Social fit vs academics

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd.

Yeah, if you don't have a kid who's any of the following: (1) URM, (2) LGBT, (3) neurodivergent, (4) physically disabled, (5) lives far from campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics as parents your job is to give your kid the best education possible.

Get some parenting classes your kids deserve better than your stupidity.

No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd. Except for new money wanna bees.

This is harsher language than I would use, but I agree with the thought. It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics as parents your job is to give your kid the best education possible.

Get some parenting classes your kids deserve better than your stupidity.

No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd. Except for new money wanna bees.

Oh my goodness, Shira Huntzberger is posing in DCUM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

...until your kid's academics suffer because they don't have friends, are being bullied, or both.

[Anonymous]

Social fit is never a guarantee. We tried 2 years at a small private with other “quirky” kids. It was a bust. One year into public and my kid already has more friends. Larger variety vs a carefully curated cohort worked in her favor.

I’d choose on a balance of academics, sports, distance, club opportunities, etc. One school seems ideal vs dealing with logistics of 3 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

...until your kid's academics suffer because they don't have friends, are being bullied, or both.

That's what any teacher will tell you, based on reality, not someone's flippant ideological nonsense. Kids that are too upset to access the learning process won't learn. They will withdraw and stumble along or fail. No amount of browbeating, punishing, or cajoling will change that.

That's what actually happens in classrooms vs. glib BS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

...until your kid's academics suffer because they don't have friends, are being bullied, or both.

That's what any teacher will tell you, based on reality, not someone's flippant ideological nonsense. Kids that are too upset to access the learning process won't learn. They will withdraw and stumble along or fail. No amount of browbeating, punishing, or cajoling will change that.

That's what actually happens in classrooms vs. glib BS.

Way to completely miss the point.

"Suffer" doesn't necessarily mean not learning. It could just as easily mean someone who would ordinarily be an A student getting Bs due to depression, self-harm, or other mental health challenges that often result from not fitting in socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

...until your kid's academics suffer because they don't have friends, are being bullied, or both.

That's what any teacher will tell you, based on reality, not someone's flippant ideological nonsense. Kids that are too upset to access the learning process won't learn. They will withdraw and stumble along or fail. No amount of browbeating, punishing, or cajoling will change that.

That's what actually happens in classrooms vs. glib BS.

Way to completely miss the point.

"Suffer" doesn't necessarily mean not learning. It could just as easily mean someone who would ordinarily be an A student getting Bs due to depression, self-harm, or other mental health challenges that often result from not fitting in socially.

Yes, this happened to me in college. I took forever to graduate and my GPA was in the toilet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics as parents your job is to give your kid the best education possible.

Get some parenting classes your kids deserve better than your stupidity.

No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd. Except for new money wanna bees.

Education takes many forms and only one of those is academic. Yes, it is important to give them the tools they need to be successful in life and everyone uses different tools to achieve that - some of these are social. Clearly, social acumen not a tool you have in your box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academics as parents your job is to give your kid the best education possible.

Get some parenting classes your kids deserve better than your stupidity.

No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd. Except for new money wanna bees.

This is harsher language than I would use, but I agree with the thought. It's about academics, OP. "Social fit" is a made up concept.

Consider yourself very fortunate that you are able to believe that.

[Anonymous]

I sent my sons to different high schools bc they are different kids and each school fit them better. 100% it was the best decision for them and our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much did your family weigh social fit and academics in the private school search? Just some background, 2 of our kids are athletic and social. One isn't as academic as the other, but we have a third kid who is not athletic at all and is smart, quirky, and introverted. I know social fit is the utmost importance for this kid and I would hate to have her an in environment full of athletic extroverts. Finding a school that fits all three seems impossible. We feel like we are in over our heads because the more academic schools are too intense for one kid and not sporty enough. And the more sporty schools may not a social fit for the quirky kid. Any suggestions?

Both. A happy child learns better.

[Anonymous]

Social fit first.

Academics will follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Academics as parents your job is to give your kid the best education possible.

Get some parenting classes your kids deserve better than your stupidity.

No one I know is worried about "social fit" when picking a school. That is absurd. Except for new money wanna bees.

Sigh. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit. How embarrassing. The question isn’t about social engineering, but where a quirky kid will feel most comfortable. OP, go by social fit. A kid that is smart can excel anywhere. Colleges look at a child and rigor in context of the school. PP’s response is really weird because everyone looks at fit and academics. That is why there are so many successful different types of schools in our area. I have a senior at a DC private school and fit was very important.

[Anonymous]

Social fit is very important. We've been touring high schools and I think the academics at every school we have been to will be 100% fine. Sure there are some difference but overall I'm not concerned about the academic variations because every school we have visited will prepare my kid for college. There are larger variations in things like transportation options, sports teams availability, extra-circulars and the general vibe of the school. Those will probably weigh heavily in our decision. I would not force my kids to go to the same school if it was clear it was not a good fit for one of them.