Yep. I grew up in Vancouver and live in Victoria now (other major city in BC). The way that the education system works in the US blows my mind. The system is totally fucked and just furthering the divide between the classes. The amount of time and energy that parents dedicate to stressing over what school their child goes to is bizarre. I have met 3 people in my life who went to private school, and they were religious schools.

After a few years of reading DCUM and reading blogs written by American moms with school aged children, I can say unequivocally that the Canadian school system is superior. You send your child to whatever public school you are zoned for, you don't have to wait in line to apply, you don't have to deal with testing your 3 year old or whatever people have to do to get in to elementary schools, and we all end up smart the system works.

For the most part, in most of the United States that's how it works too. The obsession about schools, magnets, AAP, private school, charters, school districts, etc. is almost entirely an urban upper middle class phenomenon. Many Americans would agree with you that you just send your kids to the school you are zoned to, and plenty of people don't stress the way people on this forum do. People who frequent parenting boards overrepresent the degree to which this exists in the US. There are certainly many areas where there are far fewer choices for private schools, and there would be people who have met very few people attending them. My in-laws, for example, think that testing three year olds for elementary schools are ridiculous, and none of their kids have attended preschool. They didn't research school districts before choosing where to live.

I think the reason this exists so much among upper middle class parents is the chasm between upper middle class and working class is so huge. There is a long way to fall--and it impacts you in just about every way. Whether or not your kid gets a good education, whether or not you can get adequate healthcare, whether or not you can afford childcare, whether or not you can afford healthy food or a safe neighborhood or save for retirement. Most of the lower middle class/working class can't afford all of this...they are one operation away from bankruptcy, or they will work until they are ill enough to go on disability, or their kids will have to attend schools that barely meet state standards. In Canada, there is a larger social safety net, so if you don't make as much money, there isn't as far to fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, Happy to hear. Now please keep your smarties-eating, molson-drinking, crack-smoking ass in that frozen tundra up North that you call a nation. I am still trying to figure out what value you have added to the world besides producing Gretzky and providing us a few weeks of comedy relief with that clown of a mayor you have in Toronto. When you can choose either French or English as an official language, we will allow you to comment on our school system. In the meantime, I will be sure to show my appreciation to you the next time I hit Whistler, the only place in Canada worth visiting.

This is a typical American emotional response when unable to respond intelligently. And I'm an American.

Jackass, I thought the response was quite intelligent. BTW, there is no typical American response. Also, who the hell are you to say that you are American? Aren't the Canadians Americans too? How about that, a typical liberal response -- Thought you were trying to defend our neighbors to the north but instead offended every other non-US citizen of the Americas by presuming that you are American and they are not. I hate liberals and I am a "Conservative."

In the meantime, no one responded to OP's question.

You are a class AAA asshole. Period.

Anonymous wrote:Canadians are less desperate because the safety net almost eliminates poverty.

This. Right here. This. Folks of "lower" SES have a greater chance of moving up in Canada than the United States. We here in the lower 48+2 have really messed up our country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, Happy to hear. Now please keep your smarties-eating, molson-drinking, crack-smoking ass in that frozen tundra up North that you call a nation. I am still trying to figure out what value you have added to the world besides producing Gretzky and providing us a few weeks of comedy relief with that clown of a mayor you have in Toronto. When you can choose either French or English as an official language, we will allow you to comment on our school system. In the meantime, I will be sure to show my appreciation to you the next time I hit Whistler, the only place in Canada worth visiting.

This is a typical American emotional response when unable to respond intelligently. And I'm an American.

Jackass, I thought the response was quite intelligent. BTW, there is no typical American response. Also, who the hell are you to say that you are American? Aren't the Canadians Americans too? How about that, a typical liberal response -- Thought you were trying to defend our neighbors to the north but instead offended every other non-US citizen of the Americas by presuming that you are American and they are not. I hate liberals and I am a "Conservative."

