When it comes to private schools in the United States, the average citizen might think about the private high school days depicted in Hollywood movies such as Dead Poets Society, Mona Lisa Smile or School Ties. Or, perhaps they might be familiar with the literary private schools in A Separate Peace or Catcher in the Rye. Whatever the model of what a private high school is like in the minds of the public, chances are that model is not what awaits their child if they are prepared to excel on their education journey. Private schools in America are not simply centered around the high school level. The best academic middle school experience many young teens find is in the private school sector. Private schools make up roughly 24% of the nation’s schools and enroll 10% of students in grades K through 12. There are currently 5.3 million students from grades K-12 in 30,861 private schools in the United States. Private kindergarten schools can really give young children an edge in their learning by providing them with smaller class sizes and more individual instruction time with their teachers. Children find that private schools feel more safe to them, and when students are in a safe environment, a great deal more learning can be done. In fact, in a Fraser Institute study, 72% of parents, when surveyed along with their children, felt that their private school was safe. But safety isn’t the only reason that parents and students find private schools appealing. Parents and students alike find the dedication of the teachers to be one of the main reasons they choose their particular private school. In the same study as above, 92% of parents answered that teacher dedication was a very impressive reason to attend the private high school, middle school or elementary school of their choosing. When it comes to the private high school decision, parents and students alike are very much attracted to the typical class size. Private schools, in general, are less than half the size of public schools. This makes a large difference when it comes to receiving individual attention and specified instruction. If you can plan for your child’s education in advance, it is always wise to weigh every possible option. Why not take the time to investigate how the investment you will make in a private school education will pay dividends far beyond what you could have calculated. Private high school programs all across the country are preparing their students for placement in the best colleges. When you think about it, finding the right school early on for your child could be the very thing she needs to give her the confidence to succeed in the large world that awaits her. Our public school system in America is very good but is inconsistent at best. Find the private school that’s right for your child and he will thank you for it for years and years to come.

Education is the one thing that we all have in common. In fact, many of us are experts about what works and doe not work in education. We make these assumptions based on the education that we received. Unlike other important area of our life like doctor’s and dentist appointments, where only a select few have the schooling to earn the license and the experience, we all have training in education. As a result, many of us have strong feelings about the education that we want our children to receive. And while many people simply select the local public school as that option, other want their children to attend a private school setting. Private middle schools, in fact are the choice of families and parents who want their students to be academically challenged in a caring environment that also offers a variety of enriching activities and athletics opportunities.
Private Middle Schools Can Provide a Controlled, Smaller Learning Environment
According to national statistics, private high schools on average often have half the enrollment of public schools. This statistic is also true for middle schools. Smaller schools can provide a lower student to teacher ratio, which allows middle schoolers the chance to get the attention they need. A 2007 Fraser Institute study indicated that 91% of parents surveyed said teacher dedication was their main reason for choosing private school.
Middle school years are a transition time for many students. Changing bodies, changing attitudes, and changing moods make for young men and women who tend to be looking for answers. In a large public school, some middle schoolers get lost and struggle to where they fit in. A private middle school is small enough to allow these young children the opportunity to be recognized for their unique selves while being academically challenged. Small classes allow private school teachers to individually challenge the best and the brightest.
Taking the most advanced classes while in middle school prepares students for the rigors of academics in high school. Without the best foundations, these students may struggle to succeed in the courses that they need in high school that will prepare them for success in college. Private middle schools provide the academic foundation needed later in life.
Private School Settings Offer Safe Choices in the Midst of a Chaotic World
The same 2007 Fraser Institute study indicated that as many as 72% of parents surveyed with children in the private school system strongly agreed that their school was safe. Large public schools, on the other hand, seem overwhelming and dangerous to some families. The thought of a young middle schooler being shuffled among a crowd of thousands at the larges public schools sends chills down the spines of many parents. A smaller private school option, however, allows parents to feel safer about the days at school.
Private schools have many rules and regulations in place that can work to control the behavior of their students. Uniform requirements, for example, make sure that every student is conservatively dressed at all times. Because these schools are private they also have a strong hand in controlling who is able to attend their school. Students and families who do not follow the rules and guidelines can be asked to leave.
The world is a scary place for the parents of middle school students. Selecting a caring, safe environment as a school setting makes that world seem less frightening. Many times it is impossible to control what children are exposed to, but private schools allow parents the opportunity have some control over the school day.
Private School Activities and Athletic Opportunities Offer Students Challenges and Variety
Studies indicate that student athletes often have the best grades. Learning to mange a schedule that includes both team practices and classroom homework is a skill that serves students well for the rest of their lives. Private school sports teams offer students an opportunity to challenge themselves physically, while at the same time learning to build team skills.
Off the athletic field, private schools offer middle school students the variety of many activities. Business, foreign language, robotics, leadership, and chess clubs provide opportunities for both fun and growth. Sponsored by school faculty, many school activities lead to a student’s future careers.

