so sick of the gloating

[Anonymous]

Not to start a firestorm here but I am getting really tired of the public school parents in my neighborhood who feel it is appropriate to gloat to me that they have so many more school days than the privates. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the "I guess you get what you pay for (har de har har)" line or the "I don't know how you can stand having your kids at home for so long?" routine.

I just ignore it but, sheesh...enough is enough already. Please keep it to yourself.

[Anonymous]

My DC was just feeling guilty the other day that she was out of school before the public school kids. From her POV, longer summer vacation/more time at home is a perk.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that they're so happy to be rid of their children. I look forward to the end of school and the beginning of summer. FYI they also have bizarre random teacher days throughout the year and they go back later.

[Anonymous]

My DC takes writing and science camps over the summer that are greatly anticipated as the end of the year nears. There are more options available because of the slightly shorter school year and I consider that a terrific perk. So does my DC.

[Anonymous]

Let me begin by saying that my kids are in private schools. However, I am dismayed by the short school year which, even with the public schools' "bizarre random teacher days", is far shorter than the number of days in a public school year. It's not that I wish "to be rid of" my children for longer. It's simply that all research indicates that kids retain more information/learning when they don't have three months of summer.

[Anonymous]

I read an article yesterday about dealing with criticism, and it contained this useful tip: "So what’s the first and only step of dealing with criticism? Don’t care. You’re not going to please everybody. The art of dealing with criticism is really simple. If it’s valid – care. If it’s not – don’t care, forget about it."

BTW, whether it's extra private school tuition or extra taxes for public school, I'd be very happy to pay extra to send my children to school year-round. It also probably would be cheaper in the long run, since I wouldn't be paying for camps or babysitters during the summer. (If any School Board people are reading, please take note!)

[Anonymous]

If I were designing a public system, I'd probably create a longer school year because of the equity issues (basically the research shows that over the summer kids in stimulating environments learn more while kids in less stimulating environments lose some of what they've gained. So the achievement gap re-opens/widens every summer).

But from an individual parent POV, I know my own kid benefits from more time off. No retention problems and I love the fact that DC has lots of time for learning/travel outside of school. DC loves the fact that she can largely set her own agenda and that she isn't compelled to switch subjects every 45 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me begin by saying that my kids are in private schools. However, I am dismayed by the short school year which, even with the public schools' "bizarre random teacher days", is far shorter than the number of days in a public school year. It's not that I wish "to be rid of" my children for longer. It's simply that all research indicates that kids retain more information/learning when they don't have three months of summer.

I agree. I would love for DC to be in school for an extra week or two. It's certainly no harm, and probably beneficial.

I think OP's issue is that her neighbors are annoying. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

No bone in this fight personally, since DC isn't in school yet, but it may also be a backlash against the very fact that your child is in private. I attended private school growing up, and I recall both my parents and me getting snide remarks from neighbors about how we must think we were "too good" for public school. Kind of an insecurity thing.

I'm by no means saying that all public school parents are like that, just like some but not nearly all private school parents are pretentious jerks, IMHO.

A PP is right, smile and say it works for us, and move on.

[Anonymous]

My DS is in Private and I have noticed that the public school day is shorter. That may be the reason they can give a longer break. My DS is in school an hour more each day than his friends in public school.

[Anonymous]

My DC starts private school in the fall and I am dreading the late start and early finish to the year (at least compared to DCPS). It's not a matter of not wanting to spend time with my kid - I'd love to spend carefree summer days with DC. But I have to work for a living and there is only so much vacation I can take. Finding camps / child care for those extra weeks is going to be expensive and difficult given that a lot of camp schedules seem to be synched to the public school summer break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC starts private school in the fall and I am dreading the late start and early finish to the year (at least compared to DCPS). It's not a matter of not wanting to spend time with my kid - I'd love to spend carefree summer days with DC. But I have to work for a living and there is only so much vacation I can take. Finding camps / child care for those extra weeks is going to be expensive and difficult given that a lot of camp schedules seem to be synched to the public school summer break.

Me too. Just now trying to figure out what to do the week before Labor Day....

[Anonymous]

You get what you pay for har de har, har

[Anonymous]

Why would you care OP?

[Anonymous]

I agree with 15:05. You just have to keep in mind that your neighbors (along with 14:39) are unenlightened, cannot afford private schooling, or some combo of the two factors.