Choosing a public school (it's elementary...)

In My Humble Opinion
1

My son starts kindergarten next school year and now is the time to sign up. Aside from hitting such a major milestone, choosing the “right” school has been rather more of a chore than I thought it would be. Part of this is due to the fact that my wife and I both went to Catholic schools and public schools are just different and the rest is due to the choices in programs available.

My wife and I toured the “local” school, the school he can go to with no questions asked, and I was quite impressed. Again, part of this was the “newness” of the public school environment, but the principal is new this year and was quite motivated seemed quite interested in turning the school around, which, unfortunately, the school really needs. Score-wise, the school was very much mid-pack in the city. Another choice is a “traditional” program that is very much like how I remember the parochial school I attended. The children wore uniforms, discipline was a high priority and the rules in general were much more strict than non-traditional and expectations are also quite high. Scores at this school are among the highest in the city. The third choice is a Montessori program. According to the Montessori method, classes are much less structured, and independent or individual study is the rule. To my eye, the classrooms were messy and cluttered, but all the students were very busy and seemed quite intent on their work. Scores at this school are also very high. I was, quite honestly, impressed with all the schools. All the schools have art, music, theatre, and computer classes, science labs for the older kids, independent disciplinary and incentive programs. Choosing is difficult because I think my son could benefit from any of the schools.

The question I have is this: the Montessori school says the kids at their school excel due to the freedom each student is given and the independence and personal level of instruction their program allows. The traditional program says that the students at their school excel due to the rigorous and strict performance and behavioral requirements to be met. So which is it? These claims are mutually exclusive, yet each seems, based on the testing scores, to be true.

Truthfully, I don’t think the choice between Montessori or traditional is as big as it seems to me right now. My son is quite bright and curious and sociable, I think he’ll do well in any program. His mom and I will be as involved as we can with the school and we’ll keep up with his work and his progress. But, man, right now I have these choices in front of me, and it feels like somehow his whole future rests on it.

And have I rambled with this or what? Will the school matter that much? Will the program at the school impact him forever? Why didn’t someone warn me about these kinds of things before?

2

My kids are 8 and 7 and at different ends of the special needs spectrum (GT and special ed). I actually moved to this area because it was the best school district that I could afford in my area, but it is probably a typically average district. We didn’t consider private schools as we cannot afford them. My thoughts on the local Montessori were similar to yours.

My opinion is that kids will be successful at school if the parents show that they value education. We do this in many ways, but primarily by being involved. I make it a point to know the teachers, librarian, secretaries, lunch ladies and classmates. I volunteer- sometimes for special projects only and sometimes for a regular gig somewhere as time permits. We encourage our kids to take part in extra curricular activities at school that interest them such as spelling bees, science fairs, and the chess club (they didn’t like that). I make sure the kids can hear me when I let the teacher know I’m available for time/supplies/whatever. We make time in the evening to have dinner and talk about our day (all of us, grownups, too).

My kids are in school 7 hours a day. It’s a long day and I’m genuinely interested in what their day was like. I’ve told them both that they don’t have to be perfect, but I want them to do their best.

Anyway, I’m not really sure that the school makes as much difference as the parents.

3

I have no kids, but I did go to both private and public school. Frankly, I think public schools are the better option most times. Your kid’s education isn’t going to be determined by the quality of the school but by the quality of the parents and their attitudes towards education. If you two value education, place high (but reasonable) expectations for the child, foster his intellectual curiosity and set the example at home (reading on your own instead of watching TV, etc.), then your kid will be successful academically, IMO.

I think the benefit of going to a public school is that he’s more likely to meet other kids from the neighborhood.

4

I went to Catholic schools. Mr Ujest is one of them public school lifers.
We can do schools of choice here. Meaning that if I want my child to go to another school district in our county or surrounding county, and they have space and I provide transportation, they can attend there.

We chose outside of our district because nearly everything I do is in the Other District and our local craptacular paper is in this same district and I have a connection to this little town. The library is fabulous and I know just about every mom/kid in there by sight. Where we are suppose to go is really growing like a kudzu vine with buttloads of yuppie locusts whom, the small amouth I’ve met, have made me want to run screaming for the exit. They all seemed to be focused on material things instead of…y’know…your kids. And the library is good, but the staff are mostly bitter menopausal women.

I, too, was amazed at the public schools. The carpeted hallways. The overly heated classrooms. The way they provide breakfast for kids ( for a buck or so) and the better grade of computers, library size and playground equipment.

My kids won’t be sitting in a cold classroom with 30 year old text books, that is for sure like I did.

But it was the staff that sucked me right in. All very approachable ( unlike Nuns) and my son’s Kindergarten teacher has become a very good friend of mine. His current first grade teacher has been teaching longer than I’ve been alive and I am pretty sure she has Jedi Mind Powers in the way she stops a problem before it really happens. Austin, you will not steal the other Austin’s pencil.. It’s spooky.

