|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/3/2008 4:05:20 PM
|
|
|
Focusing
Posts: 6034
Status: offline
|
My son went to a private Christian school when I was still married. As a single parent, I can no longer afford it, even with the "scholarship" offered (making it half price).
A friend who is also a single parent of four children told me one time that he preferred his children going to a public school ... they could shine the light to those who are in the dark. At a private Christian school they would not have that opportunity. Gave me a little something extra to think about.
However ... IF I did have the opportunity and could afford it, I might consider sending him to a private Christian school in the future. He has the type of personality that does better in a smaller environment with less distractions, and I always felt he learned more that way. But that's more of a personality issue with him (he has ADHD).
_____________________________
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 2:32:19 PM
|
|
|
flowerz
Posts: 347
Joined: 1/6/2006
From: Canada
Status: offline
|
No. We send our kids to private school and our income is far from six figures. We make a lot of sacrifices, plus we have get a reduced rate based on our income. It still isn't easy, but we are doing it.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 3:24:57 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
My nephew goes to a private Catholic school. The total cost, with tuition, lab fees, technology fees, music fees, etc. is over $45,000/year. I don't know what the average is, or whether this is considered unusually expensive, but the kid's parents are both well off so it's not a big deal to them. It's supposed to be some big hotshot school where everyone who graduates gets into their dream college and all that, so I guess it's worth the cash.
I went to a private Catholic school too, and I think that it was pretty expensive. There were a few "poor kids" there on scholarship. Not only were they smart and hard-working, but they were the coolest kids to hang out with because they lived in the inner city where we weren't supposed to go, and they knew all the best slang, current music, etc. My parents expressly forbade me to hang out with "scholarship kids," which of course drove me directly into their crowd. If I have any scrap of work ethic (and I probably don't), I learned it from the "poor kids" at private school.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 3:55:49 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
I've seen the bills, and I know it costs this much. A lot of it goes to gimmicky junk like "social networking coaching," which apparently means they have a class that teaches them how to use MySpace and Facebook. The school is in a big old mansion with a cool, sort of creepy neogothic chapel, and they have a boat load of computer equipment, sporting goods, riding, stuff like that. I think the education part is mostly wasted on the kids there, because from what I've seen of them when visiting, most of the kids talk and act like idiots. My nephew likes it though, because he's into the whole "uniforms and nuns and mandatory mass with incense" trip. Not that he's actually Catholic, or even religious at all, but to him it's like going to school at Hogwart's or something, just the atmosphere.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:10:49 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
I think it's pretty funny too. My nephew's school is for rich people to send their kids so they don't have to rub shoulders with the hoi polloi. I'm sure it's a great school, and if you're self-driven you could probably learn a lot. Luckily Sis's kid is self-driven; she certainly contributes nothing to his education. But it's mostly a holding pen for spoiled children waiting to for their trust funds to kick in at 16, 18, or 21.
That's not meant to be as critical or negative as it sounds; that's what my own school days were like too. I got so bored that I joined the army after high school (to mom's delight and dad's horror), then went to college for a useless degree that I have never used. Oh well.
I still have fond memories of private Christian school, but I have to admit they do not involve either education or Christ.
< Message edited by ekserekseez -- 9/5/2008 4:23:00 PM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:21:55 PM
|
|
|
PrincessDonna
Posts: 10419
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Cow country, Upstate NY
Status: online
|
I think people afford what is important to them. I think if Christian education (in my mind, this encompasses both homeschool and Christian school) is important to parents, they will do what they need to do to afford it.
We cannot afford to have our son in CS, but we choose to sacrifice and do it. We do not want him in the local public school and we needed a break from hsing, for both his benefit and mine.
Some things that our CS offers...up to a 40% deduction based on income, reduction for working at the school, reduction for multiple children with any after 4 being free, help with finding a sponsor, and they are willing to work out any payment plan that works for the parents (we pay when we get our tax return). Full tuition is $3,800 for the first child and half that for the next 3 children.
_____________________________
<<-----------Brian + vacuum= sexy man!! 
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:24:13 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
Just out of curiosity, is that $3,800 for a semester or a year? Just wondering!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:34:55 PM
|
|
|
PrincessDonna
Posts: 10419
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Cow country, Upstate NY
Status: online
|
A year. And yes, it is a stretch. A huge stretch for us currently, considering my husband was recently disabled in a car accident.
What a blessing it would be to a "cheap" Christian school for someone to whom $45,000 was pocket change to set up a scholarship/grant fund to help others afford it...
_____________________________
<<-----------Brian + vacuum= sexy man!!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:40:58 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
My family and I have in fact set up several scholarships of different kinds at a different schools in various places. Just because I am largely a prodigal doesn't mean I am entirely without sympathy! We haven't at my nephew's school because, as I said, the students there don't need it.
I hope the school you send your kid to has scholarships or grants for you! I'd pray for you if I were the praying type, but there are probably others here who are better at that, so I'll just say good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 4:57:37 PM
|
|
|
zoebob
Posts: 8758
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
Status: online
|
The school I work at is about $5-$8K depending on if you are preschool or high school or somewhere in between.
