1) I provided the information I have about the 4 schools. 3 of them are Christian schools, and one of them is not. I have been VERY clear that if the OP wants a Christian school for his kid, then I'm all fine with that. As long as what someone does or believes doesn't hurt anyone, then I'm all for that...freedom, don't you know.
2) The problem with "Christian values" is that there are too many differences of opinion about what that means. IF "Christian values" were limited to The Ten Commandments and what Jesus actually taught, then I'm cool with that (though the Son of God thing is BS). BUT, TOO MANY people who say they are guided by "Christian values" use that to HATE...hate gay people, hate liberals (which is rich since Jesus most assuredly exhibited values of a liberal), and oddly enough hate foreigners and non-white people. Beyond that, ALL Christians who say the Bible is the word of God are hypocritical. So, do these people stone to death someone who works on the sabbath? Do they read the story to their children of the two daughters who get their father drunk and have sex with him? Do they actually believe that the Noah's Ark story is true (yes, FAR too many of them do). I could go on and on with the insane stuff that is in The Bible.
3) My definition of "bogged down" is ANY religious influence in a k-12 school. Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.
4) I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say. My ONLY three famous people heroes are/were Christians...Fred Rogers, Jimmy Carter, and Dolly Parton. They are wrong to believe in an all-powerful MAN in the sky whom we can't see and have no evidence for that HE exists, but their actions are/were grand.
3. Why would you be opposed to religion being taught in classes? It is an integral part of world history and culture. Also, children are learning about religion in public school as well.
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
1) I provided the information I have about the 4 schools. 3 of them are Christian schools, and one of them is not. I have been VERY clear that if the OP wants a Christian school for his kid, then I'm all fine with that. As long as what someone does or believes doesn't hurt anyone, then I'm all for that...freedom, don't you know.
2) The problem with "Christian values" is that there are too many differences of opinion about what that means. IF "Christian values" were limited to The Ten Commandments and what Jesus actually taught, then I'm cool with that (though the Son of God thing is BS). BUT, TOO MANY people who say they are guided by "Christian values" use that to HATE...hate gay people, hate liberals (which is rich since Jesus most assuredly exhibited values of a liberal), and oddly enough hate foreigners and non-white people. Beyond that, ALL Christians who say the Bible is the word of God are hypocritical. So, do these people stone to death someone who works on the sabbath? Do they read the story to their children of the two daughters who get their father drunk and have sex with him? Do they actually believe that the Noah's Ark story is true (yes, FAR too many of them do). I could go on and on with the insane stuff that is in The Bible.
3) My definition of "bogged down" is ANY religious influence in a k-12 school. Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.
4) I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say. My ONLY three famous people heroes are/were Christians...Fred Rogers, Jimmy Carter, and Dolly Parton. They are wrong to believe in an all-powerful MAN in the sky whom we can't see and have no evidence for that HE exists, but their actions are/were grand.
Doesn’t surprise me in the least that you’re intellectually dishonest and lazy.
I’m sure you also accuse anyone opposed to biological males competing against women as “hating” transgender people.
1) I am not intellectually dishonest or lazy in any way, so INCORRECT! You didn't even point out how, but no need, because you'd be wrong anyway.
2) As far as your second nonsense paragraph goes, you are also INCORRECT! I have stated here several times that I am 100% against transgender females participating in sports against biological females. You know what happens when you assume, right? You get it wrong, that's what.
3. Why would you be opposed to religion being taught in classes? It is an integral part of world history and culture. Also, children are learning about religion in public school as well.
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
Your exact words were: “Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.”
Are you correcting yourself and agreeing that religion should be part of a student’s curriculum? And, again, let’s keep it to these four schools the OP has mentioned, not some generic view of private prep schools.
You also said: “I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say.” You have demonstrated that you know little about these schools. I think you’ll admit that. How can you judge the quality of the education, content of the curriculum, student college preparedness or faculty makeup without knowing much about the schools. You don’t know their actions or what is said in the classroom.
