What is right for your kid?

[Anonymous]

I always hear parents say they send their kids to private/religious/public based on what is right for their kid. How do you know what's right for your kid? What social and educational personalities work better in which setting?

[Anonymous]

One example: My socially immature son does better in a small class setting where the teacher spends more time with him on things that are difficult for him. So private has been better. he's getting more mature every day and may not need private for much longer.

[Anonymous]

My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

This is wise. I grow weary of the mindset that school A is better than school B in some objective, abstract sense. What is best depends on the kid and the environment in which they are most likely to progress.

In our case we wanted: a) small classes, b) individualized instruction, c) positive encouragement from the teachers, d) clarity from teachers with respect to expectations, e) performing arts opportunities, f) socially safe environment, g) academic rigor, h) flexibility to allow child to move ahead in some areas while getting extra work in others, i) attention to the techniques that enable our particular child to learn best. We also paid attention to things like proximity and the attractiveness of the physical environment. And obviously, physical and emotional safety were prerequisites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

This is wise. I grow weary of the mindset that school A is better than school B in some objective, abstract sense. What is best depends on the kid and the environment in which they are most likely to progress.

In our case we wanted: a) small classes, b) individualized instruction, c) positive encouragement from the teachers, d) clarity from teachers with respect to expectations, e) performing arts opportunities, f) socially safe environment, g) academic rigor, h) flexibility to allow child to move ahead in some areas while getting extra work in others, i) attention to the techniques that enable our particular child to learn best. We also paid attention to things like proximity and the attractiveness of the physical environment. And obviously, physical and emotional safety were prerequisites.

That's what I want too. Where did you choose.

[Anonymous]

We wanted a school that had lots of outdoor time, project based learning as much as possible, and something like the responsive classroom method of discipline/learning.

[Anonymous]

We wanted a school that was good with boys and had a traditional learning environment. This is for one child. For the other, we wanted a school with very strong arts, and a flexible more progressive learning environment less focused on test scores and homework. Very different children. Nothing is perfect, but we have found good fits for both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC loves being outdoors and goes to a school that has more outdoor time than most. It would not be a good school for a child needing a great deal of external structure. In this case, it's not about things like WISC score or reading ability; it's about fit. Either sort of school can have excellent students, but where would you be comfortable and what would most benefit your DC? That's a more obvious example, but as you visit schools, more subtle elements will appeal to you or nag at you. Then imagine where your child would thrive.

This is wise. I grow weary of the mindset that school A is better than school B in some objective, abstract sense. What is best depends on the kid and the environment in which they are most likely to progress.

In our case we wanted: a) small classes, b) individualized instruction, c) positive encouragement from the teachers, d) clarity from teachers with respect to expectations, e) performing arts opportunities, f) socially safe environment, g) academic rigor, h) flexibility to allow child to move ahead in some areas while getting extra work in others, i) attention to the techniques that enable our particular child to learn best. We also paid attention to things like proximity and the attractiveness of the physical environment. And obviously, physical and emotional safety were prerequisites.

That's what I want too. Where did you choose.

Barnesville

[Anonymous]

I grew up here and I never liked the name of the school cause it sounded like a school for bullies. Weird but true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up here and I never liked the name of the school cause it sounded like a school for bullies. Weird but true.

I assume you meant to post this on the Bullis thread?