Please enlighten us public school parents

[Anonymous]

There are hook-up cultures at public schools. Wherever there are teenagers, there will be sex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a public school parent and private school veteran, and I would say the most significant factor for those who strongly prefer private schools is that they have selective admissions -- you can be sure your kid's classmates will be smart and well-behaved.

The lack of bureaucracy is another factor that probably has real impact, but charter schools have leveled the playing field significantly in that respect.

Yes, well-behaved like Owen Labrie and the other boys from St. Paul's school.

That's one kid.

It wasn't one kid, there was hook up culture at that school. Are you paying attention to the news?

There are hook up cultures in ALL schools. You really think it's different?!

[Anonymous]

I'm a bit of a contrarian- but I believe that the quality of education at privates is all over the place. And not always as good as one can receive at a quality public school

I grew up in NC, have lived also in FL and NY.

I'm a product of magnet schools in tough neighborhoods that were well funded and drew a cross section of kids. As a result I played sports, was active in the arts with kids from all sectors of the community poor/rich/ethnic diversity. This blending helped shape my abilities to work effectively in an office setting while also being entrepreneurial. I think these skills can in fact be better achieved in exactly such a setting.

[Anonymous]

I think it's weird that a Janney parent started this thread.

[Anonymous]

I think she wants to be patted on the back and told that Janney is just as good as any private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should probably post this in the private forum.

But:

1) Glorious facilities and supplies - fields, locker rooms, theaters, kilns, huge libraries, filmmaking equipment
2) The ability to not only pick the best and brightest, but to kick out any kids that you want

There are lots of private school parents on here that are making assertions on other threads, I wanted to tease this issue out of a specific comparison of a specific DCPS. So far, I am not particularly impressed with your list.

Why don't you say what school?

It came up on the Janney Rules thread (which is kind of an obnoxious title I will totally concede), but the discussions expanded to about Janney, Mann, Ross, implied Brent, etc. There were statements that X school is as good as private and responses that equalled "you are kidding yourself if you think that."

I want to know what the difference really is. I personally think it is a hard thing to compare, but people do not seem afraid to make bald assertions so I am asking what is behind those. I suspect many private school parents have no idea what the good DC publics are like other than what is on the surface. Those that do (including some PPs in this thread) are enlightening.

FWIW, I am a Janney parent and the teachers do not teach to the test, nor is there any kind of significant pressure surrounding the tests. I also am very impressed with the breadth and depth of the curriculum. It is not canned and in particular both the writing and the math curriculums I would call progressive and thoughtful.

PP, this is largely due to the reality that Janney's test scores are already good and the school can generally rely on the scores remaining stable and high over time. My child attends an EOTP school with crappy test scores and I assure you that those scores are on everyone's mind, all the time. They are the first thing people ask about at open houses and outreach events. I know that the teachers try to provide well rounded lessons, but preparing students for those tests is pretty important at our school, to the extent that it can be difficult to get the administration to focus on improving other aspects of the school. If there are improvements made in the arenas of behavior or community engagement, I assure you that the latent goal of that engagement is "improving the test scores."

If we could afford it, truthfully, I would love to send DD to private school so that it simply wasn't an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should probably post this in the private forum.

But:

1) Glorious facilities and supplies - fields, locker rooms, theaters, kilns, huge libraries, filmmaking equipment
2) The ability to not only pick the best and brightest, but to kick out any kids that you want

There are lots of private school parents on here that are making assertions on other threads, I wanted to tease this issue out of a specific comparison of a specific DCPS. So far, I am not particularly impressed with your list.

Why don't you say what school?

It came up on the Janney Rules thread (which is kind of an obnoxious title I will totally concede), but the discussions expanded to about Janney, Mann, Ross, implied Brent, etc. There were statements that X school is as good as private and responses that equalled "you are kidding yourself if you think that."


I want to know what the difference really is. I personally think it is a hard thing to compare, but people do not seem afraid to make bald assertions so I am asking what is behind those. I suspect many private school parents have no idea what the good DC publics are like other than what is on the surface. Those that do (including some PPs in this thread) are enlightening.

