Tai starts kindergarten in approximately 16 months. Therefore it is time for the Parental Kindergarten Freak-Out. What should we do? Where should we send him? Public? Private? Charter? School Choice? Should we *gasp* move to a different district?
Having grown up in Simpler Times, when everyone but the devout Catholics and the extremely rich attended the neighborhood school, and having recently seen other parents go through the Freak-Out, I've always wanted to be that family that sends their kid to the local public school and doesn't sweat it. He's a smart kid and our public school district is actually not that bad (though not exactly top-notch either).
Sadly, I've spent the past month or so coming to grips with the fact that I am indeed One of Those Parents who will explore every option, tour multiple schools, and even consider leaving the house that I love and moving to a better school district.
Part of me still wants to just sit tight and send him to the local school. I think it will be fine. But then part of me wonders why on Earth anyone would settle for "fine" when it comes to their child's education. A long time ago a friend explained to me the he checked the consumer reports website on infant car seats and then proceeded to buy the #1 safety rated seat, even though it was very expensive and about 3lbs heavier than the others. He put it to me like this, "How could anyone buy a 'less safe' car seat for their newborn baby?" (Of course, I had already reviewed the same consumer reports page and elected to buy a different seat for my Expected Bundle of Joy.) But now I'm feeling the same way about education. Why wouldn't we give our kids the very best we can afford?
That brings me to the topic of money. Private schools cost money. Though, surprisingly, some of them actually cost less than what we currently pay for daycare. So when you think about it that way, we could actually afford it. But my gut, way down deep inside, is still anti-private school. Additionally, it's looking like it might actually cost us less, per month, to pay a larger mortgage and higher taxes in order to access a better public school district than it would to stay put and send the kids to private school. This would also allow my kids to have what I still think of as the more "normal" experience where they ride the bus to the same local school that the neighbors attend, rather than being chauffeured to a school three towns away by me or Minh. (Of course, I realize times are a-changin' and tons of kids around here are indeed attending private or charter schools in other towns.)
Even though I truly love my house and neighborhood, at this moment,* I'm feeling like I'd actually rather move and spend my money on taxes to an excellent school district than give money to a rich private school.
*It should go without saying that the Freak-Out Process is long and tumultuous. Look forward to additional posts in which I contradict everything I've said here.*
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4 comments:
MELROSE!!!!!
We are in the same situation...only for us, we need to be able to afford the house in the neighborhood with a great school system. Everything is so expensive!
Like everything else parenting it is so hard to know what is the right thing to do!! I say do your homework and you'll know what feels right! Good luck!
Good luck!!
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