My youngest daughter has dsylexia. Next year she enters high school (which is grade 7 in Quebec). She really wants to attend the all girls/private school my oldest daughter attends. She has been accepted on the basis her siblings goes there and on the condition we provide outside remedial tutoring (which is not a problem). Usually they just accept students who score the highest on their standard entrance exams. (needless to say she did poorly on)).
I am having second thoughts. This is an excellent school but their academic standards are higher so they move at a quicker pace. I am worried that I am putting my daughter in over her head.
The local high school on the other hand is full of drugs, discipline problems and larger classes. This is a poor learning environment.
Any advice or experience you have had would be appriciated.
Re: Private vs Public School
Hello,
I read about your dillema, and was interested. I can be a living testimony of a person that went through the public school system and it was tuff. I have ADD and two learning disabilities that are caused from my ADD from not being properly diagnosed. I was not diagnosed until my freshmen year in college. I tried really hard but found that none of my teachers helped me along the way especially in high school. I think God has used my life as an example to all those consisdering public verses private school. Looking back I would of liked the special attention at the private school, I feel I would of been excepted and I could of been actively invovled school related activities. What I am found at my college, Point Loma Nazarene University, is that no matter what my Proffesors are their to help me with a christian perspective to back them up. Most importantly your daughter will excel in the place she feels most comfortable. I personally no that it makes a world of difference if you teacher really cares about their students well being. Also take into consideration the 504 plan that is in the public schools, it may apply to Private schools as well. This gives exteneded time or specific accomadations that the student may have to have. It is fustrating and embarrising to have to constantly be hiding your test scores because you did bad and having to explain to friends that you just weren’t as prepared as you thought you were. On all my placement tests that I ever took I scored way below average. It is by the grace of God that I have made it this far. My prays are for you and whatever your descion maybe never lose hope in the fact that God doesn’t make mistakes, he just gives us challenges to deal with that build character.
Re: Private vs Public School
Have you talked this over with your daughter? What are her feelings?
I would understand any parent’s reluctance to place their child in an environment of drugs and discipline problems. The amenities of many private schools are undeniable.
I did much the same thing with my own son. My son worked hours every night - sometimes 4 or 5 just to keep up. We had him tutored and tutored him ourselves - again for hours at night and on the weekends. Had I been able to find a drug-free school that would allow him to move at an easier pace I would have put him there in a heartbeat. School has been h– for him and for us.
You can always give it a try and see. Your local public school remains ever an option. Your daughter can be withdrawn at any time that you deem her self-esteen or her grades to be greatly compromised by the rigorous curriculum she will be offered.
Good luck.
Re: Private vs Public School
I went to a private all girls school in Quebec in Montreal maybe even the same one. Looking back on it, the school stressed academics and sports and did not have many other programs such as music, concert band, art, typing (now keyboarding), or computers which were commonly available in public highschools. (It is probably different now though). There was no spec. ed. either and it was pretty competative in terms of marks and achievement in sports.
I would look at it in terms of what they can offer your daughter compared to the regular school system, what accomodations they will make, how much accommodation she needs, and where she might fit into the social scene. You want to give her at least some areas she can be successful in.
Good luck!
Are there other school options?
I taught at a private school for LD kids. Seemed like every year, even though we were full, there was one kiddo we took a crowbar to find a space for in the middle of the year because they were hard-working, bright kids in good academic private schools who were emotionally at the edge from the pressure they put on themselves to succeed there. (Of course, we *didn’t* see any of the hardworking LD kids who may have beenn there and been doing just fine!)
Any way of engineering an early dismissal or reduced course load?