Is the obsession with private schools justified?

[Anonymous]

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/04/private-schools-are-indefensible/618078/

Do Atlantic writers post on DCUM?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:People send their kids to private for all sorts of reasons. In my opinion, college admissions should be the smallest factor. If that’s your reason, it will likely not be worth it for you.

My main objective is getting high quality education. My only point is that college placement, something that is emphasized by schools as an indicator of quality of education, is extremely misleading by athletes and legacy admissions. In any case, I am not even thinking about what is going to happen 8 years down the road. I am concerned that my DC is not even learning the basics today.

Why can't your kid learn the basics? Do you spend any time working with DC?

Yes, it is supplemented outside school. They do not learn the basics at the 50k private school.

Sounds like your kid is unfocused and screwing around.

Not really. He scores perfectly in math, outside school. The thing is that math level at school is so low, it’s unbelievable. I would have preferred having good math education at the school.

So you have failed in your main objective of getting high quality education.

Why stay?

I am leaving. Precisely because of that.

Did you expect people to convince you to stay? Don't let the door hit ya on the way out. Nobody cares.

I was responding to your question. If you don’t like the answer, that’s your problem.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I observed there are some students who can go to schools with sufficient quality education rather than the highest quality education.

A bright motivated kid will do well anywhere.

+1. I wonder why the richest people in the US are typically from public schools. Think about Bill Gates.

You could not pick a worse example.

Most of the Epstein file dudes are from private schools.

The general prison population isn't exactly an endorsement of public schools.

Nor all white collar criminals for private schools.

[Anonymous]

I am relatively happy with the curriculum with our private school curriculum. DS is in the middle of the pack in terms of English, so I hired a tutor who works primarily with excellent public school students. She says he is advanced, not behind. So whatever our school is doing is working for him, I guess. I cant speak to high schools, though.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It isn’t politically correct to say so, but mainstreaming of special ed kids has occurred at a cost to grade level and advanced kids, especially at the elementary level. If I had to go back to public, I would only do so at a school system with a separate magnet track.

Wow, this comment is horrifying on so many levels. I have a severely disabled sibling who was mainstreamed as a child. I can assure you that mainstreaming took absolutely nothing away from my own public school education, and possibly even enriched my experience and those of the kids around me!

Non-special ed kids with behavioral challenges were a whole other story, and they absolutely did impact my education. But I assure you they always have been and always will be in every classroom in both public and private schools.

My own kids are in private school. But only because I selected one with a curriculum that I think really does teach them something very specific that is not available in the public schools. Not in any way because I am trying to get my own kids away from special ed kids. Wow.

People casually (carelessly?) use “special ed” as stand-in for any kids with chronic behavioral or other needs that impact classroom dynamics. So, it’s both over- and under-inclusive depending on the circumstances, which can be frustrating for families navigating these spaces.

But, however they are classified, at private schools, high-needs kids don’t become a center of gravity or resource-diverter as they often do at public schools (for perfectly defensible and practical reasons). This is a premium aspect of private schools in general, though certainly not the case for any school in particular.

FWIW, our kids were in Title I public schools through 5th grade before going private for middle. I wouldn’t change anything about their experience and didn’t have too many real-time complaints because we understood what the school could and couldn’t do given what they had to work with and the related constraints and obligations they labored under. My kids have very fond memories of their public elementary school.

But, after going private, it was impossible not to notice and appreciate the difference when all the kids are well-resourced, supported, and generally low-need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

This isn't entirely true, especially where schools are centrally run on a county level. Yes, most of the kids are coming from well resourced homes. You still will get kids with significant disabilities, for example, autism or down's syndrome, being mainsteamed with an aide. My kids were in a 10/10 best schools, upper middle class/wealthy school. Every year in elementary, there were a minimum of two to three kids being mainstreamed with aides in their class. You still have kids with emotional trauma and related behavioral issiues. You still have teachers who are forced to teach towards state assessment tests. You still have a central office churning out a curriculum that leaves teacher's little room to deviate. You still have a tenure system that prevents schools from firing teachers who have checked out. You still have a system that does next to nothing to reward exemplary teachers. You still have a movement away from tracking and g&t programs on equity grounds. You still have a system that allocates little time towards recess, and doesn't allow for much learning by doing.

All public schools systems are being hit hard by Trump's budget cuts to education. Our local public school system is getting rid of school librarians as a budget cutting measure, and encouraging early teacher retirements to replace them with cheaper, younger teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

This isn't entirely true, especially where schools are centrally run on a county level. Yes, most of the kids are coming from well resourced homes. You still will get kids with significant disabilities, for example, autism or down's syndrome, being mainsteamed with an aide. My kids were in a 10/10 best schools, upper middle class/wealthy school. Every year in elementary, there were a minimum of two to three kids being mainstreamed with aides in their class. You still have kids with emotional trauma and related behavioral issiues. You still have teachers who are forced to teach towards state assessment tests. You still have a central office churning out a curriculum that leaves teacher's little room to deviate. You still have a tenure system that prevents schools from firing teachers who have checked out. You still have a system that does next to nothing to reward exemplary teachers. You still have a movement away from tracking and g&t programs on equity grounds. You still have a system that allocates little time towards recess, and doesn't allow for much learning by doing.

