Back to school, questions for veteran parents Options

[rcdroy]

Hello to all,
My son is going to kindergarten this year. He is our only child. I have debated the subject of his education for all of his life and was hoping to get some feedback.
I have checked out the Christian private schools and he is currently registered for one. However, it is not going to work out because the gender ratio will be 14 girls: 1 boy (my son).
I don't think so!! I wasn't to comfortable with the other Christian private schools in the area, and others are just to far away to drive.
When I think of public school, where I am right now thinking of sending him, I am glad because it is part time, rather than all day every day like everything else around, close to home, and free. Everything else about it gets me going. We are in a more rural area so I am sort of comfortable with the community. I read 2 Corinthians 14-18 how we should not be unequally yoked and what business do we have partnering with non-believers. (I am a partner in my child's education)
Home-school is always an option and I believe that our family could do it however I am not thoroughly convinced that it is for him. (Great for me though, I wouldn't be sending him off to the wolves.)
So to summarize we are registered for a private school that isn't going to work out, so I plan to register him for public part time kindergarten. This first time mom would love to hear your words of wisdom, battle stories and suggestions.

Peace to you in our Lord Jesus,
Rachel

[Bonnie]

Home school!! And if you decide that's the way to go I can be of assistance

[Eyesup4Him]

We send our daughter to a private Christian school. She's been there since kindergarten,she will be in the 6th grade this coming year. All I can say is it's better than the public schools around here.
I wish she was homeschooled.

[mitziss]

I grew up in a rural setting and attended all 12 years at a public school. The majority of kids were christians. We did not have a private school option. I received an excellent education. Pray about it. Visit the public school. You may be pleasantly surprised. Pray for God's will. Just because a school is labeled Christian, does not mean it is safe or better. And just because its a public school does not mean its bad. Homeschooling would be an option if you are organized. I am not organized, so it would be a bad idea for me, lol.

[Tea]

We tried public and christian school for our daughter. I do not recommend public.

The 2 christian schools we tried left a lot to be desired as well.

I never tried at home schooling, but have heard it is the best option, better than charter schools as well.

[Tea]

In public my daughter faced lots of bullying and came home injured way too often. One of the girls there had followed her into
the girls bathroom and tried to strangle her. This child had seen it on TV and thought she would try it. It was a very diverse school.
I couldn't let her go on the bus, because the kids were horrible there too. The children who couldn't speak english very well definitly took time and attention away from those who could.Even though they had classes for them so they could learn english better.
The 2 christian schools had totally different curriculums as compared to the public schools curriculum. It was very tough
to change it up. I felt the level and standards of education at the christian schools were inferior to public, teachers, etc.This, I
would think would depend on where you live, and the size of the christian school. I have heard so much good about the at
home schooling, since then. But as Mitziss posted wisest to pray and check everything out thoroughly. God Bless!

[rcdroy]

Thank you for your thoughts. I have been in prayer about this for a long time and will continue to seek His will. I just keep going round and round. I will keep my faith that He will lay out the plan in His time.

[2timesover]

Im a grandmother, so I am a little removed from this generation of school aged children, however I do watch my grandchildern and the choices my kids make concerning their education.

My daughter has an only child. a son. so I think I can relate a little from the discussions I have had with her in contemplating her decisions.

She is a single mom and her desire was of course to put him in private christian school. That is not financially feasible. When the time actually came she had moved to the rural area of town out by where I live.

He goes to a small public elementary school that still says the pledge of allegance, and speaking about God and Jesus is not banned. I caught him on the fourth of July when I had picked him up for her (actually it was a couple of days before) and as I was unlocking the front door I turned around and he was standing with his hand over his heart looking at my neighbors flag they had put out. I teared up of course LOL

The schools in town are a different story. I am glad she relocated to be in a smaller community school district.

there are still children who tease him (he wears glasses) but I told her we can't put him in a bubble - he has to learn how to deal with people - and she does discuss and teach him about different families and different values of children raised in the world. teaches him to pray for his classmates.

He adored his teacher. Cried when school let out. So, Kids are tough. We all have to learn the leasons of living in the real world. The trick is to keep them out of temption and danger. I may add she goes to every parent day and open house and speaks on a regular basis with his teacher. She is very involved and does not hesitate to call his teacher about anything she sees she might need to ask about.

now strangling.... uh no. He would have been out of there so fast they would not have known what hit them. But you can look around and find a good school, sometimes that means relocating to a different part of town but it is doable.

We all are sent out as lambs to wolves. We have instructions and a teacher to watch over us and guide us and help us when things get rough. We have a good role model to pattern our parenting after - Our Heavenly Father.

God Bless,

Debra

[LatterRain7]

Hi, Rachel ...

I believe it's 6 of one, half a dozen of another, when it comes to private school verses public schools. I'm also a grandmother and a paraprofessional in education, classroom assisting for many years before I retired.

Prayerfully is what is the difference nowadays. I have two grandsons going to campuses that are hand picked by their mom. (she's administrative for CPS) They live in a larger city so it's really smart to pay a tuition and go to the BEST school in the city, per curriculum, behavior, teaching staff and average grade ... the BEST school, rather than pay private school fees. Private schools don't offer much more than the BEST school in a city, plus ... the experience of normalcy ... meaning, the real world, is a lesson in and of itself. My grandsons are excellent students... but, I know it takes much prayer and hard work from the parents as well.

The other grandson lives in a very small town. Again, excellent schooling because of the size... the ratios are amazingly low. They definitely get more one to one.

I know nothing of homeschooling other than to say, NORMALCY is key. Someday, our grandchildren will need a real job in this real world. They must be able to understand the realities of it -- that's what we prepare them for. So... if networking can be done and home schooled children can have real experiences in art, sports, social interactions, lab projects, etc., then more power to that group of parents that are leaning ON each other to network and provide different experiences for their children. We have a nephew who was SO HOMEGROWN in his home situation that he had anxiety attacks from things he never experienced once he got IN the world.

Pray about it and God will lead you in the right direction, I'm CERTAIN! God bless you for loving your children enough to WANT a great future for them. You're a good parent!

[LatterRain7]

So sorry, it posted twice...

This post has been edited by LatterRain7: Jul 29 2010, 06:56 PM

[2timesover]

So sorry, it posted twice...

It was a very good post.... full of wisdom and common sense - worth repeating

God Bless,

Debra

[coleksiak]

I went to public schools all my life...Avoid them if you can. If you have to send your child to a public school, make sure they are involved in a sport. I swam my whole life and that kept me out of trouble.