Did you go to Public Schools and What did you think of your education?

I attended private school in Hawai'i, and really feel there was absolutely no comparison between the disgraceful state of public education there, and two of the truly elite schools in the entire nation in Iolani and Punahou. A lot of what I'm going to say is pretty unique to the islands, I would think...

There is something seriously wrong when 1 in 6 students at Iolani (of a class of ~240)will become a national merit semifinalist, while the entire public education system will get...7. Total.

Moreso than the education, the amazing college counseling I got as a senior applying to different universities is something that was truly unique to private school. Our counselor had been given an award by the College Board, personally knew several Deans of Admission at the top schools on both coasts, and would likely get you into one of your top choices simply by being the one writing your recommendation letter. My senior class sent about 80% of graduates out of state.

In Hawai'i, especially, having attended one of these two schools is extremely important for the name recognition alone. So many times when I was an intern, I was introduced as "an Iolani guy", and I often got interviews from other Iolani graduates, who conincidentally, were CEOs, PhDs and doctors.

So certainly, private school gave me a world of opportunities that I believe might not have been available had I gone to public school, and I can honestly say that I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for Iolani. I certainly would not have went to the same college (since it was one my counselor suggested to me), and I know for a fact my math and science skills would be crap finishing high school. But ultimately, private school does not guarantee success; it merely makes it easier. I have classmates who are now at Baylor Med, and also those who work at TGIFridays. But there are far more engineers and medical students than there are retail workers.

 

I went to HISD public schools (River Oaks, Lanier, Booker T. Washington). I was in the magnet program at each school. If you get your kid in a magnet program in HISD then I think that's just as good as any private school. If they are in the regular classes, then that's different. I was forced to attend the regular classes for a semester in high school as a punishment, and there was a big difference in what was being covered. Those classes just move at a slower pace. I don't think all cities have a quality public school option like Houston, which is one of the reasons I love this city. In some cities you are just screwed if you don't live in the right area. Not so here, and they even provide free transportation.

Everything above was from the standpoint of academics. If you want to talk about social skills, my vote is public all the way. But I do realize academics come first. But again, another reason I love the HISD magnet program.

 

Nice post, but please stop calling it "the Third Ward". Just say "we live in Third Ward". It's one of those situations where it's gramatically correct, but wrong as far as what residents (especially native ones) call the area.

Is Awty a private school?

 

I went to Klein schools. I was in AA and GT classes throughout elementary and MS and then AP classes my senior year of HS. But for 8th-10th grade my family moved to Anderson TX (Grimes County). Around 30 or so students graduated every year. I remember Biology class consisted of a 10 question open book work sheet (find the bold words and write down the definition) followed by board games. The school had no advanced classes but because my parents asked for them they had to have them. I was in a regular class, but did extra work to get the advanced credit. Compared to my friends at Klein I had it easy. My GPA was in great shape after attending Anderson Shiro CISD but I had a lot to catch up on when I came back to Klein. I remember meeting with the Anderson guidance counselor and her handing me a blinn junior college pamphlet before even talking to me about where I wanted to go. Talk about shooting for the stars.

Anderson is a poor town. Klein has (had?) a lot of wealth. Which would you rather send your children too?

 

Private schools aren't all that. I went to Corpus Christi Catholic school on Stella Link in 3rd grade because my parents thought the nuns would whip some discipline into me.

In reality, all we did was player soccer, eat chicken nuggets and pray to God. The academics there were a joke and all the students were like a year behind me in terms of what they wear learning. Needless to say, after one semester, my parents yanked me out and I tested into River Oaks.

 

Please stop correcting my wife about The Third Ward. Calling it The Third Ward is common and perfectly acceptable. We have been residents of The Third Ward for years and we call it The Third Ward. In conversations with my neighbors, both variants are used. So, as polite as I may muster, please stfu about the naming conventions of The Third Ward. No hard feelings; just want to be as clear as possible.

 

I went to public school, we all smoked pot, I skipped alot to go surfing, nice girls; it was a great education.

 

Went to school in CISD (Conroe), but the schools in The Woodlands. There was (and maybe still is) a significant difference in the education one got in the schools in The Woodlands vs. the rest of the district. The Oak Ridge side might not have been as bad as the schools in Conroe (my mother was a diagnostician at Conroe schools for 25 years).

That said, McCullough HS was consistently rated in the top 2 nationally for drug use. I didn't partake until late in my senior year, but my education (or lack thereof) was my own doing. I could have done a lot better if I had given a s***. I was only concerned with doing well enough to keep my parents off my back and to keep playing soccer.

