Reply to Norwood, Holton or WES?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, my child is at Norwood, and sadly, I have admit that the academics in the lower grades are going to be no different than at Potomac Elementary school. That said, Norwood is introducing the new math system that seems to be good. 
The specials are very good indeed. 
Criticism is that the teachers can be a bit too easy on kids, especially those with disciplinary problems. Any other school including WES and Holton, will appear to be more strict. [/quote]

OP, I wrote this. I want to clarify certain things. 
I think that there could be more in the way of academics. These private schools already have short academic years and generous winter breaks, which concerns me. The specials take up even more time during the day. My child spends 55 minutes in math daily as compared to 1.5 hours in public school (in reading the time gap is even greater). That has to add up in the end. Yes, there will be the argument that in public school there are problems that make it so they NEED to spend more time on these things, but it does not completely explain the difference. I wish that Norwood devoted 1.5 hours to math. 
The specials are very good, but they do cut into academics. Yes, music does have some math in it and PE is important to release energy and get in shape (good arguments). But the constant switching classes might be a bit disruptive. This might be a case of more is not necessarily better WRT specials.  
I am very happy with the newer math program as it was explained to us. I will have to see how it actually plays out. I hear that MCPS has it too, but I am not sure that it is being implemented in all grades. 
I wish that the teachers would take on more of a role as disciplinarians and force (yes force) the kids to move ahead. In any private school, if your child just sits there, it seems to be tolerated. They will have some fancy way of saying the Johnny is his own person. Or he moves at his pace. That was what public school was like in the days prior to NCLB, now it seems to be the culture in private schools. 
I KNOW that Norwood and WES have some cash flow problems. It is becoming quite clear that the school will do as much as it can for your kid, so that you keep DC there. There is pressure to make sure that everyone is happy. THIS IS SAD! For all private schools. Yes the economy stinks, but they need to stand firm on some issues. 
Bottom line. More emphasis and time on academics, even if the specials get compromised. 
Class size is about 19 per home room and any where fro 6 (rare) to 12 in small groups. PE is all together (good), and music (I think) is also all together. [/quote]

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