Alternative to public school

flife ...@yahoo.com (Mike Jones)

My son has become completely uninterested in school. I can't get him motivated about it. He's always been a good student and up until this year, he enjoyed his studies. Now he's telling me he's bored. He's even mentioned dropping out. I am looking for an alternative to his public school but I can't afford private school. I'm thinking of something more structured around his needs, maybe someplace where he can work at his own speed and receive more one on one attention. Does anyone have any ideas?

hill ...@hillary.net (Hillary Israeli)

*My son has become completely uninterested in school. I can't get him *motivated about it. He's always been a good student and up until this *year, he enjoyed his studies. Now he's telling me he's bored. He's *even mentioned dropping out. I am looking for an alternative to his *public school but I can't afford private school. I'm thinking of *something more structured around his needs, maybe someplace where he *can work at his own speed and receive more one on one attention. Does *anyone have any ideas?
Well, if you rule out public school AND private school, you're left with homeschooling, as far as I can tell...
--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net i...@hillary.net "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est." not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

Clisby Williams clis...@mindspring.com

How old is he? Does your school district offer any magnet/theme schools that might be more challenging? If he's high-school age, does your school district have a program where students can take college courses for joint college/high school credit?
Clisby

mbill ...@midway.uchicago.edu (Marty Billingsley)

Have you actually investigated private schools? Many have significant scholarship programs. Don't dismiss the idea out of hand.
Also, if this total lack of interest is a recent thing, see what has changed between last year and this. It could be the teacher(s) he has; getting him switched to a different cl*** might do him good. It could be something to do with his peers; trying to change who he hangs out with might help (to do this you might have to have him switch schools).
- marty (mom to alex & andie, 2.4)

"Jeff Utz" kidsdoc2...@hotmail.com

Why is he bored? Is the work to hard for him to handle? To easy? I think I would figure this out first. You might want to talk to the principle and teachers about how is doing.
Jeff

"P. Tierney" silviomo...@insightbb.com

For you? No. Every local situation is different, and it's impossible for anyone to say what your options are beyond the obvious three choices.
For me, I'd look at the different public school choices in the area first. There are many magnets and other options and, with a bit of experience in the field, I know how different the schools really are.
So I'd look at them. *After* figuring out why a formerly good student suddenly became bored, of course. That's the most important step.
P. Tierney

wmars ...@mtholyoke.edu (Wendy Marsden)

Have you actually investigated private schools? I have. Most of them don't serve the bored learner one whit better than the public schools. A kid who already knows the material and sits around quietly not bugging anyone is a freebie in the cl***room. In my experience (and I have much of it) the ONLY thing that matters is which teacher you pick. I've seen good teachers and bad teachers in every school - private schools don't get better teachers, if you ask me.
It's a bit late in the season for this, but if it is at all possible I encourage you to go and observe in the cl***rooms available to your son in the next grade up. I've had great luck doing this through-out the years. Keep your eyes open for how to the teacher handles a kid like yours.
Wendy

mbill ...@midway.uchicago.edu (Marty Billingsley)

Yes I have. I attended both public schools and private schools as a kid.
Now I teach in a private school (which might be why I'm more aware of the scholarship opportunities than most folks) and work with public school teachers in the summer.
Private schools, from my experience in the inner city, may not have better teachers, but they *do* have better students and smaller cl***es. Teachers in my school do not have to spend a great deal of energy on cl***room management. Teachers in the public schools in my area have much larger cl***es and more behavioral issues to deal with. Brighter students are sometimes bored in these schools because the teacher spends a great deal of time and effort in maintaining a cl***room atmosphere conducive to learning, rather than actually presenting something interesting.
Of course there are boring teachers everywhere (and boring subjects) and you have to work to avoid them. But even talented teachers are stretched thin in public school situations.
Again, if the OP's son is bored all of a sudden, investigate the reason. If it's not fixable at his current school, go elsewhere, public or private. Just don't dismiss private schools out of hand because of cost.
- marty (mom to andie & alex, 2.4)

gitrek ...@aol.com (GI Trekker)

Can you set aside the time for homeschooling? This could be a way to focus more closely on basics, as well as find out where his interests and talents lie and encourage them when appropriate.
There is the possibility of a problem beyond the stated boredom, such as ease/difficulty/content of the schoolwork, problems with peers, not so much who he hangs out with but who might be giving him trouble, or even the attitude of the teacher towards him.
All of these options and possibilities should be investigated.

margal ...@yahoo.com (chiam margalit)

Nope, you still have charter schools and alternative schools to consider.
Marjorie

"Donna Metler" nospam_dmmet...@bellsouth.net

If you can afford the time, consider homeschooling or a distance learning high school program. That is the epitome of work at ones own speed and 1-1 attention.
Another possibility would be to see if he could drop out, get his GED, and go to community college. That might be a more stimulating environment for him.

hill ...@hillary.net (Hillary Israeli)

*> *> Well, if you rule out public school AND private school, you're left with *> homeschooling, as far as I can tell...
* *Nope, you still have charter schools and alternative schools to consider.
Oh. I cl***ified those as "private" schools. Aren't they? They aren't part of the public school system, and you have to pay money to enter them, at least that's how it is around here...
--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net i...@hillary.net "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est." not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

