Said one popular Mommy blogger who wants to continue to blog about her family:
"There’s something about mothers lifting back the veil of the family that upsets people, that leads people to accuse the mothers who dare do such a thing of neglecting their maternal duties, of exploiting their children, of exposing their children to the dangers of the public sphere, of being bad. But that’s precisely what makes mom-blogging – to overuse a deservedly overused phrase – a radical act. We’ve always been told to not lift the veil. We’ve always been told to stay behind the veil, no matter what. We’ve always been told that the sanctity and well-being of our families depends upon the integrity of that veil – upon modesty and privacy and keeping our struggles and our victories to ourselves. Which has, over the course of the history of Western civilization (and that of other civilizations, of course, although I cannot speak to these with any authority), kept us isolated from one another. Kept us silent. I choose not to be silent. I choose to tell my stories, tell – while she is young – her stories, tell the stories of she and I and our family and our place in this world and to pull meaning from those stories and to speculate on those meanings and to reflect, out loud, on what it means to be a mom in this day and age and other days and ages and all the days and ages to come. I choose to use my voice, my fingers, my keyboard to make myself heard. I choose to write. If that makes me appear, to some, a crazy, narcissistic, exploitative zombie-pimp who whores her child out for the sake of a few bucks and the self-indulgence of storytelling, then so be it."The quote above was written by
http://herbadmother.com/2011/08/mommy-blogging-for-fun-and-profit-and-hate-mail/
554 sediments (sic) from readers:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 554 Newer› Newest»JudyK said... 194
Admittedly, I haven't read the comments yet (but will)...but since WHEN does graduating from 5th grade mean graduating from lower school into Junior High? I thought that was 6th grade.
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I thought so too.
And who, but Kate, cries about it? "Bucket of tears". Good lord.
What comes after the 8th grade for the twins? A pricey private high school, or a public school?
A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said... 191
Gift of grab said... 188
Anybody think she's planning to take the twins with her to SD, as a "graduation" present?
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Nope I bet she wants to spend as much alone time with Steve as she can.
They attend a private independent school with no church or faith affiliation. Interesting since she professes to be such a christian. Anyway, if she can afford it for the long haul, they have an upper school for the 9 - 12 grades. A friend of ours had a child attend a similar type school and he said it was like paying college tuition. Needless to say, he told his wife after a few years that he was not going to continue paying that high tuition and their daughter did just fine in public school and was accepted to college.
Winsomeone said... 200
What comes after the 8th grade for the twins? A pricey private high school, or a public school?
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Kate will try to keep the kids in the exclusive school as long as she can. I didn't blame her, up to this year, because she could afford it, and it is an excellent school that provides privacy and stability. I don't think she will ever consider public school, because she never attended one herself.
However, I think she is making a mistake keeping elementary students in such an expensive school now that the show is over and she is fading into oblivion. Attendance in a fancy private school is no guarantee of acceptance to college. I know from experience that colleges are looking for diversity, and they will seek out underserved, high achieving students.
If she can afford to keep them there, fine. But I doubt she will be able to. She should save her money, put the kids in a less expensive private school (maybe she should consider a...gasp!...mediocre and free public school) and save the difference for college. THAT would be in their best interest. There is no way that she has enough $ to pay for LCDS through 12th grade and college for all 8 of them.
aggiemom09121416 said... 178
Another topic...some have speculated that Kate treats the twins more like friends, and that appears to be the case. She could be doing it in part to keep custody of them, they are at an age where they could be very vocal about living with their dad, so if Kate can keep them buttered up, she gets to keep them, and they help with the little kids. It's a win/win for her.
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Or simply because Katie Irene has no friends.
During the Jurassic period, when I was in school,first through eight grade was considered
elementary school; no Middle school, no Jr.High.
I can understand that if because of a population
explosion and the need to build another
building to educate sixth through eight grades, to avoid confusion, you'd need to identify this group differently.(sorry, too long and rambling)
However, if this 6th though 9th grades are in the same building there is no need to identify differently. Class distingtion ,in societal terms,begins this way. Want to stop bullying, begin by not segregating.
I think she would take the kids as long as there's a nanny. Don't be surprised if Ashley is back because the filming is now over. As long as the kids are out of her fried hair, she can be alone with Steve. Didn't stop her before. And Deanna, her Tweeting defender, did say Ashley was recently at the house.
She usually flies out of Baltimore, if anyone happens to see her at the airport, give us a shout out.
Pink, the bichon died years ago from sudden liver failure associated with his pain meds (Metacam) so be careful with those too. Now we have the devil doxie with epilepsy and a bad back and an adorable terrier mix who refuses to be potty trained. We love 'em both to pieces (most days).
Great, great news about little Cocoa.
Attendance in a fancy private school is no guarantee of acceptance to college. I know from experience that colleges are looking for diversity, and they will seek out underserved, high achieving students.
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Oops, let me restate this: Colleges will accept students with high grades, high SAT scores, and Advanced Placement credits. What I meant to say is that IT DOESN'T MATTER if that student attended the most prestigious school in the country or a Title One (high poverty) public school. They want to increase diversity, so with all things being equal, the kid from the high poverty school will have as good or better chance over the high income, private school student.
Thanks for responding Jane, TLC Stinks, KateisaWitch, Auntie Ann, and drbutchie...I got an education today and looks like I'm either behind the times (which is always true) and/or these things are regional.
Too bad Khate would never allow the kids to go to boarding school. It would be great for the boys especially.
I think the boys will be the ones sent to another school once the money starts running low.
I don't think she will ever consider public school, because she never attended one herself.
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Kate certainly isn't the poster child for an elite private education...she isn't very education-ishness.
I wonder what she and Jon's mindset was when they enrolled the twins in a pricey private school..they certainly couldn't afford it (didn't they rely heavily on scholarship?) It seems they have always needed handouts and exuded entitlement issues.
Still no tweeting from the twit...I bet Jon's had the kids since her twitter went silent last night..bet she is on a plane somewhere...ya know, a plane is where she sleeps best!
"I wonder what she and Jon's mindset was when they enrolled the twins in a pricey private school..they certainly couldn't afford it (didn't they rely heavily on scholarship?) It seems they have always needed handouts and exuded entitlement issues."
It probably was not Jon's mindset. He attended public high school and did not go to college. It was most certainly Kate's mindset. She was probably projecting her frustration about her own childhood and her perceived lack of opportunities onto her kids, whom she believed deserved the best. She couldn't have it, so they would.
aggiemom -- IIRC, Jon mentioned on one of the early shows that the reason they chose this school was because someone offered to pay the twins' tuition.
This discussion of private/public education is interesting. I grew up in Appalachia. I attended a public high school in a small, not very wealthy town. Granted, my parents were educated, but still, I got a good education at that school. I worked hard, got good grades, did very well on my SATs, and earned a full ride scholarship to a good university. When I got there, I had many classmates who had attended private schools -- both church affiliated and secular. To my surprise, I had a better educational background than many of them had. My first Chemistry lab, I was astonished to discover that most of the kids in my class had never had labs, didn't know a retort from a bunsen burner, and had never seen a test tube. At my poor, "mediocre" high school, we had chem lab twice a week. So there's a lot to be said for public education. Either way, I hope the kids thrive at their school and that KKs antics don't affect them too much. In their case, school must be a refuge for them.
Just curious....I don't know what airhead pays in tuition for each child...does anyone have that info? If she kept all 8 in private school until they all graduated...how much in total would that cost her, starting next year? Interested how much money she will be putting out in the next....what....10 years? Thats if she can sustain those payments...
Didn't they choose it because A) they grifted free tuition and B) Beth's daughters go there? I am kind of surprised the school let the expelled kids back. Lots of private schools have waiting lists filled with kids who aren't violent and pulled down by nutso parents.
