Should a child going into secondary school have a say on which school they go to?

Sentient Treacle · 08-04-2016, 10:01 PM

As it says on the tin. Should a parent just pick the school or should the kid be asked about it, in your opinion? Did you have a say in the secondary school you went to?

So hypothetical situation if you're into that, you have an 11 year old, you want them to go to a well performing school, but they want to go to say an average school that all their chums are going to. Do you acquiesce or tell Barbara to pack that backchat in and hurry up eating her macaroni cheese?

Bellatrix · 08-04-2016, 10:05 PM

My mum picked my secondary school.Thankfully it was one I wanted to go to.

If I'd known more about things like arts/performance/drama schools I'd have pushed to go to a more formal one, but as it happened the school I went to became a specialist arts school so I got my wish.

But I don't know. I think it should b tan into consideration, but ultimately the parent is the one with the now how to work out what makes a good school. And a kid will always make new friends and can stay in touch with old friends outside of school.

Pi.R^2 · 08-04-2016, 10:11 PM

MOAR LESBIANS

chinahorse · 08-04-2016, 10:14 PM

It should be taken into much consideration yes, for instance I went to boarding school and I'd be horrified if that was forced on anyone. And it was also my decision to leave which was respected by my parents.

I think really, the kids happiness is worth a lot more than getting a B instead of an A etc.

Sentient Treacle · 08-04-2016, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pi.R^2

MOAR LESBIANS

Back by popular demand.

Pi.R^2 · 08-04-2016, 10:31 PM

Champion.

I will now answer the actual question. As with many decisions involving miniature humans, I think the child should have a say but ultimately the parent should make the decision, taking into consideration the child's preferences. I wanted to go to any school but the school my parents wanted me to go to and my reasons were crap/non-existent/essentially I'm a contrary bastard and I'm super-glad they ignored my tantrum and sent me to the school they chose whilst I ate up my macaroni cheese. Had I had legit reasons then I imagine they would have paid more attention! Why do you ask?

Bellatrix · 08-04-2016, 10:35 PM

Do you have a 11 year old we don't know about?

Pi.R^2 · 08-04-2016, 10:38 PM

She does. Tread carefully on the subject though, as one time I suggested she was setting a bad example for him and she lost the plot and threatened to send me flaming emails via her son's mymaths account.

Bellatrix · 08-04-2016, 10:39 PM

Eep! Too hot for me.

Isoverity · 09-04-2016, 06:49 AM

I would have to see how the kid relates to the friends. A kid's "friends" can often do more damage than the enemies. If the kid is caught up in drama and intrigue, and talking on mobile phone all day and night then I might be inclined to send a kid away from the friends.

I was basically a good kid in school but I still gravitated to the sketchy kids because of sports and other reasons. If I had gone to a private school away from local school I would never have got caught-up smokin, drinkin and talking dirty lol. I knew some real bad kids.

Cacoethes · 10-04-2016, 04:38 PM

I got to choose which primary school I went to. My best friend was moving up to a Catholic school but the school I went to was part of the school already so I had to fight to leave it and go to the Catholic school.