Conference moira::parenting_v3

    It sounds like you need to talk to some parents and teachers in
    the Littleton school system and in the Catholic school you're
    considering.  Ask them about the program, the philosophies, the
    curriculum, the outside and enrichment activities, the makeup of
    the student body, everything that concerns you.
    
    I have a bias in favor of public schools -- I got an excellent
    education there and Kat has done well, too.  In addition, I
    learned to cope socially in a way that I sometimes feel my friends
    who went to private schools don't manage.  They're spending energy
    just understanding these different kinds of people, while I can
    concentrate on the problem we're all supposed to be working on.  I
    don't think I do any better than they do, only that it sometimes
    seems to take me a little less effort.  It comes more
    automatically.  
    
    But the important thing is to check out all the schools you're
    intrested in and see which one will give your child most of the
    things that are important to you.  We could have afforded a more
    exclusive academic school for Kat, but we wanted her to have a
    chance to develop and explore all aspects of her personality --
    the creative, the social, the athletic as well as the
    intellectual.  We figure college is plenty soon enough to
    specialize.  If you have different goals and standards, you will
    want to choose a different school, one that meets those goals.
    
    --bonnie

    While the population of Littleton is certainly rather homogeneous, I'd
    sure there's more diversity in the public schools than in a catholic
    school in Groton.
    
    I also would not assume the catholic school has higher "quality,"
    though you'd better start by figuring out just what you mean by that,
    and the origins of your bias against public sachools.  I went to a
    private school myself, but prefer public schools for my children.
    
    I spent a couple of years doing statistical research on education at
    Harvard.  I can tell you that going to a private school does not make
    you any more likely to get into a prestigeous college.  Nor does it
    make you more likely to do well in college.  The best single predictor
    of college success is high school rank in class; the type of school you
    went to isn't predictive at all.  I don't mean to suggest that these
    are the best measures of the quality of education, but at least they
    are available.
    
    			- Bruce

    
    You might also try the MASSACHUSETTS notes conference on node STP.
    There are a number of notes on schools and communities. One thing
    I've found about "Catholic" private schools (I attended and have
    been involved over the years) is a general lack of interest on the
    part of administrators to listen to parental input. They take their
    direction from the archdiocese. Teachers are usually about the same
    mix you get in a public school these days because there are so few
    people entering the vocations. Public Schools are basically "market"
    driven. If you, as a parent, get involved and ask questions pretty
    soon you'll find your suggestions being taken quite seriously.
    
    
    					Mike Gilbert
    					Holliston School Committee
    					(See! I got involved and it
    					got me elected!)

    
    I live in Littleton and while I can't talk about the benefits of the
    Catholic School in Groton, I can tell you that Shaker Lane (the grade
    school in Littleton) is excellent.  You get most of the advantages of
    private school (small class size, individual attention, etc.) that you
    would in private school--without the tuition.
    
    Since my daughter will be in school within the next 2 years, I have
    started researching our "educational options."  I have spoken to many
    people with kids at Shaker Lane and everyone is very pleased.  It's
    probably the road we will take with Hannah.
    
    My husband is a product of private school (though not religion-based)
    and is also convinced that Shaker Lane will provide an excellent
    platform.  While not as culturally diverse as you may like, I think you
    will find it is more so than you may expect.  Why don't you call the
    Superintendent (Vincent Franco), or the Principal of Shaker Lane
    (Curtis Bates) and voice your specific concerns to them?  They can
    probably answer all your questions--and you can make a more informed
    choice.
    
    If you are concerned about discipline--and feel your child needs a real
    structured, disciplined environment--there is a small, private
    Christian school in Littleton--called Imago School.  You might want to
    call them as well--if you are looking for a VERY structured environment
    (I believe capitol punishment may be used there--someone I know who has
    a child going there told me that her son is well behaved because he
    doesn't want to get hit!).  
    
    Also, there is the Oak Hill Montessori School in Littleton--which is
    supposed to be one of the best Montessori Schools around.  Montessori
    might be a little too liberal for your taste--but it does have a
    multi-cultural bend.   Kids go there from all over the place.
    
    Something you might want to consider...  Littleton is a small, insular,
    closely-knit kind of town.  From my involvement on both the Playground
    Committee and in Newcomers, I would say I know a lot people with kids
    in or around the same age as Hannah.  I find comfort in knowing she
    will be in school with a lot of the same kids she plays with now.  I
    also find comfort in the fact I will know the parents of *most* of her
    classmates.  It's a throw-back to the kind of neighborhood I grew up
    in, in the 50's--I loved it and I want Hannah to have that same
    experience.  
    
    Question--do you want your child--who is growing up in a very small
    town--to be isolated from most of the kids his age who live in that
    town?  Let's face it--kids socialize with other kids they go to school
    with and lots of other stuff comes from that.  I would ask myself that
    question too.
    
    Good luck with your decision.  Also--why aren't you active on
    Playground?  We need you!
    
    Bonnie