The Pastor of my teenage/college years had 5 children and his wife was a SAHM. Every one of their children went to an elite private school in Louisville. We all wondered how they managed that. I found out when I babysat. They lived a completely frills-free life. Their entertainment was whatever games they invented (we played charades a lot) or quietly reading a book or doing puzzles. No TV, no stereo - but the lone radio was tuned to a Classical station, which they were free to listen to anytime. They ate very plain food (baked chicken, roasted potatoes, garden-grown vegetables, home made desserts on occasion) and mixed up dry milk to drink and put over cereal. Frugal, frugal, frugal.
Over their their early married life, they probably banked in savings enough to pay for their eldest child's K-2 at the academy (fancy, I told you), after which they started in on Daughter 2's education fund as well.
See, it can be done on a smaller salary, IF you are willing to make the smaller sacrifices NOW. This family was, and 5 kids got educated the way the parents - and the kids - chose.
Readerlady, I has the same experience. 11th graders at a private, small teacher/student ratio, were doing the same thng I was doing in the 10th grade in a very large public school - in English lit, in Spanish, in history. I would have no idea how we compared in math because I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing in math. It remains a puzzle to me. And she wasn't taking math at all.
PJ's momma said... 7
Pink, the bichon died years ago from sudden liver failure associated with his pain meds (Metacam) so be careful with those too. Now we have the devil doxie with epilepsy and a bad back and an adorable terrier mix who refuses to be potty trained. We love 'em both to pieces (most days).
Great, great news about little Cocoa.
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Oh I'm so terribly sorry PJ.
Like children, they own such a huge chunk of our hearts. God bless your furry little angels.
And God bless your kind soul.
xxxx
Pink
Personally, I don't think private school is necessary until maybe 5th Grade if you can afford it, and if you can't, you can get a decent education at a public school as readerlady commented. I know I did- I have 2 degrees and never felt I had missed anything by not going to a private institution. I suppose it depends on the schools in one's area, or if you have a religious need or special need to be addressed.
But up to Gr 5, it's the basics, and if problems become evident, they are likely to be addressed. I also feel public schools are better funded so have better equipment etc. JMO.
Awww. Twitter silence. The Beast must be on the move.
I can't imagine anyone donating a full ride for all 8 at that private school for all 12 years. Remember, the twins went to a private school before they moved to the Konpound and perhaps that tuition was donated or discounted by the school or family and friends. Twelve years x 8 tuition at the present private school would run into the hundreds of thousands. My friend paid $20K a year for his daughter in Georgia.
...my fifth graders are 'graduating' from lower school this morning... I'm just a bucket of tears... Happy ones, for once, so that's good!:) about 7 hours ago
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I remember those years- seems like yesterday, that my kids graduated from elementary school.
One is working, saving money for graduate school, and the other is working, and in his 3rd year of college.
The years have flown by in super sonic speed.
The years will fly by quickly for Kate & her young family as well.
I hope she really re-evaluates her priorities, now that it's evident that Kate, and her family are not show business material.
Admin said: ..."Big Dreams Mama blogger is "choosing" not to be silent. But what about the right of her young children to choose?"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Exactly. I don't think child protective laws are keeping up with the advent of Facebook, reality TV and mommy bloggers. People are letting their selfish desires for 15 minutes of fame, attention and money blur the lines of responsible parenting.
"Don't talk to strangers" kids are told. But if mommy wants to broadcast to thousands of strangers on the internet that you threw up on your first day of kindergarten (complete with pictures) where your school is and it's name and every vital detail about you- that's different.
As usual, a tragedy will have to happen before action is taken.
Well, here in Chicago and surrounding area: it's: depending on school district:
any combo:
JRk-2 or K-2 primary school
3-5 elementry or middle school
6-8 or just 7-8 or 7-9 upper grade school/Jr high
9-12 high school
I went to the Chicago public school and it was:
k-2 primary
3-6 elementry/middle school
7-8 upper grade or Jr High
9-12 high school(we had 2,000 students in HS, in a building that was made for only 1875 students, this is pretty much normal for large city schools)
some parts of the city did have k-5 in one school and 6-8 in another. Suburban school are k-5 and 6-8 in separate buildings.
Winsomeone: If Kate still has money the twins will continue in same school. The school they go to is from k-12 grade.
Oh yeah: and we graduated at: kindergarden, 8th grade and 12th grade HS. 3 graduations. There was no nothing for going from 5 to 6 grade.
It probably was not Jon's mindset. He attended public high school and did not go to college. It was most certainly Kate's mindset.
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Oh, wow, I didn't know Jon didn't attend private school. I knew he didn't go to college, seems like he wanted to take some time off to go backpacking around Europe?
As far as Kate's private school education and her nursing license, she appears to be quite uneducated.
I guess Jon never saw it coming when Kate snagged him. If he hadn't been a dentist's son, I am sure she wouldn't have looked at him twice. (I believe the story goes her father in law corrected her dental issues for free, of course).
I am not a big advocate of private education. You can only shelter your kids so much from the 'outside world'.
I don't know what the tuition is at the school Kate's kids attend, but how in the world do they afford it? Did TLC pay it during all those 'seasons'? Whose paying it now, and do they still qualify for scholarship money?
For those that know, with discounts for multiple kids, etc., what would be the final cost of educating ALL those kids until graduation?
Thank you, Pink, very kind of you to say. We've lost 4 dogs and 2 cats over the years. Just yesterday, I asked hubby who his favorite dog was and I thought sure he'd say the bichon, but he thought a minute and said, "I love them all. I can't pick one. I love different things about each of them, and others, not so much." I thought that was so sweet and should apply to how we feel about our children, family members, friends, etc. His mother is HORRIBLE at playing favorites and it has been the biggest struggle of our marriage, being left out of everything. When I called her on it, she said, "I love both of my kids the same." I said, "You can't love them both the same, they are NOT the same. You can love different things about them but you can't love them the same." (I bit my tongue to keep from pointing out her statement didn't hold a drop of water since she definitely does not TREAT them the same.) She was silent after that. So it was cool that he gave that kind of answer - with regard to dogs! Kate treats her kids like a unit, it sounds like something she might say, but each child is unique and lovable for different reasons.
"Don't talk to strangers" kids are told. But if mommy wants to broadcast to thousands of strangers on the internet that you threw up on your first day of kindergarten (complete with pictures) where your school is and it's name and every vital detail about you- that's different.
&&&
You couldn't have said it better, Wayward. As usual :).
How do Mommy bloggers reconcile on the one hand telling our children don't talk to strangers, come straight home, there's good touch and bad touch, always tell mommy and daddy if anyone makes you uncomfortable....and on the other blogging and sharing everything we're supposed to teach our kids to keep from strangers.
I think part of the problem is we tend to forget that blogging to strangers isn't much different than walking up to a stranger on the street and inviting them into your home to stare at your child. The first has somehow become socially acceptable, the second completely isn't. But if Mommy bloggers are really honest with themselves, they would see there's really no difference.
Aggiesmom: I know catholic and Lutheran and private schools here in Chicago area, do give discounts for sibs. Maybe kate gets a discount for the 8. It's usually: full price for the first and/or second then like 10%to 25% for the rest. Depending on school.
"Didn't Kate take the twins or just Mady to SD before?"
Yes, for the show, she and Mady were at a spa in SD.
With the Las Vegas marathon, there were events leading up to the marathon. Didn't Rod Dixon give a speech about finishing is winning? I wonder if he is involved in the SD marathon. He met Kate at the finish line in LV. What about her two running friends? Will they be there?
Well, Jon is busy this week: Today he is doing a school charity fund raiser an golf outing and sat june 2, a Gameface open house. So who is watching the kids: the I don't have any hired help, I do it myself, or the invisible sitter/nannies.
Yes, twitter silence; I feel an uneasy disturbance in the CA air as I type LOL. She and Mr. Skeve must have been packed and heading straight to the airport right after she dried her tears this am. Ciao girls, mom's off for that beach vacay, err marathon, you kids are 'begging' for. See ya!
I don't know if this is permissible here- but it's one of the last posts at Preesi, and I love it...
