Went from private to public and am not very happy

[Anonymous]

We moved from a big 3 to a MD public with a good reputation this year. I want to like it but it's just lacking in a number of ways. It's tough to pinpoint it, but it ranges from the "problem kids" which were pretty minimal at the private, to the lack of parental involvement, to the minimal homework, the ok but not great facilities. Maybe it's just hard trading down, kind of like going from a luxury car to a no frills. It's hard to know if the education is inferior or just the suberficial/environment. I keep telling myself it's good, but frankly I kind of want to get my DC back to private. My DC is ok with it but I don't get the sense it's a "great fit." Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

You made the choice, go back, or besides bashing everyhting about the school tell us why you switched, we are always up for a good story.

[Anonymous]

I would ask myself the following questions: did your overall quality of life improve after you switched them? Is your family benefitting from then financial savings or is that not an issue? Do you have to have the bells and whistles or do your children? We are driving old cars, living in a pretty understated manner to put our children in their private schools. I do so rather ungraciously at times and frequently wonder whether or not our children would have preferred an account for the $750k for pre-k - 12 th grade each. Good luck. You are a good parent for being involved.

[Anonymous]

OP, the fact that you can't put your finger on it tells me that it is not that bad. But it is FREE. I worry about dd in private school with too many frills!
Look there is NOT ONE study that has shown that private schools are better than public schools except in SAT prep, but public students can meet the private scores by starting early SAT prep (8th grade, informally and 19 thgrade formally).
Keep your money.

[Anonymous]

Everyone has to do what they think is right for their family. I've worn the same clothes for years and haven't spent a dime on myself so that my DD could have the best education money can buy. For me -- that is the American Dream-- for the kid to do better than the parents.

[Anonymous]

What are problem kids? Just curious. We are thinking about making a change, so would like to know more here.

[Anonymous]

There are all sorts of kids out there. If you only want your child exposed to a certain type of child, then by all means, go back to private (although there are kids with issues in private as well). Public is for anyone and everyone. Do you want them to take all the kids you deem as "problems" and put them in a classroom away from your child? Not going to happen. What is wrong with your child being exposed to all sorts of children. If it is interfering with your child's learning then you need to remove your child from the environment.

[Anonymous]

How old is your child? What school?

[Anonymous]

New Poster here. I would think a problem child is a child who causes disruptions in the classroom, both during learning time and free time, has discipline issues, and/or takes a significant amount of one-on-one attention from the teacher to the detriment of the other students. Yes, this is one of the reasons I send my kids to private. I do not want other kids who have behavior issues to take time away from my child's learning time. I work at teaching my lids to behave and they know that they will be in trouble with me if they do not. Not all parents do. In private school, kids who cause these types of problems get sent to the head of school, punished or otherwise dealt with, parents called, suspended and perhaps counseled out. Generally you get less of this type of child because, in general, the parents tend to be more involved and on top of things. Its kind of like in the real world in my book, if someone I work with has an attitude and causes problems, or takes too much time to accomplish tasks, they are soon gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Poster here. I would think a problem child is a child who causes disruptions in the classroom, both during learning time and free time, has discipline issues, and/or takes a significant amount of one-on-one attention from the teacher to the detriment of the other students. Yes, this is one of the reasons I send my kids to private. I do not want other kids who have behavior issues to take time away from my child's learning time. I work at teaching my lids to behave and they know that they will be in trouble with me if they do not. Not all parents do. In private school, kids who cause these types of problems get sent to the head of school, punished or otherwise dealt with, parents called, suspended and perhaps counseled out. Generally you get less of this type of child because, in general, the parents tend to be more involved and on top of things. Its kind of like in the real world in my book, if someone I work with has an attitude and causes problems, or takes too much time to accomplish tasks, they are soon gone.

The "problem children" OP could be referring to may have ADHD or other medical issues. I don't think their parents should be categorized as not being "involved and on top of things". Behavioral problems is not a black and white issue.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised to hear about the lack of parental involvement at your MD public. I would say exactly the opposite about our MoCo public parent population. I can't imagine and more invested and involved group.

[Anonymous]

The "problem children" OP could be referring to may have ADHD or other medical issues. I don't think their parents should be categorized as not being "involved and on top of things". Behavioral problems is not a black and white issue.

They could have a medical and valid basis for their disruptive behavior that frequently diverts the teacher's attention.

So? The effect on Ava is still the same.

By-invitation-only schools have a way of not keeping these children on the roster for long. I am OK with that, even as I sympathize with the plight of their parents. -- Big # parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised to hear about the lack of parental involvement at your MD public. I would say exactly the opposite about our MoCo public parent population. I can't imagine and more invested and involved group.

Same here, also at a MoCo public. Actually much more involved than when we were in private school.

[Anonymous]

Go back to private.

[Anonymous]

This sounds totally FAKE.