Can we stop the "is it worth it" threads?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hijack here - explain the Owen Meany reference, please. I don't get it, and it is my favorite book, and John Irving is one of my favorite authors.

Ha -- that was exactly my response when I read the Owen Meany comment! "What does any of this have to do with Catholicism, grenades, or Vietnamese school children?" I don't think PP meant to reference the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, posters are free to post "is it worth it" threads and readers are free to read or not to read "is it worth it" threads". Simple solution.

I agree, but you miss the point. The OP doesn't want the subject discussed.
Some people with vested interests in this area get quite defensive and even testy
when the subject of the relative value of private schools is mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Fine. Please post complete info about your DS/DD - age, scores, personality, reactions to different types of preschool teachers and classrooms, interests, talents. Then tell us where you live, what your thoughts are about different commutes, about the pros and cons of living near classmates, about your DC's schedule of afterschool activities. Then tell us about your family's philosophy of education - how do you feel about progressive schools? Traditional schools? Religious schools? What do you view as positive outcomes - is it all about Big 3 high schools and ivy league colleges? About being a well-rounded student? About happiness?

Now, tell us what your choices are, and what your public back-up is.

Then we can help answer the question "is school x worth $30,000? Without that info, it's a meaningless discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, posters are free to post "is it worth it" threads and readers are free to read or not to read "is it worth it" threads". Simple solution.

I agree, but you miss the point. The OP doesn't want the subject discussed.
Some people with vested interests in this area get quite defensive and even testy
when the subject of the relative value of private schools is mentioned.

The problem is that any thread asking "Is it worth it?" quickly degenerates into trash talk. Private school parents will explain their choice by highlighting the problems of their local public schools, which infuriates the public school parents. And public school parents will say the private schools are a waste of money, which infuriates the private school parents. Nothing gets accomplished because every individual family calculates the costs and benefits differently. Everyone just walks away thinking other parents are assholes.

[Anonymous]

I agree, but you miss the point. The OP doesn't want the subject discussed.
Some people with vested interests in this area get quite defensive and even testy
when the subject of the relative value of private schools is mentioned.

I have not missed the point. As already mentioned, the solution is simple. The OP does not have to read a post not complying to her inclusion criteria. QID

[Anonymous]

The problem is that any thread asking "Is it worth it?" quickly degenerates into trash talk. Private school parents will explain their choice by highlighting the problems of their local public schools, which infuriates the public school parents. And public school parents will say the private schools are a waste of money, which infuriates the private school parents. Nothing gets accomplished because every individual family calculates the costs and benefits differently. Everyone just walks away thinking other parents are assholes.

Trash talk is in the eye of the beholder. We can use our discerning brains to screen what we do not wish to read. If you do not wish to read "Is it worth it ?" threads ... don't. The solution is simple. Do not complicate it with policewomanly authority over what other readers choose to read.

[Anonymous]

OP, relief from your annoyance at such threads is achievable. Don't read the threads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hijack here - explain the Owen Meany reference, please. I don't get it, and it is my favorite book, and John Irving is one of my favorite authors.

Ha -- that was exactly my response when I read the Owen Meany comment! "What does any of this have to do with Catholicism, grenades, or Vietnamese school children?" I don't think PP meant to reference the book.

No, it refers to the fact that Owen "speaks" in all caps throughout the text (to denote his strange voice).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The problem is that any thread asking "Is it worth it?" quickly degenerates into trash talk. Private school parents will explain their choice by highlighting the problems of their local public schools, which infuriates the public school parents. And public school parents will say the private schools are a waste of money, which infuriates the private school parents. Nothing gets accomplished because every individual family calculates the costs and benefits differently. Everyone just walks away thinking other parents are assholes.

Trash talk is in the eye of the beholder. We can use our discerning brains to screen what we do not wish to read. If you do not wish to read "Is it worth it ?" threads ... don't. The solution is simple. Do not complicate it with policewomanly authority over what other readers choose to read.

I didn't think PP was being "policewomanly" but just pointing out the futility of these discussions. I totally agree with PP that both sides just come across sounding like assholes. I admit that I can't help but to read these threads - they are hilarious and pathetic at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Why read futile discussions? Or perhaps entertainment value is another reason why some choose to read "is it worth it" threads?

Whatever the reason (entertainment or education) the answer to the OP question about whether we can "stop the is it worth it" threads is simple. The answer is no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine. Please post complete info about your DS/DD - age, scores, personality, reactions to different types of preschool teachers and classrooms, interests, talents. Then tell us where you live, what your thoughts are about different commutes, about the pros and cons of living near classmates, about your DC's schedule of afterschool activities. Then tell us about your family's philosophy of education - how do you feel about progressive schools? Traditional schools? Religious schools? What do you view as positive outcomes - is it all about Big 3 high schools and ivy league colleges? About being a well-rounded student? About happiness?

Now, tell us what your choices are, and what your public back-up is.

Then we can help answer the question "is school x worth $30,000? Without that info, it's a meaningless discussion.

Not really -- one could answer "here's what I think I'm getting for my $30,000 compared to public school" and another poster conclude from the answer that the benefits are or are not worth it to her family. Not a flawless system -- e.g. writer and reader could start from very different assumptions about what their local publics have to offer -- but it's potentially helpful information and it doesn't require either party to identify herself or disclose lots of financial details.

[Anonymous]

OP - just stop reading.

And let me guess - you don't have financial concerns.

[Anonymous]

I don't think we should stop the "Is it worth it?" threads. For some people 13 or 14 years of private school tuition requires a huge sacrifice. I appreciate that parents are trying to be thoughtful about the decision and do not automatically assume a private school is better and presumably worth the cost. I am coming to the opposite conclusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The problem is that any thread asking "Is it worth it?" quickly degenerates into trash talk. Private school parents will explain their choice by highlighting the problems of their local public schools, which infuriates the public school parents. And public school parents will say the private schools are a waste of money, which infuriates the private school parents. Nothing gets accomplished because every individual family calculates the costs and benefits differently. Everyone just walks away thinking other parents are assholes.

Trash talk is in the eye of the beholder. We can use our discerning brains to screen what we do not wish to read. If you do not wish to read "Is it worth it ?" threads ... don't. The solution is simple. Do not complicate it with policewomanly authority over what other readers choose to read.

If you don't like what I am saying, just don't read my posts.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry. Many are not reading you posts.