Katie Kreider, I KNOW you're reading so let me share a few words of wisdom so you can move on with your life.
* You get what you get & you don't complain.
* Your wish was granted. TLC released you so you can STOP being jealous of your nannies. STAY @ HOME & mother your children.
* STOP the tanning. You're a close runner up to the Tanorexic mom.
* Save the Gosselin 8's $$. The kids worked HARD for their $, stop spending their money on frivolous expenses - Steve's salary, your Imelda Marcos shoe collection, your teeny booper wardrobe, Audi sports car, etc
* Take the Gosselin 8 on a family vacation & pay for it from their bank account. You're despicable when you expect OTHERS to pay for family vacations. Parents create memories for their children because their children are important & loved. Just because.
* Tell the truth. You lead by example. The G8 are watching & learning. When they become teens, they will lie & there's nothing you can do about it. You earned it.
* Love your body. You're teaching your girls that they are not enough. They could potentially grow up with body image issues. Your message is loud & clear! Change your hair color, you're not good enough. Veneer your teeth, you're not good enough. Get a boob job, you're not good enough. Change your skin color aka tanorexic, you're not good enough. Dress age inappropriate, you're never gonna be good enough. Lie & change your story to grift freebies, you're not good enough.
* Be respectful toward their father. They love him & THAT will NEVER change.
* Did your parents teach you to close your legs to married men? Did they also teach you to NEVER let a strange man lick your toes in public then televise it to shame your children? Did your parents teach you the importance of relationships? What did they teach you?
* Treat your boys as loving as you treat your girls. They look like Jon but they're also a part of you too. Now is your opportunity to change how you feel about their father. Treating boys as if they are your little slaves is disgusting. Thanks to TLC, everyone gets to witness your behaviors.
I'm sure there's more but life is calling! BTW, thank you to TLC for showing me I am good enough! My family & friends are gifts, for better or for worse AND I love them with all my heart.
Westcoaster said... 31
. She and Mr. Skeve must have been packed and heading straight to the airport right after she dried her tears this am.
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lol, exactly. I bet they were quickly dried despite being a bucketful. Good luck CA!
"As far as Kate's private school education and her nursing license, she appears to be quite uneducated."
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Kate attended a local, Christian private school called Mount Calvary Christian. She completed a diploma program at a local hospital to earn her RN. Some people may consider this to be a good education; others would disagree.
Why does Kate Gosselin insists that it's "HER fifth graders"..............did she do it all without Jon Gosselin, who's on the birth certificate?!?! Come on Kate it takes two!!
Whenever I read about the private school, I always think about what an acquaintance of mine who owns a private school once said. He said it is a "very lucrative business."
drbutchiewong said... 5
During the Jurassic period, when I was in school,first through eight grade was considered
elementary school; no Middle school, no Jr.High.
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lol! Feeling old today doc?
There have been so many Kate's - frazzled mommy, frazzled author, frazzled hooker/tanner/drug user, frazzled runner, frazzled recipe collector and coupon cutter,and of course frazzled single mom, and I get the feeling the marathon gigs are coming to a close, does anybody have something Kate can frazzle up next?
Kate's bullheaded insistence on enrolling and keeping 8 children in an expensive private school is ridiculous. It screams of grandiosity and overcompensation. Their school may be wonderful, maybe not. Our local campus of the same school boasts a gorgeous campus, some of the richest folks in town, and an okay academic reputation. Actually, our best schools academically are our magnet/gifted public schools and one private school. But I digress. Smart hardworking kids can excel at any school. The ones who struggle may benefit from a smaller more nurturing atmosphere. But it doesn't mean you have to spend the most money or keep up with the Joneses to educate your kids well. I remember when the tups went for their first day of pre-K at that school and was dumbfounded. Even someone with a huge annual income would have trouble coming up with $70-80,000 after tax dollars for all those years. It seemed foolish and show-offy. Sad part is that it may have benefited those kids but may not have been necessary from the beginning. If the kids were in public or religious schools, think of the financial burden that would be lifted. Think of the extracurricular activities, decent food and vacations that their parents could afford. Think of the money that could be used for college if some of them choose to go. It is not shameful to pull those kids from that school in order to survive financially. Kate can whine and moan that they need that school for its academic excellence and for their protection but that's bull. Her pride will be her undoing. Sadly, she's not doing much to be proud of
Just sitting on my back porch enjoying the nice weather after work reading US magazine when ..guess what? the weekly poll question was "do you believe Kate? former reality star Gosselin says her eight kids miss the spotlight and 83% said NO". Wonder what Kreider is thinking now that her popularity is falling even farther since her Today show "begging interview" (if that's even possible).
According to what I've read, tuition at this school is from $13,000/yr at the lower end up to $18,000 for high school. I assume middle school falls somewhere in the middle. It is likely that Kate receives some sort of discount, but I would imagine a reasonable estimate of what she is paying each year for 8 is around $85-90K. This info is readily available online if you look for info on private-school tuitions.
I think I figured out why Khate never talks about the events she is going to. In her "love letter" to the groups that might invite them to speak there is this line:
Also, we cannot do ANY media interviews/ appearances related to our speaking event in order to remain in accordance with our TLC contract.
Perhaps she has forgotten that now that TLC is no longer in the picture she is free to talk?
OT: Sorry to hear about the little furry one's problems Pink. My cat Quinn took a vacation for a week two Mondays ago and I spent every night looking for him on foot and dad driving around the neighborhood. Finally came home and after admonishing him never to do that again I fed him a big meal and gave him lots of cuddling.
Looks like Kate isn't the only has been reality star having problems. Most of them do. They think that their lives on TV are real so say some psychiatrists whom I read about today. It is a terrible lost to them to not have those friends and all the attention. Now Kate has to accept that no one wants her or her kids on TV as no one wants to repeat the TLC shows. It was done. No other station will repeat the same reality show. Plus Bravo even turned her down is what I read. Kate is devistated that no one wants her screaming and yelling and ordering those kids around. It is a shame that Kate did not encourage the children to always be theirselves but she kept screaming at them to stop this or stop that. I do think the youngest children were always afraid of her. Now Kate has to go back to reality like us. Get yourself up in the a.m. and go to work at a job while your kids have your twins to babysit or that live in maid you have that we rarely see, but we know she is there. The maid lives there doesn't she? I think so. So Kate got the house, the land, the great decorating and now she has to think about selling, sending those kids to public school, if not this coming Sept than in 2013 will be the deciding year as Kate is not going to be able to keep the bills paid. No TV show, even if she gets a Bachelorette show it won't last for years, only get her away from her kids, a new wardrobe and we can watch her abuse 25 men, not just one.
Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said...
You couldn't have said it better, Wayward. As usual :).
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Aww..... thank you Admin! {{blushing}} :)
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A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...
I remember those years- seems like yesterday, that my kids graduated from elementary school.
One is working, saving money for graduate school, and the other is working, and in his 3rd year of college.
The years have flown by in super sonic speed.
The years will fly by quickly for Kate & her young family as well.
I hope she really re-evaluates her priorities, now that it's evident that Kate, and her family are not show business material.
________________________________
Spot on, Pink.
As far as reality show participants go, Kate made out way better and lasted much longer than most. But it's over. It's over.
She now has two pre-teen daughters and 6 school age kids who need her to be there. Really be there and not hiding in her bedroom while the twins hold down the fort. While she talks out of one side of her mouth about living for her kids and loving motherhood to the moon and back, the other side of her mouth is making sure she gets away from them at least once a month, if not more. She's wishing these years away with her obsession with fame and she will never get them back.
Wayward, that was an excellent post and so very true. How can a parent teach their kids to beware of strangers and then make everything about their life public to complete strangers? It makes no sense at all.
Pink, I'm so glad Cocoa is doing better. Blessings to all of you!