In the meantime, no one responded to OP's question.

Canadians are less desperate because the safety net almost eliminates poverty.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What Americans don't seem to get is that you can't all grow up to be lawyers and doctors. You over work your children and deny them their childhood, instead scheduling every free second with "enrichment" activities. And then you come post here when little Timmy, who really just wants to be a garbage man when he grows up, doesn't get into AAP or IB or whatever else. Cut your kids some slack.

We (Americans) don't actually all do this. Only the part of America with a lot of secondary education and an upper-middle-class income. Which happens to be the part of America that is over-represented on DCUM overall and enormously over-represented on DCUM's private school forum. It would be a mistake to think that DCUM is representative of real-life America.

I think the reality is though that a forum in Canada with a population of post secondary education and upper middle class incomes would be very different than DCUM. There still wouldn't be the same pressures or expectations. There is a different philosophy towards life, balance and education in Canada that shapes how even the educated, richer people think and act. It is a different educational culture. The people who are more like typical DCUMers are the elite rich socialites in Canada - they don't live or interact with the rest of the population. They go to private schools and live a high society life, interacting mostly with each other.

Yes. I wrote the original quoted post here ("What Americans don't seem to get..."). I grew up in a very rich neighborhood (apparently last year was rated the most expensive neighborhood in BC's lower mainland, including Vancouver, in terms of house prices) and NEVER encountered the kinds of attitudes you see on DCUM. Same HHI's and SES, very different approach to education and life in general. The attitude is just different up north.

Anonymous wrote:WOW! I can't believe so many "Canadians living in Canada" bother to read DCUM! That seems like a complete waste of time.

But for those of you who are, please do not let yourselves believe that the posters on DCUM's private school forum are by any means representative of Americans - they aren't even representative of the DC/Metro DC population!

Meanwhile, wasn't OP asking about Canadians in DC so they can make a choice for their child in a DC area private?

+1. Though too bad you aren't looking at privates in NYC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What Americans don't seem to get is that you can't all grow up to be lawyers and doctors. You over work your children and deny them their childhood, instead scheduling every free second with "enrichment" activities. And then you come post here when little Timmy, who really just wants to be a garbage man when he grows up, doesn't get into AAP or IB or whatever else. Cut your kids some slack.

We (Americans) don't actually all do this. Only the part of America with a lot of secondary education and an upper-middle-class income. Which happens to be the part of America that is over-represented on DCUM overall and enormously over-represented on DCUM's private school forum. It would be a mistake to think that DCUM is representative of real-life America.

I think the reality is though that a forum in Canada with a population of post secondary education and upper middle class incomes would be very different than DCUM. There still wouldn't be the same pressures or expectations. There is a different philosophy towards life, balance and education in Canada that shapes how even the educated, richer people think and act. It is a different educational culture. The people who are more like typical DCUMers are the elite rich socialites in Canada - they don't live or interact with the rest of the population. They go to private schools and live a high society life, interacting mostly with each other.

What makes you think that the typical DCUMers -- especially the typical DCUMers on the private school forum! -- interact with the rest of the population in the US? They definitely don't interact with me (as far as I know). I only hang out here because it's edifying to read about the problems of people who have to scrape by on $500,000 a year.

I guess that could be true!

WOW! I can't believe so many "Canadians living in Canada" bother to read DCUM! That seems like a complete waste of time.

But for those of you who are, please do not let yourselves believe that the posters on DCUM's private school forum are by any means representative of Americans - they aren't even representative of the DC/Metro DC population!

Meanwhile, wasn't OP asking about Canadians in DC so they can make a choice for their child in a DC area private?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What Americans don't seem to get is that you can't all grow up to be lawyers and doctors. You over work your children and deny them their childhood, instead scheduling every free second with "enrichment" activities. And then you come post here when little Timmy, who really just wants to be a garbage man when he grows up, doesn't get into AAP or IB or whatever else. Cut your kids some slack.

