Which Do You Do and Why?

Public, because we are lucky to have wonderful public schools here. I still wouldn't homeschool, though. I'd find a charter school or something.

And why?

1) Because I want a break from my kids.

2) Because I want them to experience other ways of doing things than mine.

My kids are homeschooled for 1,000 different reasons. One being I want my kids to learn how to think, not what to think.

I often wonder what people mean by "good schools." I'm guessing most go by the percentage of students who pass state standardized testing. I think few actually know what that *means*, though.

just moving from south OC California to Virginia, my kids will go to public. If I was still in CA I would put them in private. The schools in CA are so horrible. We are in Fairfax county and it has one of the best schools in the nation. My daughter finished up K here and her school was AMAZING! I'm very impressed with the schools here.

side note: I was home schooled for a little bit from my mom. I was in 3rd grade when she pulled me out. I was failing and could not keep up with the class. She really helped me a lot. I was all caught up and back into public school (my choice) in 8th grade and never had a problem after that). I am all for home schooling. It can really help kids who have a harder time in a regular classroom. My mom had no problem doing it either. She got married at 18, had my brother at 19 and never went to college. She stayed home with all of us. She was more than capable to teach me herself. She also had me in sports and other activities so I could have friends and play. Now my kids are very active and hyper and do very well in school, so I have no need to home school them. But to say that a regular mom can't teach is just not right

My kids go to public school...Fairfax County as some of the best schools in the nation....no school will be perfect...

We could do private school - there are several really good ones here - however, our taxes are already paying for public school so I don't feel like paying twice.

We also follow up with all of their education (surprised?) and ensure they are learning the correct things and not what the 'system' wants them to learn to pass tests....we work on handwriting when they are done with their homework, I give them more math....i try and find fun science projects (baking soda and vinegar or lemon juice), gravity , etc.

I attended private schools for my entire academic career and hope to do so for our children. However, we live in an area with decent public schools and I work for the public schools so if we were not able to afford private education, I would not hesitate to have my children attend public elementary school.

I know myself well enough to know that I cannot homeschool. When people do it well, it works. When people don't do it well, it doesn't. I had a friend growing up (through dance classes) who was home schooled and her mom was amazing! EVERY moment of their day was a "teachable moment"... grocery shopping was educational! In fact, when parents ask me about how they can help their children at home, I still pull out her ideas! I know that I couldn't do it- just me.

For what it's worth, I know the area where R. lives pretty well (lived there myself for many years) and my children would be attending one of the parochial schools even if it meant living off of rice and beans!

My kids go to private preschool and kindergarten (Montessori) and I owuld have kept them there through grade 12 if I could afford it. Great kids and great community of families, a focus on the world at large and individual responsibility in this world, superb cirriculum, excellent class size. But my kids have or will start first grade at a highly rated public school at first grade. The school fails on a number of fronts in my opinion - class size, individual attention, and the teaching of critical thinking skills. But I also recognize we are lucky to have a safe and decent school compared to many.

I know many homeschoolers. I can't envision ever doing it, especially for older students (post grade 1-3). I think there is too much to learn than I could adequately teach. But I value education and excellent academics a lot (personally, I have Ph.D). For some people, selecting a schooling situation it is more about religion or culture or nurturing a child with special needs. And where I often have observed it is not a good situation, I have seem homeschooling work for a few - especially now that there are resources for cirriculums and social groups online. homeschooling probably what you make of it and really about a parent's dedication and unique approach.

My 2 cents :)

I didn't read your previous posts, but wanted to put my two (or 15) cents in. I've taught inner city elementary and charter elementary (11 kids in my class). I've run a tutoring company and now tutor privately (have 2 littles at home).

What makes a good school is the here-and-now administration and staff and the overall community support of education. It's not always the test scores, the high-tech Smart Boards and computers, or the over educated teachers. It has everything to do with class size, safety, and how willing YOUR child's teacher is to work with YOUR child.

Not every school or philosophy works for every child. Children learn best when their learning style is appreciated and addressed. As a parent, you must figure out what your child needs and meet them. That may mean one child attends a private school, one a public school, and one homeschooled. Or, you do what you can with what you have and fill in the gaps. That is your job as a parent.

No child will get everything out of a school if the parent drops them off and expects the school to do it all. (I hear people expect this... a lot!)

I have littles and plan to start them in a public or charter school first because I have already paid for this and will supplement what I need to. Good luck with your decision and remember....it is yours!

I have one major problem with homeschool - how is your average mom qualified to teach? If you are not college educated, you might not want to home school your kids. If you are not good at math, how do you teach math.

I have a college degree and work in a professional environment and am SO NOT qualified to teach math to anyone. Esepcially to my kid at a high school level.

I don't think HS is wrong - I just think it's something that needs to be really well thought out.

My daughter will be going to public kindergarten next year - but we have terrific public schools. If I had to send her to private - I would. But I can afford to do so if need be (we'd have to cut back to the bare minimum). If your school district is that bad and home school is your only option, then so be it. It's still a good option, just as long as you are doing the best you can as a teacher.

