Often when you’re hungry, you want something really tasty -- like prime rib from Texas Roadhouse. Other times, you’re hungry and in a hurry and you only want something that is “just good enough” to take away the hunger -- like Taco Bell.
When it comes to your child’s education, are you getting “just good enough” or are you giving your child the best education you can?
We love to give tours of our school which means we talk to a lot of parents with kids spread across a lot of schools in the area. We see the good and the bad. The really good and obviously bad are usually easy for people to spot. It’s the “just good enough” group of students and schools that is worrying.
Often parents don’t know how to choose a school for their child, especially parents with their first child getting to school age. (It’s not something that is taught in a Parenting 101 class we all take before they issue a license to have kids, right?)
Not knowing what to do, parents often default to the neighborhood public/charter school or they do what their neighbors and friends are doing silently hoping those people know how to choose a school. The reality is their neighbors and friends often chose the school by default as well. (See our blog post on how to choose a school for your child.)
How do you know if your child’s school is in the “just good enough” category?
Obvious ways:
Your child doesn’t want to go to school.
Your child has anxiety/stress about school.
Your child says they hate [insert subject here or teacher name here].
Your child says school is boring or a waste of time.
Your child acts out at school.
Perhaps even social problems such as bullying, sexting, ridicule, exclusion, belittling, safety issues, etc.
Subtle ways:
Your child never comes home talking about what they learned at school. When you ask, you never really get an answer.
Your child feels something is out of balance in their life, but they don’t know how to articulate that problem. So, instead of a rational response about school you get an emotional response.
As a parent, your gut says your child can do more.
As a parent, your gut says something isn’t the way it ought to be, but you’re not sure what it is or how to fix it.
You start casually looking around at other schools wondering what else is out there.
We have spent a lot of time speaking with and giving tours to families from all around the valley and from a wide variety of schools who are dealing with these questions and concerns. It’s a thrill, and the reason we do what we do, when we see how enrolling at Arches Academy brings both direct and subtle solutions to these issues. This is because of the nearly magical equation of highly qualified faculty and small, carefully crafted class sizes that Arches Academy provides. This combination leads to a social, emotional, and academic environment that keeps problems nipped in the bud, and allows each child to thrive.
If you have any question at all whether you are providing the best possible education for your child--or if their school might be an educational “Taco Bell”--don’t hesitate to give us a call and come in for a tour. Just seeing what other options are out there might help you make some comparative analysis, and ensure that your child is getting the incredible educational experience they deserve.
