Anonymous wrote:It's new money so they prefer flashiness over substance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this whole line of thinking is pointless because everyone should do what feels right for their family. But I will bite anyhow.

Yes, there are status conscious families in N Arl who have all the bells and whistles, the tasteful modern home (that isn't too large), the vacations, jewelry, clothes and whatever they want. I think they choose public because they want to seem "normal" and want their kids to grow up that way. You can buy a couple luxury handbags, take a European ski vacation and have a high car payment for far less than it costs to send 2 kids to private school, so I'm not sure all of them could afford it in a heartbeat. For those who can afford it, perhaps they're saving up for college, do not feel their child would enjoy/thrive in private or many other reasons.

I just think they prefer to spend more money on themselves and spend more time socializing with the other yuppie locals rather than spending it on the best education for their children. It's not what you know but who you know. Don't overthink it.

And again: the unshakable assumption that the schools you prefer for your kids are the best and the schools they prefer for their kids are inferior. This is your read on the situation, but it is not universal, nor is it fact. Once you understand that different people have different kids with different needs, different priorities, and different opinions than your own, you'll be able to get through the day without being traumatized by the sight of a blonde public school mom with a YSL handbag.

Anonymous wrote:Count me as another one who believes your premise is flawed and your biases are showing. We live in North Arlington. We could afford to send our kids to private without batting an eye, but we don't because we are big believers in public education (plus the public schools are excellent). Whatever else you may feel is flashy about me has nothing to do with our decision to attend public rather than private.

Anonymous wrote:I'm in N. Arlington and frankly there are a lot of moms of a certain type: they all have YSL logo handbags, huge diamond rings and other expensive jewelry, often blonde hair, expensive clothing, etc. And they all send their kids to public school.

The thing that I find weird is not just that they spend a lot of money on things other than tuition (private school is crazy expensive, and I understand the choice to go public) but that they seem to spend money on things that make them LOOK wealthy but they are obviously not that wealthy since their kids go public. I see a lot of expensive handbags at my kids' private school, but they are almost always Celine or Tod's or Ferragamo or other less flashy brands than a YSL logo, and plenty of the richest families drive a minivan (so practical, no matter how lame) whereas these public school moms in N. Arlington are so often in flashier luxury cars.

I'm trying hard not be judgmental, but I just don't understand the culture of being really flashy with money (I mean, I don't like YSL handbags for that reason to begin with) and I especially don't understand it among people who send their kids to public school.

I'm sure I hit a lot of buttons with this post, I'm just wondering if anyone else has observed what I have.

Anonymous wrote:Similar question for the group: Why do all of the parents who pay over half a million on their kids private education send their kids to state schools? I'm amazed that so many privately schooled kids go to UVA, VT and UMD. (not that those aren't good schools, but it's kind of weird that some families paid a ton of money and others nothing more than their taxes and the end result is the same.... Same applies to private universities- the end result is the same but some families paid a ton to get there.