what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are projecting OP. nobody really cares, and if they do they probably are asking a fact based question about why you made the choice.

PP here. sooo not true. my friends care deeply and are unabashed about their passion and how "stupid" parents are for sending their kids to private. their word, definitely not mine.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't matter what you say to them. It's a no win situation for you.

You'll find that there are a percentage of neighborhood public school parents who don't like you sending your jobs to private schools.

These people will become more and more distant over time. Some of this is because you aren't sharing the same experiences. Some of it may be envy.

Our neighborhood is about 50% private and 50% public (Whitman)

[Anonymous]

I just say that we really feel DS need a small class size and extra help.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors don't know where my kid goes to school much less care whether it's public or private.

[Anonymous]

I would never think to bring it up (then again, I've lived here for over five years and have no idea who any of my neighbors are). If asked I would probably just say we picked the school we felt was the best fit for our child.

[Anonymous]

Having sent both kids to public for elementary and then switched to private, I can say honestly to anyone who challenges, "Yes, it is worth the money for us." We've been to both and have made our choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you are projecting OP. nobody really cares, and if they do they probably are asking a fact based question about why you made the choice.

Ha. Read the post directly after yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"We thought it would be a great fit for our DC."

I understand where you are coming from because I have gotten negative comments from people as well. A woman at the park actually said, "do you honestly think the money is worth it?" (And not in a nice way). I mean, clearly I think it's worth it, so the subtext is that I some insufferable snob for sending my kid to private school. There's no point to engaging because a defensive person will take anything you say as a referendum on her choice. Just smile, deflect, move on.

While you probably are not a snob, my first thought about people who send their kids to private schools is that they are elitist snobs. Right or wrong it is the first thought I have.

I'm not sure how you can preface a gross stereotype with "Right or wrong…"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are projecting OP. nobody really cares, and if they do they probably are asking a fact based question about why you made the choice.

PP here. sooo not true. my friends care deeply and are unabashed about their passion and how "stupid" parents are for sending their kids to private. their word, definitely not mine.

+1

[Anonymous]

Op been there...a simple answer without too many reasons (made that mistake and the more reasons I gave it seems the more I offended them - understandably). If the private is religious at all you can say "we wanted the religious aspect incorporated into school," as I have had others say to me. Could also say "My child does better in smaller classrooms."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is hilarious. I swear, there are more public school parents on this forum than there are private school parents. It makes no sense whatsoever.

I'm the pp directly b/f you and I don't think you get it. I have one in public and one in private. When you include the "stereotypical" things in your answer (to a neighbor asking what is, let's face it, an offensive question), it shuts the whole thing down. Having one in each, I genuinely don't think one is better or worse than the other, just different choices for different kids, so I'm ok playing with the stereotypes and the hot-button subjects. Really, it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you are projecting OP. nobody really cares, and if they do they probably are asking a fact based question about why you made the choice.

PP here. sooo not true. my friends care deeply and are unabashed about their passion and how "stupid" parents are for sending their kids to private. their word, definitely not mine.

+1

Well, those are friends. Neighbors don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"We thought it would be a great fit for our DC."

I understand where you are coming from because I have gotten negative comments from people as well. A woman at the park actually said, "do you honestly think the money is worth it?" (And not in a nice way). I mean, clearly I think it's worth it, so the subtext is that I some insufferable snob for sending my kid to private school. There's no point to engaging because a defensive person will take anything you say as a referendum on her choice. Just smile, deflect, move on.

While you probably are not a snob, my first thought about people who send their kids to private schools is that they are elitist snobs. Right or wrong it is the first thought I have.

I am the original poster - and no, not a snob, and was hoping to get answers that had nothing to do with snobery or money, bc it's not about that. It's about thinking that the education your kids will get (and what that affords in life - take that how you want) will be superior than what the public system offers, and the price attached to that is that you need to pay for it. It is quite simple. But not all people can handle that answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't matter what you say to them. It's a no win situation for you.

You'll find that there are a percentage of neighborhood public school parents who don't like you sending your jobs to private schools.

These people will become more and more distant over time. Some of this is because you aren't sharing the same experiences. Some of it may be envy.

Our neighborhood is about 50% private and 50% public (Whitman)

We are in a similar neighborhood from a private/public perspective, also in Whitman, and have had kids in both private and public. I honestly can't say anyone has ever commented or cared where my kids were in school, nor would I have been judgmental about their choices. My kids did sports and other activities with kids from the neighborhood and there were a mix of private and public school kids in those and no one seemed bothered about the different school choices. Maybe because there are a lot of families opting for private/Catholic school so it's hardly an unusual choice. Plus most people in our neighborhood could certainly pay for private if that was the choice they wanted to make so there isn't any jealously/envy about some people being able to afford it and others not.

Confused about sending jobs to private schools. The kids all need to be taught by someone. In fact with smaller class sizes in private schools it creates more teacher jobs not fewer. Does it matter if the job is at Pyle or Norwood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"We thought it would be a great fit for our DC."

I understand where you are coming from because I have gotten negative comments from people as well. A woman at the park actually said, "do you honestly think the money is worth it?" (And not in a nice way). I mean, clearly I think it's worth it, so the subtext is that I some insufferable snob for sending my kid to private school. There's no point to engaging because a defensive person will take anything you say as a referendum on her choice. Just smile, deflect, move on.

While you probably are not a snob, my first thought about people who send their kids to private schools is that they are elitist snobs. Right or wrong it is the first thought I have.

I am the original poster - and no, not a snob, and was hoping to get answers that had nothing to do with snobery or money, bc it's not about that. It's about thinking that the education your kids will get (and what that affords in life - take that how you want) will be superior than what the public system offers, and the price attached to that is that you need to pay for it. It is quite simple. But not all people can handle that answer.

Wow, you are a total twat. No wonder your neighbors don't like you. But I highly recommend you give that answer to all who even look your way.