Public or private school?
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Public or private school?
| Mon, 10-08-2007 - 1:54am |
I am curious as to what you think about the differences with public vs. private schools. My kids attend public. I attended public throughout college. My girls are doing great in school, but I'm concerned about the lack of morals my older DD is being exposed to by some of her so-called "friends". I have posted recently about my concern about kids dating so young, etc. and how I will try to protect my girls from bad influences...but I think it's too late.
13 yo DD went to a friends house last night for a sleepover. She was ready to come home at 7:30 am this morning! One main reason was that the girls were talking about "nasty things some other girls in school were doing with the boys." She told me it was gross. She wouldn't tell me exactly what they were saying...but she said she was very offended. The girls did mention they heard a girl at the school had an abortion! In 8th grade!! My DD told me she was very offended by it all and asked the subject to be changed...they ignored her. This talk out of these girls, except for one that was there, surprised me.
I am now thinking that maybe private school would have a better moral influence. I'm glad I've raised a DD that was uncomfortable hearing about things these girls were talking about...and I'm sure they weren't just talking about making out.
Also, this school is one of the best middle schools in our district.
Anyhow, just curious if any of you have experienced the differences with public vs. private schools with your kids or with your own experience growing up.
I know there are kids like this at every school, more than likely, but I'm thinking there would be fewer kids like this in a private school.
What do you think?
13 yo DD went to a friends house last night for a sleepover. She was ready to come home at 7:30 am this morning! One main reason was that the girls were talking about "nasty things some other girls in school were doing with the boys." She told me it was gross. She wouldn't tell me exactly what they were saying...but she said she was very offended. The girls did mention they heard a girl at the school had an abortion! In 8th grade!! My DD told me she was very offended by it all and asked the subject to be changed...they ignored her. This talk out of these girls, except for one that was there, surprised me.
I am now thinking that maybe private school would have a better moral influence. I'm glad I've raised a DD that was uncomfortable hearing about things these girls were talking about...and I'm sure they weren't just talking about making out.
Also, this school is one of the best middle schools in our district.
Anyhow, just curious if any of you have experienced the differences with public vs. private schools with your kids or with your own experience growing up.
I know there are kids like this at every school, more than likely, but I'm thinking there would be fewer kids like this in a private school.
What do you think?


















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My husband and I grew up in public schools.
Laura
mom to Gabrielle
I think it depends on the school.
I don't know why you would think that a private school
I believe that the differences between public and private schools will vary from school to school.
I'm glad homeschooling works for you. Do you have a group of kids that gets together that are homeschooled?
Growing up, my private school friends were far more "corrupt" for lack of a better word. They often were actively trying to rebel and because parents of rougher kids were trying to "fix" them by sending them to private school, they had some of the worst. As an adult, I have friends with kids in private school. The adults do think it protects them but I've also seen how some of those kids treat their parents and act when mom isn't around. You can't assume that private school harbors all the "good" kids.
Honestly, it's a school by school thing in my opinion. Much depends on the staff and the type of school they set-up. DD's middle school used to have a terrible reputation until they got a new principal with the dream of turning it into an arts and sciences school. They flooded the school with arts programs and advanced science classes. Suddenly, the typically geeky kids ended up with more power because that is what is valued at the school. In the last few years, it's totally turned around. DD is a 6th grader and loves it. I don't expect she'll never get exposed to something I prefer her not be but at the same time, if I protect her forever, she's never going to learn how to process and handle it. I'm not saying I'd throw her into one of our inner city schools with gang violence and such. However, a specialized suburb school where the teachers are still in control provides a safe enough experience for her to manage those little tidbits when they punch through.
So my answer, I'd take it school by school as opposed to private vs. public.
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