All public schools systems are being hit hard by Trump's budget cuts to education. Our local public school system is getting rid of school librarians as a budget cutting measure, and encouraging early teacher retirements to replace them with cheaper, younger teachers.

Ah yes, heaven forbid our children have to share a classroom with children who have autism or down's syndrome, or have suffered emotional trauma, it's not like that mirrors the real world in any way. And teaching to standards could never be beneficial, our children will never have to learn how to study for a standardized test. I could go on, though I'm not quite sure what to make of one sentence indicating that the public system prevents firing enough experienced teachers, followed shortly after by a sentence indicating that too many teachers are being fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People send their kids to private for all sorts of reasons. In my opinion, college admissions should be the smallest factor. If that’s your reason, it will likely not be worth it for you.

My main objective is getting high quality education. My only point is that college placement, something that is emphasized by schools as an indicator of quality of education, is extremely misleading by athletes and legacy admissions. In any case, I am not even thinking about what is going to happen 8 years down the road. I am concerned that my DC is not even learning the basics today.

Why can't your kid learn the basics? Do you spend any time working with DC?

Yes, it is supplemented outside school. They do not learn the basics at the 50k private school.

Sounds like your kid is unfocused and screwing around.

Not really. He scores perfectly in math, outside school. The thing is that math level at school is so low, it’s unbelievable. I would have preferred having good math education at the school.

So you have failed in your main objective of getting high quality education.

Why stay?

I would frame it differently. The school has failed in providing high quality education.

The school is doing exactly what these schools do. You failed to discern what that is. They are meeting their mission; you are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

This isn't entirely true, especially where schools are centrally run on a county level. Yes, most of the kids are coming from well resourced homes. You still will get kids with significant disabilities, for example, autism or down's syndrome, being mainsteamed with an aide. My kids were in a 10/10 best schools, upper middle class/wealthy school. Every year in elementary, there were a minimum of two to three kids being mainstreamed with aides in their class. You still have kids with emotional trauma and related behavioral issiues. You still have teachers who are forced to teach towards state assessment tests. You still have a central office churning out a curriculum that leaves teacher's little room to deviate. You still have a tenure system that prevents schools from firing teachers who have checked out. You still have a system that does next to nothing to reward exemplary teachers. You still have a movement away from tracking and g&t programs on equity grounds. You still have a system that allocates little time towards recess, and doesn't allow for much learning by doing.

All public schools systems are being hit hard by Trump's budget cuts to education. Our local public school system is getting rid of school librarians as a budget cutting measure, and encouraging early teacher retirements to replace them with cheaper, younger teachers.

Ah yes, heaven forbid our children have to share a classroom with children who have autism or down's syndrome, or have suffered emotional trauma, it's not like that mirrors the real world in any way. And teaching to standards could never be beneficial, our children will never have to learn how to study for a standardized test. I could go on, though I'm not quite sure what to make of one sentence indicating that the public system prevents firing enough experienced teachers, followed shortly after by a sentence indicating that too many teachers are being fired.

I agree with this sentiment, but lived experience of classrooms with these pressures is real, as is the feeling of (finally) being free of it. It’s just reality, cruel as it may be, which is why public schools (rightfully) have the obligations that they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People send their kids to private for all sorts of reasons. In my opinion, college admissions should be the smallest factor. If that’s your reason, it will likely not be worth it for you.

My main objective is getting high quality education. My only point is that college placement, something that is emphasized by schools as an indicator of quality of education, is extremely misleading by athletes and legacy admissions. In any case, I am not even thinking about what is going to happen 8 years down the road. I am concerned that my DC is not even learning the basics today.

Why can't your kid learn the basics? Do you spend any time working with DC?

Yes, it is supplemented outside school. They do not learn the basics at the 50k private school.

Sounds like your kid is unfocused and screwing around.

Not really. He scores perfectly in math, outside school. The thing is that math level at school is so low, it’s unbelievable. I would have preferred having good math education at the school.

So you have failed in your main objective of getting high quality education.

Why stay?

I would frame it differently. The school has failed in providing high quality education.

The school is doing exactly what these schools do. You failed to discern what that is. They are meeting their mission; you are not.

