Why do private schools hate working parents?

[Anonymous]

We just received the calendar for next year. In addition to the normal 2 weeks at Christmas and Spring Break, we now have an entire week off for Thanksgiving, a fall break and an additional winter break. Let's not forget that the school year ends long before camps start. Oh and it is not the best idea to start the school year on a Thursday! Do schools not understand that taking multiple weeks off is not always an option? I will definitely be thinking seriously before signing my contract for next year.

[Anonymous]

I'm a working parent too, but I think most private schools have calendars such as this to accommodate the active travel schedule that many private school families enjoy. I only wish I was one of them. We have an au pair - it helps cover the schedule.

[Anonymous]

Did I write the OP? I honestly have had the same thoughts. And how about: our Christmas break starts and ends at a diff. time from when the public schools' does, and so do many of our other holidays, so they cannot dovetail with the "camps" that so many wonderful places offer for kids, but, oh no, only when the public schools are out. I Happened to mention this to one parent and she said, "Oh, but I love how our break is at a diff. time from when the public schools' break is. . . it means all the resorts and ski places are so much less crowded when we get there." ????????????????????????? "Lady," I wanted to say to her, "You and I are living in DIFFERENT WORLDS. You in Crazytown and I in Normalville." UGH!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

And I don't know about your school but our breaks are not the same as public so I have to cover both sets of breaks. Privates in MD are only required to have 170 days and publics have 180.

[Anonymous]

How about: so many requests for volunteering, etc. take place during the day? Or, so many kids' events take place during the school day: talent show, meet-the-room-mothers coffee and bagels, etc.

[Anonymous]

Ladies and Gents....come over to the world of public school! It's much more pleasant. And significantly cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies and Gents....come over to the world of public school! It's much more pleasant. And significantly cheaper.

Go back to your public school forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ladies and Gents....come over to the world of public school! It's much more pleasant. And significantly cheaper.

I'm leaving public for private, pluses and minuses for both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did I write the OP? I honestly have had the same thoughts. And how about: our Christmas break starts and ends at a diff. time from when the public schools' does, and so do many of our other holidays, so they cannot dovetail with the "camps" that so many wonderful places offer for kids, but, oh no, only when the public schools are out. I Happened to mention this to one parent and she said, "Oh, but I love how our break is at a diff. time from when the public schools' break is. . . it means all the resorts and ski places are so much less crowded when we get there." ????????????????????????? "Lady," I wanted to say to her, "You and I are living in DIFFERENT WORLDS. You in Crazytown and I in Normalville." UGH!!!!!!

That's why we chose private - because we wanted to be involved in our children's schooling.
I agree with the above sentiment of our breaks being different from the public schools!! Its so nice!

[Anonymous]

Ugh - I hear you. My kid is finally getting to the age where he can stay home by himself for a day or two which definitely helps cut down on vacation days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh - I hear you. My kid is finally getting to the age where he can stay home by himself for a day or two which definitely helps cut down on vacation days.

High school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I don't know about your school but our breaks are not the same as public so I have to cover both sets of breaks. Privates in MD are only required to have 170 days and publics have 180.

Same here. But that said, our private has parent meetings at 8 am, which is do much better than the MCPS parent meetings at odd times of the day!

[Anonymous]

Agree OP. School schedules are still based on the notion that moms stay at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just received the calendar for next year. In addition to the normal 2 weeks at Christmas and Spring Break, we now have an entire week off for Thanksgiving, a fall break and an additional winter break. Let's not forget that the school year ends long before camps start. Oh and it is not the best idea to start the school year on a Thursday! Do schools not understand that taking multiple weeks off is not always an option? I will definitely be thinking seriously before signing my contract for next year.

I love the breaks, but I totally understand. It's a big reason I'm a SAHM. Publics are no better - they have more in-service days and weekly early dismissal. We've done both and found privates to be more accommodating with after school and half day care. And then there's summer. In my field, I'd be working the entire school year just to pay for full time summer camp so I don't see the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We just received the calendar for next year. In addition to the normal 2 weeks at Christmas and Spring Break, we now have an entire week off for Thanksgiving, a fall break and an additional winter break. Let's not forget that the school year ends long before camps start. Oh and it is not the best idea to start the school year on a Thursday! Do schools not understand that taking multiple weeks off is not always an option? I will definitely be thinking seriously before signing my contract for next year.

What school is this?? We have been at 5 different privates and have never had more than a week off for Spring Break, never had a Winter Break and never been excused earlier than a Wednesday before Thanksgiving. You should switch schools now.