Our first days of public school after private, what I've noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Nice insult, but I really do not see it. We have one in each. There is not a lot of overlap -- different worlds. The public school parents are always going on and on about how much better it is, how great the public is, how cheap and so forth. Private school parents just say, OOOKKKK!!! because why argue? No reason to explain b/c it is such a hot button issue. In my experience there are many very angry public school parents out there. They practically blow a fuse explaining how great their school is. Protest too much. About our private I say -- we like it. That's it. It can be a very hard transition from private to public. Works for some people, not for others.

Maybe the people you know. I have two children in MCPS, and what I mostly have to say about it is -- I'm satisfied with the education they're getting.

And there's no point in my going on about how I don't pay tuition for my public-school children, because that's obvious. It would be like going on about how the sun came up again this morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess this just serves to demonstrate the folly of buying in a neighborhood with mediocre schools because you plan on sending your kid to private so "quality of schools isn't a factor" and you really want that really big house. Circumstances change, private school is no longer an option, and you're stuck in a mediocre school.

We bought our house for the quality of the schools, and none of what the OP and other private-schoolers have described has been the case for us. Our office staff is warm, welcoming and helpful. Elementary-age teachers (which is all we've been through so far), especially kindergarten, have bent over backwards to be positive and get kids excited about the beginning of school. I've gotten to know many of the other parents and made some good friends. And my kids are doing great, both academically and socially.

So basically, this thread is telling me there's no reason for me to consider private. Woohoo for money in the bank!

Wow, public school parents constantly bang on about how GREAT their decision is. You'd think it'd be the private school parents who are constantly justifying.

Is this your first visit to DCUM? You seem to have missed a couple thousand posts. You will find the arguments/justifications/smugness/etc. on all sides -- and don't leave out the homeschoolers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess this just serves to demonstrate the folly of buying in a neighborhood with mediocre schools because you plan on sending your kid to private so "quality of schools isn't a factor" and you really want that really big house. Circumstances change, private school is no longer an option, and you're stuck in a mediocre school.

We bought our house for the quality of the schools, and none of what the OP and other private-schoolers have described has been the case for us. Our office staff is warm, welcoming and helpful. Elementary-age teachers (which is all we've been through so far), especially kindergarten, have bent over backwards to be positive and get kids excited about the beginning of school. I've gotten to know many of the other parents and made some good friends. And my kids are doing great, both academically and socially.

So basically, this thread is telling me there's no reason for me to consider private. Woohoo for money in the bank!

Wow, public school parents constantly bang on about how GREAT their decision is. You'd think it'd be the private school parents who are constantly justifying.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nice insult, but I really do not see it. We have one in each. There is not a lot of overlap -- different worlds. The public school parents are always going on and on about how much better it is, how great the public is, how cheap and so forth. Private school parents just say, OOOKKKK!!! because why argue? No reason to explain b/c it is such a hot button issue. In my experience there are many very angry public school parents out there. They practically blow a fuse explaining how great their school is. Protest too much. About our private I say -- we like it. That's it. It can be a very hard transition from private to public. Works for some people, not for others.

Maybe the people you know. I have two children in MCPS, and what I mostly have to say about it is -- I'm satisfied with the education they're getting.

And there's no point in my going on about how I don't pay tuition for my public-school children, because that's obvious. It would be like going on about how the sun came up again this morning.

Its clear you have not read any threads on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

We've done parochial and public and they both have their strengths and weaknesses. The parochial does do a song and dance at the time of registration, but beyond that they're less friendly than our public on a regular basis. The teachers communicate more in parochial, but our public is known to have little communication. The public down the street has tons of communication but our public offers more enrichment opportunities than other publics and parochial. Figure out what you care most about and then find a school that has that as it's strength. It may be weaker in other areas, but you will be satisfied because your main concerns are met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess this just serves to demonstrate the folly of buying in a neighborhood with mediocre schools because you plan on sending your kid to private so "quality of schools isn't a factor" and you really want that really big house. Circumstances change, private school is no longer an option, and you're stuck in a mediocre school.

We bought our house for the quality of the schools, and none of what the OP and other private-schoolers have described has been the case for us. Our office staff is warm, welcoming and helpful. Elementary-age teachers (which is all we've been through so far), especially kindergarten, have bent over backwards to be positive and get kids excited about the beginning of school. I've gotten to know many of the other parents and made some good friends. And my kids are doing great, both academically and socially.

So basically, this thread is telling me there's no reason for me to consider private. Woohoo for money in the bank!

Wow, public school parents constantly bang on about how GREAT their decision is. You'd think it'd be the private school parents who are constantly justifying.

+100

Private school parents do the same justification song and dance too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, OP, customer service isn't a priority -- or even on the radar. Which doesn't necessarily imply a worse education, but it does mean a less pleasant experience.

You will quickly learn that you nor your child is the customer. You will hopefully get one or two teachers who enjoy teaching and enjoy kids, but on balance, your kid's individual educational experience doesn't matter. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

private: nice, easy carpool line
Public: find space and walk in

private: soft spoken people who say what you want to hear
public: people much more direct and honest about your child's progress

private: poor teaching in the elementary grades
public: excellent to good

private: crazy tuition
public: reasonable fee for aftercare and lunches

private: dumb rules about birhtdays, etc
public: free for all

privte: people judging you constantly
public: nobody cares about you (in a good way)

i vote for public for sure at least until grade 5, maybe til 8th. in high school i can see making a switch

[Anonymous]

Would teachers get masters degrees at Towson or UMBC because they are affordable in state options? I don't get why this is something to be derided.

[Anonymous]

We aren't judged at our private. Certainty not as much as we are by public school parents we know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no real relationship between the front desk and the classroom. Sadly many front desk people are very nice, but the school is not.

I figured it out today, when my DC's teacher ask me for the same information I had provided earlier this to the registrar lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no real relationship between the front desk and the classroom. Sadly many front desk people are very nice, but the school is not.

I figured it out today, when my DC's teacher ask me for the same information I had provided earlier this to the registrar lady.

Correcting typo here: asked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:private: nice, easy carpool line
Public: find space and walk in

private: soft spoken people who say what you want to hear
public: people much more direct and honest about your child's progress

private: poor teaching in the elementary grades
public: excellent to good

private: crazy tuition
public: reasonable fee for aftercare and lunches

private: dumb rules about birhtdays, etc
public: free for all

privte: people judging you constantly
public: nobody cares about you (in a good way)

i vote for public for sure at least until grade 5, maybe til 8th. in high school i can see making a switch

Since you are so definitive and derisive of ALL. PRIVATE. SCHOOLS. Why on earth would you ever switch? Please, stay put.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, at our public school, many parents know each other, the staff are very pleasant and friendly, and they even had a welcome back "breakfast" for parents in the gym after drop off (where we got to walk our kids to their classes). So you can't assume all public schools are the same.

Name the city and state where this school is located.

I'm not the quoted poster, but our MCPS elementary school does the same thing.

FCPS - Providence ES had theirs in the cafeteria.

[Anonymous]

We just made the transition after 5y in private.

1. I love not paying tuition

2. My kids come home far more excited about school than they have in the past 5 years.

3. There are a lot more extras (music lessons during the day, choir, etc.)

4. A lot more kids in aftercare (at private a lot were picked up at the end of school) - as DH and I both WOTH, and my kids go to after care, they love this!

5. Less individualized attention paid to parents - aside from a written journal entry and what they tell me, I don't know what they are doing (private posted daily updates on the website.)

6. A lot more people. Back to school night? Whoa.

7. Did I mention no more tuition!?!?!