We are confident that you want to give your child every possible advantage to thrive and succeed in life. That is every parent’s hope and dream for their child. For this reason, you may be considering enrolling your kid in a private school for either their entire educational career, from preschool through high school, or portion of their education (perhaps you want them to attend a private middle school, while they are developing critical skills to give them success in high school and college).

This is probably a great idea; private schools have a reputation for excelling in academics and preparing students for a successful path in life. In fact, studies show that SAT scores among students who attended a private school are typically higher in all categories (math, writing, and reading) than their public school counterparts. Additionally, private schools offer other opportunities that help a child gain their own identities and develop their personal set of strengths to succeed in life.

However, every child is unique and every family situation is unique. Private school is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution. Identifying the best educational situation for your child takes research and investigation of all of your options. There is no standard right or wrong answer when determining the best fit for your family, but here are a few reasons parents opt to send their kids to private school:

1. Class Size
   Private schools are typically smaller in size than public schools. In fact, on average, a private high school is less than half of the size of its public counterparts. What does this mean for you? Smaller schools often equal smaller class sizes, which could result in individualized attention for students. In public schools, the average class size has 24; a private school class size is typically about 18 students. Have a lower teacher to student ratio reduces the likelihood of your child getting lost in the sauce and overlooked. This is particularly beneficial if your child is timid and likely to fade into the background in a large group.


2. Family Participation
   Most private schools function through a partnership between the student’s family and the administration. This partnership while providing an education to the child helps tailor a learning environment that perfectly meets their needs. Parent participation comes through frequent parent/teacher conferences, regular channels of communication, and even volunteer expectations for parents. While this may require extra time and effort from the families of private school students, 91% of parents of private school students say that they appreciate having direct involvement in their child’s education process.


3. Teacher Training
   It is not uncommon for private school teachers to be required to have higher level credentials than public school teachers. Typically, a public school teacher needs a bachelors degree and a teaching certification to be qualified to teach. On the other hand, many private school teachers have to required to have master’s degree education levels and specialization in order to serve at a private school.
   
   The greater education level and ongoing training of private school teachers sometimes results in higher quality education provided to the children. Furthermore, the partnership between parents and teachers encourages greater dedication from the teachers and gives the child in excellent opportunity for a great educational experience.


4. Specialization
   Public schools provide general education as mandated by the state, whereas private schools often focus on specific areas of learning and offer greater opportunities in their specialization. It is very common for private schools to focus on math and science or arts, or even career preparations, such as medical, technical, or engineering focuses. Many private schools offer honors programs or excel in athletics, which gives a student advantages when applying to college.


5. Safety
   Every parent, with no exception, cares about their child’s safety above all. While public schools have security measures in place to protect the children, parents often feel more secure about their child’s well-being in private schools. In fact, over 72% of private school parents cite safety as one of the greatest advantages to their child’s private education.

