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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The short version is I used to be a public school teacher. If I thought I weren’t getting my money’s worth, I wouldn’t do it. [/quote]

This. Some of the best teachers at my kids’ private left public school for private to focus on things that have been sacrificed by public..such as essay writing and tests with open ended questions [/quote]

My child’s private school does no writing instruction whatsoever or critical thinking exercises. Just dated grammar lessons in English class that has not and does not help with writing. I would say it actually hurts advancing in writing because it excludes all writing instruction. But boy, do we know many types of pronouns. I’m not against grammar instruction, but not at the exclusion of writing instruction. Essays are done (again with no lessons leading up to it) but they are also done at what would be our public home school as well. I suppose the private thinks it’s just learned through osmosis. Did our due diligence and met with school, talked about curicullum, read the curicullum which does state what to expect each year to be taught, but at least for this class it has not happen and isn’t being taught now.  It’s been disappointing and brought up, but brushed under the rug. Told that essays are done. Yes, but where’s the instruction to progress-that’s what school is set up for-to teach. Actually, had a mom whose child already went through our grade warn us that this class for this grade was underwhelming and hyper focused on grammar and a weak spot in the school. She was not wrong. 
I’m not saying private is not worth it for those who value it, but for what we pay, it has not been head and shoulders over public. Not even close. Feels like a 
bait and switch in a way. Some things are good but for what we pay and how they portray themselves-its been a disappointment. This is a school with a great reputation. Couldn’t find any negatives before committing but should’ve listened to the small part of me that felt it seemed too good to be true. It’s turned out to be just that. 
If you want private, go for it, I think it’s anyone’s choice. However, for those who think private is inherently superior, I wouldn’t count on it as a sure thing. I was suckered.  
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Are you at a Catholic or independent school?  Our private middle school does almost zero worksheets and has a very strong focus on writing and critical thinking.  We have essay assignments in both social studies and language arts every week. They have speech and debate where they have to choose a topic, do research and present.  They do a to of science labs.  They have 15 kids per class get a lot of one-on-one attention.  The experience is vastly different from public school.[/quote]

My child is at one of the top ones in DC without giving away too much info. Its not coed and is known for rigor and no, it’s not St. Albans. Only focus in English is grammar and essay after reading novel. No instruction at all with writing. No sentence fluency lesson, no critical thinking assignments, no paragraph practice, or anything else that that I’m missing that would lend to gaining better writing knowledge. They write in many classes, but for general purposes and not to get better at it. Again, the class targeted for this (English) has no writing instruction. No science labs this year and in fact one thing that occurred last year-I heard teacher promise on virtual with my own ears that they would get to do a lab. Teacher bailed when the kids were told the teacher wanted to give more notes on new topic before final. This was a huge disappointment to my son as it would’ve been and should’ve been a priority considering they would have done labs in a normal year. Teacher certainly could have done it-the kids were attending school at hybrid at that point. And a lab experiment would have been better for learning than more giving notes for the sake of giving more notes. This school has some good but is in desperate need
of an overhaul. I’ve tried to get answers and brought up the topic of what is in curicullum is not getting passed down, I get the vibe of “how dare I question it” and some BS answer. It just gets brushed under the rug. 
Glad however that your child is receiving all that he/she should. Like I said, some things are good with the school, but many are being fooled and I really think the school believes grammar lessons are more important than writing instruction. I’m not knocking grammar lessons but not at the exclusion of writing lessons. Major overhaul needed but it won’t happen, long tradition and would have to get rid of the older major decision makers. Anyone who would try to make changes have their hands tied with the older decision makers controlling everything. 
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