| Ohio Murano |
| My oldest is 3 and I also have a 1 year old. My wife and I are checking into preschools and there is a private Montessori school near our home. It seems nice but at today's Tuition rates it would cost about $70k for both boy's thru the 6th grade, which is the highest grade they go to before having to go to public or a different private school. Also I'm sure the rates will go up before they both get thru the 6th grade. My question is, it it worth it or are public schools good enough? :confused: |
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| Corin |
quote:
Originally posted by Ohio Murano
My oldest is 3 and I also have a 1 year old. My wife and I are checking into preschools and there is a private Montessori school near our home. It seems nice but at today's Tuition rates it would cost about $70k for both boy's thru the 6th grade, which is the highest grade they go to before having to go to public or a different private school. Also I'm sure the rates will go up before they both get thru the 6th grade. My question is, it it worth it or are public schools good enough? :confused:
Well, considering my mother works at a Montessori pre-school / kindergarten and I went to one, I'm a little biased. I don't have kids yet, but when I do I would like to send mine to Montessori for the first 2 years of school (pre-school and kindergarten) and then public schools after that. Why? Well, those couple of years are VERY important times for development, and I think the Montessori method is ideal for kids of that age. After that, I don't really feel the benefit outweighs the cost, and there are other benefits to public schools (usually more diverse, more social interaction, builds up the imune system a bit more :rolleyes: ).
I don't know why everyone is so against public schools. Perhaps it's because I've lived in Washington all my life, which seems to have a very good public school system. Both of my parents are teachers (dad is a professor at Washington State University, mom is stated above). They could have afforded to put me into private schools, but they didn't.
I'll avoid getting on my soapbox, I guess. |
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| mgthe3 |
Oh boy can I answer this one!
I would LOVE to send my kids to private school, but can't afford it, right now.
Private schools are very choosey about teachers--public schools take what they can get.
Private schools have a huge amount of disipline, public schools are at the whim of the community, and mostly avoid confrontation. Oh suuuuure, they say they have zero tolerance, BS--I see crap all the time that would have them thrown out on that policy, but yet they remain to give my kids problems. In a private school their parents would have been warned once then PUNT they would be history--then guess where they would be, yep, public school.
But, my oldest is in the IB program at one of 5 PUBLIC high schools it is offered to in the entire state. This program is above honors and pretty much Guarantees him a slot in any ivy league school, and he wants to be a surgeon, so it is a no brainer.
For primary school, private is king, no doubt about it.
For middle and high schools: look at the programs offered. Look at their placement in test standings. Look at what the percentage is for free or assisted price lunches (strong indicator of socio-economic standards there).
At my son's high school, they had 14 kids ace the SAT last year.
Not bad ay? |
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| melekalikimaka |
As the daughter of a former public elementary school teacher, I attended public school from K-12 and am now a productive member of society (at least I think so :) ) I send my 6 y.o. to a private school since I am able to afford it at this time and he is my only child. I find his reading, writing and math ability to be more advanced than I remember myself at that age.
I feel a public school education will vary depending upon location, environment, faculty and parental involvement. There are several fine public elementary schools with outstanding teachers. In my area there is a problem with overcrowding. We do have the option of requesting district exemptions to attend schools in other neighborhoods closer to work or after-school childcare, etc. I would send my son to a public school but probably not in the immediate area in which I live.
Corin makes a valid point on those formative years. I'm not altogether familiar with the Montessori teaching methods but giving a child a preschool education will greatly enhance his ability to adapt to the classroom once he reaches the elementary school age. My 2 cents. As my mom would say, you get out of it what you put in. |
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| jaak |
My wife's Roman Catholic, I'm not as my ancestor's King told Rome to take a flying leap, so he could get married again.
So we decided to go with the Toronto Separate School Board, which is RC, has uniforms and while they're far from perfect, the seem to be quite demanding in what the kids are expected to do, especially compared to what both of us remember from public school.
So what's the right choice? I think it depends on where you are and what your resources are... I haven't seen the need for Montessori, but I don't see it as a bad idea, if it makes sense to put your money there. I believe good study habits are the most important thing to teach your kids, as that will create a work ethic that will follow them throughout life.
But hey, what do I know?:p |
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| cschmidt |
Folks,
There are great public schools and great private schools. There are also bad ones for both. You need to be involved and spend time with them to see what fits the needs of your kids. Each child needs a different level of attention and direction.
We started daughter #1 in public school. Great school, great principal. Then the area grew and 1st grade was a new school, new principal. His teaching approach was all different, and did not fit our daughter. We went to a small private montessori school nearby. Classes went from 30 with no assistant to 17 with a full time assistant. The results were very positive. Also far fewer discipline problems.
Again, the quality of teaching did depend on the teacher even at the Montessori school. You have to be involved and even monitor some classes. Some teachers fit some kids better than others.
