I've changed my mind. I've decided to pass Go, collect my $200, and not go to jail.

No, that's not what you said. At least that's not what I understood.

Your original post said:

I took your statement that you were looking for a good school for your boys to mean that you would welcome any information about any good schools.

I thought I was doing you a favour by pointing out that private schools were not the only good schools available and by mentioning ways of identifying other good schools, e.g., finding public (government-funded) schools that offered the I.B. program.

Also, I think everything I said about private schools in Canada was valid. That is, there are a lot of implications beyond the question of whether or not a given private school nominally is a "good school."

You live in the UK. As far as I understand, you've never lived in Canada. I don't know how much you know about Canadian society. I've never lived in the UK. However, I gather that private schools are more common in the UK than they are in Canada. I thought there was a good chance you didn't understand how unusual it was to send children to private schools in Canada.

I thought that providing you with additional context might be useful to you. I spent quite a bit of time typing my post. I didn't say anything lightly. I put thought into it.

I feel you were the one who was rude. I feel there was no need for you to get on your high horse. Even if my information did not feel useful to you, you could have "taken what you liked and left the rest."

ah well maybe it was just the way you wrote it...it came across as rude to me but i guess you can't get subtle nuances on the typed page..when you said about the best thing you can do for your kids etc is to secure your own financial future it wasn't really what i was asking for...i didn't want a lecture on how to bring up my own children i merely asked about the school..anyway i'm not getting into an argument over this and i wasn't on any high horse...case closed

hi, am new to this but have a son at KES, it is a wonderful school and can try to answer any questions you may have,
it's kind of like a british prep school

Hello, chesterkiwi, and welcome to the BE forum.

Since you have a child at a private school, and can talk from personal experience of a private school in Canada, I would love to know some of your thoughts about the topic -- not so much about KES itself, although naturally you're welcome to discuss that too, but about the pros and cons of private schools in general.

My agenda in asking you this is that I want to add relevant information to the BE Wiki article on Canadian Schooling. It would be useful to have the contributions of someone who personally has accessed the private school system in Canada (well through their child at least).

You're welcome to respond in this thread or by way of a private email or, for that matter, not at all -- if you don't want to.

You have to have posted three messages on the BE forum before you're able to send another member a private message (PM). So, at this point, if you wanted to PM me, you wouldn't be able to. With that in mind, I'll send you a PM with my email address, in case you're willing to correspond with me.

Anyone can edit a Wiki article, and you're welcome to do that too. However, since you're so new to the forum, you may not feel like figuring out the mechanics.

Hi there

Nice to hear from someone without an agenda re private schooling. We'd love to hear your experience of KES please - we have two boys who would be starting at ages 14 and 12. How long have your children been there please and how are they getting on? Is the school quite "sporty" as both my boys like their football and rugby. Did they settle in well and is it a friendly school? I'll think of some more specific questions later but just wanted to say hello and thanks for the reply.

Thanks
Alex

Blimey, you ask for advice and then take offence at Judys impecable and incredibly detailed and well thought out reply.

And then Judy takes it on the chin like a trooper.

In short private schooling is not common in Canada because it really is not necessary. The public schools do a great job, have no fear sending your kids to a regular school and save your money for something else. Judys last line about "The very fact that you have asked this question suggests to me that you don`t quite understand the ethos of this country" hits the nail squarely on the head. If you send your kids to a private school to play rugby and soccer, then you handicap them with respect to integrating with the local kids and 99% of the rest of the population in future. If you want to make a future in Canada for you and your kids you have to start thinking skating, hockey and baseball.

We dont know you from adam, and you dont know us either, so before you jump all over a well respected contributor to this resource, take the time to read some of their other contributions before making a rash decision and looking like a mean spirited idiot.

And you can keep your thoughts about the worthyness or otherwise of this reply to yourself.

I too take offense by your reply.

Judy always puts so much effort into her replies. They are alway well informed and very helpful.

You asked a question, she replied to the best of her knowledge.

In my opinion....you are incredibly rude

I would have thought a mental health nurse would need to be more tolerant.

Linda

You're telling me if someone plays soccer and rugby in Nova Scotia they'll be ostracised by society...grow up. I simply asked a question about a school in Nova Scotia and I get people trying to tell me how to bring up my children. How would you feel if I started to tell you how to bring up your children. Now would you just go away and leave us people who do not have a problem with private schools to talk. Goodbye.

Listen you are the people who are intolerant - just what is your problem with private schools eh? Anyway i'm not going to get into any childish stuff so de-registering immediately after this so don't worry i'll leave you all to your insecurities.

YES, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I AM SAYING. Soccer not so much as many kids play, but if your kid knows all about hookers, flankers and blind side rucks, and nothing about the blue line and crease, then they are going to be short of social skills at the water cooler later in life.

You really dont know Canada do you?

Im not telling you how to raise your kids, Im not commenting on private schooling in general, Im telling you, as someone who has lived in Canada for ten years:

A: There is no need for private schooling, state schooling is fine. But its your money. You said you were looking for "good schools", well, chances are the local schools are good and wont cost you a penny.

B: Private schooling might well hamper your children's ability to relate to "normal" canadians by focusing on minority sports at the expense of Canadas national pastimes, and fostering an elitist attiude that just wont wash with the average canadian devoid of exposure to the class system.


But you know best with your extensive experience of Canada and Canadians and Canadian schooling, so why ask in the first place.

We are trying to educate you here, but you dont seem to want to know. There are none so blind as will not see.

Goodbye <ignore list, not used for two years, now used twice in a week>

Hi,
Life is about choices and I think everyone has there own reasons for choosing public or private education. We have chosen and have some experience of the private school Kings- Edgehill , which I am happy to share.
Uniforms are required, sports program is compulsory every day after lessons finish at 2.30. The sporting facilities are impressive. My son has been swimming for the first term, he will start snowboarding after the christmas break. The rugby teams, soccer and hockey teams are all very strong.The arts programs are very well developed, along with the facilities to support these programs. The cadet program is mandatory, As for the standard of teaching and the structure of the school, it suits my son and he is doing well with his education.
Let me know any other specific questions, I will be pleased to help out

What is YOUR problem with public schools? Have you even checked out the local public schools, or are you just assuming they are no good?

oh, please don't think that there is any thing wrong with the public schools. Here in Chester they are for the most part excellent, and we have experienced some very dedicated teachers. Like anywhere you get the odd exception .

Oh dear, 15 posts and you know everything. Although I don't know you I will apologise on your behalf to Judy who does a stirling job trying to help people who ask questions on here.
If you were offended by something Judy said surely it would have been politer (is that a word) to PM her than the way you replied?

I don't read any of the replies and think, woah don't try and tell them how to bring their kids up!

This part of your reply "Now would you just go away and leave us people who do not have a problem with private schools to talk" is undeniably rude. The poster was again trying to explain to you that Judy is an extremely valued poster who spends a lot of her time and energy on this forum and I for 1 look forward to her replies.

I'm not telling you what to do, but maybe it would be better if you PM (private message) chesterkiwi for info regarding the school in question.

Rosie

why do you have such a problem with people making there own choices i don't understand it at all

we have looked at both private and public the choice is up to the parent you seem to think there should be no choice

sue