Serious question I've always wondered about - why on earth would you pay so much money and want your child to go to a private school when the 'teachers' don't even need a teaching license or degree? And they get paid crap? When we first moved to the area 7 years ago, I was hired to teach music in a well regarded gifted private school and they were going to pay me $28,000. It was a small pay cut from what I was making in Ohio but the school looked amazing. I took it and then realized FCPS would pay me about $20,000 more to do less work and switched within a month. A couple years later I met the guy who took the job I left at the private school - no degree and his only experience was teaching private lessons. Why do you people think private schools are so much better? Most of the teachers that are there are only there because they don't have certification to teach in a public school. Why pay for that?!

22:00 says sorry for the typos.

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

Of course not, the pay stinks. It became worthwhile when we enrolled a child and I didn't have to worry about meeting a bus and paying for after school care until I could pick my child up from public school. I alway assumed I would return to public one day. If we can continue to scrap by financially, I'll stay in private, though I do feel a little guilty because private sure isn't the population I set out to serve.

I learned lots of good things from my public school colleagues and supervisors. For the most part, I was lucky enough to work for people in public school who evaluated my work, and let me teach without threatening me about standardized tests. I was trusted to make good decisions. I have the same in private school, and I'm not sure I would find it again in public school. Hard to find thoughtful administrators who aren't scared of the threats THEY are under for performance.

I like the kids I teach in private school. I liked the kids I taught in public school from communities with limited resources.

If I wasn't part of a household that shares income, but single... no way could I have made a switch to private. And even now it is at a( financial) cost.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am quite sure private school teachers make more than $25k since 18 years ago, I started at one at $30k. It was less than I was making in the public school but totally worth it. Not because of the students but because of the admin and parent support and freedom to teach.

I hope so! I was just going to ask if this is really what they get paid or if the PP just made this number up. I have a friend who teaches in well-known DC private schools (recently moved from one to another) and I would be shocked if she were only making 25k, based on her education alone.

I have a Master's and several years experience, and only make $34,000. I do get tuition reduction for my kids, though. I'd only move to public if I absolutely had to. My freedom to teach what I want, how I want, is much greater than my public schoolteacher friends', and I do less paperwork.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

The best teachers can handle any situation. Just b/c you can teach in a private school doesn't make you stellar. Being successful in a public school does say quite a bit about you, however.

Really?

I know preschool teachers who would hate high school and visa versa. My friend teaches emotionally disturbed children and it is a gift. Not every teacher can do that. I can teach Math but hate English.

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

The best teachers can handle any situation. Just b/c you can teach in a private school doesn't make you stellar. Being successful in a public school does say quite a bit about you, however.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of us who have kids in private schools are loving it.

You're not speaking for my family - we're loving that we left private for public.

Thinking about it, I think you've written a syllogism here (underlying assumption is that you love private school if you keep your kids there) and not a tautology (statement says the same thing twice).

You must be a blast at a party.

No kidding. And, a tautology defines or proves itself; repeating yourself is just simple redundancy. If you're going to be pedantic, be correct.

Anonymous wrote:I am quite sure private school teachers make more than $25k since 18 years ago, I started at one at $30k. It was less than I was making in the public school but totally worth it. Not because of the students but because of the admin and parent support and freedom to teach.

I hope so! I was just going to ask if this is really what they get paid or if the PP just made this number up. I have a friend who teaches in well-known DC private schools (recently moved from one to another) and I would be shocked if she were only making 25k, based on her education alone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of us who have kids in private schools are loving it.

You're not speaking for my family - we're loving that we left private for public.

Thinking about it, I think you've written a syllogism here (underlying assumption is that you love private school if you keep your kids there) and not a tautology (statement says the same thing twice).

You must be a blast at a party.

I am quite sure private school teachers make more than $25k since 18 years ago, I started at one at $30k. It was less than I was making in the public school but totally worth it. Not because of the students but because of the admin and parent support and freedom to teach.

Anonymous wrote:Those of us who have kids in private schools are loving it.

You're not speaking for my family - we're loving that we left private for public.

Thinking about it, I think you've written a syllogism here (underlying assumption is that you love private school if you keep your kids there) and not a tautology (statement says the same thing twice).

DCPS teacher here. If I could afford to teach at an independent school I would make the move TODAY! But I'm not going to teach, coach a team, and drive the van for $25k.

Anonymous wrote:I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

Your source, please?

I have heard that new grads coming into the DC area rank MCPS as first pick followed by HCPS, then PGCPS, and some of the affluent counties in Viginia in similar order. Private schools are not highly ranked by the young, motivated newer teachers.

My guess that is a silver spring mom - their horses,are very high.