@ R. - I think that you obviouly care about the learning process. I wish everyone who home schooled did. Stabbed - yikes. I wouldn't allow that either.

Our public schools here are pretty decent - they have their issues, they are not perfect, but the high school does have lots of AP classes, an excellent music program, and other pluses. I really won't have an issue sending my daughter when she is old enough (she's just turning 4 soon) and if seems like for some reason the school is not meeting her/our needs, consider switching. But I don't want to do private right away, partially because they are so expensive (she could go to college for less!) and because sometimes I think it's good for a kid to go to the same school as the other kids in their neighborhood, as long as the school is good and discipline is not an issue. Sometimes it's not always the school, but the teachers a kid gets. And how involved the parents are at home and what their expectations are as far as their kid's academic performance is concerned and how well the kids are being disciplined. When I was in high school (same one DD will end up at if it comes down to it) it seemed that some of the worst kids ended up at the local private Catholic school, probably because their parents were hoping the stricter discipline would straighten them out, or they had already been expelled from public school. I know a few adults who went to private schools and didn't even go on to college.

BTW, I am a veterinarian, and I still don't feel qualified to home school my daughter...except to teach her to become another veterinarian - LOL!

My kids go to public school, and I've always had good experience with them, even when I went... To me, it's just the norm... I couldn't afford private school, but I don't think I would even if I could. I would NEVER do homeschooling, no disrespect to anyone that does, but I feel kids need that interaction with others, dealing with good bad and the ugly. In life you will meet all types of people, and situations. My sister homeschools her children and I do love them very much but I see how shelter they are and one-sided. They aren't allow to challenge an idea, they just accept it as truth. My kids, even if they do believe a point, they will argue both sides, maybe to just see my reaction, but they think for themselves. Again, no disrespect to anyone who homeschool's their children, I admit I may have some prejudice from my own experience of people who I know that were homeschooled.

I've been very blessed to have great teachers in public school, they at times haven't like a teacher as much as another, some where harder on them and have a different way of teaching. I respect all the teachers and the time they put into their job. I don't think we pay them enough even the ones in private school. To me, it's sad that we pay entertainer (Pro-Athletes, Actors, etc...) more than we pay professionals to teach our kids.

We chose a Charter school - which I guess still counts as public. We chose it b/c the type of teaching methods better fit our sons learning skills.

My kids go to private Christian school. I have thought long and hard about it. there is very little teasing, it is nipped in the bud quickly, they are loving, the kids are generally from good families.
Not to say there are not good public school kids - but there will be the baddest ones too, as their parents can't afford or don't care what school they go to.
Otherwise I have homeschooled, and liked certain things about that.

Our kids go to public. The one they go to is highly rated and I love it for many reasons. We moved to the neighborhood because I heard about how great the school was. Thank goodness for our school being a good one.

Middle schools (but not the high school they are zoned for), are all "bad" in our area, too:( Don't know what I'm going to do when that time comes...

Oh, a main reason they go to public instead of private is the cost of private schools, so thankfully I found a great "compromise"... an awesome public school.

Public school.

I bought the house i grew up in and the public school my daughter goes to is the same one i did, and its a fine school. Also from my experience with private school kids growing up i worry about private school. They were always little hoodlums looking for anything and everything to rebel against.

My kids are in public school. The elementary school my daughter is in has been excellent. My eldest has issues with the high school when she was here but a lot of her issues were with the kids (she was the new kid on the block trying to fit in with the cliques). Did eventually pull her out of there and put her in a charter school which I regret doing. I found with the one she was in was that it was filled with kids that were kicked out of other schools and the academic level was not where it should have been. I'm keeping a close eye on the education my youngest are getting and will be getting at the public school. As soon as I see a problem, I will look at other options. But so far so good.

The public schools by us are highly rated so that's why we send our kids there.

My girls go to a private school, we are by no means rich and I used to believe that all private kids were richy riches too, but they aren’t... We use our tax refund to pay for it.

Our public schools are actually pretty good for the elementary schools but the HS is out of control and only OK and have too much crime. I am not saying all public kids are criminals, by no means whatsoever. When I was growing up I found the transition from public to private very hard and was behind academically. I went to public most of my life except about 2 years in HS. We decided to go private from the beginning if we were going to go that route for HS. My husband also was raised private and wants his kids to be as well. I like the smaller class sizes but feel they depend on the families too much to keep them afloat even though we pay our tuition and volunteer 30 hrs a school year.

As far as homeschooling I give credit to those mothers that do and wish I could be one as well…however reality is that it won’t work for our family.

I do not know much about charter schools, so I can’t comment on those.

If I had it to do over again, I would have chosen a private, Christian school when my boys reached middle school. Just like you said, our schools here are highly rated but so many of the kids, especially on the football teams, are just criminals! The lack of discipline is shocking.

