WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE BUT TO SEND MY KID TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL?

New York Post ^ | 2/14/04 | ANDREA PEYSER

[kattracks]

February 14, 2004 -- MY little family has taken to waiting by the mailbox each day, our hearts filled with equal parts anticipation - and dread.

Anticipation that the acceptance letter will arrive, inviting my 5-year-old daughter into private kindergarten. A school that offers clean hallways, small classes, motivated teachers, a choice of arts and languages, plus a good chance my kid will make it into Harvard - or, at least, make it home each afternoon in one piece.

[freebilly]

She's our baby. What choice do we have?

Homeschool.

[freebilly]

How can a middle-class couple with a big mortgage, a small car, and the selfish desire to take the occasional summer vacation be expected to shell out the price of a Toyota Camry each year so that our kid can master her ABCs?

Puke....

[Dataman]

The very thought of sending my daughter to public school feels like child abuse.

In NY, it probably is.

[Indie]

Despite the slurs, this is a damn good article and right on the money.

[Dataman]

Puke....

My wife and I had no problem putting our kids before economic considerations-- but then we're not east coast liberals.

[nopardons]

Not everyone can or wants to homeschool.That is NOT the only answer.

[nopardons]

It is in a LOT of places.

[Dataman]

It is in a LOT of places.

[freebilly]

Not everyone can or wants to homeschool.That is NOT the only answer.

Then put them in a private school, but don't tell me about the economic hardship.

Never, ever complain about what it takes to educate your children (I'm using "your" in the generic sense).

When my oldest daughter was in kindergarden I got disgusted with the public school system after two weeks. I pulled her from the classroom and enrolled her in a private school.

When the cost of private school grew too high for child number 4 and child number 5 we searched for, and found, a great charter school whose philosophy was in alignment with most of our beliefs.

When we tired of the liberal attitudes of most of the parents in the charter school we pulled our kids and started a homeschool program.

Did we want to start homeschooling our kids (hey, step right up and poke me in the eye with a stick!)? No, we didn't. But I've never let what I've wanted to do interfere with what I've decided to do for the good of my family.

That's why I'm the Dad.

[freebilly]

My wife and I had no problem putting our kids before economic considerations-- but then we're not east coast liberals.

Pity liberals with children. It must frost them that they would be so much better off, economically, if they'd had a "choice" instead of the child....

[nopardons]

And good for you!

Me? We sent our daughter to private school her entire life.When the day school was found wanting, she went to boarding school. No, not everyone can do that.

What you must remember, is that Andrea P. is a N.Y.C. LIBERAL,who sometimes ( more often than not )writes Conservativish columns. That's really all you need to know, to understand this one. :-)

[Fledermaus]

The problem is that you and I and many others are in this position because we actually had decent public school educations.

The real fight isn't the alternatives, it's purging the NEA and government out of OUR public school systems.

[Dataman]

Pity liberals with children. It must frost them that they would be so much better off, economically, if they'd had a "choice" instead of the child....

Absolutely not! I reserve pity for those whose unfortunate circumstances are beyond their control.

Libs have sacrificed their children on the altar of Molech since 1973 and are just beginning to wake up to the reality that they have been aborting their voter base. I think abortion may be the major reason why the decision to spend lots of money raising a child is so difficult: Why should a lib spend big bux on something they could have aborted for $500? The kid is lucky to be alive and should be grateful.

[freebilly]

Andrea P. is a N.Y.C. LIBERAL,who sometimes ( more often than not )writes Conservativish columns. That's really all you need to know, to understand this one. :-)

Ah, the east coast liberal! Always trying to improve the public education system so they won't feel guilty that their kid's in a private school. Freud would have a field day....

[freebilly]

The real fight isn't the alternatives, it's purging the NEA and government out of OUR public school systems.

Hate to sound jaded, but this will never happen.

[Fledermaus]

Never say never.

[kjvail]

The real fight isn't the alternatives, it's purging the NEA and government out of OUR public school systems.


I disagree, I would see the entire public school system eliminated. Think of it this way:

If you put your child in a Catholic school expect him/her to be indoctrinated in Catholicism
If you put your child in a Muslim school expect him/her to be indoctrinated in Islam

If you put your child in a GOVERNMENT school.. expect what?

I see a systematic indoctination of children in socialist and authortarian philsophy - it's positively Orwellian.

[tenthirteen]

My two boys never spent one day in public school; neither did I. They attended the local Christian School. Their Mom stayed home with them and I worked two jobs for the past twenty years. They are the best kids any parents could have; great grades, great outlook on life and never one minute of trouble. The youngest starts college this fall.

We've spent a fortune on their education, and Mom has worked hard with them at home. We have the results we hoped for. I would not change one thing if I had it to do all over again.

And we have GOD above to thank for it all for giving us the ability to do it.