My family recently relocated and next year my 8 yr old will be going to a public school. My problem is that she is used to a small christian school setting. The public school she will be attending is one of the better ones in my area, but it is a very large school.

I am just hoping she will adjust. The classes at her old school were very small and God was a big part of her studies. Also because the school was small there were alot of clubs and sports that every one could be a part of.

I am not putting down public schools, I myself went to public schools and most of my friends send their children to public schools, it is just a big change for her. I have already heard that at the grade level she will be in there isn't alot of after school activities for the kids.

Am I worrying for nothing?

Its a big step for her on her first day, but kids are tougher than we think. the other children will want to be the 'new girls' friend and I am sure the teacher will put her with a responsible and caring friend.
There will be some clubs out side of school I am sure. Chat to the other mums in the yard, see where some of her friends go, she could tag along with them.
Invite new friends round for tea, you can get to know other parents this way too.

Change is hard. I know! But I'm sure it will all work out. You might want to meet with the teacher to address your concerns. He/She will most likely be able to put you at ease. I believe it's always harder on us parents than our children! Network with the other parents to learn about extra-curricular activities.

I think you should be very careful. My daughter attended a private parochial school through the 5th grade. In 6th grade we moved to another town and decided to give public school a chance.It has been a nightmare. Not to say that your experience will be...just saying be careful...

Here's some of the problems I have encountered...

Lack of funding: what the kids get for programs depends on what the school committee says they can have...kids at my daughter's can't stay after school for extra help because they have cut late busses from the budget. If their are no late busses, no one can stay after whether the use the bus or not. They also have no sports unless the parents raise the money ourselves. Last year 3 of us - only 3 of us - did this - LOTS of work and we were criticized every step of the way. No yearbook, drama, band or any other club - all cut from the budget. BUT THE TEACHERS GET THEIR AUTOMATIC RAISES EVERY YEAR AND THE JANITORS MAKE $50,O00 A YEAR.

No morals or values taught on a regular basis: Yeah, once in a while the kids get a little lecture about being good...that's all. At a private school it is an expectation of the kids to act according to a high standard of value.

UNIONS: In a private school the teachers do not belong to a union...public school teachers usually do. They do NOTHING without ample compensation. Don't expect them to go out of their way for any kid if they don't get a stipend for it.

Politics School committees - this can be a joke - ours has no clue - and the kids are paying for it. Principals walk around with their hands tied...they have very little power dealing with the superintendant, school committee and unions. They are afraid to discipline the students for fear of retaliation from the parents, lawsuits, etc. MAKES ME SICK. 2 KIDS GOT IN A FIST FIGHT LAST YEAR...ONE LEFT IN AN AMBULANCE - NO SUSPENSIONS OR EXPULSIONS. In private school, if a hand is raised with intetions of violence, they are expelled. Period. Take your things and go. Buh bye.

The list goes on and on and on and on...get the picture? I am putting my kid back into private school after 2 years of public school. $6,000 a year. Worth every cent. The last straw was when a kid brought narcotics to school last week and handed them out to some seventh graders. Some of these kids were foolish enough to actually ingest them. THANK GOD no one died. He is a known troublemaker, known to have had drugs in the school before and yet he walked the halls of this middle school. If I had to hear the term "Zero Tolerance" one more time I was gonna scream. This kid is STILL NOT EXPELLED. Next time they will have a few dead kids on their hands - but not my kid - we are outta there. Private schools would have handled this differently. He would have been expelled LONG before this last incident.

The problems I have mentioned are the tip of the iceberg...I could go on for hours and hours...

