private vs public school and safe environment seminar

[Kevin]

So my daughter will be going to a Catholic School this fall for kindergarten. We did consider public school and the one in our neighborhood is supposed to be very nice. We went and saw it. We just weren't impressed with the teachers. And the front office talked to us like they were state employees. Huh, go figure.

Then I was told by a reputable source that in the state of Texas, kindergarten is not a state required grade. Add to that her pre school teacher (former public school teacher) flat out told me in public school kindergarten is a review of her final year of pre school. To bring all the kids up (or down) to the same level; to prepare them all for first grade together.

So a private school it is. So the Catholic Schools have this safe environment program. It is required for the parents. They do a background check and require references etc. No problem there.

But I just had to sit through a 90 minute class about how to avoid and or spot potential child abuse or abuse of vulnerable adults. Now get this. All of the woman's examples were "the guy down the street with the cool car" or "the uncle" or "boyfriend."

Then she gets to the end. According to the great state of Texas and the child protection service. The statistical makeup of a child abuser in Texas is married, white, 26 to 35 years old, and female. (56% to 44%) when I heard that after listening to her describing potential abusers (perhaps they have a full beard) I was more than a little annoyed.

No I didn't say anything. The woman. Has been doing that program for 12 years and I regardless of what i could possibly say i doubt I would change her mind one bit.

Sorry I sort of rambled.

 

[frustrated middle child]

Do you have a Montessori (excuse the spelling) school in your area. Spent a long weekend with 6 ladies, 3 were educators - One owned the Montessori School, another was a school administrator, and the third a college professor. As we talked, Rita the school owner shared more and more about how her kids learned. It was pretty advanced, taught the kids to think for themselves and and some pretty neat stuff. If I had a kid, I would be taking them to one of these schools.

 

[Jim Puke]

Private school of some type is the only way to go. My wife is a public school administrator, so I have had years of closeup public school involvement to base my opinion on. It is not only the curriculum, but generally speaking, the overall environment is completely different than THUG U, will be.

And, it is worth the cost of tuition to not subject your child to the indoctrination that is tantamount to tyranny, that goes on in public school.

 

[Kevin]

Yes there are several montisori (and don't ask me how to spell it) schools here. Last Fall we went to an open house where all the Schools in the area got together and set up tables. We talked to them. Yes they do sound interesting. I think however ultimately we weren't comfortable with the style. I guess they don't separate kids by age group so older kids would be together with younger. And correct me if I'm wrong I might be. BUT... The montessori schools are highly regarded and each school brought some students to help. The kids from those schools were so extremely well spoken and polite.. However, It just didn't feel right for us.

 

[Kevin]

And Jim Luke your right. My mom was a public school teacher for over 25 years. She doesn't really have much good to say about public schools in this day and current atmosphere. And THUG U is about right.

But another point I was trying to make was the sexual predators. The woman speaker kept talking about this guy or that boyfriend. And then more married white women are the real perpetrators of these crimes...according to the child services of Texas, as was reported by the speaker.

 

[DA_TriggR4Ruger]

I had a very well thought out and thought provoking reply typed out and when I clicked submit, the forum stated the board wasn't available, so not sure, my whole reply is gone now.

 

[Kevin]

Believe it or not, that has happened to me several times for whatever reason.

 

[Montelores]

If I understand your quandary, you're upset that the presenter stereotyped sexual predators/abusers as males, but then she presented statistics which showed that a female is more likely to be a predator/abuser.

Is that correct?

If this is an institution with which you'll be having a long-term relationship (and I applaud you for being so thoughtful about your daughter's education), why don't you go ask the presenter about the disconnect? Politely, of course.

A thoughtful conversation about the topic might answer some of your concerns, and I'm sure that the presenter, given the subject matter, will not be a shrinking violet about it.

BTW, was the presenter a nun?

Or a secular expert?

Best -

Monty

P.S. As an afterthought, it's worth remembering that the Catholic Church has had some well-publicized issues with the topic at hand.

That may help explain the presentation.

I say this as a respectful Catholic.

 

[Kevin]

Montelores:
Yes you are correct. And yes I should have asked her about it. I'm not very confrontational with strangers. Truthfully, it is mostly because I didn't really value her opinion and couldn't care about changing her mind.

I know, I know, indifference is the downfall of civilization.

 

[Montelores]

Kevin -

I understand the issue now.

Sometimes, one simply needs to sit through the class and have the box on one's form "checked."

The school/parish has it's reasons for hiring the presenter, and they must be satisfied with her performance.

It doesn't sound like it will be an issue for your daughter's education, and that's the important point.

BTW, I know a 9-year old girl in the Girl Scouts who had to participate in some sort of a "child abuse" presentation (warning of the dangers).

That really stunned me, but it may be the way of the world these days.

Monty