Paying 32K and my DD's teacher has NO idea what she's doing

[Anonymous]

We made the switch from public to private. My daughter was an A student at public and fit in socially. She just didn't like the general environment. This is what I've been hearing over the past 2 months (since the switch)

1) My teachers noticed immediately that I was capable of honors work in science and math and moved me up immediately. I would have had to fight to move up in my public because of scheduling issues

2) My teachers are friendly, warm, and care about me as a person.

3) The kids were immediately accepting

4) I got a personalized congratulatory letter from the headmaster about my high honors status first semester there. I got high honors my whole first year at public and it went virtually unnoticed.

5) There is a dedicated individual and office for college questions, etc. who I can tap into whenever I want. In the couple months I've been there, I understand more about this process and feel less anxious about it.

6) I have fun in class, i.e. it is very participatory. Having my laptop there with me helps me organize my materials and really helps me in my research.

7) Not having a huge homework load allows me to de-stress and enjoy my music. I am a LOT less stressed than my friends still in their public.

8) I am free of SOLs and the courses are better since teachers are not teaching to these tests.

There's more, but that's enough to justify the tuition for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We made the switch from public to private. My daughter was an A student at public and fit in socially. She just didn't like the general environment. This is what I've been hearing over the past 2 months (since the switch)

1) My teachers noticed immediately that I was capable of honors work in science and math and moved me up immediately. I would have had to fight to move up in my public because of scheduling issues

2) My teachers are friendly, warm, and care about me as a person.

3) The kids were immediately accepting

4) I got a personalized congratulatory letter from the headmaster about my high honors status first semester there. I got high honors my whole first year at public and it went virtually unnoticed.

5) There is a dedicated individual and office for college questions, etc. who I can tap into whenever I want. In the couple months I've been there, I understand more about this process and feel less anxious about it.

6) I have fun in class, i.e. it is very participatory. Having my laptop there with me helps me organize my materials and really helps me in my research.

7) Not having a huge homework load allows me to de-stress and enjoy my music. I am a LOT less stressed than my friends still in their public.

8) I am free of SOLs and the courses are better since teachers are not teaching to these tests.

There's more, but that's enough to justify the tuition for me.

Might I ask which school? It sounds amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We made the switch from public to private. My daughter was an A student at public and fit in socially. She just didn't like the general environment. This is what I've been hearing over the past 2 months (since the switch)

1) My teachers noticed immediately that I was capable of honors work in science and math and moved me up immediately. I would have had to fight to move up in my public because of scheduling issues

2) My teachers are friendly, warm, and care about me as a person.

3) The kids were immediately accepting

4) I got a personalized congratulatory letter from the headmaster about my high honors status first semester there. I got high honors my whole first year at public and it went virtually unnoticed.

5) There is a dedicated individual and office for college questions, etc. who I can tap into whenever I want. In the couple months I've been there, I understand more about this process and feel less anxious about it.

6) I have fun in class, i.e. it is very participatory. Having my laptop there with me helps me organize my materials and really helps me in my research.

7) Not having a huge homework load allows me to de-stress and enjoy my music. I am a LOT less stressed than my friends still in their public.

8) I am free of SOLs and the courses are better since teachers are not teaching to these tests.

There's more, but that's enough to justify the tuition for me.

You resurrected this thread to re-boot the acrimonious private vs. public debate? Thanks so much....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We made the switch from public to private. My daughter was an A student at public and fit in socially. She just didn't like the general environment. This is what I've been hearing over the past 2 months (since the switch)

1) My teachers noticed immediately that I was capable of honors work in science and math and moved me up immediately. I would have had to fight to move up in my public because of scheduling issues

2) My teachers are friendly, warm, and care about me as a person.

3) The kids were immediately accepting

4) I got a personalized congratulatory letter from the headmaster about my high honors status first semester there. I got high honors my whole first year at public and it went virtually unnoticed.

5) There is a dedicated individual and office for college questions, etc. who I can tap into whenever I want. In the couple months I've been there, I understand more about this process and feel less anxious about it.

6) I have fun in class, i.e. it is very participatory. Having my laptop there with me helps me organize my materials and really helps me in my research.

7) Not having a huge homework load allows me to de-stress and enjoy my music. I am a LOT less stressed than my friends still in their public.

8) I am free of SOLs and the courses are better since teachers are not teaching to these tests.

There's more, but that's enough to justify the tuition for me.

You resurrected this thread to re-boot the acrimonious private vs. public debate? Thanks so much....

Nope. I was stating why some parents will pay for private school, even if it isn't one of the 'top 3'. For some kids, it's just better. This parent is 100% correct to question her DD's teacher and school. She's paying after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We made the switch from public to private. My daughter was an A student at public and fit in socially. She just didn't like the general environment. This is what I've been hearing over the past 2 months (since the switch)

1) My teachers noticed immediately that I was capable of honors work in science and math and moved me up immediately. I would have had to fight to move up in my public because of scheduling issues

2) My teachers are friendly, warm, and care about me as a person.

3) The kids were immediately accepting

4) I got a personalized congratulatory letter from the headmaster about my high honors status first semester there. I got high honors my whole first year at public and it went virtually unnoticed.

5) There is a dedicated individual and office for college questions, etc. who I can tap into whenever I want. In the couple months I've been there, I understand more about this process and feel less anxious about it.

6) I have fun in class, i.e. it is very participatory. Having my laptop there with me helps me organize my materials and really helps me in my research.

7) Not having a huge homework load allows me to de-stress and enjoy my music. I am a LOT less stressed than my friends still in their public.

8) I am free of SOLs and the courses are better since teachers are not teaching to these tests.

There's more, but that's enough to justify the tuition for me.

Might I ask which school? It sounds amazing.

She's at Bullis. It's a good match for her, and for our family. I'm sure some here will not consider the school 'good enough' for various reasons. Fine by me. A good school to me is one where my children are happy in their learning environment. This private would not have been a fit for my oldest son however. He needed a school that was more like Burke or Georgetown Day. So will my youngest son. Incidentally, we used our very good public elementary and middle schools, and went private for high school. The staff at the public high school just wasn't up to par, and the learning environment was toxic. My eldest wasn't happy in the public middle school, but that was because of his dysgraphic dysfunction and the school's 'no private laptop' policy. I'm glad to see that FFX county has changed this policy starting this year, and devices are allowed. Not being able to type, to a dysgraphic, is educational hell!

[Anonymous]

PP, sounds like you have a refreshingly common sense and positive attitude! Thanks for the posts, I enjoyed reading them.