One thing that bothers me is all the chronic fund raising they do. I ignore it all except the Betty Crocker box thingies and one other local merchant thing.

My son has asked how come I don’t buy the Marketstreet Fundraiser* ( or whatever) and I tell him: 1) The food they sell is probably pretty tasty but it is overpriced and I can get it cheaper at the store. 2) Daddy and I pay loads in tax money already to the school if the school cannot manage the money properly they shouldn’t guilt the kids into trying to guilt the parents. 3) The school needs to learn how manage their money in a more effiecent manner if they have to have the kids panhandle. 4) Mommy volunteers two days a week for two different jobs so the school doesn’t have to hire someone to do the same job. That is another form of giving and it is better than money. Those that don’t have time, give money. Those that don’t have money, give time.

It is the last vestige of my Catholic Upbringing that I have and I know I will be flamed for it.

*the only outside fundraiser I do get is Scholastic books. The school gets books. The kids get books. It is a win-win situation. No money to spend frivously on …carpeted hallways & classrooms…I mean…WTF? Meanwhile, their lockers are too freaking small for backpacks and wintergear.

5

Probably your son will benefit from either a Montessori or traditional kindergarten experience. Having put three kids through Montessori, I’d recommend it if your child leans more to:

Learning as a tactile experience (touching, feeling, doing) as opposed to being told stories and drilling.

Being able to work on his own for more than a couple of minutes.

Accepting suggestions rather than having to be told what to do.

Because of their emphasis on hands-on learning, Montessori programs also require a certain amount of eye-hand coordination. If your son is a little delayed in that area (one of my kids was) you’ll want to work with the instructor to make sure he doesn’t keep heading for the modules that don’t require as much handling.

In the end, however, an enthusiastic, committed staff is more important than any program.

6

Shirley Ujest wrote

I think #4 is an excellent answer, and all the answer necessary. And I commend you for the time you give.

I don’t agree at all with #'s 1, 2 and 3. That’s not to say I think you should be giving money; I think what you’re giving is far more valuable and far more commendable than money. But I think the first three are bad arguments and in fact diminish your response.

Sadly, schools are underfunded. And sadly, that means more money is necessary to deliver a good education. And sadly, that means kids must panhandle to deliver it.

I guess my issue here is that too many parents will say #1, #2, and #3 (without #4), and those people selfishly hurt not only their own children, but the other children in their community.

7

As someone who went to Montessori school for a couple of years, I highly advocate the experience for a kid who’s able to handle it (such as, it sounds, your son). I feel I have great self-confidence, ability, and capacity for independent thought and action, partly on account of having such freedoms at a very young age. If I were in your position, I would jump at the opportunity to have my son go to a good Montessori school.

Be aware, however, that the term “Montessori school” is an unregulated one, and both excellent and poor schools use it. It sounds like you’ve already checked out the place, and it’s good, but it’s just something to keep in mind.

8

I think we’ve about decided that the Montessori school is the best choice for us. I like the atmosphere, the attitude of the teachers we met, the students we saw and I want my kid to build confidence (I am a bit lacking in the self-confidence area). It will be quite a commitment and a totally new experience in so many ways for all us – it’s a Montessori school, full day program, He’ll be riding a bus - wow, that list makes me blink a little. Anyway, I like the response regarding the Montessori method, so I’m getting more comfortable with the our (possible - probable) decision.

9

I went to Montessori school for about 7 years and when I transferred to a regular school, I found I was 1-2 years ahead of the other students, even though at the Montessori school I was only average in most subjects. I think one advantage of Montessori is that is allows students to proceed at different levels. In my 6th grade class of 11 people, there were 3 different math groups. I was in the middle one, doing pre-algebra. The higher level was doing algebra, and I think the lower level was probably at about grade level. Anyway, it was frustrating when I had to go to a regular school because everyone in 7th grade went to one of two math classes, and it was so limiting. I think 7th grade, math especially, was mostly wasted on me because it was too easy. On the other hand, it made me feel good to be in the top of my class for once.

Not that you’d be worrying about 6th grade yet…

So anyway, I would think that Montessori is probably a good choice for students who could benefit from more flexibility, as long as they are reasonably self-directed.

10

For me this is the key to good schools, although I might expand that to be “…if the community shows that they value education.” At our school in Ohio you could see this by the incredible attendance at all school functions. You couldn’t park anywhere near the school. The teachers were well rewarded and incredibly involved in how the kids did, the principal would greet her students with hugs, the building was nice and well funded, etc. This was because people would pay the taxes required to make sure that the teachers were well paid, parents would volunteer and provide supplemental learning opportunities, etc. The school was just a “regular” school (not traditional or Montessori style), but still provided a great education.

It sounds like, in your case, that both the “tradtional” school and the Montessori school attract parents that care and thus both end up with good results. Sadly, this sort of becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy until someone at the regular school and works to get the same sort of results. Maybe that’s the new Principal.