Catholic School or Public School?

[The_Horned_King]

Was the Catholic school teaching the Bible in their classes? If so, then that is one major thing that you cannot get in any public school. I understand your reasoning with the reading program. Reading is important.

A study was done (can't remember the name of it or where to find it) and it was found that Christian schools have better testing scores than public schools because God is still in the equation. Since God was taken out in the 1960's, test scores in the public schools have gone down tremendously.

Not sure where this study was form, but just last year here in OHIO they finished up a study and found that over the past few years private and catholic school have scored at the same level or WORSE then our public schools...

 

[VioltePrincess]

Not sure where this study was form, but just last year here in OHIO they finished up a study and found that over the past few years private and catholic school have scored at the same level or WORSE then our public schools...

ditto on Long Island -- Catholic schools, yeshivas, etc., do not have an "edge" over the public schools -- at least, not in the majority of school districts in the area.

 

[cybrkitn]

I think that is a great reason to send them to a Catholic School. I can never understand why people that aren't Catholic send their children to a Catholic school. JMO.

I might be able to shed some light on that one for you . Our Lutheran school just added grades 7 and 8. After the child is done with school, most of the parents would sent their children to Catholic HS so they can still have a faith-based education. The other alternatives would be to mainstream their children into public school or another Christian school that goes up to 12th grade (there aren't too many Christian HS around the area). The principal of our Lutheran school sent her daughter to a Christian HS when she was done with school there, but found it was a bit too charismatic and not what she had hoped it would be (don't remember where she is going to school now, though). The principal and a few others working for the school are also members of the church.

 

[VioltePrincess]

and FWIW I don't think religous-based private schools are immune from the horrors that plague the public schools.

just read in the paper the other day that 16 year old Frankie Agnello a/k/a Frankie Gotti -- you remember him from "growing up Gotti" -- got himself arrested for drug possession ...doesn't he go to St. Dom's?

 

[The_Horned_King]

I don't want to hijack this thread...but why worry about a faith based education?? Shouldn't the children get their faith from church and the parents???

School is not about religion, but about learning reading, writing, match, science, history, ect.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I think Public is by far the better option.

Catholic school have far to many rules and restrict learning on many choldren. that said if you are liveing in inner city B-more then a private may be the best, but public in the burbs should be fine.

That said also check into your state laws!! I can not state this enough!
In the state of ohio and most ofther states the private school are not held to the same standards that public schools are. their are state and federal requirements that private schools simply choose to ignore 90% of the time as they are not watched over claosely.

Another point is check into the teachers....more often then not catholic school teachers are either Old Nuns, or young teachers trying to break into the biz. You find your more experienced teachers in public schools as public schools always pay more.

If diverisity is also a point of interest to you...YOU WILL NOT HAVE diversity at many private schools. Espically if it's at one of a higher cost.

Thats said why pay for something that you can already get for free(not counting taxes)??? Espically when the teachers are usually better trained.

Just my opinion.

This part in bold is not true nowadays, at least not around here. At our catholic school, there are no nuns out of our 30 plus teachers. And in fact, we have no fresh out of college teachers. They have all been teaching for awhile. We have many teachers that have been there for many years.

 

[VioltePrincess]

I don't want to hijack this thread...but why worry about a faith based education?? Shouldn't the children get their faith from church and the parents???

School is not about religion, but about learning reading, writing, match, science, history, ect.

I considered, very briefly, sending my kids to Jewish day school. they would have gotten the same secular education in the day school that they received in public school. the portion of the day devoted to religious education at the day school would have been more expansive than what they received in our synagogue's after-school program.and their classmates would have all been Jewish, not the divrse group they've encountered in public school. so yeah, there are some perceived advantages of sending a child to a relious-oriented school.

 

[The_Horned_King]

This part in bold is not true nowadays, at least not around here. At our catholic school, there are no nuns out of our 30 plus teachers. And in fact, we have no fresh out of college teachers. They have all been teaching for awhile. We have many teachers that have been there for many years.

I should have stated in my area.... they are still 70% nun and then alot of fresh youngins. ( Only reason I know tihs is one I looked into it, and 2 my grandfatehr is a traveling science "wizard" who teaches science with toys, experiments, ect. and goes to most of the private schools in the area.)

 

[Kimberly]

I would say it depends on how the public schools are in your local area. Typically areas with obscene property taxes often have better and more well funded public schools than any others in the area, including catholic and private. I don't agree with catholic school teachings, so just to be safe I voted for other private schools (prep schools). Typically you cannot find a bad one of those at all.

 

[noseybuddy]

DH and I have been discussing education recently and I'm leaning towards Catholic School when the time comes (if it's still an option with the way schools have been dropping around here ) but DH would prefer public school. I was just curious what others have chosen or will choose and why if money was not an issue.

