Reply to Teachers: Why do you choose to teach at private vs. public?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Parents are more supportive in private in many ways. [/quote]

And the nominees for "biggest generalization in this thread" are . . . [/quote]

I have experience as a teacher in APS, FCPS, and the Diocese of Arlington.

The Catholic community (including non-Catholic parents) understood when I missed a week of school due to my parent being ill, supported me when my spouse was deployed, and were very willing to hear feedback like, "your kid has been kind of mean to their classmates," without saying, "Can I see some documentation on that".

In public school I was literally not allowed to put the name of a child in an email, TO THEIR PARENTS for legal reasons.

In private I can say, "Did Larlo have a rough weekend? They fell asleep in math today. Anything I need to know...".

I public, I'd be called out for "define what 'asleep' means," on top of HIPPA and naming the kid.

They also are willing to accept feedback about "bad news" in general without making me a villain for saying something. I am also never worried that my students are underfed, lacking weather-appropriate clothing, or that they are experiencing homelessness.

This sounds awful, and elitist, but when my students in Catholic school have hit economic or emotional speed bumps, the general community has found a way to circle the wagons around that family. Sometimes, the family had no idea. Uniforms appeared out of nowhere. A parent bought lunch for their kid "and anyone who needs it". We had a supply closet with donations to avoid embarrassing kids if they "lost" their pens/folders/pens over holiday break. Even kids with some money hot awkward moments (leaving things at dad's house on a Monday when they spent the weekend with mom).

I have gone to my principal and my pastor and said I was worried, and they helped me find ways to bridge those gaps, instead of saying, "take data" or "call CPS if you are so concerned". They know the families so well that the "social work" part does not fall on teachers, as much.

APS and FCPS have families with means (sometimes), but they also have families who struggle. How those struggles are managed are less stressful for a teacher in a private system.

The money is reallllyyyy different, and less transparent in private. In public, even the students can figure out the pay scale, and that's motivating to get advanced degrees. Private is "more private".
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