My kids before care opens at 7:30 and the kids play outside or in the gym. She has all the items you list (though I admit the language is minimal and there is only usually 1 play or other opportunity for public speaking) a year. I know she does not get the same attention in a 20+ kids class but it is not a "jail" I'll go back to the public school forum where I only have to worry about the terrible effect of not being in a W zone.

The only problem pp is public starts after 9, too far away to walk plus is not the same as really running, climbing and participating in gym. Foreign language, science, social studies, values, responsibility, music, computers, and art. Participate in plays, sports, several performances each year.

Anonymous wrote:With multiple rescess, long lunches, PE everday and other expanded specials..when are academics included? I am sure some classroom activities are more efficient with smaller classes. Is the class day longer? The amount of time in public school seems short so I am having trouble imaging more non academics added..not saying they are not important too..but is the school day longer to accomodate?

I agree. It's starting to sound like the twilight zone when parents pay 30K for elementary school and give as their reason that they want their kids to spend more time on recess, lunch, and specials. One might solve those problems by walking to school for exercise, giving kids a hearty snack on the way home, and enrolling in some art and music extracurriculars.

Anonymous wrote:Public school is for people who cannot afford private tuition.

Hmmm...have all Mann parents fallen on hard times?

13:14 - I can't speak for other posters, but my kids have a longer day at their private school than the neighborhood public school has. Their lunch period is no longer, but they do get more physical activity time and time spent on non-core subjects.

We went private primarily for class sizes. Our neighborhood school is ok, but our first child is a very passive kid - she is a real perfectionist academically and combine that with being a kind of quiet kid and she would just get totally lost in the shuffle in a kindergarten with 30 kids in the room. The squeaky wheels necessarily get the grease in terms of attention from teachers when a class is that big.

public school is DCPS becomes subsidized food and childcare where education is second.

Kids, especially the younger ones, need physical activity in order to focus. More playtime may lead to more efficiency during class time. My pediatrician said that they've recently discovered just how much boys' brain development is affected by playing and spending time outdoors, and recommended I make sure my boys get a lot of outside free play.

From the studies that have been done on this subject, the amount of time kids actually spend actively learning is surprisingly small. Homeschoolers spend a fraction of the time "schooling" as public school kids, but end up scoring as well or better, and private schools fall somewhere in the middle with their smaller class sizes. Basic classroom management takes up more time than one might think.

With multiple rescess, long lunches, PE everday and other expanded specials..when are academics included? I am sure some classroom activities are more efficient with smaller classes. Is the class day longer? The amount of time in public school seems short so I am having trouble imaging more non academics added..not saying they are not important too..but is the school day longer to accomodate?

Anonymous wrote:Public school is for people who cannot afford private tuition.

I'm a private school parent, and I'm embarrassed by this comment. It's untrue, and a really shitty thing to say. I hope I never meet you PP.

Ask the Obamas.

Public school is for people who cannot afford private tuition.

SHIT

I am switching to private for 3rd grade. On some Math testing, which was divided up into 3, parts my son scored 98%, 97% and 38%. At his conference we asked the teacher about the deficiency in the 3rd part...as he is obviously not "getting" something. Her response was, if you add up all the scores it averages out to around 80% so he is easily passing 2nd grade...therefore all is well in the world. She must have used the phrase passing "2nd grade" five times in our conf...like that was all that was necessary. And this is at a top public school.

I like the beautiful atmosphere and great equipment, tools, sports fields, etc. Most public schools look like jails tome.