Home school, public school, private school...Which one?

Cherie - posted on 11/07/2011

Home school.... hands down. I taught in public school before I had my kids and homeschool now because of it...

Lydia - posted on 10/30/2009

It really comes down to what schools are available to you (even without those constraints) and what your personal feelings are about them (incl. homeschooling). My choice was easy - I already knew which school matched my my criteria - both with educational and social ideals - so that is where I have her listed. It just happens to be a private school but that isnt why I chose it. I believe it comes down to the individual school rather than the general some public schools (here) have as good a reputation as some private ones. I personally wouldnt homeschool but that doesnt make it a bad option it just not my cuppa tea :)

Kelli - posted on 10/30/2009

I'm homeschooling. I know where my kids are learning and their abilities, I can choose to have them excel in their areas of interest. They can spend more time where they need extra help and work ahead in areas that they are good at. I also get to teach them the morals and values I want them to have and not what other kids, teachers or the government wants them to believe. I just started kindergarten with my oldest and he is already reading, would he be doing that in a normal class? Probably not.

Anna - posted on 10/30/2009

Public charter school.

Kate CP - posted on 10/30/2009

My daughter goes to Montessori school. She loves it, I love it, and I grew up with it. It's a great method of teaching and learning. :)

Elizabeth - posted on 10/30/2009

My optimum choice would be to homeschool my children. I felt to laid back in public school and did not appy myself. I don't want that or even the opposite of being pushed to hard and then feeling like a failure for being held back to happen to my children. I would like them to learn at their own pace wether it be fast or slow in each subject and never to feel to pressured or just bored by school. Luckily I have many friends who homeschool their children and I live in an area that has a rather large homeschooling community.

Sharon - posted on 10/30/2009

Private school.

Araceli - posted on 10/30/2009

Most definitely private school. The children are taught discipline, morals, respect for one self and others. I truly believe it is well worth it. I have four children attending a private school in Chicago. The class size is between 15 to 20 students. That being said they get the attention and help they need and I am well informed of what is going on in the class. Living in a city as Chicago I would not recommend public schools. Public schools tend to have a 30:1 ratio. I guess it all depends where you live if you are considering public schools. Some Private schools also offer before and after school care so this works for people who have a full time job. So do your homework! Research!

Kelly - posted on 10/29/2009

I may be a little bit biased, but I am a public school teacher and I teach first grade. All I can tell you is what I want for my own children. If there is any way at all I can get a private school teaching position before my children (3 year old twins) start school, then my children will attend private school. I have had first hand experience with not only the state and federal regulations on public school, but also the unrealistic expectations of the local administration! Looking at about half of the children coming in with a lack of resect, morality, and disipline that ends up making it nearly impossible for a teacher to be able to do the job effectively. No parental response from that half of the student body, and very little help from Administration of the school. I am praying to be able to send my children to private school, and to be teaching there myself even though I know it will be less money then public school. I have been teaching for 10 years now pre-k through 1st grade. I have three degrees in education and am just lacking my doctorate. I have wanted to teach since I was in Kindergarten myself, but now I am looking at other proffessions! Do your research on what ever you are thinking about and make sure you check individual schools out thoroughly before you decide, because each one is ran differently! There are good and bad points to all options, you just have to weigh the odds.

Cathy - posted on 10/29/2009

I am a firm believer in public education but we are fortunate to live in a district where there are public alternatives to the "big box" schools. Our son went to a "big box" high school and it seemed as though we were constantly battling to get our boy, an honors over-achiever, through the system. Our daughter goes to a public magnet school, where she is getting a college prep, classical education - all honors and A.P and one-on-one computing. Maybe if we were starting over, I wouldn't be so adamant about the public schools but the way I look at it, if we do not support our public schools and figure out how to work within the system, we will not have public education. Then we will be in danger of only having education for the rich. Where is the happy medium?

Jeanine - posted on 10/29/2009

Like Julie Stroup stated...it depends on so much!!! I homeschooled my 4 children and 2 neighbor children for 4-7 years. It was a 'learning' experience for all of us. We all found out they became a lot smarter in 'life' lessons and 'as smart' in regular classes. When they all went back to school, they really felt school was a waste of time and ended up dropping out and getting their GED's or going onto just regular jobs. But I have a lot of homeschool friends that have had their children do really well. I don't think any of mine were ever going to be 'college' material whether they were in school or not. I have one son who is 'very' smart and he is in the military and doing extremely well. Each one of them were brought home and homeschooled for different reasons, lack of confidence, doubt, problems, anger issues and lack of discipline. Yes, these can be taught at home, but it seems to be such a better lesson when you have them most of the time and only send them out to learn from 'other' people for short periods of time. I tried to keep them in a social loop as much as possible. So we were in a puppeteering group through our church that did performances around town throughout the year. They also did Homeschool PE at the local YMCA 3 days a week for 2 hours and we were involved with a homeschool group that planned monthly field trips. All of my children didn't like it at first, but after a couple of years they, and I, really got into it and we really were glad to have had those years together instead of in regular school. But when it came to going back to school, that is where we had problems and my marriage fell apart. So, I don't know if I could just blame it on the public school system. Anyway, best of luck, you will get opposition from both sides.

Cathy - posted on 10/29/2009

My top choice would be private school. I would go to that school, check them out very good, talk to principal, teacher, parents, and pray. But if the private school does not meet up with your expectation then home schooling. Make sure you find other Moms that home school their children and have some social, sports events, or field trip together.

Joyce - posted on 10/29/2009

I went to public school, but not in Los Angeles. I went to school in Hawaii. The school that I attended with one of the first in the state to go College Prep, so I had a great education. However, I now live in LA where the school system is questionable!

Joanna - posted on 10/29/2009

My kid(s) going to public school! I went to public school and had a great education (at least a 3.5 gpa every year), great friends, and great social opportunities. So I'll be doing the same for my daughter and and other children I will have.

Julie - posted on 10/29/2009

That answer depends on SO MUCH! I am in my 8th year of homeschooling. This year, we decided to allow our younger three to go to public school.Their grades were good as homeschoolers, but the friendly competition and constant social interaction has really brought them to life. Homeschooling was too laid back for them to enjoy. The smallest of those three is just in kindergarten and we will pull him from public school to homeschool him if he doesn't seem to be doing well along the way and my oldest, a teenager, LOVES homeschooling and wouldn't dream of changing his means of education.



P.S. I forgot to add, the school district we live in is one of the best in the state. If I were concerned about the school itself and/or my children's safety there, I would only consider homeschooling or private schools.