Do large class sizes in FCPS make you consider paying $25K for private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.... my kids are not in AAP so the 30 and 29 kids in the class are a mixture of abilities and a mixture of interest in learning. I think the comparison with large AAP classes might not be an accurate comparison.

I generally feel like because I've made sure my kids are meeting the minimum benchmarks in reading/math, and they are generally well behaved, they are left to their own a lot and the teacher doesn't have time for working with the kids who are already on target.

Where are the FCPS where the class sizes are in the lower 20s?

As for homeschooling as an add-on, can you recommend some programs? I taught them reading and math facts on my own, but I have no idea what to do beyond that.

Our "homeschooling" program does not involve established curricula or programs of any type. What I think it most important for my children's future is not a grasp of facts and figures or an ability to read or do math above their grade levels. Rather, I want them to develop a deep love of learning and strong critical thinking skills.

To that end, I read aloud to our kids almost every night until they are/were in middle school. This allows them access to rich and complex stories well above their reading level (but well within their comprehension level) and gave me an opportunity to have deep, probing discussions with them about what we read. Books on tape in the car are great for this, too. We've gone on to listening to podcasts of This American Life, the Diane Rehm show, as long as they aren't discussing disturbing or scary or otherwise too mature in content.

We make it a point to talk about all kinds of things at home. Sometimes just my DH and me are doing the talking, but the kids are always listening and usually they join in. General and open discussions about politics, current affairs, etc., spark all kinds of questions and exploration. In the past few days, my 10-year-old and I have talked about fighting forest fires out west, how the thinking about the benefits/costs of forest fires has changed, what the problems are with people living in areas with forest fires, why they choose to live there, etc. etc. etc. We talked about the panda cub being born, the one that died, why it died, was the mother sad, etc. He looked up panda info on line when I couldn't answer some of his questions. We talked a lot about MLK and his speech at the Lincoln Memorial. We talked about the Governor McDonnell's ongoing ethics issues, the difference between "ethical/moral" and "legal," whether laws should be changed, and why some people might not want them to be changed.

We go to the library, to art and history and nature and science museums, to historical sites. We have books and other reading materials littering every room of the house. We subscribe to a newspaper and leave it on the breakfast table and point out interesting things for the kids to read. We encourage our baseball lover to check the standings and stats every day and tell us what it going on. We play penny poker and hearts and strategy board games. We find thought-provoking movies and TV shows to watch with the kids.

This is what "homeschooling" (as a supplement to regular school) should be. JMO.

[Anonymous]

Even if you do budget prudently, why would you then decide to fund something additional verses the things you decided to cut out of the budget? If you propose cuts to certain areas such as teacher salaries, less FLES, etc. why then spend the extra money on synthetic turf fields?

[Anonymous]

To that end, I read aloud to our kids almost every night until they are/were in middle school. This allows them access to rich and complex stories well above their reading level (but well within their comprehension level) and gave me an opportunity to have deep, probing discussions with them about what we read. Books on tape in the car are great for this, too. We've gone on to listening to podcasts of This American Life, the Diane Rehm show, as long as they aren't discussing disturbing or scary or otherwise too mature in content.

We make it a point to talk about all kinds of things at home. Sometimes just my DH and me are doing the talking, but the kids are always listening and usually they join in. General and open discussions about politics, current affairs, etc., spark all kinds of questions and exploration. In the past few days, my 10-year-old and I have talked about fighting forest fires out west, how the thinking about the benefits/costs of forest fires has changed, what the problems are with people living in areas with forest fires, why they choose to live there, etc. etc. etc. We talked about the panda cub being born, the one that died, why it died, was the mother sad, etc. He looked up panda info on line when I couldn't answer some of his questions. We talked a lot about MLK and his speech at the Lincoln Memorial. We talked about the Governor McDonnell's ongoing ethics issues, the difference between "ethical/moral" and "legal," whether laws should be changed, and why some people might not want them to be changed.

We go to the library, to art and history and nature and science museums, to historical sites. We have books and other reading materials littering every room of the house. We subscribe to a newspaper and leave it on the breakfast table and point out interesting things for the kids to read. We encourage our baseball lover to check the standings and stats every day and tell us what it going on. We play penny poker and hearts and strategy board games. We find thought-provoking movies and TV shows to watch with the kids.

This seems like regular family life to me from what I have seen of other families we come into contact with through school or extracurricular activities over the past decade or so. People think they need special programs but they don't realize how much kids can learn from routine family life in a home with loving parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

To that end, I read aloud to our kids almost every night until they are/were in middle school. This allows them access to rich and complex stories well above their reading level (but well within their comprehension level) and gave me an opportunity to have deep, probing discussions with them about what we read. Books on tape in the car are great for this, too. We've gone on to listening to podcasts of This American Life, the Diane Rehm show, as long as they aren't discussing disturbing or scary or otherwise too mature in content.