We had graduation parties for my daughter after kindergarten, 8th grade, and high school; not when she went from grammar school to middle school. Crying "buckets of tears" when she went to middle school - no. At the various graduation ceremonies, yes I cried to watch her walk across the stage and get a diploma, especially college. At all of them, I squeezed my hubby's hand and whispered to him that we did our best and she made it. Tears for the bygone years, yes. But also elation and pride for what she had accomplished and the future ahead of her.
I was especially proud because my daughter put her mind and effort into completing college. She got pregnant her first year of college. For some reason she broke up with the baby's father and after my first grandson was born, she dropped out of college and got a full time job in an office. She was living with us and was not happy with how she was struggling financially. I explained to her that this would be her future without a specialized degree because she will only make a little above minimum wage at most places she goes. However she did not agree.
Eventually her and the baby's father (my wonderful SIL) got back together. They moved to his home state, where there was an empty family house for them to live in. She then went back to college, got pregnant with my second grandson, continued in college and worked part time at the college to help off set the tuition. My husband and I helped as much as we could financially. My second grandson was born a few months before she graduated. After she graduated, she and my SIL married.
I guess my rambling point is that she worked hard, through difficult circumstances, but was determined to graduate to contribute to a better life for her boys.
Kate doesn't know the meaning of sacrifice, true effort, or taking the bull by the horns in difficult circumstances. I hope her children learn this in spite of their mother.
KAT said... 15
Just curious....I don't know what airhead pays in tuition for each child...does anyone have that info? If she kept all 8 in private school until they all graduated...how much in total would that cost her, starting next year? Interested how much money she will be putting out in the next....what....10 years? Thats if she can sustain those payments...
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My kids attended a private school very similar to the one the G kids attend. The philosophy, academics, activities, student/teacher ratio, grads going on to college, etc looks about the same. They only attended for 2 years - the lack of diversity just didn't suit us and we enrolled them in the local public schools where they did fine (and I came to find that the local schools actually had better music, art and 'life skills' classes than the private school.) Anyway, I called a friend to check on the current tuition and it's now $14,000 a year for Kindergarten rising to $28,000 a year for high school. Many of the kids get a $5,000 a year cut from the school's alumni fund and parents' who have more than one child in the school are often given more of a break.
I have no idea if this is what the G's pay. They're in PA and the school I refer to is in a NYC suburb. But still, with 8 kids and even with a tuition cut, Ms Katie better get herself a good paying job or transfer her children to a less expensive school.
Khate and Jon only sent the twins there because Beth's kids went there. And because it was free. No idea how long their tuition was comped for though. In other words, they didn't bother to find out what the school's academic or pastoral system was like, they just knew it seemed 'wealthy'.
Private school education isn't always chosen to "shelter" kids from the "outside world". And even if it is those parents are going to be in for a shock, because whether you are pay a lot or nothing kids WILL get into trouble and do things you do not want them to. In fact, most of the messed up kids I know/knew went to expensive independent schools.
To Lady Lucky #111 - I have lived in San Diego for 42 years. It is a much different city now than it was back then. Like so many cities there are good and bad parts. Cost of living is very high so I can understand one reason why your friend is miserable. Illegals of many nationalities, gangs, sewage spills, city financial problems, are all a part of our daily life. But the coastline is probably 90% accessible to everyone and the views are stunning. Every large metropolitan area has its problems and it's highlights and San Diego is no different. I think people aren't especially outgoing here, you have to work at it to make friends and establish relationships more than other parts of the country where I have lived. Just my own opinion, you understand.
anger issues kate said... 30
Well, Jon is busy this week: Today he is doing a school charity fund raiser an golf outing and sat june 2, a Gameface open house. So who is watching the kids: the I don't have any hired help, I do it myself, or the invisible sitter/nannies.
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If Kate keeps on leaving the kids with nannies they will grown up to love them as mother figures.
And they are going to just see Kate as an ATM that's if they have money left.
One minute kate says she is the happiest she has ever been, then , the next minute she says she is crying happy tears, and she says for the first time in a long time.....so have you been the happiest , or the saddest??? make up yer mind Katie!!
Isn't San Diego also a big military town? Lots of people moving in and out.
If Kate keeps on leaving the kids with nannies they will grown up to love them as mother figures.
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They've already done that. Then again, pretty much any kid will. You should be worried if the kid doesn't.
drbutchiewong said... 5
During the Jurassic period, when I was in school...
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Oh my goodness, I think I love you! I myself am only from the Cretaceous period, so I might be too young for you!
And what is with all the 'graduations' and 'bridging' and 'moving' ceremonies? Good gawd. Tonight my 5 year old nephew had 'graduation' from - are you ready?- day care as he will be in kindergarten this fall. For the rest of the summer he will be in the same day care but will be referred to as a "junior kindergartner" and for THAT he needed a ceremony and cap and gown tonight. GRADUATION should be the thing that happens at the completion of a DEGREE or DIPLOMA, not the normal state mandatory change of a grade level or facility structure.
See? I told y'all I was from the Cretaceous period!
Amy 2 said... 42
Looks like Kate isn't the only has been reality star having problems. Most of them do. They think that their lives on TV are real so say some psychiatrists whom I read about today. It is a terrible lost to them to not have those friends and all the attention. Now Kate has to accept that no one wants her or her kids on TV as no one wants to repeat the TLC shows. It was done. No other station will repeat the same reality show. Plus Bravo even turned her down is what I read. Kate is devistated that no one wants her screaming and yelling and ordering those kids around. It is a shame that Kate did not encourage the children to always be theirselves but she kept screaming at them to stop this or stop that. I do think the youngest children were always afraid of her. Now Kate has to go back to reality like us. Get yourself up in the a.m. and go to work at a job while your kids have your twins to babysit or that live in maid you have that we rarely see, but we know she is there. The maid lives there doesn't she? I think so. So Kate got the house, the land, the great decorating and now she has to think about selling, sending those kids to public school, if not this coming Sept than in 2013 will be the deciding year as Kate is not going to be able to keep the bills paid. No TV show, even if she gets a Bachelorette show it won't last for years, only get her away from her kids, a new wardrobe and we can watch her abuse 25 men, not just one.
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I highly doubt the Bachelorette wants Kate after how she treated Jon.
And the woman on the show are young nice friendly fresh faced unlike Kate.
Why do I feel like Kate's going to post the graduation pics?
Like so many have said here, it does not matter, if your kids go private or public, both types of school all have their troubles. But as one here said: that the private schools had more kids in trouble than the public. I know in grammar school(elementry), a lot of the trouble makers we had, were kids that got kicked out of the Catholic school and had to go to public school.
When I was in highschool, during the summer between JR and Sr year: I ran into a girl who went to the Catholic Girls school, and she was telling me about the senior class that just graduated, only 15 girls out of a class on 36, cause the rest were pregnant, she asked me how many at the public school were pregnant and in my class of 500 students, I knew of 3, that were told to go to the pregnant school, and the senior class had maybe 4-5. Pretty good for a public school, since public schools always get put down , and blamed for all social ills. WE had about 2,000 + students, in grades 9-12. About 50 kids in homeroom. Our other classes had 36-40 students and one teacher. It was almost like being in college.
I'm from either the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous period, and I "graduated" from Kindergarten. I don't remember much about it, but I have a photo my mom took of me in my little cap and gown, with a rolled up "diploma" in my hands. When I started Elementary school, there was no Jr. High, but that changed when I was in 4th grade. I don't remember any kind of a ceremony between 6th grade (end of Elementary) and beginning of 7th (Jr. High), but there was a ceremony and concert at the end of 9th grade. We didn't call it a "graduation", but a moving up, to High School. So "graduations" aren't just recent things. At least some areas had them eons ago. The school I volunteer at is PreSchool through 6th grade, and we have a ceremony and special Mass for the kids who are going into Middle School. The Middle and High Schools are in the same building, so there's not much transition there, but the Elementary School is across town from the High School. Of course, "cross town" is about 2 1/2 miles, LOL.
