Parents and school involvement

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2003
Parents and school involvement
2586
Thu, 08-23-2007 - 8:49am

My question stems from a personal experience. My middle child is starting kindergarten next week. I've become fairly close with one of my dd's friend's moms- this is her first child entering the school system. She WOH, I do not, plus I have experience with the school, so she's been calling me with questions and comments.

It started to go bad when she called to complain that the kindy orientation is during the day- when she is working. Then it led to complaints about the parents' read aloud program (when the kids are in library) and other opportunities for volunteerism in the school. I get that these things aren't convenient for her, but I'm getting annoyed with the complaining. How can the kids have an orientation at night when they go to school during the day? None of these events are mandatory for parents or kids. And plenty of activities are scheduled for evenings: Back to school night, the PTA picnic, etc.

She thinks because she can't participate, no one should be able to, apparently. Plenty of WOHP do show up for these things. I think she's being unrealistic if she thought she could put a couple of kids through school without ever taking a vacation day. Am I wrong? Am I missing something here?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:11pm
but havent you said you wouldnt consider paying for private school unless the public school was really "Bad" what if it just wasnt able to give your child the education you wanted, for one of them? it sounds like your kids are doing great in their school, as are mine and sometimes it works that way - but there are times when one school may be great for one child and not so great for another, even from the same family. a great education is one of the invaluable things i can give my children, it is what will allow them to become who they were meant to be and will open the doors to their future adn i think it starts way before college. to me, the education they are getting know is equally valuable to the education they will get in college.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-27-1998
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:13pm

No actually they aren't, as my link clearly shows.


PumpkinAngel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:18pm

I think that colleges have higher academic expectations today. I don't think more emphasis on social if it will cost some academically is a good plan.

I used the word "lousy" to emphahsize that social ability will not get a kid into a good college if they have lousy grades, no matter what.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-17-2007
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:18pm
not really. a kid with all a's in what the kids call "slacker" classes is not going to have the same chance of getting into college as a kid with a's, b's and even an occassional c in ap and honors classes. strength of schedule is more imoprtant than grades.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:18pm
Interested and involved have different meanings.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:18pm
I agree. Sometimes good enough has to be good enough. If I only had one child I might be willing to kill myself trying to get him the "best possible education", but I don't have one I have three. And one of my three has to be in the public school. We love our local public school -- I think it is about as good as anything we could get privately -- but it would have to be a really bad fit for DS1 or DD for us not to use it for them.
Avatar for mkatherine
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:19pm
It's really just one factor -- what admissions counselors look for is a lot more complex than just the grades. A book I reccommend highly is "The Gatekeepers" which details a completel cycle in he admisions process at Weslyn (or maybe it was Wheaton...it was a "W" school LOL) and it was fascinating and insightful - how admissions officers barter with each other to get in 'their' kids (meaning kids they've been recruiting or tracking or who they have a special liking for) -- how that happens right up until the moment the eltters are ready to be mailed...it was a great read and I think should be a must read for any parent who wants to send a child to college some day.

 

Yes. We. Did.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:28pm
Our local public schools are pretty good. I have insisted the boys go to private school for grades 6-9 because I think the middle schools/junior highs are the weakest link in our public system but if they want to go back to the public schools in 10th-12th grade, I will let them, even though I think our local independent school would be a better alternative. In this case, I will settle for "good enough."
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:31pm
Well I am both.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Fri, 09-07-2007 - 3:32pm
Interesting, thanks.

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