Push for A’s at Private Schools Is Keeping Costly Tutors Busy

Parents Forum
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<p>Not at all. If they ones at the upper end are slow, they’re slow; they’ll just know more. From a societal standpoint, though, I’d love to see educational opportunities more widespread rather than concentrated on the few–so that those with most ability will be able to make use of that ability. </p>

<p>I’m not arguing for that, though–I"m only a democratic socialist, after all, so I respect people can spend their money as they like.:)</p>

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<p>No matter what the service or product is, there is inevitably an article in the WSG or NYT describing outlandish prices paid in NYC or LA. Haircuts costing $700, dinners for 2 $980, one bedroom apartments $2.5 mil, tutoring $400. People who have too much money love to spend too much money. No news here.
D was recently hired by a high power attorney in LA to teach him piano and voice. She quoted him $80 per hour. He told her that no one would respect her if that’s all she charged. He said “make it $150 and you’ve got a deal”.</p>

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<p>It seems a little silly to be that intense about anything. I see the value of tutoring since I was a volunteer tutor in high school. However, the article seemed to be one of those situations with “too much of a good thing.”</p>

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<p>If private school is “OK” so is tutoring. Should only the kids who “need” smaller classes and more personalized help go to private schools? Most of the CC regulars send their kids to private k-12. The rich are just turning up the heat, along with the Chinese and the Indian students, especially internationals. Bye, Bye, social mobility through education- it’s been gone for years.</p>

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<p>I’m on the West Coast, and in my area many students have tutors that charge $75+ an hour. I thought that was expensive. People don’t want to talk about it, but many students are getting help in the honors classes. I think this is another example of people paying huge amounts of money for a service they could purchase for much less. Is this different then the college counselor (Hernandez?) that charges thousands of dollars a year to advise students? Some people will pay $20 for a pair of jeans and others will pay hundreds. I agree that tutoring (without a LD or other issue) in every subject is overkill. But, I have paid a grad student $40 an hour to work with my daughter on occasion in math. I will admit, my husband and I can’t help her at this point. I don’t think she should drop down a level or leave an honors class,if she needs/wants an hour with a tutor. I don’t think this is different then having a parent that can offer some help. While there is a math lab - she usually can’t attend because of her ECs.</p>

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<p>We got a tutor for the first time this year when my d2 suffered from geometry phobia( I suffered from it myself) The extra hour a week raised her test score from a c to a b, and was well worth it. However, I was in shock to learn from the tutor about the many"A" students in our neighborhood who used her.
My D1 is now at a top 20 university never and used a tutor. It did not occur to me to get a bright kid help. She got about a 4 week SAT prep course, did not prep at all for the ACT, and still got in to the college of her choice.And she has done well there, even getting better grades than in high school. Her school attracts many wealthy kids, and she is out performing them!
I say spend the money on the tutor when you need it. But beware, it may backfire if you are trying to prop up the kid and get them in over their head academically in college. They may pay the price.</p>

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<p>Article in NYTimes this morning about tutoring at Riverdale for one class.
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/nyregion/riverdale-country-school-in-dispute-with-tutoring-company.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/nyregion/riverdale-country-school-in-dispute-with-tutoring-company.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;