We have community service to try to teach the kids that they're lucky and privileged to be in this type of environment, but I don't think there's any question that independent schools are to some degree an oasis in society and that some parents obviously want the kids in a program to shelter them from that society. One disadvantage of private schools is that some smaller schools don't have the resources to offer many of the elective courses or extracurricular activities available in public schools. And some parents complain that the class sizes get so small as the years progress that their children have trouble making friends. You're in school with the same kids year after year. How to Choose a Private School When choosing a private school for their child, parents should compare schools carefully.
Schools vary widely in terms of curriculum, class size and tuition.
Parents should visit schools, spend time in the classroom, and speak with administrators, teachers, students and other parents to ensure that the particular program is right for their children. Get the feel of the school to see if you're going to be comfortable in the environment that the school portrays. Parents should also remember that Florida law does not require private schools to be accredited and it does not require that private-school teachers have state teacher certification. The best advice I can give to a parent is shop, shop, shop, because all nonpublic schools are not alike. Robyn A. Friedman is a freelance writer and mother of one.