To Sum it Up
Private schools are not the single right answer for every child. However, the class sizes, parental involvement, teacher preparation, additional opportunities, and safety offered in private school make a great option for most kids.

Autism is a developmental disorder that has been growing since the 1980s. Simply speaking, autism is a mental condition present from early childhood that is characterized by difficulty in forming relationships with other people and in using language in abstract concepts. Autism is one of the three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum, the other two being Asperger syndrome and pervasive development disorder, not otherwise specified.
Due to the fact that children with autism have special needs, it is crucial they attend a special needs school that specializes in working with learning disabilities. There are many benefits in enrolling your child in a special education program.
First and foremost, special education schools aim to change the way a school supports and addresses the needs of a child. Their teachers are trained specialists, and understand the disorder more than an average teacher would.
They offered differentiated instruction, and this leads to increased student engagement. As no two students are alike, no two lessons are the same. Special education programs place great importance on creating opportunities for students to learn and be assessed in different ways, and because of this teachers use different methods of teaching. Learning both visually and auditory diversifies the educational experience of all students. Plus, students with special needs are likely to benefit from additional educational services such as different approaches to teaching, use of technology, a specifically adapted teaching area, or resource room.
Additionally, their academic support helps each student reach their goals. Special educators ensure that their students are given the right opportunities to reach the full curriculum while offering a supportive and flexible environment for all learners.
Behavioral supports given in a special education program will help to maintain a positive learning environment for all involved. This consistency is essential for the success of all the students, and helps to establish high expectations throughout the educational community.
Also, inclusive education is crucial to make students with disabilities feel included in their school community. This establishes an environment where students and their families are accepted for who they are.
Inclusive education is one of the best things you can do for your child as they grow and develop.

Updated 5/8/24 If you have children aged three to five, you may wonder if you should send your child to a preschool. Parents who work may prefer a preschool to a childcare center because of the academic emphasis of preschool. According to Kids Health, preschool will also provide valuable non-academic lessons, such as socialization and taking turns. Preschool can be an essential part of child development within children’s lives. This may be the first time your kids are under someone else’s care for an extended part of their days. When you listen to them talk about their lessons, it may seem like you’re getting to know your child in brand-new ways. If you’ve decided to send your child to preschool, plan some at-home activities to prepare for preschool. Kids can design alphabet letter collages or play a counting game. Invite a few children they already know, so the experience serves as an effective transition to preschool. To encourage your child to become excited about preschool and making new friends, find books or TV shows that positively depict school activities. Some children may be afraid of going to preschool. If you verbalize your excitement about their first day at preschool, it may alleviate some of their misgivings.