We (Americans) don't actually all do this. Only the part of America with a lot of secondary education and an upper-middle-class income. Which happens to be the part of America that is over-represented on DCUM overall and enormously over-represented on DCUM's private school forum. It would be a mistake to think that DCUM is representative of real-life America.

I think the reality is though that a forum in Canada with a population of post secondary education and upper middle class incomes would be very different than DCUM. There still wouldn't be the same pressures or expectations. There is a different philosophy towards life, balance and education in Canada that shapes how even the educated, richer people think and act. It is a different educational culture. The people who are more like typical DCUMers are the elite rich socialites in Canada - they don't live or interact with the rest of the population. They go to private schools and live a high society life, interacting mostly with each other.

What makes you think that the typical DCUMers -- especially the typical DCUMers on the private school forum! -- interact with the rest of the population in the US? They definitely don't interact with me (as far as I know). I only hang out here because it's edifying to read about the problems of people who have to scrape by on $500,000 a year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What Americans don't seem to get is that you can't all grow up to be lawyers and doctors. You over work your children and deny them their childhood, instead scheduling every free second with "enrichment" activities. And then you come post here when little Timmy, who really just wants to be a garbage man when he grows up, doesn't get into AAP or IB or whatever else. Cut your kids some slack.

We (Americans) don't actually all do this. Only the part of America with a lot of secondary education and an upper-middle-class income. Which happens to be the part of America that is over-represented on DCUM overall and enormously over-represented on DCUM's private school forum. It would be a mistake to think that DCUM is representative of real-life America.

I think the reality is though that a forum in Canada with a population of post secondary education and upper middle class incomes would be very different than DCUM. There still wouldn't be the same pressures or expectations. There is a different philosophy towards life, balance and education in Canada that shapes how even the educated, richer people think and act. It is a different educational culture. The people who are more like typical DCUMers are the elite rich socialites in Canada - they don't live or interact with the rest of the population. They go to private schools and live a high society life, interacting mostly with each other.

Anonymous wrote:PP, Happy to hear. Now please keep your smarties-eating, molson-drinking, crack-smoking ass in that frozen tundra up North that you call a nation. I am still trying to figure out what value you have added to the world besides producing Gretzky and providing us a few weeks of comedy relief with that clown of a mayor you have in Toronto. When you can choose either French or English as an official language, we will allow you to comment on our school system. In the meantime, I will be sure to show my appreciation to you the next time I hit Whistler, the only place in Canada worth visiting.

This is a typical American emotional response when unable to respond intelligently. And I'm an American.

Canadian private schools have much less pressure from parents, parents and children are more laid back. Montessori schools are very good in Canada, I would say much better-- if I am to compare those of Vancouver, Victoria, and Ottawa with those of DC area. For the rest of private, very few Canadians send their kids to private. Most of the children are coming from abroad or parents who are really really rich in Canada where everybody is middle class and sends sends their children to public school which by the way it happens to be much better than Montgomery County Public Schools..

Anonymous wrote:I don't know where you guys get your information but any basic observation will demonstrate that you have no clue what you are saying. Not everyone in the US goes to college. Who do you think populates our military? It is HS graduates, many of whom move into the private sector once they fulfill their commitment. Trade schools like Lincoln Tech and others educate professionals who work in various industries. You people need to move from Boston, NYC , Washington, SF and LA to the middle of the country where not everyone is focused on getting into an Ivy League school.

Amen!

I don't know where you guys get your information but any basic observation will demonstrate that you have no clue what you are saying. Not everyone in the US goes to college. Who do you think populates our military? It is HS graduates, many of whom move into the private sector once they fulfill their commitment. Trade schools like Lincoln Tech and others educate professionals who work in various industries. You people need to move from Boston, NYC , Washington, SF and LA to the middle of the country where not everyone is focused on getting into an Ivy League school.