Regret public school for your kids?

[Anonymous]

On our local MoCo listserv, a parent complained that Kindergarden recess was monitored by only 2 adults (both teachers), and there were 100 kids. That gave me real pause.

The discussion continued, and it appeared that public schools really depend on parent involvement to supplement teacher time like at recess through volunteer hours--- even though the public schools in our area generally have few SAHM's .

I'm all for parents being involved in education, but I was not expecting this!

[Anonymous]

The discussion continued, and it appeared that public schools really depend on parent involvement to supplement teacher time like at recess through volunteer hours--- even though the public schools in our area generally have few SAHM's .

I'm all for parents being involved in education, but I was not expecting this!

That is true for private schools as well. I know a few private schools even mandate that parents volunteer a certain number of hours a year during school hours. As do many military base schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The discussion continued, and it appeared that public schools really depend on parent involvement to supplement teacher time like at recess through volunteer hours--- even though the public schools in our area generally have few SAHM's .

I'm all for parents being involved in education, but I was not expecting this!

That is true for private schools as well. I know a few private schools even mandate that parents volunteer a certain number of hours a year during school hours. As do many military base schools.

As a teacher and private school parent, I can tell you that in private schools, while they do expect a high level of parental volunteerism, it is to do things like set up the teacher appreciation brunch or staff the fundraiser book fair booths. Private-school parent volunteers do not substitute for teacher classroom time or recess-supervision time as they do in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On our local MoCo listserv, a parent complained that Kindergarden recess was monitored by only 2 adults (both teachers), and there were 100 kids. That gave me real pause.

The discussion continued, and it appeared that public schools really depend on parent involvement to supplement teacher time like at recess through volunteer hours--- even though the public schools in our area generally have few SAHM's .

I'm all for parents being involved in education, but I was not expecting this!

There's a MoCo listserv? How does one get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On our local MoCo listserv, a parent complained that Kindergarden recess was monitored by only 2 adults (both teachers), and there were 100 kids. That gave me real pause.

The discussion continued, and it appeared that public schools really depend on parent involvement to supplement teacher time like at recess through volunteer hours--- even though the public schools in our area generally have few SAHM's .

I'm all for parents being involved in education, but I was not expecting this!

100 kids in one school's kindergarden? Did I misread? Which one?

[Anonymous]

Six classes of 20 students each at Sligo Creek, who all have recess together. To the listserv question, it is not a whole county listserv, it is a local community listserv, check yahoo or google groups, your neighborhood probably has one too.

[Anonymous]

oops my maths wrong- must be five classes of 20 students each.

[Anonymous]

As a teacher and private school parent, I can tell you that in private schools, while they do expect a high level of parental volunteerism, it is to do things like set up the teacher appreciation brunch or staff the fundraiser book fair booths. Private-school parent volunteers do not substitute for teacher classroom time or recess-supervision time as they do in public schools.


Maybe at *your* school that is true, but not all.

Listen, I have no issue with private schools (I went to a very good one here in the D.C. area) and my son will probably go to a private high school one day. But I have to say, for all the lip service given by private school parents on this board that they choose their particular school because it was the best fit for their child, it seems that a lot of private school parents are hell bent on making everyone believe that private schools are better in general. That is simply not the case. Now, if a parent really believes that is true, fine, but please remember that just because *you* believe it is true, doesn't mean it is. Or that everyone agrees with you. As with everything else, if you are really confident in your choice of school, and think it is great, it shouldn't matter whether or not private schools are definitively better than public schools. But when so many parents are constantly arguing about how much better private schools are than public schools, you begin to wonder who they are really trying to convince.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and private school parent, I can tell you that in private schools, while they do expect a high level of parental volunteerism, it is to do things like set up the teacher appreciation brunch or staff the fundraiser book fair booths. Private-school parent volunteers do not substitute for teacher classroom time or recess-supervision time as they do in public schools.


Maybe at *your* school that is true, but not all.

Listen, I have no issue with private schools (I went to a very good one here in the D.C. area) and my son will probably go to a private high school one day. But I have to say, for all the lip service given by private school parents on this board that they choose their particular school because it was the best fit for their child, it seems that a lot of private school parents are hell bent on making everyone believe that private schools are better in general. That is simply not the case. Now, if a parent really believes that is true, fine, but please remember that just because *you* believe it is true, doesn't mean it is. Or that everyone agrees with you. As with everything else, if you are really confident in your choice of school, and think it is great, it shouldn't matter whether or not private schools are definitively better than public schools. But when so many parents are constantly arguing about how much better private schools are than public schools, you begin to wonder who they are really trying to convince.

