Traditional Private Schools

Do you know....? If you know the answers to all these questions, you probably teach or work in a private school. Be that as it may, these questions contain links with the answers. Test your knowledge. Dispel some urban legends about private schools. Do you know....?

• the five things critics love to hate about private schools?
• that private schools have become quite diverse?
• that not every Montessori school is the real thing?
• that there are free private schools?
• that private school may be free if you make less than $75,000?
• that 8th graders in 1895 had to take a final exam like this?
• how to evaluate a private school?
• how to avoid common mistakes during your admissions interview?
• how to pay for private school?
• how to find a private school job?
• what the research says about single-sex education?
• what private school teachers make?
• what is being taught in private schools?
• what the difference is between an independent and a private school?
• when to apply to private school?
• where to find scholarships?
• when you should consider a special needs school?
• where you can use cellphones and iPods in school?
• which school is best for your child?
• which school is the most expensive?
• which school Malia and Sasha Obama are attending in Washington?
• why there is no ranking of private schools?
• why you should send your child to a private school versus a public school?
• why small classes are better than large ones?
• why AP courses are worth

Private schools have terms and a language all their own. Similar to most affinity groups, this jargon is second nature to the insiders. Some of the terms which you will encounter have been passed down through the centuries. They come to us from England and other European countries where private or public schools, as they call them, have been around for centuries. That's why you will see words on this list which you will recognize with meanings that you weren't expecting.

Here are some of the more common terms you are likely to encounter as you explore private schools.

ADD/ADHD

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is what ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) used to be called.

Here's what WebMed has to say: "ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a condition with symptoms such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The symptoms differ from person to person. ADHD was formerly called ADD, or attention deficit disorder. Both children and adults can have ADHD, but the symptoms always begin in childhood. Adults with ADHD may have trouble managing time, being organized, setting goals, and holding down a job."

If your child exhibits any signs of ADHD, you should have him evaluated thoroughly and professionally. The syndrome is generally treatable. Several private schools specialize in teaching boys and girls with ADHD.

Crew

Crew is the ancient sport of rowing. Rowing in shells is very popular in many private schools. Crew is offered in the fall and spring. Schools participate in

For Profit vs Not for Profit Schools

Private schools are generally organized as for-profit or not-for-profit (nonprofit) entities.

• The for-profit version is typically used by a corporation or a private individual to make a profit but not be eligible for tax-deductible contributions to the extent provided by law.
• Most private schools choose to organize under not-for-profit status so that they may make money but also receive tax-deductible donations to the extent provided by law.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a for-profit versus a nonprofit school? Is one kind of school better than the other?

Canva generated this picture of a board of trustees.

For-Profit Schools

A for-profit school is set up by allowing it to be controlled by an owner.

• That owner could be an individual or group of individuals, as is often the case with many pre-schools and some elementary schools. Another form of ownership is a corporation.
• This often is a corporation owned and operated by a group of local individuals.

More typically, for-profit private schools are owned by a corporation that has schools in several locations.

• For-profit schools are usually in business to make money or turn a profit.
• They pay taxes on those profits.
• Parents pay for the school's services just as though they were customers.

Examples of this sort of school include Le Rosey in Switzerland, Sylvan Learning Centers, the Nobel Schools, and thousands of small

Boarding or Day School?

Many parents agonize over sending their teenagers to boarding school or keeping them at home and sending them to day school.

• The issue you really need to address is the quality of supervision you are able to give your children after school and on weekends.
• Let's face it, modern parents lead very busy professional and social lives.
• If you aren't around to see what's going on, do you know what your teen is up to?

Canva generated this picture of a boarding school campus.

The Advantage of Going to Boarding School

When you send your child to boarding school, you are buying the whole package: academics, athletics, social life, extracurricular activities, and 24/7 supervision all rolled into one.

• That's just part of a boarding school's DNA.
• It is an incredibly good deal for many thoughtful parents.

Of course, she will miss her mother and father, her siblings, her own room, and all those other special things she knows and loves.

• But the truth is that she will be off to college anyway in a few years.
• Getting a head start on leaving home is not a bad thing. It will pay huge dividends in later years as she has had to learn to cope and adjust to new circumstances at an earlier stage in her life.
• Teaching her to be independent is a good thing.

Living in a boarding school essentially prevents your

Litchfield County, Connecticut, is home to a couple of dozen excellent schools catering to just about every need. The setting about 90 miles north of New York City is convenient to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Picturesque vistas, rolling hills, ancient stone walls as well as quaint New England villages and towns dot the county's landscape. Plenty of acceptable restaurants and accommodations can be found for those inevitable parents' weekends and other family occasions.

• Canterbury Schoool, New Milford
• The Glenholme School, Washington
• The Forman School, Litchfield
• The Gilbert School, Winsted
• The Gunnery, Washington Depot
• The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville
• Indian Mountain School, Lakeville
• Kent School, Kent
• Litchfield Montessori School, Northfield
• The Marvelwood School, Kent
• Rumsey Hall, Washington Depot
• Saint Anthony School, Winsted
• Saint John the Evangelist School, Watertown
• Saint Mary Magdalene School, Oakville
• Saint Peter School, Torrington
• Salisbury School, Salisbury
• South Kent School, South Kent
• The Taft School, Watertown
• Washington Montessori School, New Preston
• The Woodhall School, Bethlehem