Mwessell, it's a shame your experience has been terrible, but I don't think it's fair to say that it's like that all over. I taught in a private school in the early 90s and while I enjoyed my students and believed my colleagues were dedicated professionals, we made ALOT less money than a public school teacher (what do you think of $12,000 a year compared to a starting salary of $25,000 in public school? We ALL had college degrees and were certified). We did not have all the resources we needed. Often teachers would pay for things out of their own pocket. Many had other jobs. While I believe the children got an adequate education, it didn't come close to those in public schools. We have fine public schools in my county and I am actively involved. Sure there are some issues but what system in this world is perfect? The quality you find in a public school versus a private school will vary . In some places the public schools will be better, in others private will. It just depends.

Georgie34-
Our son went to a small Christian school up to the 6th grade. He, himself, choose to go to public school during his 6th grade year and has been there since, he just finished 8th grade. Changing schools was the best thing we could have done for his self-esteem, confidence, and self worth. He also knows he can make difficult school transitions and be successful. He now has many friends in the neighborhood with school as a common bond. His grades were excellent in private school, and continued to be excellent in public school. This school year he maintained a 4.0 GPA each quarter. In addition to the son who just finished 8th grade, I have a 20 year old son who attended both private and public schools, had excellent grades and social experiences in both private and public school. He recieved a full tuition scholarship to a state university. He currently has taken time off from college for 2 years and is serving a humanitarian service assignment with our church in Lima, Peru. I believe that both my kids have turned out successful because of the experiences in both private and public schools.

I am employeed in administration at private high school, though my kids have chosen public school over private. Though it is unfortunate that "mwessell" has had such a difficult time at public school, not everyone has those experiences. Very few public schools are as bad as the one she describes. If I could guess, I would bet there are many successful kids attending the very school she has had such difficulty with.

I applaud "mwessell" however, for recognizing that it not the right place for her kids, and she is changing the scholastic and social environment to ensure success for her children. Private school tuition is expensive and she must be willing to make the hard sacrifices necessary for her kids to be in the right environment for them to learn and grow.

Please remember that both private and public schools have a lot to offer. Most importantly though, is where your child fits best, academically, socially, and emotionally. Each child is a unique individual and needs the educational opportunities that fit thier needs best. Stay involved at your child's school. Volunteer as often and as much as you can. You can then see first hand how she is adjusting. Our older son changed from private to public as a freshman in high school. (again, his choice) When we changed schools for our youngest son, we made sure the teacher was aware that he was comming from a small private school situation. His teacher was EXCELLENT and made sure to include him in all of the activities at school. He made friends quickly, and was able to get together with them after school in our neighborhood to play etc.

You sound like a parent who is very concerned, and involved with her child. Her self esteem is bound to be good with a mom like that!! That positive self esteem will carry her a long way in making friends and adjusting to her new learning environment. Your care and concern are the very most important part of a successful education for your child. With caring support like that, your child will do well at whatever school she attends.

Yes I had terrible luck in this school! If it were just one factor, I would stick it out...but it is many, many issues that need to be resolved in order for this school to be academically acceptable and more importantly - SAFE.

I have no problems, in general, with public schools. I just happen to move to a town that has a poor school system and the parents don't make a peep, so nothing changes.

Over the past 25 years, I have seen it go from the public schools having all the extras like sports, etc. and the private schools having nothing - to the exact opposite. The private school I am looking into has 57 different sports teams and clubs, etc. My daughter's current school will have ZERO sports teams, etc. next year. All funding has been cut.

My daughter will thrive better in a parochial environment. Yes, I will sacrifice -but isn't that what we Moms do? :)

You ALL sound like loving, concerned parents. I, too, will have to face this nerve-wracking dilemma when my daughter finishes fifth grade at Sacred Heart. The enrollment was so bad they had to cut back 6th, 7th, and 8th grades two years ago. She ADORES the small class sizes and is THRIVING at Catholic school. Let me note that over HALF of the schools student population is NOT EVEN CATHOLIC! That is how good the reputation of the school is! I volunteer there as much as I want and can "check in" on every aspect of my daughter's education. I'm sure this won't be so once she goes public. The upside is that the elementary school she will be going to is the same one her best friends from Sacred Heart will be attending, so that should help cushion the blow!