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Coveted DC Public Charter School - Not so excited
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Anonymous
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My DS started Pre-K at a highly sought after DCPCS. We were very impressed with the Open House and excited for the no-cost opportunity that is highly sought after by others. We recently went to Back To School Night and overall I have been disappointed. I did lots of research, spoke to lots of parents and still feel like I did not make the best choice. The class has 21 students with a teacher and a teacher assistant. It feels like the teachers will never get to know my DS and his wonderful gifts. I know that all of the students have gifts but is this why you pay for private school?
The primary teacher has a limited command of the english language. Although I am happy that my DS is learning Spanish, it does seem important at this age to learn proper enunciation of words and correct grammar. The teacher indicated that the kids will learn their numbers up to 20 by the end of the year - my DS certainly already knows that. I did not feel like he would be pushed at all. I plan on getting my DS tested and attending some private school open houses over the next few months. But I am surprised at my disappointment. I just wonder if what I am feeling will be greatly different in private school? |
Anonymous
| I think you would be absolutely blown away by most of the privates in this area ... particularly compared to what you describe. However, they are not cheap as I'm sure you know. Best wishes. |
Anonymous
| I agree with the PP. All of the issues you describe are why people, even in good public school districts, are shelling out for privates. |
Anonymous
Why won't the child learn proper English grammar and pronunciation from you, his parent? Surely you read to him, and he is exposed to English via the media? |
Anonymous
| Just curious what you expected. The pre-K programs in the publics are just prep for their K programs. What did you see/hear at the Open House before you sent your DC there that impressed you? |
Anonymous
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Children do learn proper English grammar while immersed in Spanish. We chose Oyster on that basis, and it's true. Plus, learning math in the target language actually improves a child's sense of math as a language.
My daughter's in Oyster. Both of her teachers are bilingual but the whole afternoon is in Spanish. The English goes just fine, and the test scores bear it out. All children have gifts. At back-to-school night, you're not going to see the teacher focusing on one child or praising one child. The event exists to explain what is going on with all of the children. If you don't like it, though, AND your child doesn't like the environment, looking for another school is the right choice for you. You might find that if he is truly curious and has good language aptitude, immersion will spare him the boredom of being unchallenged. |
Anonymous
| "It feels like the teacher will never get to know DS and his wonderful gifts." Give me a freaking break!! I got news for you. Just about every parent feels like their child has wonderful gifts. |
Anonymous
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I have a neighbor who decided to go private for exactly the reason you mentioned - "It feels like the teachers will never get to know my DS and his wonderful gifts."
I was chatting with my neighbors to try and understand their thought process in selecting a school. My child is 3 so I am starting the process right now. My neighbor sat in the classroom in our Upper NW school and tried to visualize her child in it. She felt as if her child would get lost in the neighborhood school and so they decided to shell out the money for private. I know they are thrilled with the school so far and feel that it is the right decision for them. |
Anonymous
| I'm trying to imagine what coveted school would hire a primary teacher with a limited command of English. |
Anonymous
And every parent wants to know that their child's teacher really likes and appreciates him. And children -- esp at preK level - deserve to have a teacher who really cares about them. |
Anonymous
I don't understand this point. I hear people making it all the time to justify sending their kids to schools they feel 'meh about. I don't understand. Because most kids are normal, they should be faceless in their classrooms? Or, is it that b/c most parents feel their kids are special, they should shut that down and make their kids be unnoticed? I desperately tried to "see" my kid at our local DCPS (one of the best in the city). He would have been okay. But maybe okay isn't enough for for. I am not foolish enough to think that a private school is going to create some kind of panacea, nor do I think EVERY teacher will think my kid is amazing, but at least they will NOTICE my child. At least they will know his quirks. They will not have a choice, he has 13 kids in his class. I don't think every kid needs the best the best the best all of the time, but I also think that settling sucks. I have got one shot at this parenthood thing, and I KNOW there are no guarantees, but just okay and playing down my kids strengths so I can have more money for what? A second home? For what? is not worth it to me. Safety, a THOUGHTFUL curriculum, staff contentment, nice facilities, an understanding of childhood development, etc. These are things I did NOT see in my local DCPS. I think that they are basic and should be afforded to every child. They are not. I went elsewhere. You should too. Do not settle. |
Anonymous
| Fascinating discussion, but a bit over the top. DS is in first grade in an Arlington public school. Class size in the low 20s. The teachers are really good. This notion that a teacher may not recognize a child's "special gifts" says more about the narcisism of the parents than it does about the quality of the school. And what's the matter with an accent? Many people have them. If OP's son is learning Spanish, he'll benefit from having a teacher with a good accent in that language. In addition to preschool, our son attended daycare in Spanish for 4 years and he pronounces English words just fine. Give me a break! |
Anonymous
Oh dear God, you have been spending time in my brain, haven't you? We can't really afford private school, so we go without any extras. And when I look down and see me wearing the stupidest shoes, or when we have our 5th "staycation" in a row, I remind myself that our limited funds are buying DCs a much better situation than that offered by our supposedly great DCPS in Upper NW. Even MoCo was too test-prep-central for my tastes. What PP enumerates really should be afforded every chid. To his/her list I'd add music, art and &$% recess, dammit. Why does my local DCPS think 16 minutes of recess a day is adequate for a 6 yr old child? |
Anonymous
The OP said "The primary teacher has a limited command of the english language". I too would be concerned if my child was in a classroom where the teacher was not fluent in english. |
Anonymous
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My dd went to a small elementary school in DCPS and I think every teacher of every grade knew who she was.
Also there are some things you get at public school that you don't get at private school. For some people, it's not a matter of settling, it's a matter of preferring a different experience. That said, match the school to the kid. Public is not for everyone but that doesn't mean as a pp suggested that it is always "less" than private. |