Their mission is not to teach math below the levels in Europe or Asia. That’s a failure from the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

This isn't entirely true, especially where schools are centrally run on a county level. Yes, most of the kids are coming from well resourced homes. You still will get kids with significant disabilities, for example, autism or down's syndrome, being mainsteamed with an aide. My kids were in a 10/10 best schools, upper middle class/wealthy school. Every year in elementary, there were a minimum of two to three kids being mainstreamed with aides in their class. You still have kids with emotional trauma and related behavioral issiues. You still have teachers who are forced to teach towards state assessment tests. You still have a central office churning out a curriculum that leaves teacher's little room to deviate. You still have a tenure system that prevents schools from firing teachers who have checked out. You still have a system that does next to nothing to reward exemplary teachers. You still have a movement away from tracking and g&t programs on equity grounds. You still have a system that allocates little time towards recess, and doesn't allow for much learning by doing.

All public schools systems are being hit hard by Trump's budget cuts to education. Our local public school system is getting rid of school librarians as a budget cutting measure, and encouraging early teacher retirements to replace them with cheaper, younger teachers.

Agree in sense. At our prior DCPS Title I school, many of the high needs kids were white UMC neurodivergent types, diagnosed or not. And then you had common issues associated with a large low-SES at-risk population. And the school sort had to index on these populations by necessity. It was fine for elementary, at least for our family because we understood the dynamic and were realistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People send their kids to private for all sorts of reasons. In my opinion, college admissions should be the smallest factor. If that’s your reason, it will likely not be worth it for you.

My main objective is getting high quality education. My only point is that college placement, something that is emphasized by schools as an indicator of quality of education, is extremely misleading by athletes and legacy admissions. In any case, I am not even thinking about what is going to happen 8 years down the road. I am concerned that my DC is not even learning the basics today.

Why can't your kid learn the basics? Do you spend any time working with DC?

Yes, it is supplemented outside school. They do not learn the basics at the 50k private school.

Sounds like your kid is unfocused and screwing around.

Not really. He scores perfectly in math, outside school. The thing is that math level at school is so low, it’s unbelievable. I would have preferred having good math education at the school.

So you have failed in your main objective of getting high quality education.

Why stay?

I would frame it differently. The school has failed in providing high quality education.

The school is doing exactly what these schools do. You failed to discern what that is. They are meeting their mission; you are not.

Their mission is not to teach math below the levels in Europe or Asia. That’s a failure from the school.

It’s more a failure the US education eco-system writ large.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends on where you live and your zoned school district. People that live in the Whitman or Langley areas have very different considerations than people living in DC or the exurbs. The quality of education really isn't an issue at highly-resourced, wealthy public schools. But if you are not zoned for those schools, yeah, private will often be the better choice.

This isn't entirely true, especially where schools are centrally run on a county level. Yes, most of the kids are coming from well resourced homes. You still will get kids with significant disabilities, for example, autism or down's syndrome, being mainsteamed with an aide. My kids were in a 10/10 best schools, upper middle class/wealthy school. Every year in elementary, there were a minimum of two to three kids being mainstreamed with aides in their class. You still have kids with emotional trauma and related behavioral issiues. You still have teachers who are forced to teach towards state assessment tests. You still have a central office churning out a curriculum that leaves teacher's little room to deviate. You still have a tenure system that prevents schools from firing teachers who have checked out. You still have a system that does next to nothing to reward exemplary teachers. You still have a movement away from tracking and g&t programs on equity grounds. You still have a system that allocates little time towards recess, and doesn't allow for much learning by doing.

All public schools systems are being hit hard by Trump's budget cuts to education. Our local public school system is getting rid of school librarians as a budget cutting measure, and encouraging early teacher retirements to replace them with cheaper, younger teachers.

Ah yes, heaven forbid our children have to share a classroom with children who have autism or down's syndrome, or have suffered emotional trauma, it's not like that mirrors the real world in any way. And teaching to standards could never be beneficial, our children will never have to learn how to study for a standardized test. I could go on, though I'm not quite sure what to make of one sentence indicating that the public system prevents firing enough experienced teachers, followed shortly after by a sentence indicating that too many teachers are being fired.

It takes a huge toll on the teachers-- both to have such a diverse group of students to teach and to really have no recourse with many behavioral issues. Our district has only one special ed only school left and the parents have fought so hard to maintain its status. It always comes down to money and not what is best for the kids. On the behavioral side, I don't know what the answer is, but the current system where the teacher is forced to keep the students in their classroom no matter what is not a good solution.

Its hard for you to understand that the tenure system makes it impossible to fire teaches based on performance but budget cuts are encouraging teachers to depart on the basis of years of experience (irrespective of performance)? It's not a particulalry diffiuclt concept to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I observed there are some students who can go to schools with sufficient quality education rather than the highest quality education.

A bright motivated kid will do well anywhere.

+1. I wonder why the richest people in the US are typically from public schools. Think about Bill Gates.

Bill Gates did not go to public school in 2018-2026. Our public schools today are not what they were pre-tech.

And Bill Gates and Paul Allen met at Lakeside, an elite private high school. So maybe not the best example.