What to look for when searching for a private school for your child

August 29, 10:05 PMFullerton Community ExaminerKimberly Wolfe

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                   Berkeley School in downtown Fullerton

 And so, the search begins.

 What exactly does a parent look for in a private school to send their child to? Part 2 of this series delves into this question with advice from Korla Childress, Co-Director and teacher at Berkeley School in Fullerton. Childress has been teaching for over 34 years and is one of the co-founders of the school, which is located on Pomona Ave. in downtown Fullerton. Here is some of her advice:

• Look for smaller class sizes: With class sizes in public schools increasing by the year due to cuts in education funding, it becomes even more crucial to find a private school that values small class sizes. Smaller class sizes give the teacher more of a chance to guide your child's learning and not spend so much time on discipline.
• Make sure that the school fosters creativity: Brilliant, original ideas come when creativity is fostered. Children also prefer to learn in creative ways instead of rote memorization and can even learn better and faster.
• Look for happy kids: Do the children look like they are happy? Turn on your parent instinct and look for this. This may very well show you if you want to place your child in the school.

 "Attitude is everything," Childress said. "We have kids who don't want to go home at the end  of the day."

• Do children have space to play? Moving around is essential to the physical and social development of children, according to a kinesiology professor at Kansas State University. Recess also helps children stay on task and are also better behaved, among other things. Kids need to play!
• Does the school offer an arts program? Having an arts program in schools has been shown to help children understand other subjects, such as math and science, much more clearly. An arts program can also help nurture inventiveness in children.
• Is the curriculum well-rounded? The three R's need to be learned in school, of course, but a well-rounded curriculum gives your child a distinct advantage. Basics are essential to be learned in school but a true well-rounded curriculum should include music and fine arts, the humanities and student activities, among other subjects.

 May your search for your child's school yield wonderful results. Part 3 of our series will start private school profiles.