is private school like giving your kid organic fruit?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I actually think this is a good analogy. Sometimes it just feels good to do something for your kids even if you wouldn't argue it's necessarily "better" and might not be able to point to concrete ways in which the choice will create better outcomes. I absolutely felt this way about breastfeeding -- I liked doing it in part because it just felt like something I could do for my kids, and I liked feeling like I was doing something for them. I don't think there is anything wrong with using formula and if you asked me if I had an opinion on it, I'd say "no, do what works for you." But personally I liked the feeling of doing something that felt "extra" for my kids even though I couldn't tell you exactly why it was extra.

I also think kids who get these kinds of extras from their parents, whatever they are (it doesn't have to be private school or breastfeeding or organic fruit, it could be piano lessons or always buying good quality clothes or going to every single basketball game), feel more loved and supported, and this on it's own has a benefit for kids no matter how you show that love and support. You could have two kids with similar personalities, intelligence, and appearance, but the kid whose parents are invested enough to go the extra mile in various ways will seem more likable. The kid who doesn't get that extra support might still be great, but I think this kind of emotional neglect is somehow noticeable to others even if the kid seems to be doing well without the support the other kid gets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Keeping the food theme, maybe like this:

The public school menu varies, but generally it is warmed over slop. The cafeteria in which the slop is eaten is chaotic; sometimes there are fights, sometimes the slop gets knocked down and stepped in.

There is a class of mid-tier privates where you eat your meal at grandma's house. The food is nothing fancy, but home-cooked, traditional meals. Sometimes there is pie. The kitchen and the dining room are long-lived in, and rather dingy. Pictures of long-gone relatives line the walls.

Then you have the expensive privates: the dining room is ornate, a silver candelabra in the center of the table. The guests are witty, discussing the latest in fashions. The waiter comes out with the food on silver platter. He lifts the cover and behold! It is the same slop you would get at the public school down the road.

We don't send our kids to expensive privates so I have no idea about that, but I will say that not all publics offer warmed over slop. It just depends on the district and the school. Public schools are generally not like palaces, but I think they can be the equivalent of a good, nutritious meal in a solid middle class or upper middle class household. Good quality ingredients, served somewhat simply, seasoned reasonably well, but perhaps with some shortcuts taken in preparation because both parents work and time and energy are not infinite. The bread is store bought but from the bakery, not the commercial bread aisle, and some of the veggies are from frozen (but studies show that frozen vegetables have basically the same nutritional content as fresh and are better than canned).

While other public schools are the equivalent of drive-thru from a restaurant with multiple health code violations. There is a broad variety in public just as there is in private.

[Anonymous]

Private school is like feeding your kid more than government cheese and SNAP budget.

Private school is like seeing a doctor without Medicaid or insurance approval.

Private school is like buying or renting your own home instead of living in a government shelter.

Private school is like hiring security instead of relying on the police.

Why is education the only case where (sufficiently) wealthy people take it as a point of pride to be on the welfare dole for subsistence living?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school is like feeding your kid more than government cheese and SNAP budget.

Private school is like seeing a doctor without Medicaid or insurance approval.

Private school is like buying or renting your own home instead of living in a government shelter.

Private school is like hiring security instead of relying on the police.

Why is education the only case where (sufficiently) wealthy people take it as a point of pride to be on the welfare dole for subsistence living?

Because for every one of your examples except police, there are income limits to access them. So public school is not actually like any of those things.

Oh, and by the way, rich people rely on the police too when they need to.

[Anonymous]

At what school in the DC area do "the kids get Latin, fencing, and lunchtime paella"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At what school in the DC area do "the kids get Latin, fencing, and lunchtime paella"?

It’s a joke. Mine get Latin and chick fila not bad.

[Anonymous]

A good amount of the BS is filtered out. Also you don't have to deal with the nonsense about wanting to take your kid on a family vacation outside of school holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:✈️

Public school is coach.
Private school is business class.
Homeschool is first class.

No home school is trying to drive across the ocean in an RV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The largest class i taught last year was fifteen students. At public schools, the number is closer to 30. That's one of major benefits of private school.

And when there are 15 kids everyone gets an IEP with individualized learning and tools. My younger one (no LDs) benefited from taking her spelling tests in a separate room to help with her test anxiety - I didn’t know they were doing this until the parent teacher conference. My DD is quiet and at public this would have been totally overlooked, but at private she is known and seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:✈️

Public school is coach.
Private school is business class.
Homeschool is first class.

No home school is trying to drive across the ocean in an RV.

Ha! I was going to say:

Homeschool: The DIY Road-Trip Van
• You pick the playlist, map your own detours, stop when curiosity strikes.
• Seats aren’t cushioned with standard curriculum, which is limited to the parent/teacher’s capacity.
• Flexibility is king; comfort depends on how well you pack your own snacks (resources).

Public School: The Intercity Bus
• A set route, fixed schedule, dozens of fellow passengers.
• You get the essentials—basic seats, air-conditioning (or not), and predetermined stops.
• Everyone’s on the same highway, but you can’t pause for personal scenic overlooks.

Parochial School: The Community Shuttle
• Follows the standard academic “highway” but detours regularly to chapel stops and faith-based enrichment sessions.
• Fixed timetable like a public bus, with built-in prayer breaks and seasonal festivals as scheduled stops.
• A tight-knit group of fellow believers riding together—strong peer support and a sense of shared mission.

Private Day School: The Regional Express Train (Business Class)
• Reserved seats with extra legroom and a few perks: dedicated attendants, nicer view (smaller class sizes).
• A published timetable, but more room to stretch your legs and customize your on-board meal (electives).
• You still share the tracks with other riders, but in a more curated environment.

High-End Boarding School: The Bespoke Private Jet
• Black-tie cabin, gourmet catering, one-to-one service, touching down at exclusive terminals.
• Total immersion—your whole life happens at 35,000 feet of top-tier academics, athletics, and networking.
• Sky’s the limit on customization and prestige (at a price).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what school in the DC area do "the kids get Latin, fencing, and lunchtime paella"?

It’s a joke. Mine get Latin and chick fila not bad.

We are at a private day school in Houston and we get Latin and paella - although my kid prefers the tacos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:✈️

Public school is coach.
Private school is business class.
Homeschool is first class.

Gross!! Homeschool is never at the top of the pyramid. . .unless you are incredibly wealthy and sailing around the world or living abroad for a few years.

The education received during homeschool outranks any private.

I’ve never met a well balanced person who was homeschooled - so, define education exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think first class vs economy is probably the best of those analogies.

+1

[Anonymous]

My rising freshman, who has always got As in math, including Alegbra 1 and scored above 500 on SOLs is retaking Algebra 1 in 9th (switching to private) because he didn't do well enough on the math placement exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private school is like feeding your kid more than government cheese and SNAP budget.

Private school is like seeing a doctor without Medicaid or insurance approval.

Private school is like buying or renting your own home instead of living in a government shelter.

Private school is like hiring security instead of relying on the police.

Why is education the only case where (sufficiently) wealthy people take it as a point of pride to be on the welfare dole for subsistence living?

Because for every one of your examples except police, there are income limits to access them. So public school is not actually like any of those things.

Oh, and by the way, rich people rely on the police too when they need to.

Why do people prefer free over quality, even if they can afford quality?