Nursery dilemma for my brainy girl...
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
June 11, 2008 7:06pm CST
Several people have told us that our daughter's quite advanced for her age (she's nearly two and a half), and the health visitor also said this at her last check-up. I'm not bragging (despite the title of this discussion!! 
), and I think that children develop at their own rates, so other kids are probably more advanced in things that she is not, and there's always a certain amount of catch-up going on between different children. Obviously I think of her as a perfectly normal child, and she is :o)
Now people close to us are telling us that we should send her to a private nursery and school, as they feel she won't be stimulated enough at a normal state school and might be bored, and may not reach her full potential.
We are not considering private education. It would be a squeeze financially, but even if it wasn't, we think (and hope) that our local state school, which has a good reputation, should be able to stretch her enough. And we are against private schools in principle.
What would you do? Or what did you do if you've been in a similar situation?
Do you think it would be unfair/foolish of us to send her to a state school?
), and I think that children develop at their own rates, so other kids are probably more advanced in things that she is not, and there's always a certain amount of catch-up going on between different children. Obviously I think of her as a perfectly normal child, and she is :o)
Now people close to us are telling us that we should send her to a private nursery and school, as they feel she won't be stimulated enough at a normal state school and might be bored, and may not reach her full potential.
We are not considering private education. It would be a squeeze financially, but even if it wasn't, we think (and hope) that our local state school, which has a good reputation, should be able to stretch her enough. And we are against private schools in principle.
What would you do? Or what did you do if you've been in a similar situation?
Do you think it would be unfair/foolish of us to send her to a state school?2 people like this
2 responses
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
12 Jun 08
I am not 100% sure what a nursery school is but i have a feeling it's the lower levels of education - before actual elementary school, am i right?
We are in a similar situation as you seem to be - i started a discussion a moment ago about it - & we have opted to send her to a private school when she's of school age. The schools are smaller, so there are less kids per class which means each child can have more 1 on 1 time with the teacher to help them grasp things better & quicker. I'll save & make as many sacrifices as i have to in order to send her there.
We were always going to use the public school here but then i realised how big of a school it is & the fact it's an area school means there are lots of kids there from loads of places around general area.
We know it will be expensive & then more so again when it comes to high school & such but i don't think you can really put a price on education & like in most things, you seem to get what you pay for - i think this would apply with schools too - pay less than private & your child has more classmates so the teacher then has less time to spend with each child & the chance of falling behind without that help becomes more likely.
I don't think it would be unfair on her unless you could physically see her being bored & did nothing about it but even then you could have her skipped ahead a grade anyway which would be more stimulating.
Just do whatever you think is the right idea for your child & right for you financially - if you cant afford private schooling then there's no point in putting yourself in to debt for it.
Good Luck!
1 person likes this
@liquorice (3887)
•
13 Jun 08
Nursery school is the same as kindergarten. Sorry, should have explained.
I agree that smaller classes have to be better. I'm also with you that education is extremely important, but I did really well in the state system and lots of children still do. I admire you for the sacrifices you'll be making and it sounds like your daughter will be going to a lovely school. It is a personal and very difficult choice to make! We'll see how she goes at the local school and make any changes we need to, like extra tuition or skipping a year if necessary.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
12 Jun 08
You say your child is "brainy," but you don't say she can read Latin, or play Mozart on the Piano. Most kids are showing signs of intelligence at this age. Unless she is showing signs of exceptional intelligence I doubt a private school would be any better than a State School. You would be better off trying the local State School first, and if she is bored, you could have her tutored after school or on the weekends. I raised 4 exceptional boys and they were all educated in regular Public schools. I have no reason to believe they would have done better in a Private setting.
1 person likes this
@liquorice (3887)
•
13 Jun 08
Thanks for your response. I was using the word 'brainy' a bit sarcastically, as I agree that at the age of 2 it's a bit young to tell whether she's exceptional or not, despite what others may say about her. It's good to hear that your boys all thrived in normal state schools, and thanks for the suggestion about using tutoring if necessary, I'll bear that in mind.