Kate's "Kids are BEGGING for a Beach Vacation" on Twitter, smelled of rotten Gosselin eggs. She's clearly grifting for someone (Discovery Cove?)to offer up another free summer getaway- and that's so wrong. The TLC show is over toots... no more endorsements-- equals no more extravagant freebies. Watch Morgan Spurlock's "POM Wonderful... The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and you will be enlightened on the business of advertising, Gold-Digger. (My brother-in-law just so happens to be a Sr. Executive at POM.) No one's biting that Chilean Sea Bass (ref. Kreidie's favoritest fish in the whole wide stinkin' world).
You know, after rereading my above post, I feel that I was rambling and maybe didn't get my points across. Like most parents, we were heartbroken when our daughter gave us the news of her first pregnancy. However, the Lord took this situation that we were so upset and confused about, and turned it into something wonderful. We have our beautiful grandsons that we both adore.
The other point is that we were (and still are), incredibly proud of our daughter and how she matured and handled this unexpected situation.
The bottom line is that I hope she learned how to handle the unexpected things that happen in life because of how we raised her and the things we took the time to teach her.
I know I'm rambling again, and I apologize. It's just been one of those days.
PJ's momma said... 7
Pink, the bichon died years ago from sudden liver failure associated with his pain meds (Metacam) so be careful with those too.
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I am sorry to hear about that, PJ's momma. Metacam (and I just gave a dose of that) is liquid Meloxicam that is Rx'd for humans often. (the oral suspension is not FDA approved for humans only canines and never felines). Meloxicam is a human Rx strength NSAID similar to Aleve.
Most of us are aware of the liver and stomach precautions that are given humans for strong continued use of NSAIDs. But for some reason, most vets dont seem to caution us pet guardians on behalf of the animals.
After my GSD had a life threatening intenstinal bleed from long term use of Metacam for arthritis (we had never been cautioned about giving it with food) she was switched to tramadol (human Ultram). By this time I was smarter and knew that Ultram can lead to dependency/addiction in humans. Which means it is not only hard on the liver, but also that we couldnt ever forget a dose for the dog or she could experience withdrawl symptoms.
We trust our vets but in my experience they just dont educate us on these meds. We are so eager to relieve our pets' pain that we just dont ask the hard questions sometimes. As owners we need to do our research and almost 'confront' our vets for the information we need on side effects and cautions we need for our pets.
Sorry for the off-topic, but I feel pretty strongly about this.
Everyone..... Amy 2 (42) is NOT Amy2. I post under Amy2. I do not know who Amy 2 is and why he/she posted under my name.
readerlady said... 55
I'm from either the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous period, and I "graduated" from Kindergarten.
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Grumble grumble. I apparently was deprived. Or depraved, I am not sure. Anyway, I never got nuttin'. Gnashing my teeth now. Well, being deprived explains what is wrong with me, all my life I have been looking for an excuse and now I have one. ALL THE REST OF YOU DINOS WERE GETTING CAPS AND GOWNS AND I WASNT!
hehe.
Thanks readerlady, for the info given with such kind language.
Is it just my imagination or are there lots of new names on here of late? Or am I just suddenly paying attention? Either way, it is fun to read all the input on all the topics!
Amy2 said... 59
Everyone..... Amy 2 (42) is NOT Amy2. I post under Amy2. I do not know who Amy 2 is and why he/she posted under my name.
((((((((((())))))))))))))))
Thanks for the clarification. It didnt sound like you at all.
Amy2 said... 59
Everyone..... Amy 2 (42) is NOT Amy2. I post under Amy2. I do not know who Amy 2 is and why he/she posted under my name.
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It was at one time (and still may be) one of the many IDs for the "Oh, yes, she does" poster on the other blog. The writing style is the same.
I don't know, I think my parents would have taken a "graduation" ceremony every few years over the very long, very dull, either hot or rainy, Prize Days every single year. For each school.
Wait until Kate finds out that TLC has given Honey Boo Boo Child a reality show starting in August. Her pregnant teen sister and other siblings will also be "showcased". What is wrong with these people?
Anonymous said... 35
Why does Kate Gosselin insists that it's "HER fifth graders"..............did she do it all without Jon Gosselin, who's on the birth certificate?!?! Come on Kate it takes two!!
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For the same reason that Jon Gosselin refers the kids as "my kids" -- because most divorced people no longer use the collective "we."
Anonymous, both Jon and Kate ALWAYS referred to the kids as 'my' kids, even though they were sitting next to each other on the couch! It always irked me. They were married and coparenting; I would prefer 'the' kids to 'my' kids at that time. I never heard them say 'our' kids, it was always 'my' kids, right in front of the spouse/other parent. But you're right about the reference today. It makes more sense.
After my dad passed away, our already dysfunctional family was set even further adrift. I dropped out of school midway through Grade 11. I came home one day and told my mother I had quit school, and her response was, " are you going to help me make dinner?" I knew my mother would not show any real concern, as she was in full-blown survival mode trying to keep our family going. This was in the 60's.
My family was a bit unconventional but we were raised to believe the world owed us absolutely nothing. Our mindset was to work for anything we desired, plain and simple. But, herein lies the difference. Back then, our desires were less complicated, but that was before the massive media juggernaut that exists today.
Our ideals and beliefs were not sold to us in the 60's, we held them within. That was almost 50 years ago, and today we see "reality" sold to us in a packaged and very distorted way.
Kate is still watching her own reality rather than living and embracing it. The greatest loss is the children she claims to put ahead of all else. If this were truly the case, there would be no Twitter, fewer trips away from them, and more real love.
Foxy, 65 -- I owe you an apology. I could not believe that what you posted was true. I googled...you are correct.
I am appalled. That mom, that hyper child, that family -- new TV stars, unbelievable.
I genuinely do not know what to think. But, I do feel embarrassed for them.
Foxy, Dmasy, shows like this just reinforce the unfortunate status of Kate and her kids as a "sideshow." There appears to be no end to the depths to which some people are prepared to sink in order to achieve some little fame and a few bucks that won't ever be enough. It makes me sad that this is what now passes for entertainment in our society.
Thanks, Kate. That's one big-ass bandwagon you helped launch. How proud you must be that this is your legacy.
Tamara said,
In other words, they didn't bother to find out what the school's academic or pastoral system was like, they just knew it seemed 'wealthy'.
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Kate grew up in Elizabethtown and went to a private school. She has known about this school since she was in high school. She would have known its reputation in the area and had some idea of its academic system. The school has consistently, year after year, maintained a 100 percent college acceptance rate, with a very high percentage of Ivy League school admissions.
Whether or not she's going to be able to keep the kids there remains to be seen. I doubt if there's enough in her account to see all of them through graduation, but knowing her, I imagine she'll grift for it somehow.
Ugh, seriously? They are giving them a show of their own? Makes me wish for the days of Paris Hilton and Spidi. They might have been crap but at least they didn't drag children into it.
I saw Honey Boo Boo on Anderson Cooper's show.
They had clips from Toddlers and Tiara's. That woman does not seem to know that she is being ridiculed. She may have less self awareness than Kate. She was shown in some very unattractive poses with truly laughable facial expressions.
The family undoubtedly needs the money they will receive. But, the cost is so much higher than they will be able to calculate.
That Honey Boo Boo Child is not playing with a full deck, and her gestational carrier should be locked up for child abuse.
That family is the bottom of the barrel and sure 'nuff, TLC scooped right up for a show.
We actually dropped our cable TV service. The quality of shows is so pathetic. The ones we do want to watch we get streaming over the internet. We only pay for what we want, and don't subsidize trash like these kinds of reality shows.
I'm mildly curious: is "Honey Boo Boo Child" the real name of this oddball or some kind of show name?
Permanent Name -- her name is Alana. Mom is June. I just read a synopsis for one of the shows. Honey will be helping to collect road kill for the family dinner.
There are no words...
You know, I think they are freaks. But that is my judgemental self talking.
