If your children had the chance to attend a top private school for free..

[LilMamiBella]

would you let them go? This is the top private school in the city and the tuition is something like $23k for two children. My husband called to tell me that, someone he knows who donates tons of money to the school, said that our kids could go for free. Gosh I don't know what to say. On one hand, I have been feeling like the kids need some friends, that we need to get out more, and that I'm not pushing them enough academically. On the other hand, this would be a big adjustment. D has never been to public school and R wasn't doing so well in ps. I'd need to drive about an hour every day to take them back and forth. The baby and I would really miss them.

[pixie-n-hertwoboys]

I don't know. I'd talk it over with my kids, tell them honest truth, ask what they wanted, yk? another thing is, if you are comfortable and thriving (all of you) doing homeschool, why rock the boat?

I've always said though that if I could send them to an awesome school where I agreed w/ philosophy and teacher/kid ratio was low, etc, etc, and it was free I'd do it...... as long as I could tag along LOL

[Lillian J]

Some children do well with school and enjoy it - but have you gone and toured the school? Have you asked them specific questions about their various policies and practices? Having a reputation as a top school doesn't necessarily mean it would be a good school for every child. I once toured such a place, thinking during the formal tour that it looked great - but once I got into asking specific questions, I realized it would be awful for my son.* In retrospect, it might not even have been so easy to get him in after the questions I asked - the headmaster couldn't relate to some of my concerns at all, and I was the only parent on the tour asking such things.

Keep in mind, that if they went, you'd have to get them there every morning and pick them up every afternoon, help them with lots of homework during their time at home, be involved with school events, etc. - that same kind of energy could instead by put into what you feel is missing now: getting out more and finding them friends, and providing more interesting things for them to learn about. Pushing them academically, in my own opinion, is not what children need so much as just exposure to lots of interesting things. That time spent in classrooms could be spent in interesting pursuits outside of school.

*And years later, by the way, I heard some things from parents of former students about problems I didn't even realize existed there, but which didn't really surprise me much when I thought about it. Things are not always what they appear to be.

- Lillian

[LilMamiBella]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

Some children do well with school and enjoy it - but have you gone and toured the school? Have you asked them specific questions about their various policies and practices? Having a reputation as a top school doesn't necessarily mean it would be a good school for every child. I once toured such a place, thinking during the formal tour that it looked great - but once I got into asking specific questions, I realized it would be awful for my son.* In retrospect, it might not even have been so easy to get him in after the questions I asked - the headmaster couldn't relate to some of my concerns at all, and I was the only parent on the tour asking such things.

Keep in mind, that if they went, you'd have to get them there every morning and pick them up every afternoon, help them with lots of homework during their time at home, be involved with school events, etc. - that same kind of energy could instead by put into what you feel is missing now: getting out more and finding them friends, and providing more interesting things for them to learn about. Pushing them academically, in my own opinion, is not what children need so much as just exposure to lots of interesting things. That time spent in classrooms could be spent in interesting pursuits outside of school.

*And years later, by the way, I heard some things from parents of former students about problems I didn't even realize existed there, but which didn't really surprise me much when I thought about it. Things are not always what they appear to be.

- Lillian

You're totally right Lillian. I just got this news about an hour ago. I hadn't even thought of asking my kids what they think of it. I haven't toured the school. Thanks for bringing me back to reality! lol Dh said he's supposed to get some information about it and that there will be an open house coming up.

[moominmamma]

We don't homeschool to avoid the negatives of poor public school programs. We homeschool because we love the positives of homeschooling -- self-paced, self-directed learning, strong family relationships, the freedom to travel and take advantage of unique opportunities that don't always arise just on weekends or between 4 and 8 p.m..

So no, it would be a meaningless offer to me and mine. Unless the school happened to be a residential high school for the arts with pre-professional type training in strings, piano and choral music, with a strong academic focus but tons of flexibility for self-paced learning. Then I'd sign my eldest up for sure. She needs access to more high-end musical training than she's getting where we live and would love that type of environment.

Miranda

[Ruthla]

If you have to drive a total of 2 hours a day to get them there, that wouldn't be "free". That's going to cost in fuel costs, not to mention your time and the baby's time. Plus, don't forget about extras such as uniforms (or school clothes that don't stand out from what the other rich kids are wearing), school trips, assorted activities, school supplies, etc.

If there was a school bus, I might consider it for one or both of the children depending on their personalities and learning styles. But with that drive in there, it would completely wipe me out, and it completely eliminates the possibility of HSing one while the other attends school (if that worked out best for their individual needs.) I personally would never consider any private school that isn't within bussing distance (in my county, the local school districts provide bussing to students attending private schools within 15 miles of their homes.)

[LilMamiBella]

[QUOTE=Ruthla;12359657]If you have to drive a total of 2 hours a day to get them there, that wouldn't be "free". That's going to cost in fuel costs, not to mention your time and the baby's time. Plus, don't forget about extras such as uniforms (or school clothes that don't stand out from what the other rich kids are wearing), school trips, assorted activities, school supplies, etc.


