Our first days of public school after private, what I've noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I noticed when I moved my kids from a private school to a public school:

1. Teachers and staff were uniformly supportive of my kids -- kind, gentle and understanding. They worked really hard to help my kids get where they were supposed to be and do what they were supposed to do. "Positive discipline" was the rule. That was very different from the private school, which expected kids to comply and when they didn't, there was a lot of exasperation.

2. The teachers were MUCH better trained. They had many tools in their tool box for teaching material to different kinds of kids. They had many different methods for ensuring that behavior was good.

3. We had more variety in extracurriculars and enrichment activities.

4. We had more diversity in race, ethnic background and SES.

5. We had more resources - the school has speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists -- to help us, if we need it.

6. The academic side was the same or better.

OP here. I agree with 2, 5, and 6.
We had more diversity at our private school, fewer academic resources. But we had nice teachers. The tuition of 35K was the deal breaker.

Just how do you define "diversity"? Rich white kids and rich "brown" kids? I can't imagine that there would be much economic diversity at a school that cost 35k.

Well rich white people and poor brown people is a toxic type of diversity.

[Anonymous]

Yes - I have kids in both and I see that too. In private they are selling a product and so they sell it - the communications are far more detailed and "pretty." The difference in the report cards is staggering - the private school's are the length of a novella and every teacher writes a long paragraph about dc. In public it's like a form with codes.

There's a pretty good community at our public school and we know each other, but it's bigger so I don't know everyone.

Private is a cushier experience for the parent, for sure. Everything is set up to be easy and convenient. In public, that is not a priority. But both my kids are getting a pretty good education.

[Anonymous]

wtf is wrong with you?

Either go back to private or get a life outside of your child's school.

Signed,
former private/current public school parent

Anonymous wrote:I would like other people to chime in and share their thoughts.

I noticed that no one seems to really know anyone. The parents don't seem to know each other. The teachers and other staff don't know the parents (or students).

I noticed very little smiling on the part of the office staff (not necessarily a bad thing). Which makes them seem like they really don't want you to be in their office, unwelcoming.

There is a lot of negativity in the flyers and handouts. Like on the first line of a sheet for a class, "ABSOLUTELY no food or drink allowed...". Then they say what the class will be about. Rather than something like, "welcome to X class, I am happy that you chose this class...please respect our environment and refrain from bringing any food or drink in the classroom".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negativity is a real issue. We are at a really good public school with smiling teachers, administrators, etc. and a high quality of teaching but the written communication that comes from the school is terrible. BUT it was really shocking to me how much of the text in our back to school packet dealt with do not do this and do not do that. I thought the first rule of discipline and good teaching was to always be positive? Is it just that the teachers/administrators don't know how to write?

I would guess it's more that they have lots and lots of experience of parents ignoring the rules. So they want to make them clear and get it up front so there is no confusion, excuses like " I didn't see it".

Private schools have parents and kids who don't follow rules too and I am sure that the process of getting them to follow the rules is more painstaking, but it gets done. Plus the polite, cheery behavior of the staff makes everyone feel that they also have to be polite. This is true for any business. But public school are not a business. I don't mind dealing with mean government employees who don't come in contact with my kids, but the ones who do (schools) should remember that they are setting the tone.

Hmm. Why are staff at privates smiling and very friendly? So that parents will like the atmosphere, stay, and keep paying tuition.

b/c they rely on the big donors to keep the school afloat

That way, little John John can do whatever the fuck he wants w/o facing a penalty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What I noticed when I moved my kids from a private school to a public school:

1. Teachers and staff were uniformly supportive of my kids -- kind, gentle and understanding. They worked really hard to help my kids get where they were supposed to be and do what they were supposed to do. "Positive discipline" was the rule. That was very different from the private school, which expected kids to comply and when they didn't, there was a lot of exasperation.

2. The teachers were MUCH better trained. They had many tools in their tool box for teaching material to different kinds of kids. They had many different methods for ensuring that behavior was good.

3. We had more variety in extracurriculars and enrichment activities.

4. We had more diversity in race, ethnic background and SES.

5. We had more resources - the school has speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists -- to help us, if we need it.

6. The academic side was the same or better.

Yes, but I had my kid in a public school for PK3 that was the opposite of your points 1 & 2. Organizations are only as good as the people who rum them, and there is a wide variety, public and private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negativity is a real issue. We are at a really good public school with smiling teachers, administrators, etc. and a high quality of teaching but the written communication that comes from the school is terrible. BUT it was really shocking to me how much of the text in our back to school packet dealt with do not do this and do not do that. I thought the first rule of discipline and good teaching was to always be positive? Is it just that the teachers/administrators don't know how to write?

