Happy, but disappointed

I am happy yet disappointed looking ahead to the future of Christian remaining in the private school she is in.

There are so many plusses, as to why we chose where we did-- in the end we are extremely happy and so is Christian.

Anyhow, in speaking with Holley (holley79) and another parent (whose child did not attend this particular school, but confirmed the same story as Holley)- this school has chosen to dictate what their students do outside of the classroom, outside of the school all together. From the grades of 6th-12th, students (or their parents) are requested to sign a contract stating that they (the student) will not wear certain clothing, patron certain restaraunts, even listen to gospel rock. While I am not 100% of all the details of the contract of what they are expected to do, or not to do, it is merely learning that once my children are out of elementary with this school, they are expected to abide by certain rules while in public, or face consequences back in school. Again, I am not 100% of all the details, but I have learned enough for questions to be raised in the coming years.

It will be many years before we cross that bridge, but I will not allow my children to be told the most appropiate behavior/dress while off the premises of this school, as their mother we both can decide together and compromise if necessary. We obey the dress codes as requested for Christian in K-4, and will continue to. But any contractual agreements between my children and the school are off, when it comes time to enter junior high!

Personally, I agree with you 100%. Having dress codes and rules of behavior inside school are good. I wouldn't even mind suggestions of proper decorum ouside of school, or the occasional recommendation of places that you should not patronize (with good reason - for example, if it is a religious/Christian school, a restaurant that is publicly anti-Christian). But there is no way I would allow my child's school to dictate what they can and cannot do outside of school grounds.

Ditto to Pam. I'm sure they "intend" well but it's over the line IMHO.

So what happens if you don't sign the "requested" contract?

Ditto! Totally agree. I don't blame you for feeling the way you do about it Nicole. I would feel the same way.

Yep...that's dumb. School telling you how to raise your child? Nunh-unh.

Weird. Hopefully someone will convince these people that they cannot (and should not in America) control what happens outside of school. That's a shame, since it seems to me that the school has a lot of real positive points. External control would weigh like a ton of lead against any benefits if it were me.

omg.. I think if it was me I would keep her in until she is out of elementry school then I would consider moving to a different school IF that is still how they do things.. but that is what I would do!!! I don't think that a SCHOOL should tell my kids how they act outside of school that is the parents job!!

I agree, its kinda like sayign the parents dont know how to parent.

This is what I am thinking; it may be that the actual details may have been aggravated and blown out of proportion. I still have yet to make a call to the school to inquire, but I will do so soon.

I believe that the the school would prefer that the student in public is a good representation of the school, and to behave appropiately-- the same as we as parents want our children to behave appropiately the way we have raised them, when they are not in our sight.

I am beginning to wonder if the contract is really a binding contract at all. It may be a piece of paper, making mere suggestions. Sort of a promissory note, that the student will adhere to the best behavior, but nothing with consequences. That seems so far fetched for anyone. I am beginning to wonder if the details of the contract have since been misconstrued , and we all know how rumors spread like wildfire...

A classmate of mine the other night said that they would have some form of detention in school. But again, that is such a far fetched punishment for something a child does off of school premises.

I will check into it, and give them a call just to inquire about the junior high/high school rules.

One thing to add though, and part of my thinking that some of the details are false rumors. The college that is affiliated with Christian's K-4 through 12thgrade school, sits on the next property over. This college has had many many rumors about it for as long as it has been in existence. Rumors of cults, and mandatory attendance at church on Sunday, not being able to leave the campus. I asked several people about some of these, and all were confirmed by them, but none of the people actually went to the college, so again I am not sure if the details are far-fetched and untrue or true but being swept under the rug.

Oh I hope this was blown out of proportion because to me all those rules are way extreme.