You are here: Home / Archives for Education

The Private School Concern: Cost

Finance — you have discovered — is a fickle thing. Dollars come and go with alarming ease, never willing to settle into your bank accounts and collect the happy interest. Money is instead impermanent; and you’re not blessed with an excess of funds. You can’t always go to PaydayOne.com for help too. You’re shaped instead to the middle class concerns, and all expenses must therefore be understood (and countered). You save as much as you can. You spend only what you must. And the intention of each day is to still have pennies in your pocket.

You don’t always succeed with this but you never stop trying — and you wonder if those attempts will be enough to afford a better education for your child.

The notion of private schools is one that many parents consider. They wish to offer opportunities to their sons and daughters, allowing them to experience stronger lessons and art-enriched environments. Institutions that are not governed by the state are proven to provide an education of value.

They are also, however, proven to demand money for it.

The terrible truth of private schools is that they are not free — unlike their public counterparts. They instead require tuition payments and enrollment fees; and these numbers can be staggering. As of 2010 the average expense of such an organization is $6,600 dollars a year. This price reflects less distinguished districts, however. Along the eastern and western coastlines costs can rise dramatically: with some schools requiring over $20,000 dollars for one term.

For many families these prices are simply too high. Even with financial aid and scholarship programs (which are not always available), the requirements can still be thousands of dollars a year — and many cannot spare such amounts.

It’s essential therefore that all parents understand the specific district costs of schools and what assistance is provided. Recognize the limitations of a budget and do not exceed these. An education can easily form debt and recovering from that would be difficult.

Filed Under: Education, Private School, Students Tagged With: , ,

Choose The Best School For Your Child

Queen Elizabeth High School (Halifax, Nova Sco...

Image via Wikipedia

It’s essential that your child goes to the right school – a school that will motivate them to succeed, and give them ambitions and experience. Choosing a school does require plenty of research, to ensure you have the full story, especially if you are not familiar with the area your child will be going to school.

Look at school guides. Many states do this, such as the Washington State Post, and have page for each school giving some information. Some review schools on different areas, such as extra curricular activities, and you might find comments from previous students here too.

Look at the schools website. This should list important information such as what courses and activities are on offer, term times and any special points. You should also be able to see the latest score that the school was given under the ‘No Child Left Behind’ law.

Visit the school. Make sure your child is ready to ask any questions they have, and take a notebook to make notes. Talk to the principle, and find out about the schools aims, strengths and weaknesses. Consider whether you would have the principal as a friend, or if you would hire him as a colleague. If you can’t see the principle, or don’t get along with him, this should be a warning sign. This man will have a lot of control over the school.

Talk to other parents if you can, and the Parent Teacher Association. Find out what they think – would they send their child there again? Where else did they consider? Why did they choose this school? Their answers might help you to make up your mind.

Talk to your child and find out what they thought. Make a shortlist of schools, and talk about your gut feeling for each one. Allow your child to have their say, too. Then make the choice together, and get ready to go to school!

Filed Under: Education, Students Tagged With: , ,

Staying Away from School Violence

School Day of Non-violence and Peace (DENIP) l...

Image via Wikipedia

Bullying and school violence are on the rampage nowadays. It seems you can’t turn on the news or read a newspaper without hearing a story about a child, or even an adult, involved in violence at school. But it doesn’t have to be this way! There are ways to avoid violence at school. Take a look at these tips to keep yourself or your child out of trouble.

  1. It’s all about respect. Remember that the first step to avoiding violence is to respect other people. Try to understand the other’s perspective and that will go a long way in keeping you out of trouble.
  2. Try online school. Sometimes, a school really is too violent to attend. One way to stay away from the violence is to attend online school. Many college students choose this route. You can even get a master degree this way! Search for a master degree at earnmydegree.com to see the available options.
  3. Talk it out. If you are the victim of violence at school, talk to someone. Find a guidance counselor or someone else you trust to talk to about the problem. Avoiding the situation will not make it go away. You need to talk to someone and get some help.
  4. Report the situation. You absolutely need to report the bullying and the violence to an authority. Violence cannot be tolerated in any kind of circumstance. Report it to help stop the problem.

If you are a victim of school violence or if it is someone you love that is the victim, remember, there is help available.

