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.

[wtc911]

Don't know where you live but here in NW Nassau County a three day a week half session pre-k costs $800.00/month, if you want a decent one. A decent Catholic Elementary school will be $4-6k per year and keep in mind that that school will be subsidized by the parish.

[Lady Eileen]

Homeschool Now.

[wtc911]

I met Frieburg in 1965 in the Village. I was in a Catholic Military School uniform and he was coming out of Cafe Wha? We spoke for a couple of minutes. He was my first "celebrity" sighting and pretty cool.

[Not A Snowbird]

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

No way in hell could we homeschool our daughter. There's not enough Prozac on the planet... for either of us!

[Lady Eileen]

....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.

You are a wise and prudent father....my prayers is that many more Americans would turn their heart towards their home and family.

[FITZ]

Or do what we did. Move to an area where the public schools are as good as private schools.

Yes --- there's that and you can also realize that public school AND homeschool aren't mutually incompatible. Since it only takes a couple hours a day to homeschool a child you can do that and let them go to public school.

[ContraryMary]

My kids have gone to Catholic school. This year my daughter graduates from 8th grade. We'll be sending her to public high school; parochial high school is just too expensive.

I'm not too worried about her though. She has a good value structure and is sensible enough to question what she doesn't think is right.

[FITZ]

And no, I don't homeschool. Unfortunately it's not an option for my situation.

I bet you still homeschool --- you just do it when you have the time and it is in addition to what your child(ren) gets at school. I would say the reason so many kids in public schools do so poorly is that they get nothing at all from home but the kids with parents who do their part will do okay no matter where they go for school.

[mrfixit514]

All we can do is pour another glass of Merlot, pop an antacid, and wait for divine guidance, or a winning lottery ticket, to intervene.

Judging from this statement, their kid has more important problems than where to attend school.

[FreedomCalls]

It seems yet another liberal has found that the cesspool society of multicultural values that they have demanded and foisted onto the rest of us over the years is not worth living in when it is personal. Is it time to break out the case of "I told you so"'s we've been hoarding?

[mrfixit514]

I teach at a high school in North Georgia. This week, the assistant principal called in one of our teachers and scolded her for her failure rate for first semester. I told her to list each student that failed, number of absences, and number of assignments not turned in. She had students with more than 20 absences who had missed (and not made up) more than 5 tests. When she took the documentation to the principal he said he didn't want to see it. The message was loud and clear: pass them all no matter what they are learning.

[firebrand]

Truthful and funny reply. I had a friend who homeschooled in New York City in the eighties. She changed her OGM every day, so you could always tell what kind of a day it was turning out to be. It was either La di da, we're going to the park now, call ya later! or WE CAN'T COME TO THE PHONE NOW!!! LEAVE A BRIEF MESSAGE!!!

[tutstar]

The homeschool market has really expanded. There are now full courses on cd and video and most can be found 2nd hand for a small fraction of the cost of buying new. I agree that not all want to homeschool but do not agree that all can't. If the family is intact there are many ways to cut costs so mom can stay home. It might not be possible to make changes overnight in order to do it but it can be done.

What other choices do you suggest?

[Gabz]

I would say the reason so many kids in public schools do so poorly is that they get nothing at all from home but the kids with parents who do their part will do okay no matter where they go for school.

BINGO!!!!!!!!

Our daughter is in public school. She's in kindergarten. The week after school started the teacher called, she was being bumped to 1st grade reading because she was too advanced for what they were doing in kindergarten when it comes to reading.

With the start of the new semester last week, she is now doing 2nd grade reading.

Homeschooling was not for us (for various reasons) but we spent a lot of time deciding on what public school she was going to - we moved to a different state.

[Not A Snowbird]

LOL! Was that her early warning system?

[ladylib]

How far does this principal think he's going to get when they all have to take their "high-stakes" tests and fail? Or does he plan to leave after the year is over?

[Dataman]

( and parochial schools aren't considered " private " schools, though some uninformed call them that ),

Parochial schools aren't private? Do you think in English?

[Dataman]

Sorry np, but your comment sounded a little bit condescending to folks who homeschool.

It was. Seems NP doesn't like alternatives to government schools.

[Dataman]

No, I don't think you get it.

I backed up my position with proof. I think you get it but disagree. See LWalk18's comment