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Why don't Catholic Schools get more play on this board?
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Anonymous
Understood, but I don't think the OP is middle or lower class. She's comparing Catholic schools to other independent schools in this area - not to inner-city DCPS. Apples & oranges. |
Anonymous
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Actually, PP, I am the OP and I am middle class - probably upper middle class, but not wealthy by any means. Our child is currently in a so-called "third tier" DCPS, where she is thriving and which we have love. But fora number of reasons, we are considering the jump to Catholic, so I started reading these boards.
Again, my husband and I come from a background where Catholic schools are immensely well respected for academics - perhaps it's more of a Jesuit thing. (see Supreme Court Justices post way back on page 1 or 2). We would not consider independent schools, partially for cost, partially because we just don't walk in that rarified air (and I don't mean that as a knock - it's just not who we are - we simply don't run in those circles and this board has been super eye opening). But I was surprised that I wasn't finding much inside dirt on our choice on this forum. I was also surprised that there wasn't more discussion of curriculums and educational approaches, in an effort to find, not the "best" school, but the best fit for your approach to education. We find ourselves drawn to three different models of education - classic, International Baccalaureate, or (very slightly) Waldorf. Finding the right mix of play-based early childhood education, with emphasis on the natural world, that also mixes in those elements of a classic education with a broad international grounding is not exactly easy. One of my Catholic school educated friends says at least at Catholic school, when teaching world history, the curriculum can be honest about the ways in which religion has guided and shaped the world we live in today. It is harder, I think, for public schools to intellectually be honest and acknowledge the role religion has played in the world. In any case, it is daunting to think about moving from a school where we are among the richest to a school to where we'd be in the lower tier of personal wealth. (I have a feeling I might be sending this thread in a whole new direction). Or moving from a place where my child is a minority from a race perspective, to a place where there are so few other races represented. I just don't know how to think about those factors. Ultimately, what I don't see much of is specific talk of how learning happens and how it is different (better) at private schools. Perhaps because most people on this board take that as a base assumption. I more fundamentally question if we'd be getting a better educational experience as well as a "better" social/community experience. |
Anonymous
I actually think this subject gets brought up regularly on DCUM. The problem is that it's incredibly polarizing, so any discussion quickly breaks down into an ugly argument. Plenty of parents will post to say why they think their children get a better learning environment in public/private/parochial schools (whichever one they've chosen), but whenever someone posts about the positives of her chosen environment, those statements inevitably are viewed as implicit criticism of all other environments. And so a battle erupts .... If you dig through the archives, you probably could quickly find a dozen or more threads where this exact same thing happened over and over again. |
Anonymous
OP, I've been following this thread, but haven't posted. Your bolded point above is what we're trying to figure out about Catholic school, and I, too, wish there was more discussion of these points on this board. We live in the Alexandria section of FFX County in one of the "not so desireable" pyramids and have been considering one of the well regarded Alexandria Catholic schools--DC will start K in 2012. Our elementary school is apparently "fine" to even pretty good, but I still find myself wondering whether, when also considering the social/community experience you cite above, DC will get an overall better education in the public elementary school or the Catholic school. I also wonder about things like giving up the opportunity for AAP in FFX County (no clue whether he would even qualify obviously but it's at least a possibility) if we chose Catholic school. We also kind of have an eye on Gonzaga as a school we may be interested in for high school, but have seen the comments on this board that it can be tough to get into from a public school. Throw in the fact that in Virginia it's apparently quite difficult to get into some Catholic schools, especially the two we are considering, if you don't live in the parish, and things become even more complicated. Do we want to start going to/investing in a new parish just in hopes that we might be able to get into the school, which could still be unlikely depending on how many in parish families apply that year or subsequent years? It would be easier to weigh these other factors if I knew more about the educational experience. We have made an appointment at the school so hopefully that will answer some of our questions, but, as others do on this board, it would also be nice to get some inside info on all of these questions from this board. |
Anonymous
Well, then you are wrong! Because I am brand new to this thread as of yesterday! Zoom . . . Zoom . . . I am off! I was just popping in! Kudos to the original poster that I trailed, though!!! |
Anonymous
Public school teacher here and if you think the public schools don't teach an ideology, then you have your head in the sand. Unitarian Universalists don't need their own schools b/c the publics are doing a fine job of teaching their ideology for them. |
Anonymous
You are ridiculous. |
Anonymous
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good thread, and great reply post by the OP.
clearly you are more liberal and social-minded than I, but I tend-to think that even well-intentioned progressives like yourself need to consider the well being of the child more than the greater societal good. i.e., yes it is better in the big picture for DCPS (and maybe even DC's future) that students like your children continue to attend. but at the end of the day, do what is best for your kids - and that means quality education and safety and good peer influences. if you are getting that at DCPS then that is wonderful. I'm a product of public and catholic schools. biggest difference in my opinion was the discipline. you simply didn't have as many "bad" kids disrupting class and ruining it for the rest of us in catholic school - the don't tolerate that BS. you were there to learn and you were taught to respect your teacher and each other. good luck with your decision. |
Anonymous
LOL!! |
Anonymous
What an a$$hole. I bet she's really the original poster, though. She seems like a liar as well as an a$$hole. |