How to convince dh?

[arcenciel]

My sons have been in Steiner pre-school and kindergarten for nearly 4 years now. Next year my oldest is supposed to start grade school and my dh, who was never all that keen got cold feet when he saw the how much the cost will go up (nearly double). In theory we can ask for a reduction but when I looked at our budget I don't see how we can justify it (dh just earns too much ). However, things already feel tight this year.

Anyway, once we started talking about it he said all sorts of things like how he just wants our kids to be "normal" and go to a normal school and have a normal life...

He's one of those people who think the way they were brought up was just fine because after all he's OK.

Anyway, I've been convinced from the start and I really don't like the local school. Of course the extra money would be nice, but for me it's not an issue. I'm going to offer to get a job, but my youngest is only 18 months so I can't work that many hours (I'm a wahm not earning much money so I would have to abandon my business).

One of the things he doesn't like is that they don't do any "real" work, so I've found a couple of links describing what they do next year. I just don't know what else I can do.

[Deborah]

Separate the two issues. Putting the money aside for the moment, you need to collect information on the actual program at the public school. What will they be covering, how quickly, is there a lot of pressure, when do they start computers and what do they do with them? Make a list of questions and call up the school and also chat with parents you know who have children in the public schools, including children in 4th or 5th grade. How are the children doing overall? Try to get a realistic picture.

Then do the same sort of research for the waldorf school. By 5th grade are the public school kids still ahead? And so on.

I don't have any brilliant suggestions for the finances, but I do feel it is a separate problem and it will be easier to come to a mutual decision if you talk over one thing at a time.

Good luck sorting this out.
Nana