Thinking about putting my son into a private school...

[Gunslinger08]

Here's my quick take:

- You're clearly either a non-native English speaker (or making this up as flamebait). This means you probably didn't experience US public schools first hand, but you profess to know so much about what goes on there.
- You expect schools to teach your child morals (this is the #1 problem in America today)
- You are scared of gangs, drugs and bullies which exist everywhere, in every school (public or private)

 

[Q]

Save the $12k a year for college.

 

[Edgewardb]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Here's my quick take:

- You're clearly either a non-native English speaker (or making this up as flamebait). This means you probably didn't experience US public schools first hand, but you profess to know so much about what goes on there.
- You expect schools to teach your child morals (this is the #1 problem in America today)
- You are scared of gangs, drugs and bullies which exist everywhere, in every school (public or private)

1. Most private schools are own by a Christian community so I expect them to teach my son good morals

2. I have spell check

3. I know gangs, drugs exist everywhere however private schools have less of them.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: eits
honestly, i obviously think you should send your kid to public school... but make sure it's a great public school. find the best public school in the area and move to a neighborhood that would allow your kid to go there... it'd probably be cheaper than sending your kid to private school.

fyi, i went to a blue ribbon high school which turned out smarter kids and more graduates than various private schools in the area. i was the captain of my high school's quizbowl team and we crushed private school teams left and right. the point i'm trying to make is don't bank on private schools providing any better quality of education than a public school (unless it's an inner city public school).

Thats all fine and dandy if the public schools are good. Come down to GA and see what type of hell the public system is in. My wife is a public school teacher so I hear all about what kind of fvcked up parenting skills 90+% of the population here has. Wasn't always like that, but as the Atlanta riff raff started moving toward us, the schools went to sh1t. I wouldn't want my kids dealing or associating with any of that crap, hence the reason we got ours in a private school.

As I said before, if we lived somewhere where the public schools were good, I wouldn't have a problem with sending them to a public school.

 

[Edgewardb]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: eits
honestly, i obviously think you should send your kid to public school... but make sure it's a great public school. find the best public school in the area and move to a neighborhood that would allow your kid to go there... it'd probably be cheaper than sending your kid to private school.

fyi, i went to a blue ribbon high school which turned out smarter kids and more graduates than various private schools in the area. i was the captain of my high school's quizbowl team and we crushed private school teams left and right. the point i'm trying to make is don't bank on private schools providing any better quality of education than a public school (unless it's an inner city public school).

Thats all fine and dandy if the public schools are good. Come down to GA and see what type of hell the public system is in. My wife is a public school teacher so I hear all about what kind of fvcked up parenting skills 90+% of the population here has. Wasn't always like that, but as the Atlanta riff raff started moving toward us, the schools went to sh1t. I wouldn't want my kids dealing or associating with any of that crap, hence the reason we got ours in a private school.

As I said before, if we lived somewhere where the public schools were good, I wouldn't have a problem with sending them to a public school.

Your wife is a public school teacher? Now I could get some valuable information.. :thumbsup:

 

[evetstech]

This thread makes me laugh...

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: Edgewardb
Well, I would ever dare let my child go to a public school. Why?
maybe because of all the hardcore teens here in the U.S causing trouble. With all their gangster and hardcore drug selling influences, why the hell would I want my child to go to a public school. Heck, he is easily influence if he is not taught right where a private school can teach him morals and sense. Have you seen a public school? I even heard there are certain " Gang" of people in public schools that sell drugs? They are refer to as gangster if I am not mistaken. Half the times, kids in public school that refuse to succeed or learn make it hard for people that actually tries... Have you seen the amount of bullying in Public school!!!

Are there any flaws?

hate to break your dreamy bliss that is private schools but where I went to school the private schools had the best parties/drugs.


fwiw

edit:
also, two of my friends who went to private schools have been incarcerated at least once each on firearms charges, and have been in their fair share of fights.

I'm the product of a public (oops originally had private) school, I turned down going to the same school that two aforementioned friends went to, of the three of us - I'm the only one without a criminal record.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Originally posted by: Edgewardb

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Here's my quick take:

- You're clearly either a non-native English speaker (or making this up as flamebait). This means you probably didn't experience US public schools first hand, but you profess to know so much about what goes on there.
- You expect schools to teach your child morals (this is the #1 problem in America today)
- You are scared of gangs, drugs and bullies which exist everywhere, in every school (public or private)

1. Most private schools are own by a Christian community so I expect them to teach my son good morals

2. I have spell check

3. I know gangs, drugs exist everywhere however private schools have less of them.

1. It's not up to a school system to teach your child morals. That is your responsibility as a parent.

2. Spell check taught you about the real life US public school system?

3. How do you know that private schools have less of them? Yes, there are fewer students so they will have fewer doing drugs, gang banging, and bullying, but I'm willing to bet the percentages are similar (or even higher) in private schools.

