Public Schools vs Private Schools

[lmam88]

When my sis and I were talking last week she asked how our son was doing with the TAKS apparoaching. When I asked how my niece was doing regarding it she says, "oh, we don't have to worry about that anymore because she is in private school". She said they have the Achievement tests like we use to have in school. WOW, I never knew that Private Schools did not administer the same tests as the Public Schools. Anyway it started me thinking...
1) Which one have you chosen for your kids?
2) What are the pros of your choice?
3) What are the cons of your choice?
4) How do you feel about Public Schools?
5) Why?
She is a single parent with a supportive ex and she literally works herself to the bone to be able to put her daughter in this Private Church School. That speaks volumes to me...


Anyway, inquiring minds want to know what our area census is on this subject, lol.

[JSKR]

When we lived in San Antonio, I sent both my kids to private school after the first couple years of public school.
I too am a single parent but with NO support financially from the other parent. I didn't care what it took, my kids were not going to the public school there.

Private school was great. It taught my kids a lot of respect for others, one of the most important aspects of life that just isn't really taught much anymore. My kids walked away from that experience so much more than if they wouldn't have gone.

One child attended until 8th grade, another until 6th grade. Then they went on to public school. We moved here and public school here is SO much nicer than those in San Antonio. I felt totally comfortable sending my daughter to public high school here. I knew she was safe. She didn't learn a lot in regards to preparing for college here, which she is now suffering from however. She tells me she can't believe how easy and lenient the high school teachers were, as if most really didn't care about really teaching. She thought it was great while she was in high school, but now in college, she is totally unprepared. Something those teachers should have ensured, did not happen.

In contrast, the private school totally focused on academics and are completely serious about that. There was no retaking tests, you failed,,, you just failed. There was no "make up" work on failed tests, you failed, you just failed. There were no excuses.

[lmam88]

When we lived in San Antonio, I sent both my kids to private school after the first couple years of public school.
I too am a single parent but with NO support financially from the other parent. I didn't care what it took, my kids were not going to the public school there.

Private school was great. It taught my kids a lot of respect for others, one of the most important aspects of life that just isn't really taught much anymore. My kids walked away from that experience so much more than if they wouldn't have gone.

One child attended until 8th grade, another until 6th grade. Then they went on to public school. We moved here and public school here is SO much nicer than those in San Antonio. I felt totally comfortable sending my daughter to public high school here. I knew she was safe. She didn't learn a lot in regards to preparing for college here, which she is now suffering from however. She tells me she can't believe how easy and lenient the high school teachers were, as if most really didn't care about really teaching. She thought it was great while she was in high school, but now in college, she is totally unprepared. Something those teachers should have ensured, did not happen.

In contrast, the private school totally focused on academics and are completely serious about that. There was no retaking tests, you failed,,, you just failed. There was no "make up" work on failed tests, you failed, you just failed. There were no excuses.

Our oldest encountered the same problem the first year of college to. I do have to say though that this is nothing new. I remember when the sister right above me (the one I was speaking of in fact) went off to college she encountered the same thing. She graduated from a school in South Texas though and it too was a small school.
The one my niece is attending I am sure focuses on academics s well but I do know she is very involved in their athletics as well.

[NightScenes]

Our daughter attended Faith Academy of Marble Falls after her 7th grade at Llano. Making the switch to private school was the best thing we ever did or will probably ever do for her. She loved school until she got into middle school where she was picked on relentlessly until she just gave up. This was a girl who was an A-B student who started to get Ds!
We tried to talk to administration who wouldn't even return our phone calls let alone do anything about our daughter's problems. Since we could see the writing on the wall we decided that even though we could not afford private school, we would go ahead and trust that God would provide and HE did.
Our daughter graduated last year TOTALLY ready for collage and excited about it. She is attending CTC in Marble Falls this year to get some core classes out of the way and she will attend Texas State in the fall.
I would say that if you have a choice between public and private school, take private EVERY time!!

[curious]

I don't think any kids should be forced to go to public "screwal"! It has been dummied down to the point that America is constantly dropping in the ratings world-wide. Pretty soon they won't even keep grades because it might hurt the lil darlins self esteem. If they make good grades. they are bullied by the ones that REFUSE to learn. To them, it's cool to by dumb, and if you should succeed, you're part of the "system" that keeps them down. Pure BS, but TEA has bought in to it, hook-line-and sinker. It makes me sick. There is no respect in public "screwals". Not for the teachers, not for the fellow students, not even for the campus police. They are not taught respect at home, before reaching the schools. In another 20 years, the US will be no better off than Mexico. The law of the land will be "take anything you're big enough to take and do whatever you like."

[lmam88]

I don't think any kids should be forced to go to public "screwal"! It has been dummied down to the point that America is constantly dropping in the ratings world-wide. Pretty soon they won't even keep grades because it might hurt the lil darlins self esteem. If they make good grades. they are bullied by the ones that REFUSE to learn. To them, it's cool to by dumb, and if you should succeed, you're part of the "system" that keeps them down. Pure BS, but TEA has bought in to it, hook-line-and sinker. It makes me sick. There is no respect in public "screwals". Not for the teachers, not for the fellow students, not even for the campus police. They are not taught respect at home, before reaching the schools. In another 20 years, the US will be no better off than Mexico. The law of the land will be "take anything you're big enough to take and do whatever you like."
I agree that our Public Schools are headed down hill but I do not agree with the reasons you gave however. The failure of the Public School Systems in going to fall squarely on the federal and state governments heads not the students! Reasons? Lack of funding, unrealistic expectations, safety are a few that come to mind.