ETA: I think I phrased this so it won't turn into a debate

I perfer public school, but I think it really depends on the area in which you live. I grew up in NE Philly and went to Public school. I have since married and live in NJ. The public schools in Philly were fine when I was living there, now 20 years later I would not put my child in a public school there. Living in NJ my kids went to public school, one still in high school. I don't think the Catholic Schools here are any better then the public schools and I would not waste the money.

 

[cybrkitn]

Not sure where this study was form, but just last year here in OHIO they finished up a study and found that over the past few years private and catholic school have scored at the same level or WORSE then our public schools...

But that specifies just Catholic. The study that I had seen was done on Christian schools (with a number of different denominations, not just Catholics). A bit of memory derailment, I wish I could remember where I saw it (it was about a year or two ago) . However, I just googled the subject and from what I saw repeatedly, was that Conservative Christian schools aren't doing so good, especially in 8th grade reading. Eight grade math though is doing better in Lutheran schools than public schools. Private schools are scoring higher than public schools. This was from a NY Times article.

Goes to show you how much things can change in just a few short years.

 

[cybrkitn]

See my post #111. When I saw the study it was a few years back. Things can change a lot in a few years as has happened.

 

[kpm76]

I don't want to hijack this thread...but why worry about a faith based education?? Shouldn't the children get their faith from church and the parents???

School is not about religion, but about learning reading, writing, match, science, history, ect.

For some, faith is not compartmentalized into teaching it at home or church, it all encomapssing. We hope we teach our children the morals and values that are important to us, but having them in a Catholic school environment will reinforce that teaching. For us, school is about religion (and all of the other subject areas) and we want it to be a very much a part of their educational experience.

With regard to your comment about teachers not being qualified, that certainly could be true in some schools, just as there are many public school teachers that are not qualified. Simply because you have a degree in a certain subject area does not make you qualified. Most of the teachers at our parish school are actually retired public school teachers so they have more than 20 years experience. At the high school level, many of the teachers have Master's degrees in their chosen subject area.

 

[The_Horned_King]

B]For some, faith is not compartmentalized into teaching it at home or church, it all encomapssing. We hope we teach our children the morals and values that are important to us, but having them in a Catholic school environment will reinforce that teaching. For us, school is about religion (and all of the other subject areas) and we want it to be a very much a part of their educational experience.[/B]

I just wondered...thank you for the answer...

With regard to your comment about teachers not being qualified, that certainly could be true in some schools, just as there are many public school teachers that are not qualified. Simply because you have a degree in a certain subject area does not make you qualified

I agree with you 100% However in the state of OHIO we have to certified in a certain area...must past a test in that area along with the standard teachign test inrodered to get qualified to teach it. This goes strait down to the upper emelentary level now as elementary teachers must get certified(highly qualified) in 2 subjects. Say math and english. Those are the 2 major areas they teach....if their partnering teacher(s) in the grade are qualified in that another area say science and georgaphy..then they trade classes.


Most of the teachers at our parish school are actually retired public school teachers so they have more than 20 years experience. At the high school level, many of the teachers have Master's degrees in their chosen subject area.


In the state of Ohio you have 10years from when you start to get a masters or they WILL NOT renew your teachign liscense. This may be the case elsewhere now too

 

[Pigeon]

and FWIW I don't think religous-based private schools are immune from the horrors that plague the public schools.

So true. Can you say "pedophile priests?" And the two biggest conservative Christian schools in my town have had their share of entertaining headline news, when the headmaster of one was found snorting coke in the parking lot, and the principal of another was arrested soliciting hookers.

There are drugs readily available at the local Catholic schools where my sisters teach, no different than the public schools. I think the parents just like to keep their heads in the sand.

 

[U2_rocks!]

ditto on Long Island -- Catholic schools, yeshivas, etc., do not have an "edge" over the public schools -- at least, not in the majority of school districts in the area.

Depends on the area I guess. I don't think one can generalize - you have to check out the schools in your area and make a decision, rather than dismiss a whole type of school based on hearsay.

I know that the private school my kids go to, which is Christian based but not heavily religious, does extremely well in testing - yet they don't emphasize the testing, they are really an extremely well-rounded school.

 

[Teacher03]

I think Public is by far the better option.

Catholic school have far to many rules and restrict learning on many choldren. that said if you are liveing in inner city B-more then a private may be the best, but public in the burbs should be fine.

That said also check into your state laws!! I can not state this enough!
In the state of ohio and most ofther states the private school are not held to the same standards that public schools are. their are state and federal requirements that private schools simply choose to ignore 90% of the time as they are not watched over claosely.