If they are truly that hard up for food that they have to have the kid help collect road kill for dinner then..... like you, I have no words.
I know there are a lot of poor people in this country and we do what we can to help with donations and food drives.
I'm not being uncaring but to promote this as a reality show is absurd. This family spends money on outfits for the kid to do pagents. Inappropriate, IMHO!
If they are that hard up for money for food, um... how about quitting the pagents and using costume and makeup money for FOOD FOR THE FAMILY.
Oh, and may I say that at least the gestational carrier and the kid sure don't LOOK like they are hungry. Mean, yes, but they obviously enjoy all the junk food they want.
Stupid is the word that comes to mind..........
Maybe, perhaps, just maybe TLC can outdo themselves with this show.
Geez, tell me it ain't so..........
Why we quit cable...............
I just saw this tweet from one of Kate's fans to a tweeter who started a petition to save Dog:The Bounty Hunter's show.
xxxx
@xxxxx @AETV #kategosselin had 50,000 signatures to save her show n ctlc still did nothing. These ppl r throwing away great shows!
Where in the world did she see 50,000 signatures? The only petitons I know of were started by fans-I think one was for those that had twitter, and another one for those that didn't. I think they totalled about 300.
Kate's fan sure know how to exaggerate, don't they?
Kate, Honey Boo Boo is what's in, not you. Divorcing Jon was the worst move you ever made. And here's the thing - if you had gone to counseling, really worked on your marriage rather than just caring about your brand, Jon may have stayed and he might even have continued with the show if you had paid an iota to his concerns and needs.
Oops, sorry...
pageant, not pagent.
I'm spelling like kart tonight......... arrghhh
Honey will be helping to collect road kill for the family dinner.
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Oh great. They're cannibals too?
AuntieAnn...you have made me laugh many times, but tonight you made my sides hurt.
Do people 'slip through the cracks' at private schools as some seem to in public schools?
At least there's that, right?
Dmasy -- Sigh. What can we say anymore. I swear Eileen O'Neill must be an archeologist because the only place she could find the creatures she drags onto the screen is from under a rock. I thought J&K+8 was the bottom, then Toddlers and Tiaras came along, but this is the very bottom. TV as we once knew it is history. Anyway, I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. Wouldn't we cry otherwise?
School, especially for 4-12 year olds should not be soley about getting into university. And from what people have said there's more than one school in the area that is good. Including the free ones. And I think Khate would have happily shipped the kids off to Psychopath Pschool if it was the "in" school for the local upperclass and/or Beth's kids went there. I doubt she knows with certainty the names of her kid's teachers all the time. She...just...doesn't...care.
As for falling through the cracks that definitely happens in private schools too. Just because someone is a student at a 20k a year school doesn't mean that their parents aren't abusive or having serious problems, or that the kids themselves don't have mental problems and develop addictions. There are often a whole other set of troubles that stem from money, the all important appearance of money and material goods, and pressure to succeed. Also, it's not as if the Gosselins live in Los Angeles or Baltimore or Detroit where state schools really are horrible. Where did this idea that going to a private school is somehow saving the G kids and that they would be horribly mistreated and uneducated at the local state school?
Honey Boo Boo Child and family will be fodder for TV shows like The Soup. Her phrase is "A dollar makes me holler, honey boo boo". I guess reality show dollars make you have fits, right, Kate.
I find it a bit weird for Kate to say she cried happy tears "for once." In all her time as being a mother she has never cried happy tears before? Oh give us all a break Kate. A little ceremony such as this should not cause you buckets of tears. That's a little over emotional don't you think? I do.
News flash lady--kids grow up! Shocking I know but that's reality. You don't get to keep babies forever and as much as most parents say they want to have their little kids stay little, it isn't true. She should stop crying about what she no longer has "as babies" but could it it be I don't know, look forward to the excitement of (even if stressful) years of watching her kids grow up, have interests, be individuals and all that?
It's like everything her kids do with growing up and changing causes Kate to be full of sorrow when it should be the opposite.
Katie Cry-duh said... 38
"Our local campus of the same school boasts a gorgeous campus, some of the richest folks in town, and an okay academic reputation. Actually, our best schools academically are our magnet/gifted public schools and one private school. But I digress. Smart hardworking kids can excel at any school. The ones who struggle may benefit from a smaller more nurturing atmosphere."
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You are absolutely correct about this, and I said basically the same thing upthread. The best students will excel anywhere. I hate how public schools get a bad rap in this country. There are good ones and bad ones, and the same is true of private. Obviously, I am pro-public, but for some kids, private is a better choice. My niece is a good example of a student who is doing well in a small private school and struggled in the large suburban public high school.
My son, on the other hand, excelled at our local public high school. He attended a public research university on full scholarship and graduated with physics and math degrees. Now he has been accepted to a top physics school for his PhD, and this, like undergrad, will be free. We saw no reason to send him to private school at any point in his K-12 education. It was completely unnecessary, and he didn't want to go to one anyway.
It's interesting to me schools like this one brag about college and ivy league rates, when really if you look at their competitive admissions process, they are only accepting admission for the top students--students who would end up at college and ivy league schools anywhere they went, even in public school. If you only accept the best of the best, of course your college rates will be good. Count me in the camp that these kids could get a great education at public school and then they might actually have some money left over from all their hard work as little kids.
People can judge private vs. public schools all day long but unless you've attended one or have children enrolled in one, the benefits and pitfalls, at least to me, are unknown.
One does have to wonder about how some people seem to get thru public schools and still not be able to spell or use punctuation. I mean, read some blogs. Including this one. I find it pretty scary out there, personally, that grown adults, who I'm assuming went to high school somewhere, have such difficulty expressing their thoughts.
I think the Gosselin kids deserve the best education they can get. Cost shouldn't factor in. The same goes for my own child.
One does have to wonder about how some people seem to get thru public schools and still not be able to spell or use punctuation.
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I don't see any connection between public or private school and spelling. Look at Kate. Private school. I think people who stink at it stink at it, just like no matter how many math classes you give me at the best schools in the country, I will always stink at math. But I manage to get by and chose a career that doesn't require a lot of heavy math. People have strengths and weaknesses which is why we don't all end up doing exactly the same careers. If you're bad at spelling then don't becoming an English teacher, it's as simple as that.
Many of us have attended one or have children in one so not sure what you mean by that.
Even so I don't think you have to attend a school to be able to have an opinion whether it works for you and you family or not. That's how people pick schools in the first place.
"One does have to wonder about how some people seem to get thru public schools and still not be able to spell or use punctuation."
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Did you go to public or private school? Please don't harp on spelling when you did not spell "through" correctly. I am annoyed by such pettiness.
I'll bet you can get by in math. I'm no math wizard myself but I can get by with the basics.
Some have trouble with the basic skills of a sentence. Or when to capitalize. Basic stuff that should be learned in primary school.
I have read here and there so if someone commented on this I'm sorry. Did anyone catch that Kate called the tups M and C's "little kids" when she was saying how impressed they are for doing the bday party? So what? Are M and C now the mom? Of course someone called it here a long time ago.
Need to annoy Kate by pointing out the new TLC show. Now maybe if she ate fast food and banned lettuce from her home, let her hair grow out its natural color without dying it, gain a ton weight, then maybe she'd be current and TLC would love her again. She's not the fashion anymore.
I doubt all the kids will go to college, which is fine. It's not the be-all and end-all of life. Besides, they surely will not have the money for college.
If Kate actually runs these marathons she is likely thinking with every step she takes 'how can I get back awn tv?" Then she will think back to what put her on the cover of People - Jon/divorce!I wouldn't be surprised if she makes a trip to the bank and offers Jon cash to fake reunite with her, reminding him they did that for the free trip to Hawaii. "Come awn Jon the kids have been begging and begging for a beach vacation, puhlease do this for the kids, everything I do is for my kids."
Kelly Ann #88 - I'm not sure about your reality, but COST OF EDUCATION is definitely a factor in my reality.
