my kid came from a good public to a top DC private in high school and there is just zero comparison between the two with regards to instruction in the humanities (ELA, history, foreign language).
My kid read 8 books this fall and produced 12+ essays. The kids write all.the.time. Lots of in depth literary analysis, etc.

I think it's awesome and my kid actually enjoys it but is this skill necessary for life? Most adults will never need to be good writers and especially this type of writing. So yes, these private school kids are about 20 times better prepared for being English majors than most of their public school counterparts. But for most people this won't matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

I value education but I can’t afford private school for my kids even though I attended private schools. Private school apparently didn’t teach you to look at thing from different perspectives and that the world is not so black/white.

Sorry, but your statement is incorrect and unfounded.

Which part? In what way?

DP, but when you said "private school apparently didn't teach you to look at thing(sic) from different perspectives". Privates are especially good at that. publics don't have the time

I went to private school. I got a good education. But the private school environment can be a bubble. One can argue privates are better but to assume that parents who have kids in public schools don’t value education is a bit close minded. Or incorrect and unfounded as PP said.

Do you have tenure or are you an adjunct? And how long have you been in position?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

I value education but I can’t afford private school for my kids even though I attended private schools. Private school apparently didn’t teach you to look at thing from different perspectives and that the world is not so black/white.

Sorry, but your statement is incorrect and unfounded.

Which part? In what way?

DP, but when you said "private school apparently didn't teach you to look at thing(sic) from different perspectives". Privates are especially good at that. publics don't have the time

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

I value education but I can’t afford private school for my kids even though I attended private schools. Private school apparently didn’t teach you to look at thing from different perspectives and that the world is not so black/white.

Sorry, but your statement is incorrect and unfounded.

Which part? In what way?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

This was me, too. Private school kids were much better prepared. They had been assigned much more reading, and, more important, MUCH more writing. Also better at taking exams

My*

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Mine public school educated college student is finding the private school better prepared than he in math but not as strong in writing and discussion based classwork. He went through IB program but not sure that is the reason. He just very strong faculty at his public school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

I value education but I can’t afford private school for my kids even though I attended private schools. Private school apparently didn’t teach you to look at thing from different perspectives and that the world is not so black/white.

Sorry, but your statement is incorrect and unfounded.

Anonymous wrote:In addition to being afraid the world is about to meet a cataclysmic end (which I am guessing may in part stem from young people’s anxiety about climate change and increasing polarization in society), are students more afraid to speak what is truly on their minds than students were a decade ago? That is, do students tread more carefully when they speak for fear of being canceled or reprimanded?

I could see this would be the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

I value education but I can’t afford private school for my kids even though I attended private schools. Private school apparently didn’t teach you to look at thing from different perspectives and that the world is not so black/white.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

Agree.

The vocabulary, work ethic, and approach to problems of private school graduates is impressive. Also, students from private schools come from families who place a high value on education and are willing to sacrifice to ensure that family members are well educated.

I have a lot of nieces and nephews. Many have earned very high standardized test scores and the honors that typically accompany such test scores. The family members who have attended private high schools & private colleges are distinguishable in a positive fashion even though standardized test scores may not be as high.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

+1 Same. I was humanities major. Public (HS) school humanities pushed memorization and getting the “right” answer. Discussion was limited to “raise your hand and answer the question.” College and Grad level is about making creative, thematic connections as you analyze the text and engaging in deep conversation. Private HS humanities classes (seem to) follow this model in the upper grades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At what age did you learn to read? Were your parents UMC?

(Op here): I was "gifted" for the poor rural area I came from, and was the first in my family to go to college (let alone onto grad school). I did not have academic inclinations or mentors until I went to college. That experience opened my eyes and set me on a different path. I'm deeply sympathetic to the admissions process creating a diverse class--kids of all backgrounds, including socio-economic. It truly makes the classroom far more interesting and educational for everyone.

Yet, you come on a forum and expound upon how much better prepared private school students are. I would agree on some level, they are more prepared to bull sh!t professors and have been well versed in how to charm authority. They are well aware of their privilege and how to use it.

DP. I was a public a school kid at a university with lots of private school students. I was a NMSF, had top grades from a good public HS and was a voracious reader. The private school kids were absolutely better prepared. They weren’t smarter, but they had better educational background. Not sure why you’re so defensive about this.

In addition to being afraid the world is about to meet a cataclysmic end (which I am guessing may in part stem from young people’s anxiety about climate change and increasing polarization in society), are students more afraid to speak what is truly on their minds than students were a decade ago? That is, do students tread more carefully when they speak for fear of being canceled or reprimanded?