 

[Edgewardb]

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: Edgewardb

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Here's my quick take:

- You're clearly either a non-native English speaker (or making this up as flamebait). This means you probably didn't experience US public schools first hand, but you profess to know so much about what goes on there.
- You expect schools to teach your child morals (this is the #1 problem in America today)
- You are scared of gangs, drugs and bullies which exist everywhere, in every school (public or private)

1. Most private schools are own by a Christian community so I expect them to teach my son good morals

2. I have spell check

3. I know gangs, drugs exist everywhere however private schools have less of them.

1. It's not up to a school system to teach your child morals. That is your responsibility as a parent.

2. Spell check taught you about the real life US public school system?

3. How do you know that private schools have less of them? Yes, there are fewer students so they will have fewer doing drugs, gang banging, and bullying, but I'm willing to bet the percentages are similar (or even higher) in private schools.

3. If the child's parent can afford to pay for a private school. Then I see no reason on why percentage of gang banging or drugs is higher than in Public school.

 

[LordMorpheus]

Originally posted by: tokie
They will generally be better prepared for post-secondary education. Also, as long as it is not a religious private school, then it will be great for them as it avoids the whole slummy group of people who inhabit a large percentage of students at public schools. However, make sure you talk to THEM about it and if they want it.

Not all religious schools screw kids up. The Catholic Schools in Saint Louis are by and large very good, and very open-minded.

I went to a Jesuit Highschool, got a great education, felt no pressure to be Catholic or even spiritual (though I had been raised Catholic).

The religion we were exposed to was in weekly mass (BFD) and one theo class a year. The theo classes were sometimes very good, sometimes taught by seminary drop-outs that wouldn't stand by anything that wasn't in the catechism, but all of the students would just mock them outside of class.

If you were a religious type, it was great. If you weren't, it wasn't a big deal. Great education, good people, good teachers (you only get teachers that really care about their subjects when you pay as poorly as a catholic school does ... by and large I liked and respected my teachers).

I'd send my kids to the place.

 

[Edgewardb]

Originally posted by: LordMorpheus

Originally posted by: tokie
They will generally be better prepared for post-secondary education. Also, as long as it is not a religious private school, then it will be great for them as it avoids the whole slummy group of people who inhabit a large percentage of students at public schools. However, make sure you talk to THEM about it and if they want it.

Not all religious schools screw kids up. The Catholic Schools in Saint Louis are by and large very good, and very open-minded.

I went to a Jesuit Highschool, got a great education, felt no pressure to be Catholic or even spiritual (though I had been raised Catholic).

The religion we were exposed to was in weekly mass (BFD) and one theo class a year. The theo classes were sometimes very good, sometimes taught by seminary drop-outs that wouldn't stand by anything that wasn't in the catechism, but all of the students would just mock them outside of class.

If you were a religious type, it was great. If you weren't, it wasn't a big deal. Great education, good people, good teachers (you only get teachers that really care about their subjects when you pay as poorly as a catholic school does ... by and large I liked and respected my teachers).

I'd send my kids to the place.

Now this is what I call an " Expert's Opinion"

 

[Kanalua]

I went to private school from 7th grade on. I'm in Law School now and I can count all the people in my class who went to public school on one hand. Of course I grew up in Hawaii and and going to the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. In Hawaii, if you really want your child to be successful put them in Private school. I plan on putting my children in Private school when they become school aged....

 

[ric1287]

is this honestly a troll post? One post the OP is clear the next it sounds like he has never spoken English before.

 

[MrChad]

You didn't specify where you live in California, but it might be a good job to research how the local public schools in your district stack up to private schools. School Matters is a good resource for this. You can also read parent reviews at Great Schools.

Your involvement in your son's education is more important than anything else. You have a huge stake in shaping his values and his morals, and it will be up to you and your wife to teach him about drugs and try and keep in him moving on the right path.

Gangs thrive in areas where kids lack support structures either at home or among their peers. If you have a strong supportive home and your son gets involved in sports, clubs or other extracurricular activities, he won't seek out acceptance from gangs. Gangs are a problem no matter where you go to school.

As eits said, there are a lot of great public schools out there. Students can find success even in some of the not-so-great public schools if they work hard enough. My wife taught high school in the Bronx for 3 years before we moved, and she has seen plenty of success stories in failing schools. That said, if the schools in your area are poor and you have the means to send your son to a private school, by all means go for it.

 

[ChooChooChooseMe]

I went to a private (Christian) school from junior high through high school and it was a great experience. YMMV.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: ric1287
is this honestly a troll post? One post the OP is clear the next it sounds like he has never spoken English before.

Cut him some slack. He mentions later in the thread that English is not his first language.

 

[evetstech]

Originally posted by: Kanalua
I went to private school from 7th grade on. I'm in Law School now and I can count all the people in my class who went to public school on one hand. Of course I grew up in Hawaii and and going to the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. In Hawaii, if you really want your child to be successful put them in Private school. I plan on putting my children in Private school when they become school aged....

