4wildberrys Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 NOPE!! I went to private schools and we also got in plenty of trouble, teachers still play favorites, peer pressure still exists and being in a classroom full of same age peers still is unnatural---even at a private school. And usually private schools focus on academics to an unhealthy extent----but I sure do wish we have a lively homeschool community here to alleviate the feelings of weirdness and isolation! :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2J112903 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 J was in private school for 2yrs before coming home-we much prefer him home for many, many reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 No. We couldn't afford it, anyway, but even if we could, I honestly don't think we would truly do it. ;) I'm too.... what's the word? Rebellious? :glare: I was locked into an institutional setting (i.e., school) for so long that, now that I can finally be the captain of my own ship, I don't want to be tied in to any school's agenda, not even a private one. I do think about it some days. :D My husband knows what kind of day it's been when he comes home to find me looking at this website. Then I realize how much of a hassle it would be to actually do this every day... go to Princeton, come home, go back up, come home, do homework, sign forms, pack lunch, etc., etc., etc..... At this point, it is a blessing to be able to homeschool. I really, really, really believe that we are thriving with our self-imposed routine and our freedom. I might see it differently in a few years, but maybe I won't.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ester Maria Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) In Europe, at least in most of it, I would be much more likely to put kids into a good, solid public school with a classical program, even if imperfect as public schools tend to be. In fact, I would tend to outright avoid private schools in many European countries for plethora of reasons - and none of them financial ones. In the Anglo-American world, with much older and stronger tradition of private schooling, sadly, I have to concede I would indeed be much readier to private-school my children than to public-school them. If homeschooling were not an option for any reason, my children would either be in the least bad private school around, either - if old enough and mature enough - sent to Europe for lycee. Homeschooling is not so much a lifestyle choice for us as is an academic need. It's a mix of two things - us stemming from a different academic tradition and a different educational framework, which we find important to transmit to our children, and in the other hand, our children being very receptive of such an education and the type of schooling offered here not suiting their needs as we see it. We are not anti-school here (well... depends, but we don't put homeschooling automatically above institution in each and every instance, and recognize strenghts and weaknesses of both), but it borders impossible for us to find a school we consider fit in the US, even among private and international ones. Europe is a different boat, the reason to continue homeschooling is mostly sentimental in nature, then habit and the fact that kids have meanwhile "outgrown" that system too in many of its aspects and would feel limited by it too, while we can maybe respond to their needs better outside of the institution - even if it's the institution we support for the most part. So, in conclusion, I don't see my children in a private school in the vast majority of imaginable circumstances for us. Edited March 2, 2011 by Ester Maria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiobrain Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Absolutely not. I went to a really excellent private school. If I still lived in Chicago, I could send then there, as an alum and on scholarship. I would NEVER send them there in a million years. EVER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I'm somewhere between the second and third choice. There are some nice private schools here, and we can afford all but the nicest (which we wouldn't do anyway because of their political bent.) We have visited several and dd has shadowed at two. We decided that homeschooling was a better option. Now if we moved near someplace like Veritas, Logos, Highlands, or any other very suitable classical school, we would probably use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Now if we moved near someplace like Veritas, Logos, Highlands, or any other very suitable classical school, we would probably use them. :iagree: Homeschooling is my first choice for pre-K-to grade 8, but I would send big kids to a classical school if possible. (We have no such school here, and I couldn't afford it if we did, but I daydream now and then.) My big boys would like to spend more time with other teens who are being classically educated, and I would like to hand over the rhetoric level teaching to someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetBean Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 We pulled our DD out of a very strong private school, because whe wasn't being challenged. That's how we got into homeschooling in the first place, and I'm very happy to have my kids at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirty ethel rackham Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I went to an "excellent" private school and I was bullied mercilessly. I was supposed to be learning about the love of God and I was learning about the cruelty of humanity. That 10 year old girl grew up believing that God didn't love her - that she wasn't good enough - that those message of love and hope did not apply to her. So, no, I would not choose a school, public or private, unless I didn't have other options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2bee Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 It depends on the type of school and the grade levels. I really want to home school my future children for several reasons, one of which is definitely academic benefits. I would consider a Montessori Community for my very young child, I would consider a language immersion school if it were the right sort. I would consider a couple of other models or types of school by grade but ideally, I want to home school K*-8 at least and we'd do High School on a case by case basis. (*I don't really like the idea of Kindergarten, I accept it as a social norm, but I the term itself has relatively no-real meaning to me. The first grade, in my opinion, should be FIRST grade.