Home Schooled vs Public vs Private

[MistyM3]

Ok so my children are 2, 3, and 4 right now and I am trying to figure out which schooling would be better for them. I did very good in school but today's education in schools is past my level and I want them to have a social life as well.. so I'm not sure about home school. Public schools are having shootings now , and I don't know if I can afford to put all my kids into private schools.

So my question to you is which type of schooling do you think is best for children? Not just my children but all children in general.

[arms1977]

My child is in private school. I really like the atmosphere. I was in public school and hated it. He seems to do very well and there are more activities available to him. The classrooms are smaller and the student to teacher ratio is much less than public schools. I don't have the patients to home school, so I am fairly unfamiliar with it.

There are cons to private school though. The tuition is pretty expensive. Then you also have to factor in uniforms and other incedentals. There are also religious conflics sometimes. We are baptist, but there are no baptist private schools in our area, so we have to attend a catholic school. There is nothing wrong woth catholocism, but it gets confusing to my son every now and then.

I definately encourage people to send their children to private school of they can. I am happy with the choice we made.

[Anissa84]

I think it depends really on where you live.  I didn't like elementary schools where I grew up, and I was hesitant to place my son in one, but after reveiwing private schools and home schooling options, I figured the best thing for him is probably to start him in public, and we'll see how he feels from there.  It's really their decision later of where they are happy and where they feel most comfortable.

Research the teachers, the staff, the school's Grade.  There are all sorts of above par options, but as we all know, plenty below par.  I found my son a public elementary school about a mile away from our new home in WPB, FL that's an IB Magnet School, making an grade A for the past 5 years in a row, with a VPK program, expanded to give them a full school day, rather than just the 3 hours covered by VPK.  I'm very happy with him there and he's very happy being there.  It's a very mixed cultured school and they thrive in teaching diversity and in excelling.

Basically my point is, do a little research, put them to start close to home where you feel comfortable.  As they get older, let them throw in their 2 cents about how they feel in school.  If they don't fit in, if the classes are too easy/too difficult, if they don't like the environment...do what you can to make them happy and they will excel =)

[midgenaire]

I think public school is the best honestly because your around poeple that your gonna be around and deal with your whole life. Private schools your only around rich poeple and thats fine your always gonna be rich.

[tamfran]

My neice was in public schools and she was starting to become a problem child. My sister decided to home school her two years ago. Now her grades are excellent, the changes in her are night and day, and she will now graduate with her class. At the rate she was going she would have most likely quit school.

[DeadKoalaBear]

my parents enrolled me in a couple year of private school when I was a kid; probably the worst two years of my life 

[michealmmsm]

publik skool rocks

[100indecisions]

I was homeschooled from preschool through 10th grade, after which I spent my last two years in a private Christian school. It was pretty good for me, I think--I know I learned a lot--although I should have started going to a different school earlier, because the math I was learning had gotten way beyond what my mom was educated to teach me, and you just can't ask a textbook for more help when you're confused. I think my sister had more problems with homeschooling than I did, and we both had trouble staying disciplined and keeping on task the more we depended on workbooks rather than on our mom's lesson plans and instruction.

It really depends on your situation and teaching abilities, and on the type of kid you have. Some kids will be fine in public school, some might need the smaller class size and individual attention they'll be more likely to get at a private school, some might do well with homeschooling.  

[Graeth]

Depends on your location.
Like Arizona sucks for education, so don't go public if you're here.

[piegirl]

Many people and studies say that private school is best.  I believe that where you live plays an important in that.  My children go got public school.  The school they attend has gotten an excellent rating from the state every year since 2000.  However if you were to go 20 miles north of us the public schools there have gotten a failing rating from the state for as long as I can remeber.  If we lived there I would find a way to either move or put my kids into private school. 

So it really depends on alot of factor's mainly where you live......

I am not a fan of home schooling either I think many home schooled children lose the social skills that going to school teaches them.

[gesus]

i never been homeschooled before , i think the high negative point about that is , having your child in the house at all times , at least with private and public school the child is around his or her own peers , and learns how to act in a public setting , learning what to do and what not to do , i was public schooled , the only thing from people ive known who were home schooled , was that they graduated eariler than me , ...

[TanyaO]

There's so much to consider when making this choice. Be sure, if you go with home schooling, to have other social outlets for your kids. Organized sports, activities in your church, perhaps volunteering, these are all ways to help your children to get the social interaction that they need.

I'm very lucky in that we have an excellent school system where I live, I've only ever had two serious complaints and they were both addressed quickly and efficiently. Now I do have to admit that I have two kids and they fall at the extreme ends of the spectrum. My oldest was in gifted/talented programs from an early age, was invited to take the SAT at 11 yrs old, took pre A/P classes throughout high school. With the exception of one teacher in elementary he was always challenged and encouraged to reach beyond the "normal" goals for his grade level. My youngest is a Special Needs child, with light cerebral palsy and some developmental delays. Our Special Ed program, thankfully, is tremendous. They have worked so hard with him, given both him and myself so much help. I can't imagine where we would be w/out them. When he moved up to Middle School from Elementary I was so worried, it was going to be such a big change. One of his Special Ed teachers moved up as well, she said she couldn't see turning all "her kids" over to people who didn't know them. She doesn't baby them, she expects them to do all that they are capable of doing and challenges them to reach for new goals constantly. But she also understands that there are limits, and that trying to push too quickly beyond those limits only leads to bigger problems.

So find out about your school system. Talk to other parents, ask if you can tour the school. Whatever your choice, make it an informed one. Good luck to you and your kids!

[savenger4]

Private school is the best.

The bad thing about home schooling is that children won't have good social skills and will find it difficult interacting with others when going to public school.