Anonymous wrote:

I am afraid that the kids will develop this style of communicating. I agree about the packets. Almost worth the $$ to put in place a system that is more positive, even if it means hiring someone to spin this in the positive or politely answer the same questions over and over. Just think that kids will be more successful in life if they are more positive.

You want a cash-strapped public school to hire a PR person to spin the welcome packets so kids don't feel "negative" about not getting to bring Cheetoes to class? God, PLEASE go away.

Well, actually there is evidence that when kids feel welcome and happy (positive environment), they learn more. So, it might be money well spent.

Lady, you really don't get it.

Get what? I agree with him/her. I was educated in public schools through college, but had a terrible experience with my son in public. In private, so far so good - and the positive environment has been a relief for all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negativity is a real issue. We are at a really good public school with smiling teachers, administrators, etc. and a high quality of teaching but the written communication that comes from the school is terrible. BUT it was really shocking to me how much of the text in our back to school packet dealt with do not do this and do not do that. I thought the first rule of discipline and good teaching was to always be positive? Is it just that the teachers/administrators don't know how to write?

I would guess it's more that they have lots and lots of experience of parents ignoring the rules. So they want to make them clear and get it up front so there is no confusion, excuses like " I didn't see it".

Private schools have parents and kids who don't follow rules too and I am sure that the process of getting them to follow the rules is more painstaking, but it gets done. Plus the polite, cheery behavior of the staff makes everyone feel that they also have to be polite. This is true for any business. But public school are not a business. I don't mind dealing with mean government employees who don't come in contact with my kids, but the ones who do (schools) should remember that they are setting the tone.

Hmm. Why are staff at privates smiling and very friendly? So that parents will like the atmosphere, stay, and keep paying tuition.

Or they like working in a positive atmosphere free of government rules and regulations, and that doesn't tell them they are shitty teachers if they can't take kids who have no discipline or support at home and turn them into ace test takers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like other people to chime in and share their thoughts.

I noticed that no one seems to really know anyone. The parents don't seem to know each other. The teachers and other staff don't know the parents (or students).

I noticed very little smiling on the part of the office staff (not necessarily a bad thing). Which makes them seem like they really don't want you to be in their office, unwelcoming.

There is a lot of negativity in the flyers and handouts. Like on the first line of a sheet for a class, "ABSOLUTELY no food or drink allowed...". Then they say what the class will be about. Rather than something like, "welcome to X class, I am happy that you chose this class...please respect our environment and refrain from bringing any food or drink in the classroom".

What age is your child? If they are older (MS or HS), I think parents are less involved and the boundary area is much bigger so people don't know each other as neighbors. I have had kids in 3 different MCPS ESs and my experience was that they had a strong sense of community and lots of people knew each other. As for handouts, they are not going to use high level English-- like the word "refrain". Parents and some students may not be native speakers, or they don't have a very high level of education. In my experience all the front offices have at least one dragon lady secretary. Get to know them, say hi. They are likely extremely nice. They just have to be tough because they sometimes need to boss around kids and parents. I definitely wouldn't let interactions on the first few crazy days shadow my whole perception of the school and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wtf is wrong with you?

Either go back to private or get a life outside of your child's school.

Signed,
former private/current public school parent

Anonymous wrote:I would like other people to chime in and share their thoughts.

I noticed that no one seems to really know anyone. The parents don't seem to know each other. The teachers and other staff don't know the parents (or students).

I noticed very little smiling on the part of the office staff (not necessarily a bad thing). Which makes them seem like they really don't want you to be in their office, unwelcoming.

There is a lot of negativity in the flyers and handouts. Like on the first line of a sheet for a class, "ABSOLUTELY no food or drink allowed...". Then they say what the class will be about. Rather than something like, "welcome to X class, I am happy that you chose this class...please respect our environment and refrain from bringing any food or drink in the classroom".

This is a difference. You have all these nasty people telling you to "get a life"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like other people to chime in and share their thoughts.

I noticed that no one seems to really know anyone. The parents don't seem to know each other. The teachers and other staff don't know the parents (or students).

I noticed very little smiling on the part of the office staff (not necessarily a bad thing). Which makes them seem like they really don't want you to be in their office, unwelcoming.

There is a lot of negativity in the flyers and handouts. Like on the first line of a sheet for a class, "ABSOLUTELY no food or drink allowed...". Then they say what the class will be about. Rather than something like, "welcome to X class, I am happy that you chose this class...please respect our environment and refrain from bringing any food or drink in the classroom".

