Would you send your kids to private school?

Originally Posted by sea6speed

http://www.greatschools.org/

About a 60/40 split of 5 star and 4 star (respectively) in my area. I wonder what I'll do with all that money I'm saving...

My son is going to one in 2 years.

It depends. I have mixed feelings. While I was against the culture a lot of times that exists in public schools looking back it gave me a good perspective on all people and how to treat them. I have some friends who went to private school who are now in college but their whole demeanor towards regular or less fortunate people is that they are better people. Their close mindedness appalls me. They are really going to have a hard time appealing to folks in the real world.

Originally Posted by rohde88

What if he gets killed? or even injured? Same risk as a suburb private school?

Then I came to my senses, when I went to high school, we had appointments for fights. Other friends don't jump in and we fight with our fist. One year after I left my high school, people fight with guns and it's rarely one on one, usually a mob against a few. So it's a thought but it'll never happen. Plus, I'm too lazy to drive him to school anyways. The bus stops at our front door, wait until he gets into the house before the bus driver leaves.

This is where I am sending my son:

http://fellowship-academy.org/

How many parents send their kids to private school just to say that they do?

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

It depends. I have mixed feelings. While I was against the culture a lot of times that exists in public schools looking back it gave me a good perspective on all people and how to treat them. I have some friends who went to private school who are now in college but their whole demeanor towards regular or less fortunate people is that they are better people. Their close mindedness appalls me. They are really going to have a hard time appealing to folks in the real world.

You're right, college is totally the final level of maturity and evolution of social interactions.

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

It depends. I have mixed feelings. While I was against the culture a lot of times that exists in public schools looking back it gave me a good perspective on all people and how to treat them. I have some friends who went to private school who are now in college but their whole demeanor towards regular or less fortunate people is that they are better people. Their close mindedness appalls me. They are really going to have a hard time appealing to folks in the real world.

My thoughts exactly, the two guys I know from private school are bums, they haven't done anything with their lives yet look down on other people. The people I know from public schools are a bit more humble.

Originally Posted by jmcdolej

How many parents send their kids to private school just to say that they do?

I am sending my son to a private school only because The schools in my town are not good. I went through them until I turned 15, then I decided to home school from 9th-12th grade. That was the best decision I ever made in my life.

Originally Posted by rohde88

You're right, college is totally the final level of maturity and evolution of social interactions.

From a psychologist's perspective your personality is already well defined before you even enter college and will change very little in the future. It's possible, but the extent is limited.

Originally Posted by jmcdolej

How many parents send their kids to private school just to say that they do?

That only works if your neighborhood has good public schools. Otherwise you're still a cheapskate for living in a bad area.

Originally Posted by Treburkulosis

I am sending my son to a private school only because The schools in my town are not good. I went through them until I turned 15, then I decided to home school from 9th-12th grade. That was the best decision I ever made in my life.

Why did you move/stay there if you knew the schools were bad?

Originally Posted by rohde88

You're right, college is totally the final level of maturity and evolution of social interactions.

You're taking what I wrote out of context. Maybe there's a correlation between parents who don't spend enough time with their kids and send them to private school hoping they turn out be successful law abiding citizens. Does that make you feel better? Relax, if you want your kids to turn out well you need to put in the time and effort not hope somebody else will raise them the way you want. If you're using private school as a tool to assist their upbringing then more power to ya.

Originally Posted by sea6speed

That only works if your neighborhood has good public schools. Otherwise you're still a cheapskate for living in a bad area.



Why did you move/stay there if you knew the schools were bad?

All of my family is here. He could go to another school in another town, since his mother lives there. Its a 5A school, but it's just as bad as the schools in my town.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

From a psychologist's perspective your personality is already well defined before you even enter college and will change very little in the future. It's possible, but the extent is limited.

Facts don't lie. Thanks for that.

It's all about what the student makes of it. Just as many stupid and bad kids come out of private school as public school. Therefore no, my kids will go public school and the money saved could be spent on extracurricular hobbies, sports, projects, etc that will be much more fun and educational in the long run.

I went to private school and my dad regrets it from the education standpoint. Mobile County is known for its horrendous public schools, so that's why I was put into private. I was in honors, but the curriculum was almost the same as the non-honors. I slept through high school with minimal effort and made As and Bs. I guess it was just my school, but the point is private isn't always better. The kids in private school can be just as bad too, the difference is they think they're all entitled and everyone is below them. Glad I'm finally out in the real world.

Originally Posted by kuksul08

It's all about what the student makes of it. Just as many stupid and bad kids come out of private school as public school. Therefore no, my kids will go public school and the money saved could be spent on extracurricular hobbies, sports, projects, etc that will be much more fun and educational in the long run.

Or spent on a quality college education where schooling really does matter.

Originally Posted by kuksul08

It's all about what the student makes of it. Just as many stupid and bad kids come out of private school as public school. Therefore no, my kids will go public school and the money saved could be spent on extracurricular hobbies, sports, projects, etc that will be much more fun and educational in the long run.

This is an important point. One of the things many private schools seem to have over public schools nowadays is the ability to provide really good extracurricular programs (sports, music, drama, art, etc.). So part of the question becomes whether there are good alternative programs in your community to fill that gap for your kid and his or her personal interests.

^^I agree with the point made above. I attended private school up until the 4th grade, and I do believe that the experience helped cultivate good behavior and study habits. YMMV! I grew up in Los Angeles, so private school was definitely better than the public school offerings. In other areas there may not be much of a difference in terms of environment, educational programs, etc. I will concede that parental involvement is also a very important consideration.

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

Or spent on a quality college education where schooling really does matter.

I'm investing in the front end of their education so that by the time they get to college they have a solid foundation to build on and hopefully more choices in which college to attend.

The cost of college by the time my kids will attend will be astronomical, so unless parents are very wealthy, they cannot save enough to pay for college in whole. I'd rather prepare them with solid elementary and high school foundations so that they can have a better shot at competing for scholarships and learn good studying habits from a young age. If my kids are not taking it seriously then it is a waste, so it is up to them to make the most of the opportunity I'm giving them.

I realize this is not a traditional viewpoint and goes against the grain of saving for college vs. saving for elementary/high schools.

Different strokes for different folks. Money will likely have to be borrowed for college in any case, so I'm willing to take the risk.