The Importance of a Preschool Education

Preschool is a very valuable part of a high quality education. Finding the right preschool for you child helps them develop skills such as socialization, independence, and grade school readiness. However, not every child is exactly the same, in the right time to put your child in preschool may vary from one child to another. While the school your child will be going to may have requirements for preschool admission, these are just guidelines and do not definitively determine whether you child is ready or not. Most requirements for preschool are just determined by their birthday and potty training; determining your own requirements for preschool readiness for your child is a good idea to make sure they have a good experience, and establish a strong foundation for their education. Several things to consider when determining the requirements for preschool include: 1. The child’s age. Most preschools will generally begin about two school years prior to your child starting kindergarten. In most cases, many times, this means that the child will need to have their third birthday by September 1. If you child’s birthday is just past that deadline (let’s say, September 2), and they are technically too young for the preschool program, but you feel like they are ready, they may still be eligible. If you feel your child would benefit from participating in preschool already, you might be able to get your child enrolled by talking to the administrators of the school and having them review your child’s aptitude. 2. The child’s ability to follow directions. Most schools do not have requirements along the lines of following directions, but in order for your child to be successful in preschool, they will need to be able to follow at least simple instructions. Throughout the school day, a preschooler will be asked to pick up their toys, follow the agenda of the class, and meet simple rules. Do not despair if your child isn’t at this level before starting school, many of the skills are gained through their preschool experience. However, they will need to be able to at least understand basic instructions and follow them. If you worry your child is at this point yet, this is a good subject to start working with them on before starting school. Try giving your child simple tasks and help them understand how to follow them. 3. The child’s ability to express themselves. At the age of three, no child is expected to speak eloquently. However, in order to be successful in school, they might need to be able to convey a few words at a time to communicate with other classmates and teachers. If you are concerned about this, helping your child gain the ability to use his or her words is a good skill to help prepare them for preschool. This is as simple as using words for their actions; when they point to something they want, say “I think you’re trying to say that you want to play with this toy, right?” On the other hand, if your child has a speech delay or a disability that impairs them from communicating, this is absolutely no reason to delay putting them in preschool. Many preschools accommodate children disabilities (in fact all public preschools are required to). Talk to the administrator of the preschool and determine the best course of action if this is your child. 4. Your child’s comfort being separated from you. If your child has stayed home with one parent prior to going to preschool, separation anxiety could be a roadblock in them having a good experience. If this is your child, helping them adjust to being apart from you is an excellent way to prepare them for preschool. You could start by talking to them about about what to expect a while you are apart, so that it does not come as a shock. It is a good idea to leave them for short periods of time with someone they are comfortable with to help them adjust to being away from you before enrolling them in preschool. Do you have any other tips for recognizing when your child is ready for preschool? Please share them in the comment section below.

If you have kids, you probably have concerns about your childcare arrangements. Whether you can bring them to a early learning center for children or if you bring them elsewhere, this is a source of worry and concern for parents around the country. Nearly a quarter of all American parents have to work with multiple arrangements for their children. It costs more to cover childcare for two children than it costs for the average rent for people in every state in the country. Unlike other nations, parents in the United States are responsible for finding childcare options for their kids themselves at least 90% of the time. This is one reason that many businesses are starting to offer childcare for their employees.andnbsp;

4 Reasons to Consider Starting Employer Sponsored Childcare Programs:

1. You will have an easier time keeping employees. Companies that offer onsite daycare are more attractive to potential employees. These programs are also great at keeping current employees happy as they do not have to spend as much time worrying about finding a daycare center for their kids. More than 40% of parents surveyed said that they see a lot of value in being offered childcare at work. Employee turnover is a big problem for many companies around the country. The costs associated with hiring and training new employees can be huge. Keeping your current staff happy will have a positive impact on your bottom line, there is no question about that.
2. Your employees will be more productive. When your employees know their children are safe and secure, they work harder and better. Having an early learning center for children onsite may be one way to go. Companies with onsite childcare say their employees work harder and get more done. The National Conference of State Legislatures issued a report showing that childcare worries cause more problems for workers than any other issue outside of the work they do. Employees who have onsite childcare are able to focus more on the job they are doing than those who do not.
3. You will have less absenteeism on behalf of your employees. Many of the problems workers have getting to work on time or at all are causes by problems with their childcare arrangements. Nearly 90% of companies surveyed admitted any issues they had with their employees calling in sick or showing up to work late were due to childcare issues. Another 80% reported employees leaving work early to handle childcare problems. These issues can be resolved completely with onsite corporate daycare services.
4. It can save your business money. University of North Carolina professor Rachel Mills found in 2005 that when employees at light manufacturing firms were offered onsite childcare, saved money on the endeavor. This made any money the companies put out for the solutions for corporate childcare to be money very well spent.

So, you are convinced that you need to provide your employees with childcare at work, how do you do it? Many companies will work with independent contractors to set up corporate childcare facilities at their offices. There are some other options for companies that want to do the right thing by the parents who work for them. Your firm can offer vouchers for childcare that is not offered onsite. For many parents, one big issue is having a back up plan. What can they do, for instance, if the early learning center for children they use closes for the day due to inclement weather? Even if you have a facility onsite that is really only for emergency situations like these, you will reduce the days your staff take off work to deal with childcare issues.