PP here. All I can say is that at our local (well-regarded) public MoCo school, recess with 100+ kids has all parents supervising, no teachers at all, whereas at several local private schools, teachers supervise small groups on the playground. Obviously, recess supervision isn't the reason to choose a school, but it is indicative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and private school parent, I can tell you that in private schools, while they do expect a high level of parental volunteerism, it is to do things like set up the teacher appreciation brunch or staff the fundraiser book fair booths. Private-school parent volunteers do not substitute for teacher classroom time or recess-supervision time as they do in public schools.


Maybe at *your* school that is true, but not all.

Listen, I have no issue with private schools (I went to a very good one here in the D.C. area) and my son will probably go to a private high school one day. But I have to say, for all the lip service given by private school parents on this board that they choose their particular school because it was the best fit for their child, it seems that a lot of private school parents are hell bent on making everyone believe that private schools are better in general. That is simply not the case. Now, if a parent really believes that is true, fine, but please remember that just because *you* believe it is true, doesn't mean it is. Or that everyone agrees with you. As with everything else, if you are really confident in your choice of school, and think it is great, it shouldn't matter whether or not private schools are definitively better than public schools. But when so many parents are constantly arguing about how much better private schools are than public schools, you begin to wonder who they are really trying to convince.

Dh and I are both productrs of public schools. Our children will probably go to public school because we are like the OP in that we might be able to swing private (emphasis on might), but it would be a huge strain. That being said, we would rather that they go to private school, for many reasons, and if we could afford it, they would! Public schools can truly be great, and private schools definitely have flaws, but I think if people admitted it to themselves, most would send their kids to private if they could afford it. Who wouldn't want more individualized attention, less emphasis on standardized tests, more arts, music, recess, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Who wouldn't want more individualized attention, less emphasis on standardized tests, more arts, music, recess, etc.?

See, my son's public school has great arts programs (both in school and after), music program, plenty of recess time, and PE twice a week. More importantly - my son loves school and is happy there. I guess it depends on the school and were you live - that is why I can saying no one can make a blanket statement about which is better. Maybe for some, it is a "grass is greener" thing. But I know from growing up that private schools (not just the one I went to) have their own set of issues - and pretty heavy ones at that. The social aspect of small schools can be down right brutal. My mom constantly looks at my son's elementary school education and comments that she was a fool for spending so much on private school. Not that the education I recieved was bad - far from it. I also think that when my son goes private for high school he will get a great education. Really, I am not putting down private schools at all and realize that there are many positives about private schools. We can afford private school for my son and choose against it, as did many, many parents I know (a high percentage of whom went to private schools themselves) because we think the public school education our kids are receiving is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

to Poster 12:05: talk about a hypocrite....

[Anonymous]

sorry, that comment was directed at 11:57, NOT 12:05 (who happened to make a good point)

[Anonymous]

Interesting that 11:57 thinks private school is more important for high school than elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a teacher and private school parent, I can tell you that in private schools, while they do expect a high level of parental volunteerism, it is to do things like set up the teacher appreciation brunch or staff the fundraiser book fair booths. Private-school parent volunteers do not substitute for teacher classroom time or recess-supervision time as they do in public schools.


Maybe at *your* school that is true, but not all.

Listen, I have no issue with private schools (I went to a very good one here in the D.C. area) and my son will probably go to a private high school one day. But I have to say, for all the lip service given by private school parents on this board that they choose their particular school because it was the best fit for their child, it seems that a lot of private school parents are hell bent on making everyone believe that private schools are better in general. That is simply not the case. Now, if a parent really believes that is true, fine, but please remember that just because *you* believe it is true, doesn't mean it is. Or that everyone agrees with you. As with everything else, if you are really confident in your choice of school, and think it is great, it shouldn't matter whether or not private schools are definitively better than public schools. But when so many parents are constantly arguing about how much better private schools are than public schools, you begin to wonder who they are really trying to convince.

PP here. All I can say is that at our local (well-regarded) public MoCo school, recess with 100+ kids has all parents supervising, no teachers at all, whereas at several local private schools, teachers supervise small groups on the playground. Obviously, recess supervision isn't the reason to choose a school, but it is indicative.

Not pp, but a similar story.
At our local public Bethesda elem. school we were told that all 5 classes of K (class size est. of 23-25) would eat together in the lunchroom with just *2* lunchroom aides supervising everyone, and then go on to the playground with aides outside (we were not told how many, but I am guessing...few). Seems daunting, particularly when ds just finished up a year of pre-k with 2 teachers and a <20 group. Many of our schools are just too crowded. While they can add trailers for homerooms, they cannot expand the lunchroom, the playground, the music room, the artroom, etc.