Not-So-Super-Baby to the rescue!

There's a big stink going around town and it's not BabyTran's cloth nappy!

(Check out this article in the NY Times about SUPER PEOPLE)

As of late, I've seen more and more of theAuthorities lashing out at the cyberworld about pushing your kids too far or the pressure to send children to "ivy league" pre-kindergarden.  My view on it all?  To each, his own!  I will say that I disagree with parents who sue schools over their child's failed chance at an ivy league because of something that happened in a pre-k3 class, but I honestly see nothing wrong with sending your kids to a private school.

I was in private school nearly my entire life (third grade through college).  It was a direct factor of living in an area that was NOTORIOUS for the sub-standard level of education.  My parents skimped and saved to send the five of us the private school route and I promise you, it was never easy.  Back then, my parents were paying $4,000/year/kid (not including before and after school care, books, uniforms, lunches, etc.).  Nowadays, I would consider $8,000/year/kid as cheap!

Even before BT was born, I wanted to send him to R.O.B.S. or the Kincaid school.  It's not because I don't think public schools are good enough, it's because BT has a bleeding disorder and needs constant supervision (i.e. I prefer the class size to be one teacher to 15 students or less).  Over time, I started to open my mind up to more schools, but every school I chose (after reviewing the curriculum for 2 and 3 year olds) ended up having $18,000/year/kid tuition (not including the extras!).  It's a big pill to swallow, but I've been squirreling away funds to help prepare for this huge cost.  Now as more time progresses, I'm starting to wonder if I've made the right choice at all.

I'm starting to question if any of this at all will make a difference in whether or not BT ends up being a brain surgeon or your local manager at McDonald's.  You see, in life, you give your children everything you can and you hope the best for them, but at the end of the day, their life will at some point be out of your hands.  While I would still prefer BT to be at a school that is smaller in size so that there is more adult supervision, I just want him to get a good grasp on life.  School is only one part of the education he will receive.  The rest happens in the home and maybe, if the situation presented itself, his schooling would come from home as well.

My niece and nephew both went to public school and were tutored year round by a young boy who was home schooled and absolutely brilliant.  Both my niece and nephew are at the top of their class, but was it because the school had taught them?  Or was it because the home schooled tutor and taught them everything during the summer and taught them all of their lessons one week in advance?  That being said, I've seen MANY children go through the private school route and still end up jobless.  Does it mean that their school wasn't any good?  NO!  Heck, I went to the schools!  It again comes down to the individual's decision.  You have to make the decision to be smart in life just like you have to make the decision to be HAPPY with your life.

I'm making the decision that I will do whatever it takes to make BT happy (when it comes to his education). Whether it be a small charter public school, a pricey "ivy league"-esque private institution, or home schooling him (i.e. hiring someone to home school him or sending him to a home school), I will do what will keep him safe, healthy, and happy.  Let's hope it all works out in the end!