Finding the right way to help your employees with their childcare may differ from business to business. If you are concerned about the parents who work for you, one way to deal with that is to ask them what kinds of childcare solutions would work best for them. Maybe there is a great early learning center for children that everyone in town wants to use and you can provide vouchers for that. Conversely, it might make more sense for your workforce to have an onsite facility. Talk to your staff and find the best solution for your company.

It is widely accepted that early education and development of a child go hand-in-hand. Studies show that children who participate in early childhood education before they are in grade schools develop social and emotional skills, pick up the foundation of their education (such as learning their letters, numbers, colors, and so on), and develop fine motor skills and the ability to pay attention for longer spans of time. These are all attributes that make them successful throughout their educational careers.
Benefits of Private Preschool vs Public Preschool

1. Faith-based curriculum. Public preschools are supported and subsidized by the federal government, and so they do not include any faith-based education.
   
   On the other hand, some — but not all — private schools uphold faith-based values. If providing a faith-based education is important to you, opting to put your child in a private school will be your best option. If you are neutral or opposed to a faith-based education, there are variety of private schools who do not involve faith principles, so either public or private school may meet your needs.


2. Educational philosophies. If you choose to enroll your child in a public preschool, the education provided to them will be mandated and facilitated by the state. Researching what teaching practices are used in your school district is an important factor to consider. Some teaching practices, such as common core, tend to have highly controversial opinions associated with them. Understanding these learning concepts and how you feel about them is an important factor.
   
   Conversely, private schools do not have to follow the same educational philosophies that public schools do. Many private schools follow the teaching practices of specific educational philosophies, such as Montessori or Waldorf (to name a few). If there is a teaching philosophy that you particularly subscribed to, you will have better luck finding a private preschool that aligns with it than you will in a public preschool.


3. Disciplinary practices. While the way the teacher interacts with the students may depend on the personality and characteristics of the actual teacher who your child works with, choosing a school whose disciplinary policy aligned with yours is incredibly important. Both private and public schools should have some sort of policy in place for when a child needs to be corrected (which is unavoidable when you get 20 or more preschool-age children in a single room). Before choosing whether to put your child in a public preschool or private preschool, closely consider how you feel they should be treated if they need to be corrected, and make sure the school that you enroll them in aligns with that.


4. Structure. Many public preschools are required to be results-driven. A key indicator in a way school success rate is through testing. As such, the public school is driven to teach the children to pass tests, rather than fostering their talents and desire to learn.
   
   Some education experts do not believe that testing is a valuable way to gauge a child’s learning, nor is it helpful in their education. Sometimes, private schools utilize play-based learning, which does not involve schoolwork or testing of any kind, to help a child the dock a love of learning. Having a love of learning is important attribute that will serve them throughout their life. If this is a value that is important to you, it is important to find a school that helps your child learn by engaging in the magnificent world around them, rather than memorizing facts.

Do you have any other tips for choosing between private preschool vs public preschool? Please continue this conversation in the comment section below!

For parents, choosing your child’s preschool program can be a heart wrenching, but a vital choice. This decision can have a far-reaching impact on many aspects of their child’s future life. As a result, it is a decision that requires research and advanced planning to be made properly. It can be difficult to know what to ask when researching these establishments, however, and that can mean you miss important information. These four tips should help make sure that anything missed will be minor in nature.