As I said earlier, working in admissions, we found that students from these four schools, Westminister in particular, are very well prepared for college, have a very high success rate at our college and after college, were leaders on campus and were well-rounded coming into school.
3. Why would you be opposed to religion being taught in classes? It is an integral part of world history and culture. Also, children are learning about religion in public school as well.
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
I went to a Christian school and learned about Islam and other religions similar to how you describe.
There is a pretty broad range of Christianity’s prevalence in Christian schools. The most religious are typically called covenant schools. At covenant schools all families have to sign a statement of faith that declares what they believe. The next most religious would be schools that require faculty and administrators to declare their faith. Then finally there are schools that approach Christianity from a more intellectual perspective and don’t require all faculty to declare their faith. Even within the the three levels that I described, there is quite a bit of variability in the role faith plays the daily life.
Chances are that if you send your kid to a Christian school, they won’t have the pleasure of being taught by one of those teachers who made it to the “libs of tiktok”
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
Your exact words were: “Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.”
Are you correcting yourself and agreeing that religion should be part of a student’s curriculum? And, again, let’s keep it to these four schools the OP has mentioned, not some generic view of private prep schools.
You also said: “I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say.” You have demonstrated that you know little about these schools. I think you’ll admit that. How can you judge the quality of the education, content of the curriculum, student college preparedness or faculty makeup without knowing much about the schools. You don’t know their actions or what is said in the classroom.
As I said earlier, working in admissions, we found that students from these four schools, Westminister in particular, are very well prepared for college, have a very high success rate at our college and after college, were leaders on campus and were well-rounded coming into school.
1) Ha! I won't continue to entertain you forever. LEARNING about different religions is a different thing than PRACTICING one specific religion in school. You know the difference. I'm sorry that you are lonely and need to engage here. And NO, I am not agreeing that religion should be part of the curriculum. As an ancillary topic in a history class perhaps, but beyond that, no, it's not a necessary thing in k-12. Fiction doesn't need to be taught as fact. College is different because you can CHOOSE as a student to take a class or not (unless you are silly enough to go to a "Christian" college).
2) I never said ever that I know a lot about these schools. Again, I have ONLY said that 3 of them are "Christian" schools and one is not. That is a fact. IF you want a Christian education for your kid, then you might like 3 of them. If you aren't Christian and just hope the three schools that are happen to sweep their Christianity under the rug, I suggest you (anyone wanting to send a kid there) are being naïve and/or just hopeful.
3) I have NEVER said how well these schools prepare students for college. I wasn't discussing that. You (again, anyone who wants to send a kid there) needs to decide if being immersed in a Christian school is worth that. While I am NOT attacking these schools with regard to being able to help prepare a student for college success, I WILL submit to you that the main reason these students succeed is because they have parents that are successful and so they likely have some inherent ability to learn AND also good role models for success at home along with learning from them that academic success is important.
I am beginning to be bored by you. You apparently are for a Christian education...OR you pull the wool over your eyes about what that means. I have no need to change your mind.
Woodward, wow. Was once Ga Military Academy, I had an older relative go there. Certainly is an oasis in College Park. My parents were from College Park and East Point, so that is where I visited the grandfolks. Great old houses and history in the area, but sorta scary now I understand.
The area has gentrified significantly since the 1980s. Back then, it was a tough neighborhood, but mostly working class single family homes. It was not like Techwood Homes, which was a constant warzone back then before it was demolished. Today, College Park is seeing a lot of house flipping. The old downtown at Harvard and Main St. has been renovated and has lots of cool restaurants and is a bit of a Virginia Highlands for the black community. Redevelopment in College Park has limits as you cannot build on a good bit of the southern part of College Park because it is right on the flight path for the runways at Hartsfield Airport.
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
Your exact words were: “Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.”
Are you correcting yourself and agreeing that religion should be part of a student’s curriculum? And, again, let’s keep it to these four schools the OP has mentioned, not some generic view of private prep schools.