I give major credit to my wife for her involvement.
Be involved in your kids, they deserve it!
Chuck |
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| dejongj |
Can't comment on public schools in the US as 1) I don't live there and 2) I've never been to one....
But as the previous posters state, it all depends on the area and schools themselves.....
Our own situation...Yes my 2.5 year old daughter is going to a Montessori pre-school. There is already quite a distinction as the main-stream calls it a Nursery instead of school. And we are very please we did so...The differences are big, 12 children yet 3 teachers!!! I've been (and my wife) to several seminars about their teaching methods and think it is fantastic...I've had the advantage of having had Montessori education myself throughout, except Uni. My wife has not...
The behaviour of the children was also very different we think. The teachers are well spoken, various ages are in the classes together, dinner time is a co-operative effort, the food is all fresh and organic vegetables, meats and fish no processed stuff....
Not a scientific comparison of-course but even close friends with children in same age groups can see a difference between the education Isabella is getting to theirs....
Now the hard part as well...Can we afford it, now that is an individual question. Isabella on here own we can manage. But if she has a brother or sister I don't think we can. So we are ensuring that she gets her basic years (I think upto the age of 6) in Montessori and then move to mainstream....
I don't know whether the US has got different mainstream schools, but in the UK there are basically a few differences; those linked to a religion with their own intake rules and those purely state run. And yet again you can see a difference, much more discipline and respect are being applied in the religion linked schools (must be those scary looking nuns...). Luckily my wife is quite active in the Catholic church so Isabella has already got her place secured.....
It is a difficult choice isn't it?
One final word of consellation, every child is different, what is good for one is not necessarily good for another. A good example are me and my sister. I thrived on the personal responsibilities in Montessori education, my sister failed spectacular and was much better in mainstream.... |
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| lilbit_cmm |
Just make sure you research the local schools around you. My younger brother lives here in Austin, and he is already looking into private schools for his 2yr old (even though we all went through the public school district here). He just wants something better for his kids.
My oldest brother lives near Houston, and he happily sends his kids to the public schools. He also pays the highest property taxes in the state, so he knows that a lot of money is being funded to the schools. They all have great reps and great teachers.
After you know how public and private rate, it just all depends on how well your child does in that environment.
Good luck! |
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| Phil-KSA |
Can’t really answer for the states. However, in the UK private schools are normally the best option; you’ll still need to look around as even private schools differ in their education standards.
In the UK you can analyse the Government’s stats on both private and public sector this can help in the decision making process. Does the States have the same info? |
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| Halo |
Some thoughts from SF Examiner (paraphrased).
In California, the public school system has been on a relatively constant decline over the last 15-20 years. No matter how "good" any one particular district might be or any one particular school ALL of them consistently test worse, have fewer activities, lower budgets, lower teacher salaries adjusted for inflation, larger class sizes etc. etc.
Assuming there is no change in this trend over the next decade, even the so-called "good" schools will be sub-par by the time my kid goes to high school. Another factor is that currently, the fraction of children aged 1-18 whose primary language at home is something other than English is 25% In 10 years, this is projected to be 33% (I'm not passing any personal judgement on the significance of this fact, merely stating what was printed in the Examiner).
Taking all this into account, I'm not even considering public school for my kids. The Governator can keep cutting my taxes and I'll use the money to pay for private school. I realize the equation is not nearly that simple :rolleyes: |
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| ALfsNissan |
| Its all the same.!!! I am a teacher in a public school and in my experience if the parents are envolved the kids will scucceed. Dont follow the myth that private schools are better, they just have parents who are envolved, hell i would be if i am paying thousands of dollars for tuition! Duh!, plus the gov of california still owes money to the schools, and the teachers are the only ones complaining! God, where are the parents complaining when you need them! if you ever have a problem in a public school, use your voice, envolved parents make the difference! |
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| hfelknor |
Sending the kids to a private school almost guarantees parental involvement.
And yes, Parental involvement is a must.
But it is by far, not our only issue.
We are now at the point where many of the problems are systemic.
The schools have been so bad, for so long, some of the teachers that graduated from these schools are not capable of teaching the children, to the standard that many parents demand.
And of course, the administration comes from these same ranks.
We also have seen a disturbing trend whereby more money is the answer to everything.
My brother in law just retired from a Pennsylvania school system
He made $80K the the last year he worked. That's good. Good teachers with long careers deserve to make good money.
He also makes 80K in retirement. That's BS.
The union will break that system.
When we moved to California in 1977 and enrolled our daughter in the 5th grade in Huntington Beach (An upscale community), we found that she was not required to use cursive writing.
She was not required to be able to write her name.
When we pushed, and pushed hard, on the school administration, she was placed in the "gifted child" program.
My daughter was not, IMO, "gifted". But she wanted to learn. She did very well in their "gifted" program..