Ericka Kammerer e...@comcast.net

How old is he? Frankly, if this is a sudden thing, I would wonder what has changed. If he's talking about dropping out, I'm ***uming he's older? If so, his issues may have little to do with school and everything to do with something else, in which case switching schools might set you back a pile of cash without doing a darned thing. You can't treat the symptom; you have to treat the cause.
That said, if it turns out to be that his current school can't meet his needs, have you exhausted the public school options?
Can he transfer to another school? If he's bored because the material is too easy, are there higher level courses or gifted programs or some such thing he can get into? If it's a matter of the type of material emphasized, are there themed or magnet schools that might offer him more interesting opportunities?
If the issues are behavioral, does the school system offer schools that are more highly structured (or more suitable for him in some other way) or can you scope out next year's teachers and help choose teachers more appropriate for him?
If he's in jr. high or high school, is he taking the right slate of courses for him?
I wouldn't rule out your other options, of course.
As others have mentioned, there might be scholarships available or you might find other ways to make things work.
I just wouldn't flat out ***ume that the public school system can't work with you on this. Some systems don't have much to offer, but others have a wide variety of options that would be worth investigating--you just have to really get out there and dig for them.
Best wishes, Ericka

"lizzard woman" kimos...@shaw.ca

I believe charter schools are run under the aegis of the public school system and so are public schools. I'm not absolutely sure what alternative schools are but I suspect at least some are public, maintained for kids who don't function well in the regular public schools. And then there are magnet schools which at least in NYC are completely public.
--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

hill ...@hillary.net (Hillary Israeli)

*...
*> In <b8b4d4f7.0306122140.92e6...@posting.google.com>, *> chiam margalit <margal...@yahoo.com> wrote: *> *> *> *> *> Well, if you rule out public school AND private school, you're left *with *> *> homeschooling, as far as I can tell...
*> * *> *Nope, you still have charter schools and alternative schools to *consider.
*> *> Oh. I cl***ified those as "private" schools. Aren't they? They aren't part *> of the public school system, and you have to pay money to enter them, at *> least that's how it is around here...
* *I believe charter schools are run under the aegis of the public school *system and so are public schools. I'm not absolutely sure what alternative You're right. I was wrong. I found a FAQ about them here: http://www.phila.k12.pa.us/charter_schools/charter_faq.html#what
--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net i...@hillary.net "uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est." not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large :)

"lizzard woman" kimos...@shaw.ca

Its confusing because even though charter schools are business arrangement btw the gov't and a private entity and they intend to make a profit, its still public money that funds them. They have them here in Canada also (in addition to public Catholic schools and French immersion schools). Although some charter schools claim they have a superior approach to education, I still wonder about how the need to make a profit comes into play.
--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

toto scarec...@wicked.witch

How old is your son?
Since this is a new phenomena with him, you need to find out why he is bored and whether it is really boredom that is the cause of his not wanting to attend. I would check out the possibility that he is being bullied by some kids especially if he has a reputation for being a nerd or geek in terms of his schoolwork.
Your local situation will be different depending on where you live.
You can consider several things depending on what your district offers: Charter or magnet schools may concentrate on a particular subject he is interested in. Magnet schools often require some kind of testing at the high school level, but if he is bright and bored, he can probably test into one. Charter schools may offer a different way of teaching and a different schedule as well. You should go and observe at any of these schools and see if they might fit his needs.
Another option to consider is homeschooling with the ability to take the GED test when he has completed the appropriate material.
He could then take courses at the local community college and concentrate on the subjects he may need for any career he would consider. Also the high school may have a program where he can take community college courses for dual credit.
Dorothy
--
There is no sound, no cry in all the world that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits

dragonlady meho...@REMOVEpacbell.net

Around here, there are charter schools and alternative schools that are part of the public school system. No tuition; some are hard to get in, but they are alternatives to the "standard" public schools.
meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

dragonlady meho...@REMOVEpacbell.net

Not all charter schools here are run by private for profit agencies; many are schools started by a group of parents and educators who want to try something different than the way things are done at most schools. Some are also run by non-profits.
meh
--
Children won't care how much you know until they know how much you care

"lizzard woman" kimos...@shaw.ca

Well I still don't know that the "not for profit" schools which are presumably just "covering their costs" aren't also making a profit. What happens if, after the contract is signed with the gov't for "covering their costs", they end up with extra money, perhaps thru cutting corners??? Its certainly possible I am misunderstanding the arrangements but I suspect its like research grants wherein you might say you need $1 million to do a particular project and that sounds reasonable but in fact you already have much of the equipment and supplies you need for the project so you then can use that money for other things (though likely not salary in that case).
I'm sure I'm missing something though.
--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

Joni Rathbun jrath...@orednet.org

Here the for-profits who are involved in schools are not involved in charter schools. They have actually entered into an agreement/contract with the district to run some of the schools. The charter schools are a different ballgame altogether and if I understand correctly, management still ends with the district somehow.
The rules are different in *every* state.

Joni Rathbun jrath...@orednet.org

Charter schools are a part of and funded by the public school system in California. This is the way it is in most -if not all- states.
Here is the CA info: http://www.uscharterschools.org/pub/sp/1

Joni Rathbun jrath...@orednet.org

Some states may allow that but it's my experience that they do not intend to make a profit; in fact, I believe that's restricted in most cases. And even the Edison schools with much experience have *yet* to turn a profit.

toto scarec...@wicked.witch

Yup charter schools don't charge tuition and neither do magnet schools here. Both of these are run under the public school funding. Magnet schools usually are part of the public school system and may require entrance tests.. Charter schools are funded by the public schools, but they are run by private corporations like Edison (the Edison schools have not done very well, however).
--
Dorothy There is no sound, no cry in all the world that can be heard unless someone listens ..
Outer Limits

"lizzard woman" kimos...@shaw.ca

So they are losing money? How long can that go on and how is that affecting the service?
--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

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