You also said: “I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say.” You have demonstrated that you know little about these schools. I think you’ll admit that. How can you judge the quality of the education, content of the curriculum, student college preparedness or faculty makeup without knowing much about the schools. You don’t know their actions or what is said in the classroom.
As I said earlier, working in admissions, we found that students from these four schools, Westminister in particular, are very well prepared for college, have a very high success rate at our college and after college, were leaders on campus and were well-rounded coming into school.
Just ignore this guy. He's already admitted he knows nothing about Atlanta area high schools. He's just here to spout his bigotry.
You know what the difference is. In public schools or college classes, you might learn about different religions. I took a class in college called "World Religion." In that class, the formation of each religion was discussed, the beliefs in each of the different religions were discussed...leaders, parts of the world, etc. In a Christian school, you don't learn about Islam...Christianity is presented as THE ONE TRUE RELIGION, references to God are assumed to be God that Christians believe exists, etc. Come on now, you know the difference.
I went to a Christian school and learned about Islam and other religions similar to how you describe.
There is a pretty broad range of Christianity’s prevalence in Christian schools. The most religious are typically called covenant schools. At covenant schools all families have to sign a statement of faith that declares what they believe. The next most religious would be schools that require faculty and administrators to declare their faith. Then finally there are schools that approach Christianity from a more intellectual perspective and don’t require all faculty to declare their faith. Even within the the three levels that I described, there is quite a bit of variability in the role faith plays the daily life.
Chances are that if you send your kid to a Christian school, they won’t have the pleasure of being taught by one of those teachers who made it to the “libs of tiktok”
Thanks for your input. That's exactly what we've experienced in our visits, meetings with the schools, and with talking with parents and students. Every school was different from HI, AIS, Westminister, St. Pius, Wesleyan, etc. All different.
There are quite a few top quality public schools around ATL, but you know that. I went to a good one in the 80's. Buuuut, if money is all good, and your kiddo is motivated I'd choose private. To Flagpoles's points, yes they may be "Christian" schools, but are they better at preparing kids for college? Probably. Westminster used to be the place to go, maybe still is. Is Walker School still around?
Yes. Walker School is still around. A little too far out for us.
I am not from Atlanta, but between elementary and middle-school, my kids moved between public and private schools several times (because of relocation).
Without going into too much detail, we had good and bad experiences with both systems. The first public elementary school they attended was excellent. The facilities of the public school were very limited, but the principal and the teachers were top-notch and they got an excellent education. Later they went to a supposedly "good" private school, that had great facilities, excellent athletic and music program, wealthy alumni etc... but the teachers were changing almost every year; some were good and some were not. One of my kids is a nerd, he did not fit in and got regularly bullied, for him this school was a nightmare.
They later moved to an "iffy" middle-school in a troubled neighborhood and did fine.
The second private school also had great athletic facilities (which my kids never used, BTW) and the education was fine. Finally, they went to the local public high-school, which is considered "good". The facilities are great and the teaching is fine, more or less same level as the previous private school. The environment is more diverse, though, and they have been able to find their niche and thrived.
One of my kids has recently applied for college and got in his first choice with not too much drama, but he is a straight-A student and I don't think it has much to do with the schools he attended.
If I could go back, I would go public unless public is really bad in your area. Although we are fortunate enough that money is not of a concern for us, in hindsight, the money we spent on the private schools (especially the first) was a waste. I could have bought a nice apartment instead.
In GA but not Atlanta. Just chiming in with a thought I haven't seen here yet, which is to consider your kid's personality. One of my kids went to our atrocious public schools, followed by dual enrollment. This kid was drawn to wild kids and was suspended. We would have lost a ton if expelled from private. Other kid, aka 'rule follower' went to wildly expensive private and befriended similar kids who watched the wildness. Both ended up doing great in engineering programs in college after maturing. Longwinded way of saying that sometimes keeping them halfway okay until they mature is the important thing and can be done in many ways. You know your kid.
