What's the deal with so many people who don't believe in IS
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Anonymous
| Everyone wants to feel that their decision is "right" - whether that is sending their child to their local public or writing the check to send them to one of private schools. People need to chill out and stop looking for validation. Just because I do "x" and you don't doesn't make one of us bad and the other a good parent. We all do what we think is best for our child and our family. |
Anonymous
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I think most posters are just trying to counteract the false stereotypes that are rampant on these boards, and I for one am happy to see that. You see it a lot when people list their reasons for a decision in a manner that suggests those items do not exist at another school or in another system. People post some pretty obnoxious falsehoods on all of these boards about a lot of schools.
It seems pretty much everyone is comfortable with "you do what is best for you, and I'll do what is best for me." But no one is happy to see stereotypes and outright falsehoods posted as a justification or as an "fact" that others should seriously consider when making their own decisions. I'm glad people visit on all kinds of boards and point out these errors. |
Anonymous
You're saying people "counteract" by making claims such as "it's all a sales job, and you fell for it" about private school parents? That doesn't seem very constructive to me. |
Anonymous
No, that's a totally different kind of argument. |
Anonymous
So can I assume you'd tell that other public school poster to pipe down? Maybe you can advance the flow of ideas here by giving examples of the "stereotypes and outright falsehoods" you see among the reasons parents cite for choosing private schools. Here are links to two recent threads my quick search pulled up, where that question got lots of answers. I've even copied a bunch of the reasons people listed below to make it easy for you. Just to be clear, I'm not asking whether you agree or disagree with any of the reasons other people gave. I don't agree with all of the comments other have made either, but again, I assume neither of us needs to respond to everything we might disagree with. I'm asking you to identify the "outright falsehoods" that require public school posters to "counteract." If you do that, then maybe the private school parents here will understand better what public school parents consider to be "fighting words" we should avoid using. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/455037.page http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/432505.page 1. smaller class sizes 2. wanting to foster a love of learning early 3. reduced focus on standardized testing 4. frequent (daily/multiple times a week) PE, music, art, language class 5. positive environment with an emphasis on kindness 6. ability to differentiate academically, because the teachers get to know each kid's strengths and weaknesses Needed a strong educational setting with performing arts, visual arts and sports. Because I barely trust DC to pick up my trash much less educate my child (and I grew up here) Cons: Does not meet as many local kids for friendships and playmates. Pros (for us): Single sex education centered on boys More physical activity More arts and culture (who knew at a boy's school) Great young motivated teachers who are also fantastic role models Better supervision than the public school (smaller school, teachers know all the kids) so less bullying More laid back feel than our local public Great curriculum (no Common Core -- especially Math) Sentence Diagramming and so much more... Cons: Cost, distance Pros: Small classes, individualized instruction, exceptional teachers, trustworthy peer group, physical and emotional safety, lovely physical environment, many performing arts opportunities, great curriculum Con: cost distance from friends DC's now warped perception that being middle class is somehow "poor" because we don't winter in Vail, summer in Paris or drive a Range Rover Pro: no standardized testing no teaching "down" more and better quality reading and writing more thinking, analyzing and discussion more gym class - and real phys ed like weight lifting and sports skills, no Chicken Dance! being surrounded by kids who are all highly motivated brings out the best in our DC and we found a school that selected ambitious, hard working kids better quality lunches - real food cooked in a kitchen an environment where manners are expected and enforced teachers who approach their job as college professors do and are also available before and after school no projects that are done 100% at home teachers have more freedom to choose material from a variety of sources the school can dismiss students with chronic behavior problems biannual drug testing and breathalizers at dance exits flexible aftercare (drop in) uniforms teaching study skills - how to study, how to take notes, how to "close read" teaching responsibility and consequences - our public allowed late work all the time consequence free, our private accepts it under some circumstances but only with reduced credit overall environment - a studious atmosphere and little things like having copies of famous works of art instead of "don't join gangs" posters on the wall recess every day (vs. once a week) music and art part of the curriculum |
Anonymous
| Pipe down. |
Anonymous
| Please everybody just do us a favor and explain what you like about your private school, period. Not what you like about your private school compared to that big bad bogeyman public school. Because I have heard so many false statements. Just tell us what you like about yours. Would you say "I married my husband because all of the other men were so awful"? |
Anonymous
Those false statements go both ways. |
Anonymous
Kind of hard to do that. Why would anyone pay $40K for a school if it were just like the public school? People go to private because they don't think public will meet their needs. There will always be a comparison. |
Anonymous
Good point. However, I have seen many posts where that's the only said and someone responds with "are you saying that public school doesn't offer that?" goating a response that leads to a good ole private V's public school fight. |
Anonymous
| Here's a recent story for you. My daughter just took some standardized tests at our private. She improved significantly in her reading scores from last year. How did I find this out? The principal called me to enthusiastically share the good news. It's that kind of passion that I did not find when my other DC was at public for 6 years. |
Anonymous
+2. My kids have been in public and private schools and both finished/are finishing in public magnets. I come on here to catch up on what's going on with their former private school and, I'll confess, a tiny bit of my enjoys watching the histrionics and questions about getting FA on $350/year (it's a slice of DC, for sure, and you guys can be hysterical). But the only times I wade in is to talk about our experience AT the former private school or when, as PP mentioned, somebody make sweeping and off-base comments about public schools. ERBs vs. public school testing? I'm on it. |
Anonymous
| * The only times I wade in ARE to talk about.... |
Anonymous
I'll be contrary here and say that I wouldn't like to receive that call because of what it demonstrates to the kid about the principal's belief in the importance of standardized tests and because it tells the kid the principal is watching them in particular. I don't like my kid feeling like he's under a microscope and all the adults around him are trying to get him to fix something about himself. |
Anonymous
I have to agree. Personally I'd find it a little creepy to get a call from the Principal about my kids test scores. An email from the teacher, okay, but a call from the Principal? I think they have more important things to spend their time on. I'd hope so anyway. |