Not sure, perhaps I am misreading your post?
Off-topic here, but I am sitting here this moring wathing old episodes of "Little People Big World" on TLC. Does anyone know why TLC never shows any episodes of J&K + 8?
Admin, agreed that there's no "better" when it comes to public/private, just what works for you and your child. I'm sure the Gosselin kids' school is just fine. But so are many other schools. If Kate wants to keep them there, fine. Just quit bitching about being cash strapped and bragging about your kids' alleged brilliance for having attended this school. It's obvious that she sees this school as a status symbol whether or not she truly believes it's the best fit for all 8 of her children
Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 87
It's interesting to me schools like this one brag about college and ivy league rates, when really if you look at their competitive admissions process, they are only accepting admission for the top students--students who would end up at college and ivy league schools anywhere they went, even in public school.
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I don't mean any disrespect to any of the G8, but after watching them in a variety of situations, and with a host of different people, I don't see that ALL of them are college-prep material, comparatively speaking. They may get there at some point, but they appear delayed (or maybe what we'd classify as "average"), academically speaking. Maybe even socially. I'm not being mean-spirited in saying this, but I suspect at least some of them were admitted on the basis of their last name and/or future potential.
Other than contacting the school directly, there is no way to figure out current tuition. I did see one site where it says the tuition tops out at $20,375. I found an old Reading Eagle article, dated May, 1999 and the tuition then was $10,800.
I also found this review on Yelp, dated August, 2010, and X'd the name of the school:
I did not attend this school, but I had several types of exposure to this school, enough to form a fairly solid, consistent opinion.
When I was in 9th grade, my parents allowed me to take a tour of several high schools, including this school, J.P. McCaskey, and Lancaster Mennonite High I chose to attend McCaskey, the public school, and I think this was the right decision for me. I know less about this school for the earlier grades, but I did visit it a few times. I have a close friend who attended it during middle school and high school, and my brother, 7 years younger, also attended it for middle school only.
XXXX is a mixed bag. Academically, it offers notably stronger reading, writing, and history education than the public schools, but, in my opinion, it lags behind in all other areas, including mathematics, science, music, and it lags even farther behind in "supplementary" areas such as home economics and industrial technology, in which the public schools excel. Language instruction can be better or worse, depending on the individual teacher--but in my opinion language instruction is poor in both schools, as it is started too late. Course offerings, at the high school level, are generally inferior to J.P. McCaskey, which offers an extremely aggressive AP Course curriculum. One major downside of XXXX Academics, however, is that students are given much more homework than in the public schools--and in my opinion, they don't necessarily learn more as a result. This places children solidly on the "achievement" track, teaching them to value hard work for the sake of hard work, as opposed to being driven by learning and productive output, and learning to find ways to achieve maximum results with minimal work. In short, I think this school prepares people to be hard workers rather than intelligent, efficient workers.
One of the main advantages of going here rather than the public schools is that the students here are treated with more respect. It's a smaller school, and there are fewer disciplinary problems, so students are generally given the benefit of the doubt and not required to follow strict and bureaucratic policies such as carrying hall passes and requiring permission to go anywhere in the school. This creates a much more pleasant day-to-day environment in the school. Personally, I think it is a huge advantage--kids will behave more responsibly and will mature more quickly if they are given more responsibility. XXXX understands this and acts accordingly.
Another main advantage of XXXX, especially over the public schools, is college advising. College advising in the Lancaster City Schools is exceptionally poor, to the point where the guidance counselors are often a hindrance, rather than help, to the college application process. XXXX doesn't have exceptional or outstanding advising, but from what I know it is generally solid and competent, unlike the public schools.
Continued next post.
All this said, XXXX has some major downsides, besides just the weaker academics in certain areas, which is why I have boldly chosen to give it only 3 stars.
The student body here is notably less diverse than the student body of the public school system, both in terms of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, values, and other characteristics. I think that exposure to diversity at a young age is critical for one's education if one is to be successful in this modern world. A student attending XXXX will have many advantages over students attending public school, but the lack of exposure to diversity will be a hidden handicap. My most successful friends to attend XXXX did not attend it continually through from elementary school through high school, but rather, had some mixed experiences, attending here for some period and attending public school at some point.
It's also worth mentioning the culture of illegal drug use here. From my experience, there was significantly less marijuana use here, compared to Catholic High, and perhaps less even than the public schools. Also, notably, there was significantly less drug dealing, relative to Catholic High (which seems to be the drug-dealing capital of Lancaster schools). However, there was significantly more cocaine use among the student body, than there was in the public school. I knew of very little cocaine use in the public school. This may be a function more of socioeconomic status than anything else. And take this with a grain of salt--it's my own anecdotal evidence from my rather narrow network of friends who attended this school. It could just be a random result of whom I happened to know (or not know).
That said, XXXX is a good option available. It complements some of the strengths and weaknesses of the public school system. However, it is not uniformly better than the public schools, and indeed, offers some substantial drawbacks--it is not ideal for everyone, even not considering the cost of tuition.
If Kate keeps on leaving the kids with nannies they will grown up to love them as mother figures.
_________
I nannied for a two-year-old the summer after high school. By the end of the summer he was calling me mommy, and when his father came to visit, something upset him, and instead of running to his father he ran directly to me for comfort.
First and only time I nannied. Heartbreaking. I can't imagine how the poor little toddler felt when I left to go to college.
heather
It's interesting to me schools like this one brag about college and ivy league rates, when really if you look at their competitive admissions process, they are only accepting admission for the top students--students who would end up at college and ivy league schools anywhere they went, even in public school. If you only accept the best of the best, of course your college rates will be good.
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The difference is in the scholarship rates for attending college/universities. Some private schools alum/boards have major pull and connections at Ivy leagues, and these kids get favored treatment when it comes to financial aid, regardless of need. I've seen it firsthand, money going to families that DO NOT NEED IT, rather than to a public school kids who do. It's about the connections, not the actual grades.
heather
@xxxxx @AETV #kategosselin had 50,000 signatures to save her show n ctlc still did nothing. These ppl r throwing away great shows!
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Only 50,000 guess Kate's not a loved and popular as she thought lol.
So my conclusion is that Kate will not take them out of private school because of "status". She will poor mouth and hope to grift her way into lower tuition or donations. I hope Jon gets some imput into the school situation. The money would be better spent going into their college funds, IMO.
Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 87
It's interesting to me schools like this one brag about college and ivy league rates, when really if you look at their competitive admissions process, they are only accepting admission for the top students--students who would end up at college and ivy league schools anywhere they went, even in public school. If you only accept the best of the best, of course your college rates will be good. Count me in the camp that these kids could get a great education at public school and then they might actually have some money left over from all their hard work as little kids.
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Admin - you make a really good point. It doesn't mean much for a school to promote the fact that ALL their grads go on to college when they only accept students who are on top academically. A Christian school in my hometown takes out a full-page ad in the newspaper every year touting their superior test scores. Well, what they don't mention is that they have no special-ed students. When public schools report their test scores it includes ALL but the most severely delayed students, regardless of their academic abilities.
as we are aware Kate does not have foresight. The money spent for private education should be saved. Kate will want one or all of the kids to contribute to her support. Without higher training, either college or technical, their earned income will be too meager to support Kate's lifestyle. Of course, there's always a chicken/egg business. Whoo hoo, here comes Kate in her pink cowboy hat. [apologies to cowboys]
Anonymous said... 102
If Kate keeps on leaving the kids with nannies they will grown up to love them as mother figures.
_________
I nannied for a two-year-old the summer after high school. By the end of the summer he was calling me mommy, and when his father came to visit, something upset him, and instead of running to his father he ran directly to me for comfort.
First and only time I nannied. Heartbreaking. I can't imagine how the poor little toddler felt when I left to go to college.
heather
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Yes just like when Ashley left on the RV epi all of the kids were in tears and very sad.
But when Kate went to NY for her birthday on another epi only one twin cried.