 

I went to private schools most of my life (River Oaks Baptist and then Episcopal High School). I transferred to Lamar my senior year and graduated there. At Lamar, I was in their advanced program (There was regular, Advanced and IB...which is like honors classes at a private school). The education at Lamar was atrocious. Teachers cared nothing about students, obviously didn't care for their jobs and the curriculum was ridiculous. Let me put it to you this way...my entire Senior year of "advanced" English, we did not have to write ONE paper. Not one. What a great way to prepare students for higher education...why teach you how to write a Thesis paragraph...you'll never need that in college.

I cannot speak for any other high school, but the education at Lamar (outside of IB), was a total joke and I felt sorry for the students that had that education the entire 4 years

 

I went to high school in texas city...it was public.

I thought it was good and got me ready for college, but I took a lot of AP courses. I didn't take all AP (Mostly my maths, english, and sometimes history). The only really "easy" class that I thought should be more difficult was my regular geometry class. I pretty much slept through that and woke up for the tests. The other regular classes I took were supposed to be easy - IE - health, sciences, and some history.

You could tell who cared about school and who didnt. If you care about learning, you'll learn.

A kid in private school could just as easily flunk if they didnt care, but their parents probably put enough pressure on them to not do that.

In college, I don't think I was any less prepared than anyone I knew who went to public school. And now at work, I don't think I'm any less prepared than anyone who went to private colleges.

 

at least you had that for a silver lining... I even had that going against me.. I had to actually try and do the educating with my "parents" along with educating myself.. academically and in all aspects of life.. what a trying experience that was.. parents are suppose to be guiding force behind a child's development.. not the other way around.. but, I endured, and came out of all that for the better..

 

Yes, Awty is a private, non-parochial school. It is one of only a handful of international schools in America. There is a French section, taught entirely in French and an International section taught in Engligh. On the French side students take the French Bac and on the International side they take the IB. There is some crossover with classes like Art and PE and I believe American History and English (of course) are taught in English.

As for the neighborhood, perhaps I'll just call it "the 'hood" to avoid further controversy. Honestly, I've never heard anyone say "we live in Third Ward." If they did I probably just assumed they had attended the local public school and didn't know any better

 

I was really just joking, but also letting her know most don't call it that (i.e. letting her know in a joking manner). Thank you for agreeing that you have heard both variants used. I cal say I rarely ever hear "the thrid ward" used. Most don't call it that and I stand by it. The same goes for any of the other wards in Houston. I apoligize if I offended either one of you, but please never tell me to stfu, or anything like that. I'm not aware of any polite way to tell someone to "stfu", and I like this board because most members don't address each other in that manner. There are plenty of ways to make your kind of request in a non a-hole manner, and I don't believe I cursed at your wife in my post or said anything to her that could be deemed offensive.

 

If you took advanced or Honor classes it was good.

Any level below was absolutely pathetic and embarrassing.

 

I have to say that I had a similar experience, but I went to Tomball ISD. I definitely had a good education and was able to take all the AP classes that I wanted (bio, chem, calc, englishes, social sciences, etc.) and I had great scores to have credit at UT.

Similarly, my girlfriend went to private school (St. Agnes) and while she feels her education was sufficient, she certainly would've preferred going to a public school with similar academics. She disliked the social setting and the people at private school, and she says many of them have turned into delinquents since high school, which I believe is a common trend in private education.

For my children, I would send them to a good public school where they can get a good education and interact with their peers. I am not sending my kids to private school. You can find comparable education at public or private school, but the setting is entirely different and public school is the environment I would prefer my kids to grow up in.

 

FWIW (and that might not be anything at all) I've never heard anyone say "Third Ward", rather I have always heard "the Third Ward."

 

Went to West U, Pershing and Lamar

I am sure Lanier is better than Pershing but Lamar and West U were probably the best schools at the time in HISD.

I think private schools are a waste if your kids are zoned to good schools on the high school level.

I am a proponent of sending kids to private school K through 8

 

I think if you are zoned to a good district, public Elementary, Intermediate and High school could all be very good.

My daughter is in 9th grade, Clear Creek ISD. She is in all preAP, AP classes (all except for choir and soccer that is) and I believe the foundation she had in Elementary and Middle school has made the transition to High school pretty smooth. She even said some of her preAP classes in HS are easier than Intermediate school. ( I myself think that it is not true in the absolute sense, she feels that way only because she is/ was well prepared)

 

I don't think public school is the problem as much as it is parents not doing their part. There used to be a time when parents would read and help their children with homework and such,now parents are working longer and more and aren't putting in the time to help educate their kids. Education shouldn't stop at 430 or when the kids get to the house. I do think the standarized test are really silly and take teachers away from teaching vs teaching to pass a test.