 

Filed Under: Education, School Violence, Students Tagged With: , ,

It’s Better to be Silent Than Violent

AHS_locked

Image by BillRhodesPhoto via Flickr

Violence can never be justified under any circumstances. There have been examples of wars being won without the use of force. Having said this, it is not an idealistic world that we live in. Violence is a common occurrence. Sometimes it is as dangerous for those who cause it as it for those against whom it is carried out. This holds true in the case of school students who indulge in any form of aggression or antagonism with fellow students. Such cases of violent behavior are highly perilous, as students might inflict fatal injuries on each other.

Students have a duty while in school, but the school also needs to keep the student’s requirements in mind. If, for certain reasons, students are unhappy, they might try and harm school property. School violence might be extended towards the staff and teachers as well. It is mandatory to provide all students with an education through a harmonious existence. Anger management workshops and activities can be encouraged among students and early signs of violent behavior must be nipped in the bud.

Violence is not limited to either a public education system or private education system and can occur in either scenario. In both cases, if it is severe, the students involved may end up facing legal consequences, which they will probably regret throughout their lives. This can also affect the mental health of the students, since they are in their formative years in school and are incapable of dealing with acute stress. This is why all possible means to discourage incidents of school violence must be implemented seriously in all schools.

Filed Under: Education, School Violence Tagged With: , ,

The Road to Being an Engineer

The road to being an engineer is a very long one, even for people as naturally bright and industrious as Canadians. Fortunately, the road is well trodden, as there are several great engineering schools in Canada where one can take up this noble profession. Among these colleges are the University of Waterloo, McGill University and the University of Alberta. Let’s take a quick look at each one.

The University of Waterloo is a very cooperative and hands-on university in Waterloo, Ontario. The emphasis at this school is on securing employment in engineering after graduation. Students do this by alternating between their classes and working, alternating a semester of each one.

McGill University is located in Montreal Quebec, and has an extremely diverse educational environment. Students there come from 150 different countries. McGill’s College of Engineering has been ranked 20th best in the world, which is pretty incredible considering how many of these programs there are in the world.

The University of Alberta is in the town of Edmonton Alberta, and is no slouch on the global stage either. With an engineering program ranked 55th in the world and having the second largest engineering school in Canada, this college also has the most active student body. There are actually eleven different student government organizations here, so students can get extremely involved in the world of their campus.

You can find these schools and others like them through Canada 411, which allows you to search for a keyword or category on anything. You can also search for the best pizza places, and the nearest bars and clubs, while you’re looking for things to enhance college life.

Filed Under: Education, School Property Tagged With: , ,

Waldorf Private Schools

Waldorf schools were developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919.  Steiner believed that the whole child should be educated: the heart, the mind, and the hand. The underlying goal of a Waldorf education is to develop each child into a lifelong learner.

The Teachers Credo

Waldorf teachers strive to answer three questions for every student every day.

  • How do we find each child’s highest level of academic achievement?
  • How do we instill in each child a zeal for learning, self-awareness, concern for others, and respect for the world?
  • How do we help each student find meaning in their life?

Students Grouped by Developmental Stages

Students are grouped into three developmental stages.  The first is birth through 6 years old; the second is 7 to 14; and the third is 15 to 18.  Fundamental to the Steiner method, is that age appropriate information should be delivered to the student in a way that nourishes healthy growth and learning.

Arts Focus

Waldorf schools emphasizing learning through art, writing, storytelling, and music.  Students are encouraged to use their imaginations, to think creatively, and to explore new solutions to old problems.

A Typical Day

Each morning Waldorf students are presented with a long lesson (usually around 2 hours). Subjects for the long lesson center around a theme that lasts for several weeks.  The long lesson allows teachers to present material in depth.  Following the lesson is a brief review.  Then the students have recess.  Afternoon sessions are active and involve all aspects of the child.  Some of these activities include dance, music, crafts, handwork, and gym.

Waldorf schools strive to prepare their students for a complete and grounded life.  Graduates not only master English, math, history, geography and science, but also know how to sing, draw, carve and act. Waldorf graduates know how to work with others and how to think independently.

Filed Under: Education, Private School Tagged With: , ,

How to Find a Tutor?

