Have decided RE: school

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Bella, It really sounds like that particular school. I wouldn't say they all disgust you because of one horrible experience with one. That is really stereotyping. That one sounds horrible, though.
I am sorry you went through that. With Nate's school, you don't get help the first year. They can't afford that as they are struggling a lot. You can get help time after that, if funding allows. They don't look at your income at all when you apply.

That school doesn't seem very christian - like to me.

I am a Christian and what happened to you appalls me.

That is not the only christian school I know of that has a discriminative attitude. That was a primarily a christian school but I have also heard of cathoilic schools with a bad and shocking reputation for byass attitudes.

I went to several "Christian" schools when I was growing up. I put it in quotes because although they labeled themselves Christian, based on what I know about what be Christian is supposed to be, I seroiusly doubt they were.

One I went to that was run by a Baptist minister and his family, was best known for its championship sports programs. I wasn't an athlete so I was basically the lowest of the low there, often relegated to spending my afternoons picking up trash around the school instead of being in class doing work. The minster himself promised, after a complaint from my parents, that this would stop, but it didn't. In addition, there weren't enough textbooks and when you got a textbook, it was 10 years or more old and falling apart. Many of the teachers weren't certified and some didn't even have degrees. Fortunately, I got out of there.

In Catholic School, they were more concerned about how old your family's money was, who your family was, etc., and that decided how you were to be treated. Since my family wasn't even from the area, they didn't care much about us. Most of the kids treated me pretty much like an outcast since I was new to the school. Fortunately, I was only there for a year.

In the next Christian school, run by an ex Nun and an ex Monk, all they cared about was the bottom line. They took anyone who would pay, regardless of background, and didn't kick out anyone. The result, I was in a classroom full of future criminals. Most of the teachers also weren't qualified, some being undegreed, uncertified, or were there because they were fired from other schools.

I went to a Lutheran high school for 4 years and it was pretty bad as well. I was pretty much locked out of everything the day I walked in because I wasn't a Lutheran and I hadn't been going to Lutheran elementary schools most of my life. The administration was very biased towards certain Lutheran kids like the principal's kids, the minister's kids, and the wealthier Lutheran kids, while the rest of us were just there to pay tuition. The school also had a lack of discipline and was pretty much a party school, not the place for me. I wanted out but my parents made me stay there and I still resent that.

I spent almost 8 out of 12 years in Christian schools, and they left a bad taste in my mouth as well.

In our county, I think I can find you an example of each type of Christian School mentioned in various posts above. I can pull the names of 6 different Christian Schools just sitting here, all with unique personalities and reputations. There is no uniformity for one simple reason: these are PRIVATE schools.

Some end up elitist, some end up poorly run, and some end up enjoying that almost inexplicable magic that makes a wonderful and special school.

One of the most amazing teachers I know isn't credentialed, and has taught in Christian schools. But I also know how the quality varies. A LOT. For a whole host of reasons.

So ....

It really is impossible to generalize from one experience to another. Natesmom has been very observant, and very thoughtful in her school choice, based on all the posts I've read from her over time. This isn't a decision based on having a Catholic school tradition in the family, this isn't a decision based on some idea that her child needs the "structure" a Christian school might provide, and this isn't a decision based on where all the best or all the other families are going; this really is a decision based on her personal experience with the one school and her perception that her child really is happy there.

I am happy for her.

I am just angry at alot of them from my own personal experiences. Also a lady that used to be a family counsellor or Social worker said she pulled all her children out of a private Catholic school. She wouldn't talk about it she just said - it's shocking.

I am alot angry at some upper class, snotty nose yuppy people in general. The worst I have found these type of people to be (and yes I'm stereotyping) just like they have stereotyped me - is Christians. Particulary Christians from religous and christian schools. They are the most ignorantly run schools and the children pick up on the attitude. They behave like racists scum. They think thier s**t don't stink. These children from these schools can be the worst of bullies and unaccepting of others, it is pathetic. I know alot about them through people and because I live very close to both a catholic and Christain school.

Sure not all the staff and members are like this but in my experience and of other's experiences that they have shared - the majority are. They are like that.

I am sure there would be some christian schools out there not like this or better than.

Anyhow, I wish her the best of luck.

My experiences with Christian schools pretty much turned me off on religion. My wife attended a Catholic school for several years and hated it. She had previously gone to a public school and liked it, but her brother had problems there so her parents moved them both to Catholic school. Some of the stories she has told me about what went on there are absolutely terrible and I can't believe such things would be allowed to go on in any school or that parents would stand for it. Even mine wouldn't have stood for what went on there. She begged her parents to take her out of there but they wouldn't, so she deliberately flunked out by doing no work, turning in blank test papers, not opening a book, etc., so she got kicked out and was able to go back to public school where she did much better. She also refuses to practice the Catholic religion partially because of what she saw there.

Because of my experiences with so called Christians, I don't go to church or practice any religion. Even though these schools are supposed to do more to get students interested in religion, I find alot of people who say their experiences in Christian schools have actually turned them away from religion. Maybe they need to rethink how they run their schools.

There are definitely snobby people at this school. I was inside the church yesterday with my other son just waiting for school to get out. We were playing with a little ball, rolling it back and forth. Perhaps she thought it was inappropriate for she didn't even crack a smile. She literally looked at me up and down, and I really thought I saw some kind of nose snub. I actually thought it was hilarious. I really did. There is a possibility that she didn't do that whole nose snub thing and I am completely wrong. If I am wrong, oops.

It would have been easy for me to judge the entire school by that one person's snobby attitude (or to stereotype people with a lot of $) and also by looking at some of the other snobby people there but I chose not to. I just think those type of people are sad, miserable, lonely people who are just being stupid. Those people do not seem to make up the majority. We get those type of people at the schools I work at as well. It happens everywhere. If the people who run the school were like those people, I may think differently. I would probably speak up and recite bible verses about pride, humility and love. I would make sure that the funding churches know about that type of behavior and get the word out. I can get pretty outspoken. Thankfully, the people who run the show at Nate's school are extremely accepting and great people.

The superintendent's child is Aspergers.

If my son no longer wants to attend that school, I will let him change. I will not force him to attend that school. I don't want him to hop schools either so he would need to understand that as well.

Congratulations on your decision Natesmom. It must have been a hard one to make, considering the financial sacrifices, but I really admire the way you are putting your son's needs first.

We bought the house we currently live in, in order to be in the catchment area of an exemplary public school. And although we're a little "house poor", and I definitely feel outclassed when I drive my ratty little car up to the school and park it by all of the Lexus SUVs, I am really happy with our decision. The school is excellent for my sons (well...as good as any school can be for them).

I think you made a great decision. The other school sounds like way too much sensory overload for your son.

My daughter gets sensory overload too and has missed many years of education as a result. I wish she had an alternative rather than to be forced into an over-sized classroom and school with inadequate funding.