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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So if all these goals are about happiness of the child, did you really not think that would be possible equally through public (assuming your child does not have special needs and you live in an area with otherwise great public schools)? I think kids can be happy in many settings, so why the need for private?[/quote]
For me, it's all about the opportunity.  Happiness and achievement of goals flows from opportunity.  I see more opportunities at my kids' private school than at the public school alternative.

Yes, lots of happiness goals are equally available regardless of school (e.g., be physically healthy, find a life partner, have children, etc).  But other specific opportunities are more available in some schools than in others.[/quote]
Like what though? What opportunity is available to a private school kid that isn't available at a top public school? And again, this wouldn't be referring to Harvard connections since according to everyone here, that isn't the goal.[/quote]
What those specific long-range opportunities are depends on what my kids want.  My kids are young enough that I don't know for sure what those will be, although they're old enough for me to make some educated guesses.  I'm confident my kids' school will give them a great education no matter what they study, and that their teachers will be top quality.  I'm confident my kids will face fewer distractions from disruptive students, NCLB bullshit, etc.  If my kids decide to focus on any aspect of the arts, I know there will be lots of options for them.  For most sports, they also will have lots of exposure (although admittedly some specific sports might be better supported elsewhere).  If my kids want to attend a highly-competitive college, I'm confident their school gives them the best realistic shot of making that happen.  If they need to use connections to pursue some opportunity, there is certainly a strong network of families who will help.

I'm certainly not saying those opportunities are closed to public school students.  Indeed, I'm a public school student who managed to accomplish lots without many advantages my own kids will have.  I just think the range of opportunities is wider at their private school, and the path to reach their goals will be smoother, than if they were to attend their local public school.  I suppose if one of my children decides her life's ambition is to enter some field where her private school is no longer helping her, then I'd be happy to switch her school and save the money.  But until that point, I consider it a worthwhile expense (albeit a painful one for us).

HTH your own decision process for your children.  Good luck.[/quote]

So it's just about a smoother ride and feeling better about the school setting, but not really differences in opportunities, because any interest can also always be pursued outside school and no one private covers everything. Plus most things are available at top publics too. Of course, real growth and values also come from experiencing some wants and adversity. I want the very best for my kids as do all other parents here. I just wonder if we really understand what that is in terms of the bigger picture. We are such an achievement oriented society and that seems to be the main goal and outcome measure of most privates. It's hard to know what to do.[/quote]

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