Public School Thoughts

I am seriously fed up with my daughters private school. As in I'm so angry I could blow.

I answered the phone as it rang for the 20th time this morning. I've been anxious about my sister and I've been getting updates every 10-20 minutes but the number on my ID was someone I didn't know. I answered it and it was from a parent from the private school, wanting (wait for it...) more money.

I wanted to chew her ass. I know they have a ton of money to blow through. I realize that many of them have lucrative jobs and can contribute money for everything. But we cannot. We put our necks on the chopping block just to place Arwen into this school.

I tried as nicely as possible to explain that:

We are on a budget.

We have 4 children.

I am a stay at home Mom.

It was a strain financially just to place Arwen in the academy at all and extra money wasn't something we just had on hand.

But this woman wouldn't take no for an answer. She told me it was tax deductible and would greatly "help the parents". She basically wanted us to either, A. Make a Dinner for two parents to share for a night out or B. Purchase a gift certificate to a local restaurant for them to go out to dinner together.

News flash lady, I can't even get out to a nice dinner with my own husband unless it's our anniversary. Why in the hell am I going to give someone else the money to do it instead? If anyone needs that time alone together it's us!

I finally told her to call back. That I'd have to speak to my husband about our finances first. She said she'd call back tonight but I told her I'd be with my sister, so she said she'd call tomorrow. I hope she does because I've already decided, I'll have Jimbo answer. He'll take care of her.

I think we need to place Arwen into a public school next year. I care alot about her education but I can no longer put up with these rich people. It makes me very uncomfortable. And what kills me is you see children in that school who come from struggling families, even more so than ours. You can see it in the tattered uniforms and book bags. Yet they still ask those parents to donate and they usually do since it's, "For the Church".

It burns my ass, I tell you. If they truly want to do something for others, they need to pay attention to those who have the money to donate and those who don't. Then they can call up Mr. and Mrs. Doctor Smith and get their cash. I'm sure she won't miss out on getting a new pair of shoes. But leave Mr. and Mrs. Average Joe alone.

And I really want to see where all this money they collect goes to. I want to see the books. There is no way possible the money goes into our school and classroom. "How do you know that?" you might wonder? The answer is simple. Because all of things in the classroom have come from US parents. The teachers and principal made sure to nickel and dime us before school started for it all.

I have a feeling it's going toward that big shiny church next door. I told Jimbo before I didn't like the idea of a Catholic private school. Sure I want my daughter to have the best education offered in our area but I don't see how teaching her "Holy Mary" and other prayers qualifies as "quality education".

I'm really open here for some sound advice. Would you place your child in public school? What would you do here? If it weren't for the constant asking for money I might not mind so much. The teacher issues will be resolved next year (I hear Mrs. B is very tough but the first grade teachers are awesome) so the only problem will be this.

And better yet. If we do keep her there. How would you deal with these calls? The school is VERY smart. They have parents calling parents. It's much easier to get ugly to a solicitor or to throw away mail but you try blowing off a parent on the other end of the phone.

I'm all ears.