Brilliant … But Bouncy

Is Private School Worth It? (Week 1)

There is a question that will plague me for, at least, the rest of this school year:

Is Private School Worth It?

After less than one week of Dylan attending this absolutely wonderful Quaker school, I am utterly exhausted.

First, there’s the drive. Thirty-five minutes (highway driving on a toll road) to the school in the morning, then 45 minutes home. Then I take Shane to school. A few hours later, I drive 45 minutes both ways to pick him up (and save the toll). Someone else picks up Shane.

The bus just didn’t work out, and my parents have graciously offered to help. But I miss Shane.

Second, there’s the problem with Dylan’s classes. He needs to be in Algebra I but he will lose music/art/P.E. if he takes Algebra I. There simply aren’t enough teachers to teach two Algebra I classes in a school this small.

We’ve also learned this week that his science curriculum is an exact duplicate of the curriculum he had last year in public school. He is going to be bored to tears in science – or we’re going to have to rearrange that part of his schedule as well.

Then, there’s Dylan’s reaction to the school itself.

Before I tell you about his reaction, in case this is the first blog entry you’ve read, let me explain why he’s in private school. Dylan was miserable at his old school. He was bored to tears in class, bullied by several students, anxious beyond the breaking point, and taking medication just to make the day bearable.

So one might think that a school where all of those issues are alleviated would be absolutely spectacular!

After Day One, Dylan said, “It’s good.”

When pressed for more detail he said, “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

After a few days, I asked him if he thinks he needs to go back on medication. He snorted, “That wouldn’t help! I am already the most focused person in the room!”

Apparently, the classes are a bit “looser” than those to which he is accustomed. The kids talk “even while the teacher is talking,” for example.

“I’m going to keep at least some of my public school behavior,” he said, “so that I’ll be ready when I go back.”

So – that is the middle-schooler’s take on the (really, really, really great) private school.

I know he’s getting used to the kids, and the classes. It’s all new. But so far, between the commute and Dylan’s reaction, NO, emphatically NO – private school is not worth it.

Great things will ensue, I’m sure. And I’m not sorry I sent him. But I don’t know that I will be sending him again.