Public vs Private Schools

[mom101]

For most parents who have a choice, this is a big question - what school is the best for your child - public or private. I, myself, question this a lot. There are lots of things I like about public schools and then there are lots of things about private schools that I like, so how do we pick what is the best for our kids?

I came across a few articles that I wanted to post here to start some discussions - your input is welcome - any thoughts, perspectives?

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refcap/bigkid/gpreschool/67271.html

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/refcap/bigkid/gpreschool/67288.html

[Kymberlyn Steel-Fannin]

I have been struggling with a schooling decision for quite sometime now. I have been sending my son to public school but I have not been pleased with the programs offered by the school. The school lacks a good tax base and the community is not supportive of the school system. The school buildings are on average over a 100 years old. Students go to art class every 3-4 weeks because one teacher teaches art in multiple locations.

I started looking at private schools, all of which are heavily rooted in religion. Aside from not wanting to make a long term financial commitment, I do not like the idea of a school giving my children religious instruction. While I believe in God, I do not believe in religion. Religion divides men, and I think such a division goes against the nature of God and who I believe him to be.

With that being said, I began to consider homeschooling. I like the freedom that it offers and the fact that my son would be able to work at his own pace- he often complained he was bored at school. But even then I had reservations- what if I failed my son? Finally I found something that I think will suit us perfectly. The state of Ohio(and many other states) offer virtual charter school. The school my son will be enrolled in is www.ohva.org. The school follows state guidelines and coursework is provided by k12.com. We will go on field trips with other students in the program and Nick will be able to pursue various electives, which is something he would not be able to do in public school. Everyday he will need to log 5-6 hours of school time, but this can be done anytime during the day which will allow him to do things like go to the art museum for art classes.

This may not be a solution for everyone. But as parents we need to think outside the box and find a way to deliver education to our children in a way that it is in the greatest service to them. I don't know if you ever visit the talented and gifted Ning community. There is a TED video there that is absolutely wonderful. It is incredibly inspiring and definitely caused me to think long and hard about what I want for my children