About the same time one of my business associates lived in Garden Grove, CA.
His son graduated from HS in 1978 and could not do "cursive writing". He printed everything. He had a normal IQ. He could not write his name. But he could of course, print it. As a High School graduate.
He was a normal kid. He got screwed.
We lobbied for a transfer from my company, and in 1979 we were transferred to Texas.
This time we specifically bought a house in a "good' school district. It caused us a commute of some 50 miles a day, but it was IMO, important.
My daughter graduated as the class Valedictorian of Keller, Texas.
Why not private?
Because I went to a private school in Grades 1-8.
When I got to public HS I had a very difficult time.
I had no social skills whatsoever.
I actually "slid" my marks because the kids called me "brain". (By the time I graduated, my average was a strong B and I was accepted.)
I determined that my children would matriculate in the public system and I would do my part in finding the proper system for her.
We lived in NJ (Excellent), AZ (Not Good), CA (Sucked) and Texas (very Good) while my daughter moved through the system.
She won several scholarships and graduated from Texas A&M with a 3.8 GPA. She went on to advanced degrees and received a masters (Philosophy) from Bowling Green and a Masters (Library Science) from North Texas State.
She is an extremely well balanced and hard working young lady. Part of that, I am convinced, is because she had the social interplay that is considered normal in a Public School environment.
I know that she agrees.
No one can tell you what you should do.
No One.
But I hope this little missive helps..... |
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| bob1 |
There are great public schools and great private schools. There are also bad ones for both
I agree with cschmidt and Homer. I live in a state ranked near the bottom of the US state list, yet my community public schools are way way up in SAT's and other test scores. My son graduated from the local public school and earned a full scholarship at GA. Tech. He graduated in December and employer's were fighting to get him. He now works as a civilian as a Naval Architect for the US Navy. They interviewed 600 and hired 6. They said he was at the top of their list. So, don't let anyone tell you "all" public schools are inferior. I have proof they are not. It's a school by school situation.
Bob1 |
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| MO in TO |
| I placed my son in Montessori in the Niagara Region for junior and senior Casa, then grades 1-4. I felt that he was benefitting from this teaching style, but towards the end I found myself in a bitter battle with the headmistress to the extent of starting legal action. Many private schools quietly favour those who make 'extra' contributions. I was able to pay the tuition, but seldom opened my wallet when the they had their hand out. My son was bullied one day in the playground, choked and pushed against a fence by another child of a $$$ supporter. Bottom line, when they finally called home after 3 hours to say my son had been injured, they had done nothing to reprimand the boy at fault, and the blame was put on my son. Talk about teaching a child the wrong message, this was emotionally damaging as well as physically painful, as his head had a large 'egg' from the impact. Since the term was over, I put a stop payment on my deposit for grade 5, and placed him in the public system. He was tested and evaluated as intellectually gifted, and placed in a gifted program for grades 6-8 which he just finished last week. His last three years were very enjoyable, and I would never recommend private school again to anyone! |
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| Ohio Murano |
| Well, we decided to go with a private preschool at our church and then on to Public school it is. I'm hoping if me and my wife stay involved that he will do well no matter what school he attends. Thanks for everyones reply. |
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| dejongj |
Whilst I sympathise with Mo-in-To it can hardly be said to be a reflection of all private school or montessori, nor public schools. Unfortunately it is sad reflection of society and a very valuable lesson for live...Considering the achievements it hasn't hurt the child to much has it? In my opinion it is best to learned the lesson early on in life...that even when you are right it doesn't mean it is recognised....There is something positive to be had from every situation...
Was any action taken against the head? I would have had them struck off the register or aren't private schools governed in the same way as public ones, just funded differently... |
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| chimpanzee |
OT in the OT forum:
Hey Jean-Paul, hope everything is well with you and your family. What happened to London yesterday is really sad. Especially it came after the good news of the 2012 Olympics. Was rooting for London when the voting was going on here in Singapore. |
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| dejongj |
Yes it was a sad day...But they didn't get us down! Life is back to normal now...We've been lucky it was nowhere near the scale of New York nor Madrid...
I was in the office early in the morning but never take public transport anyway as I have city-centre parking....We were advice to stay put in our offices as it was deemed more safe than going out on the streets to go home...My building was extremely secured being also home to SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) and one street away from Downing Street (Prime Ministers residence) opposite the houses of parliament....
It was a real act of cowards....But also very hard to understand as one of the bombs went off at Edgeware Road which is right in the Arab District.....Just shows these weren't men and women acting in name of religion, just a bunch of criminal terrorists....
But they didn't get us down, life is back to normal... |
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| MO in TO |
quote:
Originally posted by Ohio Murano
I'm hoping if me and my wife stay involved that he will do well no matter what school he attends.
That is the key..........all the best and enjoy these years ahead!:) |
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