Educational surveys show that individual tutoring sessions can help children who are struggling in one or more academic areas succeed.  Students who have five or more sessions of one-hour tutoring sessions are the most successful.  So how and where do we find a suitable tutor?  While there is no one answer to that question, here are some simple guidelines in selecting a tutor and few places to begin your search.

Before you begin your search for a tutor, you need to ask yourself two questions.  First, what is my educational goal for the tutoring sessions? Second, how will I measure the effectiveness of the tutoring?

Where to look for a tutor

Your first and best asset is your school.  Ask your child’s teacher and principal for a list of tutors.  Your school district’s website is another source to find recommended tutors. Finally, the internet offers a wide variety of tutoring options.  Some of these include: kaplankids.com, kumon.com, sylvanlearning.com and tutormatch.com.  This is hardly a comprehensive list, but it is a place to start.

Things to ask a prospective tutor?

1.      What training do you have in the subject area?

2.      What experience do you have teaching children the same age as my child?

3.      How will you help my child master the skills they need? What methods do you use?

4.      Can you give me a list of five references?

5.      What are your rates?

6.      Are you willing to have an introductory session? (If the answer is no, move on to the next candidate.)

Always try an introductory session for your child and the tutor before committing to a contract for a specific number of sessions. After the introductory session, evaluate how your child feels about the session and about themselves and whether learning objectives were met.

Filed Under: Education, Teachers Tagged With: , ,

Do You Know Your School Board?

Too often when we think about educational reform or educational policy changes we look to the school district administration or the legislature to bring about these changes. What we often overlook is the role that school boards play in setting educational agendas, measuring student achievement, and overseeing fiscal responsibilities.

School board members are elected officials and school board meetings are open to the public. School boards are charged with:

  • Creating the educational vision of the district. The educational vision is reflected in the learning environment by the quality of teachers, the measurement of student learning, and the effectiveness of the school/ community collaboration.
  • Establishing educational goals.  School boards rely on community input to their elected officials to set educational goals that meet the concerns of parents, students, and the community.
  • Developing policy.  School boards develop district-wide policies that govern student discipline, student assessment, teaching practices, and much, much more.
  • Allocating resources. School boards ultimately make the tough budget decisions.  In an ever tightening economy, school boards decide which programs to keep and which programs to cut.
  • Assuring fiscal and educational accountability.  School boards, as an elected body, are accountable to their electorate for the financial and educational decisions they make.

As parents and as a community we have a lot at stake in the educational outcomes of our school district. Becoming more involved with our local school board is one way to be sure that our students are getting the best education for the tax dollars we spend.

To find out more about your school board visit your school district’s website and find the current list of school board members and the date of the next school board meeting.

Filed Under: Education, Private School, Public School Tagged With: , ,

Cell Phones–An Educational Tool?

For the last several years, as cell phones became an appendage to teenagers, teachers and educational administrators have struggled to keep cell phone use out of the classroom. The reasons were sound.  Ringing or vibrating cell phones cause constant interruptions to the learning process.  Students that are texting one another are not paying attention to the educational tasks at hand.  Students, already hooked on gaming, are given even more opportunities to stay unconnected to real world activities.

In 2011 these are still valid reasons to limit or qualify cell phone use in the classroom. However sound the reasoning, educators have found that by invoking a zero-tolerance policy for cell phones in the classroom, they have inadvertently installed a barrier between teachers and students.  Rather than enriching the educational environment by reducing distractions, students are restless and disengaged.

Today more and more teachers are finding ways to incorporate cell phone usage as part of their lesson plans and the results have been mostly positive.   Some of the ways teachers are using student cell phones in the class room are:

  • Photographing white boards for future use
  • Using the cell phone as a stop watch to time experiments and free writing
  • Transferring files between home and school
  • Creating short movies for school projects.

Teachers who allow some uses of cell phones in the classroom report that students are more engaged in the educational process.  In addition, students are more tolerant and respectful toward some cell phone restrictions in the classroom when it is not all or nothing.

The pocket computing capabilities of cell phones is the wave of the future.  As the technology improves, educators can find even more classroom applications.

Filed Under: Education, Requirements, Students Tagged With: , ,
« Older Posts