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/5/2008 5:05:25 PM
|
|
|
PrincessDonna
Posts: 10419
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Cow country, Upstate NY
Status: online
|
quote:
My family and I have in fact set up several scholarships of different kinds at a different schools in various places. Just because I am largely a prodigal doesn't mean I am entirely without sympathy! We haven't at my nephew's school because, as I said, the students there don't need it.
GREAT, and I thank you on behalf of those families.
The school my son goes to doesn't currently have scholarship or grant funds, but we are working on this. I serve on the BOE, so I hear all that goes on in those areas. We do have a commitment to helping ANY family who is willing to sacrifice as they are able. We currently have a few students who have had tuition waived for this year, but when we do that, there is no money in a grant/scholarship fund to replace the money in the budget.
_____________________________
<<-----------Brian + vacuum= sexy man!!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 11:43:09 AM
|
|
|
kernsfamily
Posts: 1333
Joined: 4/26/2006
From: Dallas (originally Detroit)
Status: offline
|
quote:
But seriously, the only reason I would put my son back into a private school would be for the educational advantage.
us, too...
But, here, we have learned that there is NO "educational advantage" to public schools......but, in other areas, there just might be.
The only thing that gives the "illusion" of "educational advantage" is that the private schools have the luxury of "cherry picking" only the "best and brightest" (leaving behind the "average")......in doing so, OF COURSE the school is going to APPEAR t have an "educational advantage".....
what do you think would happen to the "image" of public schools if they were able to admit only the "highest achieving students"? and, then tell everyone else to go elsewhere?
but, the public schools do not have that option. they admit...and take everyone....slow learners...the learning disabled...the kids from parents who don't care.....etc..etc...
so, in the end, while you do have many "high acheivers" in public school.....those great grades and test scores are "diluted" by all of those other people who don't do quite so well.
_____________________________
Proud dad of 3 great girls....Erin, Emilie and Elise
Blessed to have all of them in a "totally awesome" public elementary school!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 12:05:46 PM
|
|
|
Sideways
Posts: 3707
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: kernsfamily
but, the public schools do not have that option. they admit...and take everyone....slow learners...the learning disabled...the kids from parents who don't care.....etc..etc...
so, in the end, while you do have many "high acheivers" in public school.....those great grades and test scores are "diluted" by all of those other people who don't do quite so well.
Very true. My in laws are dedicated Christian School teachers, and I respect them for the ministry they serve as teachers. But, the openly admit that they can turn away "slower" students simply by saying they don't have the programs necessary to teach those students.
To be honest, they also don't have the programs to teach the really, really bright students. The school is so small that they can't have any "gifted" programs like you often find in the better PS schools.
_____________________________
This warranty does not include shark bites, bear attacks and children under five.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 1:09:32 PM
|
|
|
csl7037
Posts: 1751
Joined: 3/24/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Focusing
quote:
$45,000/year
Did they tell you this as a brag, or do you know this? If my son had continued on in his private Christian education, and had gone on to the private Christian high school, it wouldn't have been anywhere near that price ... and it was one of the more expensive private schools available.
ETA: I don't mean this as a sarcasm or a putdown, we used to live in a very affluent area, and I find the cost just, well ... shocking.
$45K is approximately TEN TIMES what we're paying. I don't care how much money you have, that's just stupid.
quote:
ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna
A year. And yes, it is a stretch. A huge stretch for us currently, considering my husband was recently disabled in a car accident.
What a blessing it would be to a "cheap" Christian school for someone to whom $45,000 was pocket change to set up a scholarship/grant fund to help others afford it...
That's a fantastic idea. When we leave the school my kids are at, or at some point in the future, I'm going to believe God to let us be able to do that to help someone else send their child to that school. We're stretching to make it happen at the moment, too. But we're very blessed and somehow it just works.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 1:49:50 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
Yeah, I know that's what they pay, and I know it's a stupid amount. To both my sister and her (ex?)-husband (I have to ask if they ever got divorced), it's chump change.
And it does include stuff like music lessons, private sports coaching, computer equipment, riding, other stuff like that. Like I said, I'm not too terribly impressed by the school, but the kid seems to do a good job there, and he loves all the Catholic stuff they have.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 3:17:41 PM
|
|
|
stellaluna
Posts: 4254
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: online
|
$45,000 is actually not all that uncommon for private schools in urban areas.
_____________________________
Who should be allowed to attend church?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 3:59:43 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
I didn't think $45K was that uncommon. Since I posted that, I asked friends, people I know from the gym, etc. and many of them tell me they pay from $10,000 to over $50,000. Now this is an urban area with a very high cost of living (Manhattan, Upper East Side).
I bet, though, that the price has little to do with how good an education students get there. Motivating the little tykes, both at home and at school, seems to be the most important factor. But what do I know? I was a mediocre student, mostly out of laziness and boredom.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 4:02:37 PM
|
|
|
garsyt
Posts: 2243
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: the bottom of the laundry basket
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna
$45,000 is actually not all that uncommon for private schools in urban areas.
That just blows my mind! That is MORE then my hubby makes in a year!
Blessings,
Garsy
_____________________________
My Blog: www.moredayslikethisplease.wordpress.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Can only the rich afford Christian Private schools? - 9/8/2008 4:04:57 PM
|
|
|
ekserekseez
Posts: 692
Joined: 7/3/2008
Status: offline
|
It blows my mind because, sadly, it was less than I spent on clothes last year.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
