withdraw now, or stick it out?

[Anonymous]

My children attended a local private which posters often criticize for their math program. They both turned out to be math geniuses in high school, getting perfect SATs, perfect Math II Subject Tests, A+ in Calculus BC. We supplemented a little with workbooks, summer camps, or CTY, but we also trusted that the school's approach would make our children thrive in other areas of their academics and their lives -- and it did.

Supplement their math instruction, but do not pull them out of the school, it is too disruptive mid-year.

[Anonymous]

This is common complaint in both private and public. If Math is the only issues, supplement on your own time.

[Anonymous]

If I read you correctly that you are happy with other aspects of the school and the school you are thinking of switching to is less attractive to you in every respect other than math, my recommendation would be to stick it out and just help out with the math after school.

You can help your child perform better in math. There are lots of other aspects of a school that you can't fix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My children attended a local private which posters often criticize for their math program. They both turned out to be math geniuses in high school, getting perfect SATs, perfect Math II Subject Tests, A+ in Calculus BC. We supplemented a little with workbooks, summer camps, or CTY, but we also trusted that the school's approach would make our children thrive in other areas of their academics and their lives -- and it did.

Supplement their math instruction, but do not pull them out of the school, it is too disruptive mid-year.

SAT math goes through pre-Calc but not for higher math. What did DC get on the AP Calc BC test?

This sounds like the school did a great job teaching math through pre-Calc, and maybe Calc too (and depending on how classmates did on the SATs and AP test). There's definitely something to be said for that, with one school of thought arguing that rushing through math means you don't get the foundations. On the other hand, boredom is bad. That's the trade off OP is facing.

[Anonymous]

This seems like a no-brainer to me. The private is stronger in aspects other than math, and you are on the hook for the tuition for this year regardless. It will be disruptive for your child to switch mid-year. Leave him in the private for this year, supplement the math, and move him to the public next year if you think it would be better for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are way overestimating the local public middle school's ability to teach math.

Take math into your own hand. That is what I am doing. Math is the easiest to supplement on you own.

He used to do CTY and it was OK. How do you do it, and do you plan on supplementing through high school?

My child is younger, so I am not sure what I will be doing in high school. But I am planning on having a parallel curriculum on math going through k-8 years. I trust by high school, schools would offer enough harder math courses. For the elementary years, I mostly use Singapore Math to make sure he has a solid foundation. For older grades, may be something like Art of Problem Solving or either the CTY or Stanford's online program. I think they may actually be the same or similar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My children attended a local private which posters often criticize for their math program. They both turned out to be math geniuses in high school, getting perfect SATs, perfect Math II Subject Tests, A+ in Calculus BC. We supplemented a little with workbooks, summer camps, or CTY, but we also trusted that the school's approach would make our children thrive in other areas of their academics and their lives -- and it did.

Supplement their math instruction, but do not pull them out of the school, it is too disruptive mid-year.

SAT math goes through pre-Calc but not for higher math. What did DC get on the AP Calc BC test?

This sounds like the school did a great job teaching math through pre-Calc, and maybe Calc too (and depending on how classmates did on the SATs and AP test). There's definitely something to be said for that, with one school of thought arguing that rushing through math means you don't get the foundations. On the other hand, boredom is bad. That's the trade off OP is facing.

5s on AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC exams.

[Anonymous]

My kid ended up in HLVAC by senior year and we weren't impressed with the math at her private so maybe you are jumping the gun a little. Kid did CTY too, just not for math, but it really was a great way to supplement whatever you find lacking in the private. No way would I have destroyed her happiness over my ideal of one subject. I think a great deal more must be lacking from your private than you are articulating.

[Anonymous]

"There's definitely something to be said for that, with one school of thought arguing that rushing through math means you don't get the foundations. On the other hand, boredom is bad."

I thought this an important point. The math can be very demanding at the Upper School level and my personal experience is that our earlier patience going through the foundation work ended up making a huge difference later. We didn't alwasy see that at the time. Mine was craving more at times too. Fortunately he went to his teachers and they sent him back with extra math work that he really enjoyed. I would say it went deeper than wide and really was the type of math he wanted to do for fun. And as he grew older he found it for himself. Perhaps if your child made the request, it would resonate louder with his/her teachers not just for this year but next year's placement. Good luck with your decisions.

[Anonymous]

P.S. If he hates math now, is it because it's being taught by drilling? If not, I would dig a little deeper into the hate part. Could his interests be changing on you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If math is most important to you, then, yes, probably pull your son out. If you care about things like: learning to think outside the box, learning to write well, and getting more individualized attention, I'd probably keep him in and look to supplement math. Also, middle school is tough on kids. Pulling your kid out mid-year could be socially disasterous.

plus 1!!!

[Anonymous]

20:26. Interestingly if you look at Common Core math standards, they look a lot like what private schools have been teaching for years (and a number of private school educators have said as much to me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it would be fairly easy to supplement on math with outside programs such as John's Hopkins CTY online.

Yes this is a good option and most HS will offer different levels of math, one your DC is there. Sounds strange that you would pull out now.

[Anonymous]

OP - this is truly a strange post…and the classic example of throwing the baby out with the bath water. You're tossing everything aside because of one subject - albeit an important one - but really?! This is rash and you most likely live to regret it. Before pulling your kid out on Monday (seriously…? before the 1st semester is even finished…?) research what the options are at your school for different levels as your child moves through the grades, possibilities to get more extensive work with the teacher (or maybe even another math teacher at the school) on the side and other programs to supplement. You might be pleasantly surprised that the programs will be stronger as your child ages.

Also, I'm sorry to say, but you need to sit back and question yourself and your analytical abilities and the problems they may cause for your child….you are sacrificing a program that is solid in all other areas which are just as important. It really won't matter if your kid can do math at every level if he's never been taught to properly analyze that information - what is he going to do with it, etc. etc. Writing and articulating an argument is just as important as math as he gets older. You have already indicated that your pubic option is not good in these areas so why in the world are you willing to sacrifice those important areas?! If your public option was a strong one in every area then the answer is easy (maybe not pulling him out mid-year though….terrible idea), but it's not so why are you even considering it.

Strange and short-sided. Help your kid in all areas of life… open your eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does your kid feel about it? Does he want to go to the public school? Is he begging you to pull him out?

DC wants to stay and is resigned to the terrible math situation. If he doesn't move now we will get a tutor and move next year to public. I cant bear the thought of going through the application beauty contest again.

I think that DC has the right idea, here.