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoxcell Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I would only even consider it for Highschool, but we could not afford it anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imprimis Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. While we could afford private schools, I would not consider them unless I was unable to continue homeschooling for some reason. For me, it's not just academics, it's the fact that I genuinely LOVE having my kids around me. I love teaching them, learning along with them, and instilling a love for learning in them. The flexibility homeschooling affords us is another plus; we tend to be a bit impulsive at times, and like to load up the kids and take off for a few days to get away :001_smile: All that aside, I am very focused on academics. It's extremely important to me that my children are fully prepared for college and I strive to give them a first-rate education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Depends on the school. I HS mostly for academic reasons, so if they can truly meet that need better than I & there were no other issues (social problems, etc), then yes. Dd's name is down for possible enrollment in a charter school here--the only one I've checked out that really truly seems like they could meet her academic needs & they are also extremely arts-heavy (dance, art, music, drama, multiple foreign languages, etc), which would be like a dream for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) None of the answers fit. I would consider a private high school if I could not longer hs and if it would benefit my child. I won't consider a private elementary school at this point. Any private high school around here worth considering starts at about 25k for day school. My youngest has no need of school at this time. Edited March 4, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 It would have to be an amazing private school! I vote "no." Even thinking of Highlands (which I consider drool-worthy), I have one dc who would flourish with that structure/rigor and one who would flounder (and the jury is still out on ds4). I'm going to have to keep my little flounder home to keep him doing rigorous academics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akmommy Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I vote yes, but it would also depend on the school. Just like public schools not all private schools are created equal. Even if we could afford it there are no private schools in this area I would consider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LidiyaDawn Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 If you'd asked me this a couple of years ago, I might have said "maybe" ...but asking me now? Absolutely not. Homeschoolers for life. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. I think of homeschooling as "family-centered education" and you can't get that in any school, public or private. I taught kindergarten, 1st and 4th grades, and middle school English in private Christian schools. The social dynamic in a private school is very similar to a public school (attended public school K-12 and public university) and that is definitely not what I want for my kids. There is no academic advantage, imho, that trumps the negative social and spiritual aspects of a school environment (and I'm not just talking bad behavior either - I'm referring to the soul-sapping effects of a communal education as well). If I could afford an expensive private school for my children, I would spend that money on travel. Experiencing the world up close is a better education that reading about it in books. :iagree::iagree:I would spend it on housekeeping and babysitting (you know, so I could go to the gym twice a week in the morning, or DH and I could go on a date, or I could work with DD without the little one interrupting, or so DD could be in a group of kids to play a couple of times a week, not to get away from my kids for extended periods of time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 yes, and we are choosing it :D it is an amazing school though.....not just a random school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I didn't vote but I wanted to say that I removed my kid from private school to homeschool him. In the private setting he learned about infidelity, drunkenness and oral sex. He also learned to fear his first grade teacher, a 20 year old whom only liked girls. He learned that there are rules in the school that don't have to be followed, and that if you tattle on the bully who's sending you and your friends home from school, you'll be punished for bullying. Oh, and it was a Christian private school (the most popular around) and he was in kindergarden, pulled out six weeks into first grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) yes, and we are choosing it :D it is an amazing school though.....not just a random school You're terrible and going to hsing hell. LOL ;) Edited March 3, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 We can't afford private school where we are now, which is part of why we decided to try homeschooling. But we're moving soon and there is a fantastic private school there that we could afford. If we hadn't started homeschooling it would have been a no-brainer to send the kids there, but now we're all spoiled by the whole custom-education thing, and DH, bless his heart, is absolutely convinced that I can do a better job than even the best of schools. :001_smile: (I am somewhat less convinced on that score, but we'll see.) It's nice to know that there is a good option there, though, if for whatever reason homeschooling stops working for us. For now, though, we're sticking with what has been working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 You're terrible and going to hsing hell. LOL Yep, some days that is all you can ask for LOL :lol: Maybe she can tag along and we can call it a field trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 LOL Yep, some days that is all you can ask for LOL :lol: Maybe she can tag along and we can call it a field trip. LOL Sounds fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renee in NC Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Yes, I would, for some of them at least. There is a school for dyslexia/ADD in the city where we are moving that I would send them to in a heartbeat if I could. It is only 1/2 day, though, so we would homeschool for the rest. There are many private schools there, including a classical school, that would be great for my 2 dd's (I realize the apostrophe is misplaced but can't figure out to pluralize an abbreviation - my apologies to the kittens.) In my "Powerball" dream, we could even hire someone to help me so that I could teach more effectively. I really love Highland Latin School and they would probably do better than I (using their programs.) At the same time, I realize that there are downsides to schools - even good ones, especially in the social arena.:glare: There is something to be said for the family unity that happens in homeschooling, especially when outside activities that involve grade separation are limited. I probably should have answered, "Maybe.";) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkInTheBlue Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Unfortunately I can't really answer the poll because with 3 kids there are almost 3 different answers. Our almost-15 year old is a yes. Next year I really think I'm going to seriously consider outside school foe him. However the only options around here are one college prep, expensive private school (not for him) or multiple Christian schools (not much of an option for me). However, with the almost-13 year old and 4 year old I can't see me choosing outside school of any kind for either of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) http://www.lincolnschool.org/page.cfm?p=3 Wow, I thought our school was expensive. Holy Cow....