FWIW, I am a Janney parent and the teachers do not teach to the test, nor is there any kind of significant pressure surrounding the tests. I also am very impressed with the breadth and depth of the curriculum. It is not canned and in particular both the writing and the math curriculums I would call progressive and thoughtful.

Why do you even care? You just sound insecure when you start threads like this.

So you don't have an answer?

I am not insecure at all in my decisions about my child's education, but I am open to being educated on what I do not know. People are throwing out absolutes and I asked for a little more substance to consider. Feel free not to answer if you have nothing to contribute.

I did answer. I said facilities and selective admissions, and you said you were not impressed. Frankly, if you are going to dismiss class size, selective admissions, facilities, ability to fire teachers, ability to remove difficult children, and the absence of standardized testing, then, yes, I guess private and Janney are EXACTLY the same.

I also think that posting this in the DC public school forum rather than private schools indicates that you aren't looking for "enlightenment" from private school parents but rather affirmation from fellow DC public school parents in the echo chamber.

So, yeah, you are coming across as insecure.

- charter parent

Well, kilns and filmmaking equipment are the only things that sound different than my experience with DCPS on issues that have impacted my child. It may be different in middle school and beyond but really the cohort is great, class sizes have never been a significant problem and my child is thriving. The school does not teach a curriculum dictated by DCPS, it has to meet DCPS standards. Testing is there, but it is not a huge deal and my child enjoys the tests. If this is all there is (at least at this point) then the difference is not in things that have impacted my child's educational experience. The teachers are amazing and our facilities are quite nice, with, of course, the exception of the lack of a kiln and filmmaking equipment. There may be children for whom private makes a big difference but it does not appear to (from what has been said here and what I have learned in conversations IRL) for our experience. Maybe that will change in later years, I will have to learn that as I go.

who made you the topic police? I asked a question on an issue I thought would be interesting to explore. I should have prefaced it with "s/o" but otherwise don't understand why asking for people to explain, to the extent they know, what might be the facts behind frequent unsupported assertions is what I consider an interesting conversation. We may differ on this. I have. Hard time understanding why you are taking this so personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should probably post this in the private forum.

But:

1) Glorious facilities and supplies - fields, locker rooms, theaters, kilns, huge libraries, filmmaking equipment
2) The ability to not only pick the best and brightest, but to kick out any kids that you want

This is big. There are no real discipline problems in any of my kids classes. The school doesn't stand for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she wants to be patted on the back and told that Janney is just as good as any private.

+1. And knows, deep down, that that is not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, kilns and filmmaking equipment are the only things that sound different than my experience with DCPS on issues that have impacted my child. It may be different in middle school and beyond but really the cohort is great, class sizes have never been a significant problem and my child is thriving. The school does not teach a curriculum dictated by DCPS, it has to meet DCPS standards. Testing is there, but it is not a huge deal and my child enjoys the tests. If this is all there is (at least at this point) then the difference is not in things that have impacted my child's educational experience. The teachers are amazing and our facilities are quite nice, with, of course, the exception of the lack of a kiln and filmmaking equipment. There may be children for whom private makes a big difference but it does not appear to (from what has been said here and what I have learned in conversations IRL) for our experience. Maybe that will change in later years, I will have to learn that as I go.

who made you the topic police? I asked a question on an issue I thought would be interesting to explore. I should have prefaced it with "s/o" but otherwise don't understand why asking for people to explain, to the extent they know, what might be the facts behind frequent unsupported assertions is what I consider an interesting conversation. We may differ on this. I have. Hard time understanding why you are taking this so personally.

What's up with the kiln obsession?

OP did you attend public or private schools yourself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a public school parent and private school veteran, and I would say the most significant factor for those who strongly prefer private schools is that they have selective admissions -- you can be sure your kid's classmates will be smart and well-behaved.

The lack of bureaucracy is another factor that probably has real impact, but charter schools have leveled the playing field significantly in that respect.

Yes, well-behaved like Owen Labrie and the other boys from St. Paul's school.

