Moving to Calgary... about education for kids

[Flabbibulin]

The number one benefit that I have seen with private schools is the decreased amount of bullying. Whether this is a factor of smaller class size, a stricter code of conduct, I don't know- but this has been the case in the private schools I have seen.

Whether or not they provide a truly better education (life education in particular) is up for debate. There's something to be gained from a public education where you are associated with kids of various economic and social backgrounds, are exposed to some form of bullying (moderate hopefully), and are mixed in with a larger population of varying levels of- lets call it- intelligence.

The harm in private schools is you will not get this diversity- particularly private schools with a religious foundation.

[kootenayguy9]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

The number one benefit that I have seen with private schools is the decreased amount of bullying. Whether this is a factor of smaller class size, a stricter code of conduct, I don't know- but this has been the case in the private schools I have seen.

I am fortunate to be a teacher in a public school that has virtually has no bullying. Most of our students have been bullied in the past so they come to our high school to escape it.

[AMG_G]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Yay you just called my wife a dbag! haha

I think the Montesorri is a great program. You just have to choose the right one. There are a few where its all profit driven and poorly runned. We switched him out after the first year. The one he is at now in Killarney is great.

I'd like to know which one you went too. If the vehicles aren't 50% honda odyssey's, its not a real school.

http://aspenhillmontessori.org/ and http://www.calgarymontessorischool.com/

Also checked out Waldorf but found them to be a little backwards.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

I am fortunate to be a teacher in a public school that has virtually has no bullying. Most of our students have been bullied in the past so they come to our high school to escape it.

How would you come to that conclusion? do you have survey's or monitor social media? Not being negative. Just want to know. Thanks!

[Flabbibulin]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

I am fortunate to be a teacher in a public school that has virtually has no bullying. Most of our students have been bullied in the past so they come to our high school to escape it.

I am hoping for this case if I have kids- want them to go to public school, but am a little concerned with the extreme kind of bullying.

btw, i am making these assumptions not just through recent events, but through personal experience. I know first hand that bullying was out of control in the public schools I attended in the 90s, while the private schools my nephews, nieces, friend's kids currently attend seem to be much better.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by chemgear

What's 6k when we are all raking in at least 6 figures?



How much is it running these days?

To give you an idea - we're paying $12,000/year for daycare for our 3 year old, and $4000/year for before/after school care for our 6 year old in grade 1.

Kids aren't cheap.

[AMG_G]

Originally Posted by Wormius

To give you an idea - we're paying $12,000/year for daycare for our 3 year old, and $4000/year for before/after school care for our 6 year old in grade 1.

Kids aren't cheap.

It's actually as much as getting a live in nanny. Plus you get the one on one care and light house cleaning aswell.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

It's actually as much as getting a live in nanny. Plus you get the one on one care and light house cleaning aswell.

We considered that, but figured the kids would be happiest / better socialized if they were not stuck in the house with some stranger all day.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

It's actually as much as getting a live in nanny. Plus you get the one on one care and light house cleaning aswell.

Also you lose that bond too. My niece thinks more highly of her filipino nanny than her mom. hehe

[Travis Munroe]

As everyone else has already mentioned, all the areas you suggested are good area's with good schooling. I wouldnt worry about kids in neighborhood A are finishing highschool/junior high with 50's and kids in neighborhood B are getting 90's +.

If you have a specific school in mind (excluding private) then the community you live in will play a direct role to what school your kids go to.

Congratulations on making the move, do you mind me asking what brought on the idea to come to Calgary?

[Rerun]

Well there's private schools and then there are "Private Schools".

Nobody on here is going to tell me that going to someplace like Upper Canada College http://www.ucc.on.ca/Default.asp?bhcp=1 would not be extremely helpful to any student and their future career.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...College_alumni

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Flabbibulin

The number one benefit that I have seen with private schools is the decreased amount of bullying. Whether this is a factor of smaller class size, a stricter code of conduct, I don't know- but this has been the case in the private schools I have seen.

Whether or not they provide a truly better education (life education in particular) is up for debate. There's something to be gained from a public education where you are associated with kids of various economic and social backgrounds, are exposed to some form of bullying (moderate hopefully), and are mixed in with a larger population of varying levels of- lets call it- intelligence.

The harm in private schools is you will not get this diversity- particularly private schools with a religious foundation.

I went to both public and private schools, including some mentioned previously on this thread. I would say bullying was a much bigger problem at the private schools. You have a much more entitled/"rich kid" attitude at the private schools.

Also, someone mentioned upthread that Strathcona Tweedsmuir prepared them more effectively for university. A number of my friends from junior high (at private school) went to STS for high school, and I'd put my full-IB experience at Western against the education they received any day. If you wanted to compare them, ask both schools for their average scores on the IB exams. I know the year I graduated Western had significantly higher scores, and I bet it's the same now.

[Kybosh]

The schools around here are, for the most part, good enough to get where most people want to go. It all depends on the person, I've seen kids from full IB at Western completely bomb at University and I've seen low grade kids at lesser known schools completely excel. You never know.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Congratulations on making the move, do you mind me asking what brought on the idea to come to Calgary?

Seriously? How could there be any other reason other than

[Allos]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Congratulations on making the move, do you mind me asking what brought on the idea to come to Calgary?

Nuff said.