Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:30     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Anonymous wrote:"We thought it would be a great fit for our DC."

I understand where you are coming from because I have gotten negative comments from people as well. A woman at the park actually said, "do you honestly think the money is worth it?" (And not in a nice way). I mean, clearly I think it's worth it, so the subtext is that I some insufferable snob for sending my kid to private school. There's no point to engaging because a defensive person will take anything you say as a referendum on her choice. Just smile, deflect, move on.



While you probably are not a snob, my first thought about people who send their kids to private schools is that they are elitist snobs. Right or wrong it is the first thought I have.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:27     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
I think you are projecting OP. nobody really cares, and if they do they probably are asking a fact based question about why you made the choice.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:27     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
we have decided to go with a small, private, parochial school for now and my good friends are all going to have a field day with it. they are incredibly pro-public school, and while i am too, the DC public school system seems a bit broken and we are looking for something different for our kids at this time. i, too, am not looking forward to the discussion because there is going to be a lot of eye-rolling, shaming and such.

and yes, it will make me re-think these friendships, which date back 15 years and very much pre-kids.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:25     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
This is hilarious. I swear, there are more public school parents on this forum than there are private school parents. It makes no sense whatsoever.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:14     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Just say that your child can't cut it in the competitive environment of the local public so you chose a private school that will coddle him and provide him with the small class size he need in order to feel ok about himself.

That will shut down the conversation real quick.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:01     Subject: Re:what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Anonymous wrote:I really don't know why anyone needs to apologize for being a social climber who uses their kids to spend time with others with money. You use any means available to get ahead in this area.


Aaaaaand proving the point. Thanks PP.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 16:00     Subject: Re:what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
I really don't know why anyone needs to apologize for being a social climber who uses their kids to spend time with others with money. You use any means available to get ahead in this area.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:54     Subject: Re:what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Private offered ______ for our DC that the public does not have. (smaller class size, foreign language, math system, etc)
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:51     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Pick the one thing that sold you on your chosen school. For us we simply said "Knowing her personality, we just wanted a small school for Meg."
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:48     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
When it inevitably happens to us, I will be honest and say "You might be right. But I had a really bad time in public school, so I wanted to try different a route for DS. We all try to make different mistakes with our kids, don't we?"
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:43     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Wait, so a neighbor is "defensive" about YOUR decision? How is that possible? It's your decision.

"This is what's best for our family right now. So do you think the Nats will make the play-offs this year?"
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:42     Subject: Re:what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
Anonymous wrote:"The public school just didn't offer as many silent auctions"


PP here, this response is better!
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:41     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
"We thought it would be a great fit for our DC."

I understand where you are coming from because I have gotten negative comments from people as well. A woman at the park actually said, "do you honestly think the money is worth it?" (And not in a nice way). I mean, clearly I think it's worth it, so the subtext is that I some insufferable snob for sending my kid to private school. There's no point to engaging because a defensive person will take anything you say as a referendum on her choice. Just smile, deflect, move on.
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:40     Subject: Re:what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
"The public school just didn't offer as many silent auctions"
Anonymous
Post 03/08/2014 15:33     Subject: what do you say to neighbors about why you are choosing private vs the local public?
what is the best response, specifically when you sense that a person is defensive about it? I ask this sincerely.