That's one kid.

And a cheap shot. Privates can kick out kids for bad behavior, because they have special needs, because they fail out etc. The can shape the class and cohort however they like.

And it made the national news because it's unusual for a kid at St. Paul's who was going to Harvard to be charged with something like this.

How many public school kids who get charged with "date rape" make the national news?

MOST "kids" in high school and college NEVER GET charged.
for example, the wonderful gang in the STA class of '87........... who repeatedly raped girls in the NCS class of '89
and then probably went on to do it in college
and it still happens today - at Harvard, Princeton, and as the good ole' boys on Rugby Road will sing
no means yes
and yes means anal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a public school parent and private school veteran, and I would say the most significant factor for those who strongly prefer private schools is that they have selective admissions -- you can be sure your kid's classmates will be smart and well-behaved.

The lack of bureaucracy is another factor that probably has real impact, but charter schools have leveled the playing field significantly in that respect.

+1 Selective admissions and ability to kick out kids who don't follow the rules for whatever reason and not having to teach to the test other than the SATs.

Unless of course the parents are very wealthy and generous, or even more likely, well connected. Also, I think some privates are actually more likely to give 2nd (or whatever chances) based on very subjective measures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should probably post this in the private forum.

But:

1) Glorious facilities and supplies - fields, locker rooms, theaters, kilns, huge libraries, filmmaking equipment
2) The ability to not only pick the best and brightest, but to kick out any kids that you want

There are lots of private school parents on here that are making assertions on other threads, I wanted to tease this issue out of a specific comparison of a specific DCPS. So far, I am not particularly impressed with your list.

Then, I guess you have not had the good fortune to witness the assemblage of a hand-picked student body. It is impressive. I appreciate the ability and willingness of my kids' school to counsel out kids who clearly "not a good fit." If it makes me elitist to wish away disruptive kids with problematic behavior, so be it. I'll absolutely own that.

DSs get plenty of opportunity to Learn How to Deal With All Kinds of Kids through their sports, camps and the neighborhood. NP here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an aide at a well-regarded DCPS elementary and now teach at a private school in a different city. I do not think there are huge differences in the younger years. I do like teaching at a private better because of the latitude I have with the curriculum. I do not worry about testing. Also, for me a huge plus is lack of behavior issues.

While most kids were well-behaved at the DCPS where I was an aide, we had some poorly behaved kids who took up class time. I was nearly impossible to discipline these kids due to rules put in place by the administration.

The behavior issues are the primary reason why we chose private school for elementary (that's as far as we have gotten so far!).
It is no small thing to me that my child is actually learning versus waiting while the teacher disciplines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a public school parent and private school veteran, and I would say the most significant factor for those who strongly prefer private schools is that they have selective admissions -- you can be sure your kid's classmates will be smart and well-behaved.

The lack of bureaucracy is another factor that probably has real impact, but charter schools have leveled the playing field significantly in that respect.

Yes, well-behaved like Owen Labrie and the other boys from St. Paul's school.

That's one kid.

And a cheap shot. Privates can kick out kids for bad behavior, because they have special needs, because they fail out etc. The can shape the class and cohort however they like.

And it made the national news because it's unusual for a kid at St. Paul's who was going to Harvard to be charged with something like this.

How many public school kids who get charged with "date rape" make the national news?

MOST "kids" in high school and college NEVER GET charged.
for example, the wonderful gang in the STA class of '87........... who repeatedly raped girls in the NCS class of '89
and then probably went on to do it in college
and it still happens today - at Harvard, Princeton, and as the good ole' boys on Rugby Road will sing
no means yes
and yes means anal

Yes - and I also remember the LAX team at STA having team t-shirts with the catchy slogan, "It takes a quick stick to penetrate a tight crease." This was somewhere between 1989 & 1991. Also around this time I remember some stellar young men from STA making a homemade bomb with stuff from the school's lab and setting it of at a local country club - I'm fuzzy on the details but still remember the first names of at least two involve and know that at least they they were not kicked out or charged with anything, both were sons of diplomats.