They aren't out to please you. If you come to that school...fine. If you don't come...that 's fine too. They don't get paid any different and they won't go out of business. Your job is to fit into their process. Your child is the widget and they are the cogs. (My kids go to public school too.) Welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. DS had more complaints about mean teachers. That said, I do like the fact that I no longer have to drive to and from the school.

I'm sorry your son didn't get a gold star for wiping his tushie by himself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The negativity is a real issue. We are at a really good public school with smiling teachers, administrators, etc. and a high quality of teaching but the written communication that comes from the school is terrible. BUT it was really shocking to me how much of the text in our back to school packet dealt with do not do this and do not do that. I thought the first rule of discipline and good teaching was to always be positive? Is it just that the teachers/administrators don't know how to write?

I would guess it's more that they have lots and lots of experience of parents ignoring the rules. So they want to make them clear and get it up front so there is no confusion, excuses like " I didn't see it".

Private schools have parents and kids who don't follow rules too and I am sure that the process of getting them to follow the rules is more painstaking, but it gets done. Plus the polite, cheery behavior of the staff makes everyone feel that they also have to be polite. This is true for any business. But public school are not a business. I don't mind dealing with mean government employees who don't come in contact with my kids, but the ones who do (schools) should remember that they are setting the tone.

Hmm. Why are staff at privates smiling and very friendly? So that parents will like the atmosphere, stay, and keep paying tuition.

b/c they rely on the big donors to keep the school afloat

That way, little John John can do whatever the fuck he wants w/o facing a penalty.

Our experience at private school is the kids of the big donors did not get away with anything. They were for the most part, the best behaved kids. They often came from families where the parents worked hard and had good values. Their parents were for the most part strict and demanding. They are smart enough to know that all the money in the world can't undo a messed up kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I noticed when I moved my kids from a private school to a public school:

1. Teachers and staff were uniformly supportive of my kids -- kind, gentle and understanding. They worked really hard to help my kids get where they were supposed to be and do what they were supposed to do. "Positive discipline" was the rule. That was very different from the private school, which expected kids to comply and when they didn't, there was a lot of exasperation.

2. The teachers were MUCH better trained. They had many tools in their tool box for teaching material to different kinds of kids. They had many different methods for ensuring that behavior was good.

3. We had more variety in extracurriculars and enrichment activities.

4. We had more diversity in race, ethnic background and SES.

5. We had more resources - the school has speech therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists -- to help us, if we need it.

6. The academic side was the same or better.

OP here. I agree with 2, 5, and 6.
We had more diversity at our private school, fewer academic resources. But we had nice teachers. The tuition of 35K was the deal breaker.

Just how do you define "diversity"? Rich white kids and rich "brown" kids? I can't imagine that there would be much economic diversity at a school that cost 35k.

Well rich white people and poor brown people is a toxic type of diversity.

Why do you think that "brown" kids in private school are poor? Or that white kids in private school are rich? BTW, at our private school, there were so many types of families that the diversity was much better than at Whitman.

[Anonymous]

OP - the first day of school is very chaotic, I'm sure you noticed. The front office staff is usually over loaded the first week of school.

FWIW, the front office staff at my DC's school usually greets me with a smile. But I can't say they did this the first day of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like other people to chime in and share their thoughts.

I noticed that no one seems to really know anyone. The parents don't seem to know each other. The teachers and other staff don't know the parents (or students).

I noticed very little smiling on the part of the office staff (not necessarily a bad thing). Which makes them seem like they really don't want you to be in their office, unwelcoming.

There is a lot of negativity in the flyers and handouts. Like on the first line of a sheet for a class, "ABSOLUTELY no food or drink allowed...". Then they say what the class will be about. Rather than something like, "welcome to X class, I am happy that you chose this class...please respect our environment and refrain from bringing any food or drink in the classroom".

What age is your child? If they are older (MS or HS), I think parents are less involved and the boundary area is much bigger so people don't know each other as neighbors. I have had kids in 3 different MCPS ESs and my experience was that they had a strong sense of community and lots of people knew each other. As for handouts, they are not going to use high level English-- like the word "refrain". Parents and some students may not be native speakers, or they don't have a very high level of education. In my experience all the front offices have at least one dragon lady secretary. Get to know them, say hi. They are likely extremely nice. They just have to be tough because they sometimes need to boss around kids and parents. I definitely wouldn't let interactions on the first few crazy days shadow my whole perception of the school and staff.

If you want nice office staff, you have to enroll at North Chevy Chase Elementary. (NCC). AMAZING! I miss those ladies and their incredible over-the-top office decorations for every minor and major holiday or change of seasons.