decided it was a bad idea. Keep that aspect in mind.

It has to happen that gay kids are in or come out in Catholic middle or high schools. I’m curious how the admin/teachers/students respond

There are LGBTQ+ kids at most Catholic schools. In our experience, they just don't make a big deal of it. No parades or flags, just another kid in the class like anyone else. Comply with dress code like everyone else. Go to prom like everyone else. Play whichever roles in the theater you want (and get picked for).

I get why some would see to avoid it, though.

Boys go to prom with boys and girls with girls, or not?

DP who has chaperoned prom. Yes, we have girls go with girls, boys with boys.

I agree with the PP. The students are accepted and welcomed as part of the student population, just like everyone else. It isn’t made into anything different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

My local public school sucks, and my son needs a safe and rigorous environment to succeed. He wants to see girls, so that put DeMatha and Gonzaga out of the running. I don’t have the cash for Bullis or Maret, so SJC was a nice sweet spot, and I got ample aid.

St John's is very similar to public. More strict. But similar in all other ways.

Wow I’m looking at it for my daughter are fights regular?

Pp idea of public is from the 50s. They don’t understand the locked bathrooms, fights, kids constantly on phones, and ginormous class size.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

My local public school sucks, and my son needs a safe and rigorous environment to succeed. He wants to see girls, so that put DeMatha and Gonzaga out of the running. I don’t have the cash for Bullis or Maret, so SJC was a nice sweet spot, and I got ample aid.

St John's is very similar to public. More strict. But similar in all other ways.

Wow I’m looking at it for my daughter are fights regular?

Pp idea of public is from the 50s. They don’t understand the locked bathrooms, fights, kids constantly on phones, and ginormous class size.

+1

The 50s? This was not a problem in my public schools in the 2000s. Have things fallen so quickly or is this DCUM hyperbole?

[Anonymous]

[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here. I just love how some posters say it’s a matter of priorities and isn’t it great when parents value education. As if most parents of kids in public don’t value it. So inaccurate and condescending.

This. I would never send my child to a Catholic school because we're not Catholic. We didn't even consider it--it wasn't even an option for us.

I considered it for my child. I grew up Catholic and love the Catholic Social Teachings. When my kid came out as gay, I decided it was a bad idea. Keep that aspect in mind.

It has to happen that gay kids are in or come out in Catholic middle or high schools. I’m curious how the admin/teachers/students respond

There are LGBTQ+ kids at most Catholic schools. In our experience, they just don't make a big deal of it. No parades or flags, just another kid in the class like anyone else. Comply with dress code like everyone else. Go to prom like everyone else. Play whichever roles in the theater you want (and get picked for).

I get why some would see to avoid it, though.

Boys go to prom with boys and girls with girls, or not?

Nowadays, it’s not a requirement to have actual dates for the prom and homecoming. If they’re not dating anyone in particular, kids will go in a group with friends of both or either sexes. Girls that don’t have boyfriends will opt to go with friends that are girls, and same with the boys. No one thinks anything more than that and no one is singled out as being different. I like that not a big deal is made of kids not going as romantic couples.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[twitter]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here. I just love how some posters say it’s a matter of priorities and isn’t it great when parents value education. As if most parents of kids in public don’t value it. So inaccurate and condescending.

This. I would never send my child to a Catholic school because we're not Catholic. We didn't even consider it--it wasn't even an option for us.

I considered it for my child. I grew up Catholic and love the Catholic Social Teachings. When my kid came out as gay, I decided it was a bad idea. Keep that aspect in mind.

It has to happen that gay kids are in or come out in Catholic middle or high schools. I’m curious how the admin/teachers/students respond

There are LGBTQ+ kids at most Catholic schools. In our experience, they just don't make a big deal of it. No parades or flags, just another kid in the class like anyone else. Comply with dress code like everyone else. Go to prom like everyone else. Play whichever roles in the theater you want (and get picked for).

I get why some would see to avoid it, though.

Boys go to prom with boys and girls with girls, or not?

Nowadays, it’s not a requirement to have actual dates for the prom and homecoming. If they’re not dating anyone in particular, kids will go in a group with friends of both or either sexes. Girls that don’t have boyfriends will opt to go with friends that are girls, and same with the boys. No one thinks anything more than that and no one is singled out as being different. I like that not a big deal is made of kids not going as romantic couples.

I love this! It’s fun to get dressed up and be with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with kids in big co-ed Catholic schools—how do you see them as different from public schools? Assuming both have large student bodies and offer the same kinds of activities, and your child is doing great academically either way… why choose the private (and pricey) route if you're not specifically seeking a religious focus? What do you feel you get from it?

My local public school sucks, and my son needs a safe and rigorous environment to succeed. He wants to see girls, so that put DeMatha and Gonzaga out of the running. I don’t have the cash for Bullis or Maret, so SJC was a nice sweet spot, and I got ample aid.

St John's is very similar to public. More strict. But similar in all other ways.

Wow I’m looking at it for my daughter are fights regular?

Pp idea of public is from the 50s. They don’t understand the locked bathrooms, fights, kids constantly on phones, and ginormous class size.

+1

The 50s? This was not a problem in my public schools in the 2000s. Have things fallen so quickly or is this DCUM hyperbole?

I think things haven’t been great since about 2005-2007, but things really went downhill on the late teens, and then again during/post COVID. I can’t imagine things getting better, with all the kids now coming up in elementary school having been out of preschool and early elementary during Covid. Plus all the babies now I see on screens. It’s a mess we cannot claw back from, and I am opting out for my kid