$25,000+ a year. :blink: DD12 won a huge merit scholarship or she wouldn't be attending where she is at either, but that is crazy! Over $350,000 pk-12!!! Edited March 3, 2011 by Tap, tap, tap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silliness7 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. I think of homeschooling as "family-centered education" and you can't get that in any school, public or private. I taught kindergarten, 1st and 4th grades, and middle school English in private Christian schools. The social dynamic in a private school is very similar to a public school (attended public school K-12 and public university) and that is definitely not what I want for my kids. There is no academic advantage, imho, that trumps the negative social and spiritual aspects of a school environment (and I'm not just talking bad behavior either - I'm referring to the soul-sapping effects of a communal education as well). If I could afford an expensive private school for my children, I would spend that money on travel. Experiencing the world up close is a better education that reading about it in books. The soul-sapping effects of a communal education. Wow!! I might have to change my answer. I'm encouraged to keep on keeping on. Not that I can afford private high school but sometimes wishing I could saps more energy than I can spare. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) Yes, I would, for some of them at least. snip snip snip stuff Renee wrote I probably should have answered, "Maybe.";) That's where I am at. Some. My youngest...she would do well in a particular private high school, my older dd, less so. I simply can't make sweeping statements about one sort of education when so many diverse needs are involved. So far, hsing is amazing, and has been for nearly severl years. I would never rule out changes, especially given what is available to us. We may head out to the west coast for a year or so (due to dh work), when youngest ds graduates high school, or we may not (dh would continue to fly back & forth). Hsing allows us such wonderful flexibility. If we don't do that, I think my youngest will benefit greatly trying something new schooling-wise, and being challenged in different ways. We shall see, and we are open. Edited March 4, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoonlight Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Other. It would totally depend on the school - there are circumstances in which I would consider it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Goldwater Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. I think of homeschooling as "family-centered education" and you can't get that in any school, public or private. I taught kindergarten, 1st and 4th grades, and middle school English in private Christian schools. The social dynamic in a private school is very similar to a public school (attended public school K-12 and public university) and that is definitely not what I want for my kids. There is no academic advantage, imho, that trumps the negative social and spiritual aspects of a school environment (and I'm not just talking bad behavior either - I'm referring to the soul-sapping effects of a communal education as well). If I could afford an expensive private school for my children, I would spend that money on travel. Experiencing the world up close is a better education that reading about it in books. :iagree: I love this post... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 (edited) Other. It would totally depend on the school - there are circumstances in which I would consider it. Yes. And work schedules matter. Currently we are all only able to travel with dh when our teen son (oldest is 22 and has a schedule none of us can figure!lol) has vacation. That's the downside of school; they have to attend. ;) When we were all hschooling, we could go with dh, whenever. My kids have traveled frequently because dh travels as part of his work. (We have many FF miles and free hotel rooms.) We can also avoid travel during summer months when everything is insane with other folks' academic schedules. We will have 3 years of freedom between our youngest ds graduating school, and before we have to consider whether youngest dd would benefit from a private high school. I am so looking forward to that! Currently, when the girls and I travel with dh, my father comes to stay with our son. I am happy my ds get so much from his school music program. (We could never give that to him at home.) But freedom is good, too!! Grrrrrrr!! Edited March 3, 2011 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I would send the kids to private school. Not for the younger grades, but I would send them for middle school and high school. Middle school would be a maybe, but definitely high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhonda in TX Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 BTDT, not going back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elise1mds Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Other, of course! My DD is in private. I choose to keep her there :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganClassicalPrep Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I want to say no, but honestly, if I could afford it (and there was a good school near us, which there is) , DD would probably be in private school. Homeschooling is a struggle for us. I *love* teaching my daughter, and in my dream world I'm a full time homeschooler, BUT, (and there's always a but!) as a single parent who is also going to school full time myself, I struggle with things like time management, staying on top of everything that needs to be done, and finding/paying a babysitter. (Although, if I can afford private school I could afford the babysitter, which would take that stress off....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Although private school was our plan before we decided to homeschool, now the answer is no. We love the homeschool lifestyle and feel it is best for our son, and for our family overall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom in High Heels Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. Indy went to a very expensive private school for K and it was awful. I hated it (I never saw him!) and he hated it (mostly because he was bored and had a horrible teacher). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I said yes but it's a moot point since the nearest private school of any kind is 20 miles/away (a very good Catholic school.) Our reasons for homeschooling are almost entirely academic. I'm not willing to lose an hour-ish of my life every day and now the cost of gas even if we could afford it. I do know many people who use the school and it seems like a great place with high academic standards. I just have a low tolerance for having my day interrupted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 My son attended 2 years of public school. He is profoundly gifted and that was a very poor fit for him. We looked at 20+ schools locally (major metro area) and couldn't find a public or private school that would be a reasonable fit for him. So we could afford it, but HS is a much better fit for him and now my daughter too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 We started homeschooling due to my dd's epilepsy/health issues. We hs'ed all 3 kids but the plan had always been for the boys to go to the all boys Catholic school for high school. That's what we are doing. Poor DS had a rocky start with bullies in 9th gr. but this year is better. He had awesome teachers last year that he really admired. The same for this year. I've written this before in other threads but I could not replicate so many dedicated, intelligent Catholic men (brothers, priests, deacons and lay men) as role models in our homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMom2One Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I said yes because I know my daughter feels lonely a great deal of the time. As an only child at home, combined with the fact that we live in a rural community where there are no kids her age in the neighborhood, my heart breaks for her sometimes. She and I really do love h'schooling, and it has been extremely good for both of us....but if I could possibly swing getting her into the private school where I teach part-time I would do it for her. Chances are she might decide that she wants to come home again, but I'd love to give her the opportunity to find out at last what it would be like to be in school again, especially since she has some romanticized memories of being in a classroom Blessings, Lucinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimm Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Yes. They would be in private school if I could still afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Wow.... I don't know. I'm thinking of the school for Arts&Science... I'm thinking of my children in uniforms.... I'm thinking of an excellent education... I'm thinking of group pe, teasing, disappointement, social status eclipsing grades.... I really don't know. Part of me is screaming absolutely NOT. I love hsing, love having my kids home, love learning with them, love seeing all their 'firsts.' I don't know if I'm being selfish or ..... :lol: Good question :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowperch Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I would send my children to a school--public or private--that was rigorous but not cut throat, offered small (10 or less) classes, had shorter days, and great art and gave the kids plenty of chances to be in the air and be physical. And the school would have to be close to my house AND offer grades 1-12 so I would only have to deal with one school. (In my town next year my children would be in four different schools). A girl can dream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I would send my children to a school--public or private--that was rigorous but not cut throat, offered small (10 or less) classes, had shorter days, and great art and gave the kids plenty of chances to be in the air and be physical. And the school would have to be close to my house AND offer grades 1-12 so I would only have to deal with one school. (In my town next year my children would be in four different schools). A girl can dream. :iagree:You give me a school with short days (2-4 hours), short commute time (20 minutes or less, no 45 minutes both ways on the school bus) and little to no homework (instead of doing nothing else, or taking as much time as homeschooling) and I might consider it, otherwise, no... I have considered putting the kids in after-school daycare program so that they can get socialization and I get some free time... I would do that way before I would take up all of their days with school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peela Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Since my kids are in school now...well, yes, but we can't afford it and ds got into a good public school so we are ok with how it all turned out. However for dd16- I think the pathway she is on is probably better than any private school would have given her. I went to a private school for half my schooling- it was a good education but the social side of it was so ....conservative. Dd16 would have had to pull her horns in and controlled her rather vibrant personality....I am glad she got to homeschool right through to going into our TAFE college system where she is treated as an adult. It has worked well for her. She's a free spirit. So...yes and no. We certainly didn't homeschool for purely academic reasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 No. We're very committed to home education as the best choice for our family. My dc have played sports with two local private schools, so I'm grateful they are there and open to homeschoolers. HTH, Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 If it was the quality of Boston Latin and had the advanced classes, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I have no interest in a mediocre education, private or public. I used to work for a veterinarian who attended Boston Latin School. Great stories about how much he valued his education. I wish I had been older, I could have gained so much from him about classical ed. No, I would not do private school. Aside from the fact we can't afford it I don't like being on someone else's schedule. If we want more than 10 vacation days I don't want to need approval. We're not morning people. He was in private school for prek and K, the mornings were awful! I don't want to worry about expensive uniforms, endless fundraisers, lunch money, or PTA meetings. Academics aside, I like the limited bureaucracy in my homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 I would consider it if it was a classical UMS- especially if I could teach there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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