Another point is check into the teachers....more often then not catholic school teachers are either Old Nuns, or young teachers trying to break into the biz. You find your more experienced teachers in public schools as public schools always pay more.

If diverisity is also a point of interest to you...YOU WILL NOT HAVE diversity at many private schools. Espically if it's at one of a higher cost.

Thats said why pay for something that you can already get for free(not counting taxes)??? Espically when the teachers are usually better trained.

Just my opinion.

The only nun in the Catholic school where I teach is the principal, and she's wonderful. We have several teachers that have been teaching in the same school for over twenty years. I have only taught in this school for three years, but I am not planning on going anywhere. All the teachers in my school have degrees in the field of education. I graduated summa cum laude from the very qualified college I attended, and I am currently working towards my masters. Catholic school teachers in the state of Ohio are held to the same standards as public school teachers. We follow the same academic content standards set by the state of Ohio that the public schools follow. There have been other threads on this same subject, and I guess I get a little defensive when I feel I have to defend Catholic school teachers.

However, I think it is a personal choice, depending on where you live. I teach in the same community that I live in, and our public schools are also very good. Most of our families like our small class sizes, our individual attention to each child, and the religion aspect. On a personal note, my mom is very sick right now, and I feel blessed that my class is able to say a prayer for her each day. In my opinion, this is what makes a Catholic school so special.

 

[mrsltg]

My girls are in private schools. The kindergartner goes to Catholic school and the toddler to private daycare. She will join her sister in Catholic school in a few years.

Dh and I made the decision long before ever having kids about what sort of education they would receive. There was virtually not a chance in H*ll they would go to public school. Public school is a political football run by an ossified union and overbearing politicians. Public school seems to have become a place where anything goes and no one is ever told, "no." At my dd's private school the buck stops with me. The principal and teachers are accountable to myself and the other parents. They have to be. If they want to have a job they must be responsive and produce consistently. If they don't people will disenroll or move to have the faculty member removed. Try that in a public school.

I always find it interesting that people feel a child will have a more "diverse" environment in public school. We have an elementary school in our subdivision - our subdivision where houses go anywhere from $500k-$1,000,000. Exactly what diversity is that? Sure there are kids of all colors and faiths, but the same is true for the Catholic school. The difference is at the Catholic school there are actually kids on tuition assistance. Kids whose parents live paycheck-to-paycheck and don't have the option of a $100k home equity line to make things better. Tuition is based on income and what you can afford. We pay the top amount so some kids don't pay anything. My dd doesn't know that. She simply sees that some of her friends live in smaller homes - big deal. If she were in public school her entire world would be kids who live in 2800+sq. foot houses.

I love uniforms. The fact that I can afford to dress my dd in Gymboree doesn't mean that everyone can. It doesn't matter now, but as she gets older the differences would become more apparent. The difference has been wiped out at the school level for her and her classmates. I like that.

As an fyi, my dh is Pagan and most definitely not a fan of Catholicism. He still wants the kids in Catholic school.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

I find that sad because an education shouldn't be about training people to go out into the work place. It should be about educating us about as many different things as possible.

i do get a diverse education. I take all AP classes so really i could have any job i want.

but what i really want to do is work in broadcasting. The course i chose to take is a college course, and it will help me when it comes time to get my job. Along with my AP American Lit and my AP french. Really, kids need to be prepared and what i want to do will better prepare me for what i truly want to do. And if i dont get there hey, im fluent in french and know poe like the back of my hand so i could get other jobs.

 

[christineann]

I agree with Mrsltg. There is more accountability in the private school sector in our area. One of the programs in our public schools includes abstinence as an option in sex education. Our school board hired a new superintendent who was unmarried and pregnant by her married/almost divorced boyfriend

I agree that not all private schools are better. Teaching credentials, accreditations, facilities, SAT scores, availability of AP courses, etc.as should all be examined, as well as college acceptances (if that is important to you as well). Some private schools do not require teaching credentials; others do (my kids' calculus professor retired from NASA, and more than half of our faculty have doctorates). The school is affiliated with the Episcopal church and offers Old and New Testament courses, but there are also offerings for our Jewish student population. Our student body also includes kids from several other countries and faiths, including Buddhist, Hindu, Sikkh and Zorastrian. Their parents are very academically inclined, and the affiliation with the church does not keep them from sending their kids there. FWIW, the kids voted to start wearing uniforms this year. The school is expensive, but there is a well funded endowment (thank goodness for us!). Discipline is not an issue - the kids know that they will not remain at the school if they cause trouble, but at the same time, it is a very nurturing environment. I have never met a finer group of people than those who taught my children. The emphasis is on the education........and like I posted earlier, South Carolina is consistently ranked #49 or #50 in the country.