I don't understand parents who are flashy with their wealth but send their kids to public school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I clearly did touch a nerve. Predictably I suppose.

I want to clarify that what I find odd is not that there are SOME wealthy families who send their kids to public school, but that there’s a particular obsession at some public schools with being flashy. YSL handbags are like the least expensive designer handbags you can buy - but people buy them in part because they scream “I’m expensive” even to those who know nothing about handbags. And I guess I don’t understand that mentality - wanting to look expensive to strangers - when MOST of those women are not super wealthy. And most wealthy women I know don’t carry an entry-level YSL logo handbag.

Anyway, i don’t really understand what it is I’m getting at, but this thread is helping me realize it’s less about school choice and more about displays of wealth and their meaning that I find confusing, and interesting, particularly in certain subcultures (where half the moms carry the same handbag).

Uhhhh maybe because a YSL handbag costs maybe 1/20th of annual private school tuition, so they can afford the handbag (which some of these women view as an investment in something they will carry for several years) but cannot afford 12+ years of private school tuition. Obviously.

OP, also, you are such a pretentious d-bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I clearly did touch a nerve. Predictably I suppose.

I want to clarify that what I find odd is not that there are SOME wealthy families who send their kids to public school, but that there’s a particular obsession at some public schools with being flashy. YSL handbags are like the least expensive designer handbags you can buy - but people buy them in part because they scream “I’m expensive” even to those who know nothing about handbags. And I guess I don’t understand that mentality - wanting to look expensive to strangers - when MOST of those women are not super wealthy. And most wealthy women I know don’t carry an entry-level YSL logo handbag.

Anyway, i don’t really understand what it is I’m getting at, but this thread is helping me realize it’s less about school choice and more about displays of wealth and their meaning that I find confusing, and interesting, particularly in certain subcultures (where half the moms carry the same handbag).

I think what you’re struggling with is that you’re projecting your own pretension and materialism onto other people and then can’t understand why their behavior doesn’t square with what you’re projecting.

[Anonymous]

An expensive purse costs $4K.
I have 3 kids. Private school would be $135K a year for 13 years.

SO
You have a $4K purse VS. $1.755 million in tuition.

They're ALMOST the same expense.

[Anonymous]

I'm actually fairly wealthy. I clear over 1.5 million a year as a biglaw partner. DW works as an ER doctor part-time and makes another 100K, but we basically use her entirely salary as a retirement savings account.

We sent our kids to public schools in FCPS. Why?

Because we were both raised by teachers and value public education. We value contributing to our community in this way and while we live in a place where tons of people sent their kids to private school (Belle Haven), we made a conscious decision to send our kids to the locals schools and they were great. My kids in elementary, middle, and high school are all thriving and doing well, have friends from all sorts of walks of life (but who share common interests) and we have been happy.

Could we afford to send our kids to private school? Sure. It's the same thing as saying we could afford to join the country club. We don't do either because we have other interests and believe that public schools are important and the best way to support your local school is to send your kid, join the PTA, volunteer and be an active community member.

[Anonymous]

You can charge all that shit to credit cards. Private school tuition, not so much.

[Anonymous]

The most hilarious thing about the OP is that in her opening post she mentions "YSL handbags" three times and when she comes back she mentions them again TWICE.

Methinks you have a slight fixation here, OP. Seek help now.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know anyone who is truly wealthy/old money who sends their kid to public school? I have not seen it, no matter how much lip service is paid to public education. This is excluding very small annexed/enclave districts; there could be a couple there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand parents who send their kids to private school. I mean, the public schools around here are really good, so shouldn't they save their money for college? I'm trying really hard not to be judgmental here, but I think these parents are stupid, and their poor choices with money (meaning, not choices I would make) are hard to understand....

Some people can easily pay for both private school and college....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know anyone who is truly wealthy/old money who sends their kid to public school? I have not seen it, no matter how much lip service is paid to public education. This is excluding very small annexed/enclave districts; there could be a couple there.

No, and they are the same Republicans who want to slash taxes and create a voucher system. It is inconceivable to them that 1) anyone would prefer a public school who had a choice, and 2) anyone who loves their children and values education might not be able to afford private school. So, bleed the public schools dry and leave them to the poor who deserve what leavings they get.

At least, that's what I think the plan is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An expensive purse costs $4K.
I have 3 kids. Private school would be $135K a year for 13 years.

SO
You have a $4K purse VS. $1.755 million in tuition.

They're ALMOST the same expense.

oP is a math challenged troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm generally okay with the choices that other people make that have absolutely zero impact on my well-being.

Same

Lots of reasons to have your kid able to manage public school not private school. First off, larger size. Best of a bigger best.

[Anonymous]

Because they're tacky and unsophisticated. They're just bougie upper middle class who lucked into a moderate sum of money but lack the background and pedigree to know how to handle it with class. And they don't value private education because they themselves are likely from flyover country and went to some open door public U.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know anyone who is truly wealthy/old money who sends their kid to public school? I have not seen it, no matter how much lip service is paid to public education. This is excluding very small annexed/enclave districts; there could be a couple there.

+1. Very rare. It's like when broke people try to rationalize driving a junker car with "all the rich WASPs drive old Volvos." No, they don't. All the WASPs I know drive at the very least brand new loaded Tahoes, 4dr Mini Cooper, Jeep Grand Cherokees ... if not new Teslas, Range Rovers, loaded S-Class Mercedes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they're tacky and unsophisticated. They're just bougie upper middle class who lucked into a moderate sum of money but lack the background and pedigree to know how to handle it with class. And they don't value private education because they themselves are likely from flyover country and went to some open door public U.

Yep, you’ve made quite the case for sending the kids to private schools, if one can afford it. How else could one possibly acquire the grace and eloquence that you’ve shown here?

And you’re definitely right about the importance of a good pedigree. I can tell that you come from a good dam and even better sire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I clearly did touch a nerve. Predictably I suppose.

I want to clarify that what I find odd is not that there are SOME wealthy families who send their kids to public school, but that there’s a particular obsession at some public schools with being flashy. YSL handbags are like the least expensive designer handbags you can buy - but people buy them in part because they scream “I’m expensive” even to those who know nothing about handbags. And I guess I don’t understand that mentality - wanting to look expensive to strangers - when MOST of those women are not super wealthy. And most wealthy women I know don’t carry an entry-level YSL logo handbag.

Anyway, i don’t really understand what it is I’m getting at, but this thread is helping me realize it’s less about school choice and more about displays of wealth and their meaning that I find confusing, and interesting, particularly in certain subcultures (where half the moms carry the same handbag).

I think what you’re struggling with is that you’re projecting your own pretension and materialism onto other people and then can’t understand why their behavior doesn’t square with what you’re projecting.

Yes, OP you are clearly a far superior human to your neighbors who tote YSL handbags and send their children to public school

This thread is really about OPs need to feel superior and she is doing that by choosing to feel superior that she does not carry a tacky LV bag. It's ridiculous to think that carrying other high-end bags is any different - the signifiers are still there on celine and ferragamos.