It is about 1 hour total each day or 30 minutes each way. We'll be able to afford uniforms, school supplies,etc. We've never been offered something like this before and so who knows if this will really happen or not.

[Ruthla]

YEah, I did the math. I figured it was a half hour drive each way- but it still works out to 2 hours in the car each day (half hour there, half hour back in the morning, half hour there, half hour back in the afternoon) unless you're able to arrange a carpool. It's a significant time commitment for you to take on- and far different from driving into that town for a HS event- where you'd be driving half an hour, hanging out for a while doing fun stuff, then all driving home.

[LilMamiBella]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

YEah, I did the math. I figured it was a half hour drive each way- but it still works out to 2 hours in the car each day (half hour there, half hour back in the morning, half hour there, half hour back in the afternoon) unless you're able to arrange a carpool. It's a significant time commitment for you to take on- and far different from driving into that town for a HS event- where you'd be driving half an hour, hanging out for a while doing fun stuff, then all driving home.

Oh yeah you're right ! oops

[koru]

Originally Posted by moominmamma

We don't homeschool to avoid the negatives of poor public school programs. We homeschool because we love the positives of homeschooling -- self-paced, self-directed learning, strong family relationships, the freedom to travel and take advantage of unique opportunities that don't always arise just on weekends or between 4 and 8 p.m..

:

We live in area with an excellent public school reputation but I couldn't be happier with our choice to homeschool!

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by LilMamiBella

It is about 1 hour total each day or 30 minutes each way.

Do you mean 30 minutes each way, 1 hr. round trip, twice a day, morning and afternoon?
- Lillian

[LilMamiBella]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

Do you mean 30 minutes each way, 1 hr. round trip, twice a day, morning and afternoon?
- Lillian

2 hours round trip which includes morning and afternoon. I'm thinking its 30 minutes but I haven't tried mapquest.

just checked: its 29 minute drive (19 miles away)

[elizawill]

i would talk to my kids in your shoes. they're 9 & 6 and should offer some insight for you.

[mary3mama]

I can only say what I would do (most probably) in my situation, with my children/family.

I'd very, very, very politely say, "no thank you."

One of my assumptions would be that a 'top private school' would be academically rigid. I don't want that for my children. They are quite intelligent and capable of learning without being pushed, prodded or pressured.

We live near Georgetown Preparatory Academy -- which is, assumably, a feeder school for Georgetown University (DC). So I was wondering what I would do if someone offered to send the children there for free. And I absolutely recoiled.

I believe that children should have some time to just BE without competition and comparison and the accompanying stresses.

Good luck as you make the best decision for your family.

[UUMom]

What's the school like? I've seen some amazing private schools...I've seen some terrible ones. There is a nice little private school near me that doesn't even give grades. They do all sorts of sweet & wonderful things. It's over 20k/yr however.

No can do. But for free, we might try it out. You could remove the kids if it didn't work.

Personally, I think my 9 yr old would be ready to try something that was respectful. Plus, I am dying to go back to work.

Maybe you could try it with the older child, but let the younger one stay home?

I'd have to visit the school, and know your kids really well before I could decide for you.

[True Blue]

Any school or homeschooling issues aside, being in my car 2 hours a day, with my infant, would automatically veto the idea!

[karemore]

If my daughter had a chance to attend the top private school here for free I would not send her.

BEFORE I learned all about hsing it would have been a dream come true. But now that I have read so much, I am sure that hsing is the right choice for our family.

There are plenty of other ways for kids to get out more and be challenged more without sending them to school all day.

Good luck with your decision!!

[mommy68]

I wouldn't choose to send my kids there right now but that's because they were in a private school and it didn't work out for us. I'd think about the drive first and foremost. When my kids were in a private school for two years I got tired of the drive and it was only 40 minutes both ways. I got tired of sitting in line waiting for them each day and the whole routine that goes along with having children in a school. Also, the fact that the older kids had so much homework didn't help either. There were lots of little things that helped me decide to go back to homeschooling.

Either way, whatever you decide...I hope it works out for everyone. I think you should do whatever is best for your family right now. In fact, I always say I will take it one year at a time and that's what we do each year.

[mommy68]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

It's a significant time commitment for you to take on- and far different from driving into that town for a HS event- where you'd be driving half an hour, hanging out for a while doing fun stuff, then all driving home.

I agree.

I was thinking about this the other day when my kids and I were driving home from a 2 hour homeschool function that we attend each week. I was thinking about how we only have to go one day per week for 2 hours and I have a choice as to whether or not to participate in this activity. I let out a sigh of relief compared to what I was going through last year at this time, driving 40 minutes to the school to get my kids there on time and then 40 minutes back home only to do it all again in the afternoon. It gets old real quick..well for me it took 2 years to get old. But I had all of my kids in this school, none were at home with me. Having a child still at home may make a difference.

[ebethmom]

An opportunity like that is certainly worth exploring. I would want to talk to parents of students who attend that school. I would also want to make sure that it isn't like the elitist college prep school that I attended!

For us, the school schedule just wouldn't fit. I work in the afternoons and many evenings. If my kids went to school, I would hardly see them at all.

I'll be curious to hear what you decide!