Kindgergarten 2012

Today I freaked out Paul when I told him that starting next fall we really need to decide whether to keep Anna in kindergarten at her current school or move her on into public school. Yes, we're just about there and it's time to really start comparing!

The end question really is: are we planning to put Anna into public or private school for the long haul? We're leaning towards public, and so now I guess it's really a matter of doing the research to make us feel good about that choice. Honestly, the public schools where I live are actually relatively good schools. I think the decision would be easier if we could say that these schools were REALLY BAD.

The things I really like about the private schools are the obvious: enriched curriculum, less institution, more individual, and from what I can tell, just more opportunities through field trips and hands on experiences. But the thing I really am turned off about private schools the most is growing up in a bubble almost. Sheltered, dare I say? Let's face it: the kids you go to private school with are not exactly going to be the people you work with on the outside.

The world's a huge place full of rich and poor and fat and skinny and short and tall and black and white (and all that in between). All kinds of religions and learning capabilities, not to mention personalities. These are real things and the real world and in my experience, the things you are exposed to in abundance in public schools. The real world isn't necessarily about the individual, right or wrong. The real world is a community of all types.

Sure we want Anna to have the best shot at an education. But honestly, it's up to each student and the parents to get the most out of it. Paul and I went to public schools with very limited opportunities, but once we realized our goals, we sought out the opportunities from everywhere. We're really successful people, not largely because of where we went to school, but because of our goals and our drive to achieve them (to be resourceful).

It's our job to support Anna, to help teach her, and to offer her the rich life experience that she could lack in a public education. Not only that, but we are as parents committed to the knock down drag out day to day involvement of her education, including supplementing where we think it's needed. A major goal we have for her in life is for her to use all resources. But it doesn't matter if you're in private or public school: if you don't have dreams and you don't make the most out of what you're given (from school and family) you'll have a hard time achieving any success.

...Written by a someone who has yet to really navigate the education system as a mother...