Anonymous wrote:OP here - I just think she should be exposed to children you look and are different. Our private school looks the same. I am worried about how she will navigate life and build confidence in the bubble of private school where they snowplow everything out of her way

Not knowing your precise situation, this sounds like a school issue not a public v. private issue. My siblings and I went to a mix of public and private, and found that public (in our area at least) tended to have fewer consequences for cheating, cutting class, etc. and made it easier to avoid responsibility. Socially, my public school also felt much more like a bubble than my private HS, but your situation may vary.

All that aside, I don't think you're going to give your kid a defining experience by having them switch schools for a couple years in early elementary. I barely remember 2nd grade. I'd avoid the disruption and stay where you are, unless you want to make a long-term switch.

OP, where do you live? Your public might not be any better. I have talked to many moms at NW and MoCo publics sharing some of the same concerns.

I don’t think OP is wrong at all. We did public for lower grades and private starting middle and it was a terrific path. For the reason OP cited. Also for gaining neighborhood friends.

Anonymous wrote:I actually don’t know many homogeneous private schools except extreme Christian ones. Even our local Catholic school has about 15% black and Asian. I know most privates are way more diverse than our Bethesda public.

Says the person who chooses to live in a homogeneous neighbor and send their kids to a school where the only diversity is visible. You do not seek diversity in either place. Just own it.

I actually don’t know many homogeneous private schools except extreme Christian ones. Even our local Catholic school has about 15% black and Asian. I know most privates are way more diverse than our Bethesda public.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I do not necessarily want to apply back to the same school. I am worried about the "bubble" of privilege and sameness at all of the private schools. I think it is more important to go to private later (for us) not necessarily in k-3. I think that going to public may build self confidence better and navigation around social issue without mom and dad around. This is not a dig at the school I am in

What are you talking about? Being in private definitely prepares you for an UMC life. Do you think she will be hanging out with plumbers and dayworkers all the time? I grew up in they lifestyle, so have no dig against them, but once you go away to a decent college your life is pretty isolated in careers and neighborhoods (safe, good schools etc). If anything a private will expose her to the competition she will have in college admissions and job market — better to know now how to succeed.

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I just think she should be exposed to children you look and are different. Our private school looks the same. I am worried about how she will navigate life and build confidence in the bubble of private school where they snowplow everything out of her way

Focus on character and socioeconomic diversity, not looks.

You may want to consider a parochial school.

Op had absolutely no idea that by sending her kid to private school, the kid would be exposed to other families of privilege.
Give. Me. A. Break.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I do not necessarily want to apply back to the same school. I am worried about the "bubble" of privilege and sameness at all of the private schools. I think it is more important to go to private later (for us) not necessarily in k-3. I think that going to public may build self confidence better and navigation around social issue without mom and dad around. This is not a dig at the school I am in

You sound naive. Plus you are the snowplow, not the school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not trying to dissuade you I’ve way or the other. I am a white mom of an adopted black child who goes to a majority black Christian private. But are you exposing her to other people who aren’t like her outside of school too? Church, soccer, camps etc…. You can get out of your own bubble and let her the see the world isn’t all alike without switching schools if you are otherwise happy there.

Not to derail, but what Christian school is majority black? Our family would be very interested.

Forcey Christian in moco.

Thank you!!

The whole “private schools are a bubble that protect kids from difficulties” is a HUGE MYTH. It’s a fabricated rationales used by extremists to get people to reject private school. It just isn’t realistic or honest.

Huge mistake

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not trying to dissuade you I’ve way or the other. I am a white mom of an adopted black child who goes to a majority black Christian private. But are you exposing her to other people who aren’t like her outside of school too? Church, soccer, camps etc…. You can get out of your own bubble and let her the see the world isn’t all alike without switching schools if you are otherwise happy there.

Not to derail, but what Christian school is majority black? Our family would be very interested.

Forcey Christian in moco.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not trying to dissuade you I’ve way or the other. I am a white mom of an adopted black child who goes to a majority black Christian private. But are you exposing her to other people who aren’t like her outside of school too? Church, soccer, camps etc…. You can get out of your own bubble and let her the see the world isn’t all alike without switching schools if you are otherwise happy there.

Not to derail, but what Christian school is majority black? Our family would be very interested.

What public are you thinking about?