1. Check Out Their Philosophy on Education: The importance of education cannot be overestimated. Early education has been proven more important to the course of education than previously believed, and children who are enrolled in early learning programs that emphasize gain an advantage that those who are not enrolled rarely ever catch up to as the years progress. There is a large return on investment in such programs, as well, estimated at 10%. This number is especially impressive compared the 7% return of the stock market.
2. Discipline Policy: The way a child’s behavior is guided and corrected has lasting psychological implications. The inappropriate technique can negatively influence a child’s attachment ability, so look for establishments that focus on positive reinforcement and redirection rather than the negative view of punishing bad behavior. A big indicator of a positive focus will be a reward chart displayed prominently.
3. Ratio of Adults to Children: The number of children in your child’s age group, and the adults available to monitor them, is important for a number of reasons. First, the children are safer with more attentive adults surrounding them. The chaos that naturally occurs when children are at play can easily lead to accidents and injuries that could be avoided if there are enough adults to monitor everything occurring. Second, a child needs individual attention to ensure healthy emotional and mental growth. If there are too many children for that one-on-one interaction, it can negatively affect a child’s emotional well-being.
4. Plan Ahead: Think carefully about what will be needed once your child progresses to Kindergarten. Does the preschool you are considering offer after school care. During the course of preschool, children will develop close relationships with their peers as well as the teachers. If you know you will require an after school care program, avoid places that do not offer it. That way, your son or daughter can maintain the positive connections, a difficult prospect when many of the children they interact with will likely attend different schools. Also, forcing a child to adapt to a new place for the after school care while they are simultaneously adjusting to Kindergarten could lead to behavior issues as the child becomes overwhelmed.
Preschool should be a positive experience for your child, filled with education, play, and nurturing relationships. Finding the school that best meets the needs of your child will take effort, but these four tips should help smooth the way.

Do you think you want to be a tattoo artist? If you are considering going to tattoo school or doing a tattoo apprenticeship, there are things you should do first. Becoming a successful tattoo artist involves more than just knowing how to do the most popular tattoo designs. It takes a lot of work, patience and drive.

Tips to Becoming a Successful Tattoo Artist:

• How serious are you about your art? Note that people who design and draw tattoos are artists. If you are not passionate enough about your art to want to practice it all the time (practice does make perfect after all), you should look into otehr lines of work. There will be some people who only want to get of the most popular tattoo designs put on their arm but many want something that is unique. Even when you are copying another artist’s work, it is your art that will grace their skin for a very long time. Take pride in that. Take the time to study and develop your art. You can even go to art school for tattooing.
• Consider how much you like dealing with people. Being a tattoo artist is not just creating the most populat tattoo designs. When you become an established and well known artist, you will be able to have an attitude but when you are just starting, you cannot. If you do not like dealing with people, this is not the business for you. Yes, it is your art you are tattooing but it will be on people so you cannot work just to please yourself but your clients as well. Not all of the most popular tattoo designs will qualify as “high art” and you just have to get used to that.
• Get your high school diploma or GED. Many people are under the false impression that they will not need to finish high school if they plan to work as a tattoo artist. This is not optional for would be tattoo artists. This is an essential step in becoming a tattoo artist and will be needed to get the neccessary certifications. If you are under 18 years old, you should know that you will have to wait until you reach 18 to be certified.
• Find a good tattoo studio to apprentice. Becoming a tattoo apprentice is a great way to learn the trade, connect with people in the tattoo community and see what the life of a tattoo artist is really all about. You want to do the most popular tattoo designs? This is one of the best ways to get started along that path. Seek out tattoo studios in your area and ask. Be polite when you go in. The staff at the tattoo studio get a lot of requests like this so one way to NOT get an appreniceship is to go in with a bad attitude.
• Make the most of the tattoo apprenticeship. You need to the best best employee you can be when and if you start a tattoo appreniceship. Do the menial tasks that other people do not want to do. If you see the floor needs to be swept, do not wait to be asked to do it, just do it. Make yourself into a valuable asset and a great part of the team. This shows your work ethic and gets you noticed as a dependable and reliable person.
Tell everyone you meet what you are trying to do.

There was a time when tattoos were reserved for sailors or other people on the fringe of society. Now, it seems everyone is spoting the most popular tattoo designs. Nearly 60% of people with ink are women. There are at least 21,000 tattoo studios around the United States and that number can only go up. If want to become a tattoo articts, you can if you combine your passion for art with a lot of hard work and determination.