False...I'm from Hawaii, and all of my friends are doing fine. We all graduated from Kapolei HS. Most are heading into med school, and I'm just about finished with my double major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Mathematics Minor, and then headed to grad school for a masters and PHD. I found this thread funny because the OP had already made his decision even before he started asking for advice. It is not the school that defines the student, it's the students strive, and the parents influence that makes a successful child.

 

[NoShangriLa]

Originally posted by: Edgewardb

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: Edgewardb
Start in Well
End on !

Please, I would like people's opinion on this matter. Even if I will disagree with them.

Out of curiosity, where do you live? Is English your first language?

English is not my first language.
I am living in California right now.


Legoman: Nice! Only 10,000 a year.

English isn't my mother tongue as well.

My eldest sister & I are products of private school (boarding school for me), and she ended up with an MS & I with 2 BS.

My 2 younger sisters that went to public school, 1 ended up with a MA & the other PhD.

School with caring teachers & good funding does help, but IMHO caring parents that involve with the child life & education produce much better result.

 

[shopbruin]

do you live in south central or something? i've never seen so many gang and drug references in one post in regards to public school.

by the way, i went to high school in a nice small city and knew people that went to those private schools for the "better" education. we still wound up at the same college... and i KNOW there was more drug dealing going on at the private school because they had the money for it. of course that city wasn't riddled with "gang violence" but from your post, it's like you're afraid of graffiti or a bunch of teenagers that don't look like you.

you may be afraid of the "typical" gangs you hear about on the news or see in the movies, but they exist in private schools too. they're called cliques, and will slight your kid as fast as possible if they're not rich or snotty enough. among other types of gangs that can exist... that will traumatize your kid just as much.

but then if you ask me, you're looking for anyone that agrees with your opinion, as you did with lordmorpheus above.

 

[Kanalua]

Originally posted by: evetstech

Originally posted by: Kanalua
I went to private school from 7th grade on. I'm in Law School now and I can count all the people in my class who went to public school on one hand. Of course I grew up in Hawaii and and going to the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. In Hawaii, if you really want your child to be successful put them in Private school. I plan on putting my children in Private school when they become school aged....

False...I'm from Hawaii, and all of my friends are doing fine. We all graduated from Kapolei HS. Most are heading into med school, and I'm just about finished with my double major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Mathematics Minor, and then headed to grad school for a masters and PHD. I found this thread funny because the OP had already made his decision even before he started asking for advice. It is not the school that defines the student, it's the students strive, and the parents influence that makes a successful child.

Once again...I can count the students in my class who grad'd from public school (from Hawaii) on one hand...none from Kapolei HS.

 

[Gibson486]

It depends on your area. If I lived a rich suburban area like Newton, Ma, I would pick public. However, if I lived in Lowell, Ma, I would pick private.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: ric1287
is this honestly a troll post? One post the OP is clear the next it sounds like he has never spoken English before.

Cut him some slack. He mentions later in the thread that English is not his first language.

ah, well, i didnt see the 'not',

But in any case, don't base your opinions of public high school based on movie/tv shows.

 

[evetstech]

Originally posted by: Kanalua

Originally posted by: evetstech

Originally posted by: Kanalua
I went to private school from 7th grade on. I'm in Law School now and I can count all the people in my class who went to public school on one hand. Of course I grew up in Hawaii and and going to the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. In Hawaii, if you really want your child to be successful put them in Private school. I plan on putting my children in Private school when they become school aged....

False...I'm from Hawaii, and all of my friends are doing fine. We all graduated from Kapolei HS. Most are heading into med school, and I'm just about finished with my double major in Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Mathematics Minor, and then headed to grad school for a masters and PHD. I found this thread funny because the OP had already made his decision even before he started asking for advice. It is not the school that defines the student, it's the students strive, and the parents influence that makes a successful child.

Once again...I can count the students in my class who grad'd from public school (from Hawaii) on one hand...none from Kapolei HS.

It's because most of them went to school in the mainland. There was only two that stayed in Hawaii that I keep in touch with. One is in UH's architecture program, and the other just finished taking the PCAT, and is applying for pharmacy school in Cali.

 

[Ronstang]

Take the money you are willing to spend on a private school and move to a better neighborhood where the schools are fine. In the long run the house should appreciate more anyway and the whole family benefits from living in a nicer place. I have always lived in places where there was no fear of sending your kids to the public schools. You just have to move to an area where the socio-economic makeup guarantees the schools are full of the kinds of students you want your kid hanging around. The teachers are usually better too since they don't have to spend all their time controlling the idiots.

 

[db]

Have confidence in what you have instilled in your child up until now. It's better for a child to grow up in the real world learning to deal with all people than to isolate him and then he can't deal with reality/people later on. Be brave, and always be there for your child and LISTEN to him.