We make it a point to talk about all kinds of things at home. Sometimes just my DH and me are doing the talking, but the kids are always listening and usually they join in. General and open discussions about politics, current affairs, etc., spark all kinds of questions and exploration. In the past few days, my 10-year-old and I have talked about fighting forest fires out west, how the thinking about the benefits/costs of forest fires has changed, what the problems are with people living in areas with forest fires, why they choose to live there, etc. etc. etc. We talked about the panda cub being born, the one that died, why it died, was the mother sad, etc. He looked up panda info on line when I couldn't answer some of his questions. We talked a lot about MLK and his speech at the Lincoln Memorial. We talked about the Governor McDonnell's ongoing ethics issues, the difference between "ethical/moral" and "legal," whether laws should be changed, and why some people might not want them to be changed.

We go to the library, to art and history and nature and science museums, to historical sites. We have books and other reading materials littering every room of the house. We subscribe to a newspaper and leave it on the breakfast table and point out interesting things for the kids to read. We encourage our baseball lover to check the standings and stats every day and tell us what it going on. We play penny poker and hearts and strategy board games. We find thought-provoking movies and TV shows to watch with the kids.

This seems like regular family life to me from what I have seen of other families we come into contact with through school or extracurricular activities over the past decade or so. People think they need special programs but they don't realize how much kids can learn from routine family life in a home with loving parents.

It seems like regular family life to me, too, but you would be surprised how "not regular" this is.

[Anonymous]

Apparently only $2 million keeps all classrooms below 30 students in elementary. Why can't part of that $55 million savings go to some of the programs FCPS has wanted to fund instead of something new like synthetic turf fields?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - I agree with you wholeheartedly with the exception of not paying for private elementary. I think for K-1, it doesn't matter. However, for 2-5, it does. If your child is average and apt to get lost in the shuffle (as your argument states), paying for the opportunity for that child to get the attention and individuation that s/he deserves is worth every penny. By the time they get to high school, kids already have a good idea of what kind of student they are and how they fit in amongst their peers. If I can keep my average kid from thinking he's just average and that nobody gives a damn about what he's doing (i.e. doing enough to pass is ok), then private school tuition is money well spent.

Couldn't agree more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - I agree with you wholeheartedly with the exception of not paying for private elementary. I think for K-1, it doesn't matter. However, for 2-5, it does. If your child is average and apt to get lost in the shuffle (as your argument states), paying for the opportunity for that child to get the attention and individuation that s/he deserves is worth every penny. By the time they get to high school, kids already have a good idea of what kind of student they are and how they fit in amongst their peers. If I can keep my average kid from thinking he's just average and that nobody gives a damn about what he's doing (i.e. doing enough to pass is ok), then private school tuition is money well spent.

Couldn't agree more.

I guess we've been lucky on that account. My two (in HS) are still engaged in doing well in school despite their public school experiences.

[Anonymous]

I just find it shocking that $55 million pays for one additional teacher or aide in every elementary classroom within FCPS, yet they can't seem to figure out how to reduce the size of our school's classroom with 33 children in it and no aide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids in FCPS have 22 and 23 in their classes. Last year, DS had 18 in his class. We've never had 29 or 30.

Wow-what school is that? I'd love to send my children to a FCPS with only 18-23 children in a class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just find it shocking that $55 million pays for one additional teacher or aide in every elementary classroom within FCPS, yet they can't seem to figure out how to reduce the size of our school's classroom with 33 children in it and no aide.

Some schools would need more thanone teacher as many grades have over 30 kids per class. It is all about resources, the ability to tax and the % of public school children compared to the adult taxpating population. Arlington can spend more per student becasue only ~10% of thier population is in school, where as over 15% of Fairfax's is. Plus, since Arlington is a City by State terms, they can tax more and varied things than Fairfax, a County can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids in FCPS have 22 and 23 in their classes. Last year, DS had 18 in his class. We've never had 29 or 30.

Wow-what school is that? I'd love to send my children to a FCPS with only 18-23 children in a class.

We also have classes in that range, depending on the grade level. Also, in some grade levels, the math and science classes have 19-20 students, but the language arts and social studies classes are in the mid-upper 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read a study where DCPS classes are the smallest in the country-doesn't seem to make a difference there
Plus my friends who teach in private schools say almost all their classes are 21+ students

I have seen 2 to 5th grade classes range from 16 to 35 kids in dcps, depending on the whims of the budget

[Anonymous]

You know in college they have large lecture halls

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are in classes of 29 and 30 students (lower elementary) in FCPS. I have always looked at public school as sufficient, if not perfect, b/c I wasn't willing to pay $25-30K per kid for private. That amount would have a serious impact on our lives. We could do it, but we would not be able to save anything for retirement and our living expenses would take up all other earned income. But, I do feel that my kids are just getting by in public school b/c they are not behavior problems and they are meeting/exceeding benchmarks.

If they had 20-22 in a class, I'd feel a lot more relieved (although the behavior problems would still be in the class, but at least they wouldn't be so anonymous).

Do you ever seriously consider going private b/c of the huge classes and huge school sizes? What do you do to make public school work for your child?

No, but I do seriously consider homeschooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know in college they have large lecture halls

Comparing apples to oranges.
Teaching a classroom full of elementary school aged kids is much different than a lecture hall of tuition-paying adults (so, in theory, every single person in attendance is wants to be there, you can't always say the same thing about lower elem. school kids as OP states) and don't have the behavior problems that, for example, a class clown 2nd grader.