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Kelli (Stay-at-home mom of Logan 9, and Whitney 7): So besides us being dual-career mom vs. stay-at-home mom we are also public vs. private aren’t we? 

Jen (Dual-career mom of Jacob 6, and Caleb, 3): As in a secret love for Rock of Love Bus?

Kelli: Oh, I’m public about that. LOVE that totally tacky and tasteless show!

No, I’m talking schools. My kids are in public school and yours are (and will be) in private school.

Jen: Right. As a product of 18+ years of Catholic education, it was hard for me to imagine my child going anywhere but a Catholic school.

Kelli: I’m actually a product of both public and private schools, so that colored my decision on where to send my kids. Plus, as a former public school teacher, I might be a little biased.

I think we’re lucky though. One of the great things about the community you and I live in is we do have a good selection of outstanding public and private schools. Not everyone has that option.

 
Jen: True. Sometimes your choice is made for you because of the quality of schools in the area.

Kelli: Or your finances are prohibitive. But if you do have a choice – how do you decide?

Jen: As we got closer to Jacob's enrolling in kindergarten my husband and I sat down and really weighed our options. 

For example, even though we do live in a great district, I was not happy with our neighborhood school. And, even though open enrollment was an option for us, the year Jacob would have started happened to be a year with a surge of kindergarteners and waiting lists. We started looking at the nearby Catholic school even though my husband, who got a great public school education, never really considered sending our children to private school.

We eventually decided the best scenario for us would be the Catholic school route.

Kelli: Here’s some things I considered when looking for the best educational opportunities for my children:

·         Proximity. Is there a good school close and convenient to where we live?

·         Quality. Which schools can offer the best well-rounded program?

·         Cost. Is the expense of a private education worth the investment over the free offerings of a public education?

·         Resources. What can private schools offer me that public can’t and visa versa?

·         Personality. Is my child better suited to the more social atmosphere of public school or the more structured offerings of a private school?

Jen: I'd definitely agree with those. We took them all into consideration when making our decision.

Another one for us was the religious basis of the curriculum. Although it is by no means a "conversion" experience for non-Catholics, religion is incorporated and the children are exposed to it during their classroom experience. It's not for everybody, but it was important to us.  

Kelli: Academic needs are always a top priority in choosing a school, but emotional needs are just as important. I first went to a private school when a public school couldn’t offer me what I needed academically. I later switched back to a public school when I became so unhappy there it started adversely affecting my learning.

Jen:  A lot has to do with your own experience, that’s for sure. I happened to have really good experiences in elementary, high school, and especially college. I also came away with a belief that having community service be a part of the educational experience was both impactful and meaningful.  

Kelli: It’s also interesting to note that just because one type of education works for one child it will work for all. My siblings stayed at public school when I went to private – they would not have thrived in that environment. Also, my nieces ended up being one in public and one in private school, suiting them each perfectly.

Jen: Exactly - you need to consider the needs of your child when contemplating where they will go. It shouldn't just be because of your belief system (although it can be a factor), but whether or not it will be the right place for your child. Are the resources meeting their needs? Do the teachers have the experience and the capability to address your child's specific circumstances? 

Kelli: I always like to point out too, the social education and well-being of your child is just as important to consider as their academics. As a teacher, I saw on a daily basis the huge part that social interaction and skills plays in a child’s development.

Jen: The social aspect of school cannot be understated. Learning and knowledge are very important, but I think a key function of school, intended or not, is how to function in society.

Kelli: No matter what type of education you end up choosing for your child, it’s important to remember you can, and should, make a change if it’s not working out.

Jen: You know, sometimes I fantasize about the luxurious lifestyle I would otherwise be leading if I wasn't funneling several thousand dollars to preschool and kindergarten. Actually, though, the elementary school is substantially less than preschool so I do feel like I'm saving!

Kelli: Great. You can come spend it at our Feeling Groovy fundraising event!

Jen: What comes around goes around – we’ll be seeing you at the Country Fair fundraiser then…

Kelli Wheeler is a Sacramento stay-at-home mom of two who believes no matter where your child goes to school, being involved in your child’s education is what makes the difference.

Jen Hall is a Sacramento dual-career mom of two who loves, loves, LOVES the fact that the kids wear uniforms to school!