My kids are in public school. Our area has a great school district. However, if they start messing around with the text books to rewrite history at the whim of whatever political/social movement is occuring, I will look at other options such as homeschooling or private school. As long as kids are getting a worthwhile and trustworthy educational experience you have to do what's right for your situation.

the schools around us are pretty good schools so she will probably go to public school but depending on how well she learns and the needs that are met at the school as she grows and gets older she may need home school or private school

Updated

the schools around us are pretty good schools so she will probably go to public school but depending on how well she learns and the needs that are met at the school as she grows and gets older she may need home school or private school

My Daughter goes to public school. In our District.
My son goes to Preschool, and will be attending my daughter's public school next month for Kindergarten.
We cannot afford, private school.
BUT, our districts' public school, is an award winning public school.
We are lucky.
It is a good school.

I home schooled both my kids, before then went to Preschool.
My daughter started Preschool at 3 years old.
My son at 4.5 years old.

My 3 yr old will likely be homeschooled. I used to teach in the public school and I have seen a variety of poor/rich/middle class in my classroom. It also depends on the area as to the socio-economic status of a school or district.

Anyways. - my 3 yr old - we plan to home school due more to political reasons. Plus I waas a teacher so I have expericnce in teaching some grades. My son is a social butterfly. Honestly I think he would be highly distracted in school - wanting to play and giggle and just watch other kids. He follows every step behind any kids we see at the store or the playground, and I don't think he'd do well without the one-on-one instruction I will be able to give him.

My daughter went to a private kindergarten, but only because it was all day. The public schools here don't offer all day kindergarten.

We moved to this suburb of Chicago so that both of my children can go to the public schools. My daughter will start first grade in the fall.

I teach in a public school that I'd never let my own children attend. It is in a "bad" area.

My children go to public school, we live in a smaller town outside of a larger city. I adore the Webb City school district.
My daughter age 10, is the only one I have ever considered home schooling. She has a lot of anxiety and school seems to make it worse. She is a little less mature than her peers, she is advanced in many areas and only struggles a bit with math. I have encouraged her to continue with public school mostly for my own selfish reasons. I worry that I do not have the patience necessary to homeschool her. I have encouraged her to go this next year and try and that if she is worried about math we can get her a tutor, and I have told her that if she is truly unhappy we will look into homeschool and maybe try it.
My main concern for homeschooling ( beyond my own selfish reasons) is how do you keep a child who already has social anxieties socialized...I would hate to think that if I took her out of public school that her social anxieties would only increase.
Also my youngest is considered special needs and for the moment we were very impressed with the program for his age group, but I really do not know what the future holds for him. All I know is he functions better in a group/classroom and is much more willing to participate for a teacher than he is for me.

Raven had to go to private school for K and 1st... for 2nd she'll finally be allowed into public. Her birth date is TWO DAYS after my state's arbitrary deadline for public school admission. If I could afford to keep her in the school she's at, I'd gladly do it!! I love the school she goes to - at least until Middle School where the military aspects of it get more noticeable.

Even the other schools in my own district would be a different experience then the one my own daughter had. Its all so very different, just in my own area, I can't imagine how different it is all over the country!

My daughter has had mostly good experiences in public school. She got to be a part of some great things (new specialty program, the expansion of that to the middle school). Her 2 years at the largest highschool in the state (at the time it was anyway, with just over 3,000 kids in 4 grades), was little more challenging for her as she is not a sports kid and in this area, thats a big deal I guess at the High school point. Shes one of those "fringe" kids. An Art kid, with great grades, a few solid friends and her own opinions and tastes in things.

Now she is in a great environment at a public Arts High School and I am so thankful she will end her regular school years in this place. Its very unique and EXACTLY what we hoped all these year that it would be (its only for 11th and 12 graders). Their only "sport" is the dance area and one Yoga class =).

Public school has worked incredibly for us on the whole.

We live in a town that has amazing public schools and that is where our son goes. The kids here are very smart and the test scores are very high. Probably bc there are a lot of very smart parents here...this town has the highest per capita number of PhDs of any town in the US. The schools here are better funded than other places and so far in our experience are great. We feel lucky to live in an area with schools like this...we don't have to worry if we should go the private school route or if we should homeschool.

My daughter will be starting Kindergarten at a public school this year. We specifically moved to this city from a neighboring city in November just so she could be in this city's school system. The other system is awful & going downhill!

We are not putting her in private school mainly because of cost. We can't afford that. Plus, I know she is going to a good school, so I don't see the need to pay for private school. As long as the public schools are good & safe, we don't need a private school. I also believe that parents should be a part of their children's education. Just sending them to school every day is not enough. Parents need to be involved with the school as well as being involved with their children's learning at home. I have already been volunteering & going on field trips with my daughter & her daycare/Pre K classes. I will continue to do so as much as I can, just as my mom did for me growing up.

We are also not in a situation to homeschool. My husband and I both work full-time. Plus, I do not feel I would be qualified to teach my daughter a lot of things as a school would. That might be like getting stuck with a bad teacher for 12 years! haha

I don't think I'm smart enough to homeschool my kids! :o)

My kids were going to a charter school but I could not get them to follow my kids IEPs that were in place.

Moved them both to public schools...huge difference! My daughter was on the honor roll and principals list after taking a couple months to get everyone on the same page.

I would like them both to go to private christian high school when the time comes.

Public and he has great teachers (just wish he gave a damn!)