Your exact words were: “Religion has NOTHING to do with academic subjects, so ANY time spent on it in the classroom, even if minimal, is a waste. Religion has as much place in an academic setting as a love for professional wrestling would. It's mustard on ice cream...just should not be a thing at all.”
Are you correcting yourself and agreeing that religion should be part of a student’s curriculum? And, again, let’s keep it to these four schools the OP has mentioned, not some generic view of private prep schools.
You also said: “I do not dislike Christians simply based on them being Christians. I judge them on their actions and what they say.” You have demonstrated that you know little about these schools. I think you’ll admit that. How can you judge the quality of the education, content of the curriculum, student college preparedness or faculty makeup without knowing much about the schools. You don’t know their actions or what is said in the classroom.
As I said earlier, working in admissions, we found that students from these four schools, Westminister in particular, are very well prepared for college, have a very high success rate at our college and after college, were leaders on campus and were well-rounded coming into school.
Just ignore this guy. He's already admitted he knows nothing about Atlanta area high schools. He's just here to spout his bigotry.
I get what you are saying. It was more about educating him that not all private schools follow the stereotype he has in his head.
Public housing is always bad, but section 8 can turn somewhat poor but still normal working class areas (about 20% poverty rate) into the ghetto. I don’t know what the best solution is - maybe isolate public housing to one specific area? It’ll be really violent but the rest of the city will be safer
The best people to go to are those that know Atlanta schools. Not let’srun. Every system is different depending on the city and state. . Or are you just looking to brag that he got accepted?
Somewhat surprisingly, several people have already given answers that show they are quite familiar with Atlanta schools. Did you read the replies, or are you just trying to be a jerk?
You must have too much time on your hands if you feel the need to read all the replies to a question that has nothing to do with you. And criticize those that don’t.
Just ignore this guy. He's already admitted he knows nothing about Atlanta area high schools. He's just here to spout his bigotry.
I get what you are saying. It was more about educating him that not all private schools follow the stereotype he has in his head.
No stereotype. You either want Christianity to be tied to a kid's k-12 education or you don't (3 of the 4 are Christian schools). The OP seemed to have his mind already made up about these schools, so it can only be that he wanted to brag that his kid got in or that he's rich enough to pay for it. Yawn.
Why do you consistently hijack threads like this and cast aspersions on others and impugn their motives? Speaking of gross and lacking character.
OP, we live in one of the top ten affluent counties in the US, but the public school atmosphere is horrendous. Both of my kids went to a public charter, K-8 school that focused on academics and character education specifically. What a great education that was. We didn’t realize how truly great we had it at the time. Then we found our way to the locally zoned public high school, which has been an incredible disappointment on so many levels. Academics, advising, character education, athletics… the list goes on. Just mediocrity on every level.
My generally peaceful and non controversial wife affectionately refers to it as “trailer.” Her consistent refrain is that the greatest mistake we ever made as parents was not putting our kids in private high school. I tend to agree. My oldest survived, in spite of the school, and found her way to a really good private college with a generous scholarship (with no help from her school advisor). She has told me over and over that her K-8 education prepared her for college better than high school.
My youngest is currently circling the drain, surrounded by depressed, suicidal and unmotivated peers. We are in the process of exploring a transfer, and just hoping she graduates and makes it to college, even with her amazing running talent, which is also being squandered by mediocre leadership and a lacking culture.
Having experienced education done “the right way” in the charter, I highly encourage you not to make the same mistake as us. You can’t protect and insulate them forever, but you can do as much as possible to help cultivate their potential before they become adults. Public schools are full of mediocre people and professionals who do nothing but whine and moan and don’t help solve the problem, but then complain when there is churn on the local school board, which is, frankly, a very healthy thing.
Remember… the “worst mistake we ever made as parents.” Let that keep ringing in your ears.