That should tell Kate something but it won't.
Kelly-Ann said... 88
People can judge private vs. public schools all day long but unless you've attended one or have children enrolled in one, the benefits and pitfalls, at least to me, are unknown.
One does have to wonder about how some people seem to get thru public schools and still not be able to spell or use punctuation. I mean, read some blogs. Including this one. I find it pretty scary out there, personally, that grown adults, who I'm assuming went to high school somewhere, have such difficulty expressing their thoughts.
I think the Gosselin kids deserve the best education they can get. Cost shouldn't factor in. The same goes for my own child.
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Some people have language disabilities. Specific Language Impairment is a very common disability (my husband has it), and it follows children into adulthood. It's seen with no other obvious delays or impairments. It's unfortunate that when someone can't balance a checkbook they're sort of dismissed as a ding-bat, but when someone struggles with language they seem dumb and uneducated. And you're right - in some cases it could be just a poor education but we don't know.
There are definitely many factors in the private vs public debate. One aspect is the money the richer kids have access to -often they can buy expensive drugs whereas in public schools it's more pot, pills, booze... in my experience of seeing kids in both settings. Also there is a lot of competition in material things such as cars, clothes, bags, jewelry, vacations etc in private- not that this does not exist in public schools.
I don't know if so far the G kids are really excelling across the board. With 6 kids, some have got to be doing better (or differently) than the others. a couple of the 6 speak less clearly, a couple are less athletic, a couple less outgoing, a couple have 'issues'... it stands to reason one or two would be more academic although it's early in their education of course to make this assumption.
I went to a private, church affiliated school grades 1-7, then finished out in public school. There was little difference other than the amount of homework. In fact, the public school was ahead in regards to teaching math. What it all boils down to are the teachers.
And my small private school was a nightmare because I was bullied. When I transferred to the huge public junior high, I blended in with all the other nerds and life was great. Diversity helped me feel better about myself.
Wed night, twitter silence 6 hours
Yesterday, one morning tweet
equals
no kids, Steve's on duty.
Her graduation tweet was vague; gave no direct inference she actually attended.
Could be Kate jumped ship Wed evening.
When are her tweetie friends going to realize she only uses them for adoration when Steve isn't in her presence?
Kate may enjoy twitter, but it certainly indicates her movements and behavior!
It's going to be interesting to see if she can find employment this year. If not, she has to have plenty in the bank. If I was unemployed and had 8 kids, I don't think I'd be throwing down a wad of cash to go run in a marathon on the other side of the country. She's either got a huge amt bankrolled and is just trying to amass more due to greed, or she is just the dumbest person on the planet.
"cost shouldn't factor in"??
just google "private/prep school scandals"
LoveMyGrandsons said... 43
Pink, I'm so glad Cocoa is doing better. Blessings to all of you!
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Thank you, LoveMyGrandsons.
Blessings to you as well.
You raised a pretty level headed woman, LoveMyGrandsons. Throughout it all, your daughter did an admirable job. Your grandsons
are fortunate to have her as their mom.
Have a great weekend :o)
Love,
Pink
LCCD cost between $15-18k per year for high school. If they had stayed in Wyomissing they could have attended Jon's alma mater Wyomissing JR/SR High, ranked #1 in PA and 193rd in the nation according to the Washington Post! All for the cost of propery taxes. Sounds like a steal!!
Perment Name: Honey Boo Boo family are not that hard up for money. Those Pagenants are very expensive, you could put a down payment for a car, on what they spend, at these things. The ugly dresses these kids where cost around $500 to $4000. Plus hiring a make-up artist, flipper, tanning, hair stylist, nails, travel, hotels,& pagenant teacher. You have to have money for this. Some have said they spend over $20,000 a year on pagenants or more. Is this that annoying chubby little girl who acts weird, and gave her tummy a name.
So don't feel to bad for Honey Boo Boo, cause she sounds like a Boo Boo coming.
why did a school bus pick up M and C for Kindergarten if they went to the same private school- why not a parking lot like ow- is it because of where they live now?? confused about that one. Mady did not seem too keen on school then (tantrums) but Cara did. But Cara she did say it was noisy though.
Cost of a school always matters. And so does parent interaction with their kids, that is why some kids do better than others. Without that interaction, a lot of kids do poorly. Yes, there are kids, that don't need parents interaction, they are naturally independ, those kids are far and few. Just listening to your kid read out loud is all the kid needs, sometimes. Or just listening. A lot of kids don't get that, they get violence, instead. Sad but true, and that goes across the board, rich or poor.
Public schools take just about everyone, depends on school if they are equipt to take disable kids, for mainstreaming(if building is up to code). I know if I had kids, I, one would move, out of Chicago, to the suburbs, the schools are better more than equal to the private schools in the city, they are better. I went through all 13 years of the Chicago public schools. If I lived in the city probably the Lutheran school. That is if I could afford it.
The gals on twitter were on FIRE last night....I was laughing out loud. The sheeple didn't have a chance. It was better than T.V. They were in rare form....Also one fan said there was a picture of Kate and all the kids in San Diego in the Reading newspaper. Whether that was an old picture...I dont know..
I'm completely a product of public education, from kindergarten through two Masters degrees. It's served me quite well. My parents never saw any reason to pay out the nose for private school. Instead, they saved for our university educations. It was a good move. I graduated with a BA and no debt. For my first Masters, I paid for it and finished with no debt. I'm nearly done with a second (moving onto a higher career path) and I will still have no debt. And no regrets!
I've long thought having eight kids in an expensive private school is a dumb move, especially because they aren't astronomically wealthy. Hell, Kate doesn't even have a job. Then again, I also think the massive house and grounds was a stupid move. She likes to live far beyond her means and that's in the process of falling apart.
I had one child in public school and the other in a private school. There was a reason for this which I'm not going to disclose. The difference I saw was public school had access to more speciality teachers (ESL, speech, counselors). Where as private school, though it cost a bundle, did not have those services. We had to pay for private tutors, etc. for our child in private school. Today my girls are 19 and 20 and both are doing well with their lives.
aggiemom: Kate may or may not have alot of money in the bank....doesn't really matter. Kate is such a narcissist that she will continue to spend cash going to NYC to get her hair fried, keep going on lavish trips to continue to feed her ego and delusion of being a "stah"...In her head, an offer is right around the corner because why would anyone NOT want her...she is after all, Kate Gosselin.
Improbable Dream (99), I don't think the children were "admitted" to this school on any criteria except desire to go and ability to pay. Perhaps I'm wrong, though--does anyone know whether there is some sort of entrance exam/requirement there?
My kids are in private school because of where we live, which is not in the US. Believe me, I wish we could save that money and send them to a nice public school. Our school does give bursaries to those who would not be able to afford private school, quite a few,as a matter of fact. They do not, however give discounts for siblings etc., because there are waiting lists for entry. If Kate's kid's school is sought after by many, I can't imagine them giving her a hefty discount, because they can easily replace her kids with 8 more who can pay full tuition. That's just the way it is.
Also, on the subject of graduating from preschool. My kids did with full cap and gown. It was so cute and I still have the pictures sitting on the piano.
Kate is Krazy said... 117
why did a school bus pick up M and C for Kindergarten if they went to the same private school- why not a parking lot like ow- is it because of where they live now?? confused about that one.
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M and C are still attending the same school. Their old house was closer to the school, so buses ran routes in their area. Now that they are living farther away, those children attending that school meet at one common area to meet the bus.
Private/public education?
I think it depends on where you live and what the schools are like in your area.
We live 20 minutes away from a large town that is classified as 5-A (largest division in Tx). BOTH of their high schools have received the lowest TX standardized test scores (rated academically unacceptable.) So of course there are several private schools available in that town. Heck, I wouldn't put MY kids in a poorly rated school district, that's just stupid! I'd move if I had to.
But 20 minutes away is our 4-A school, ranked one of the top five in the state. My kids have received excellent educations in our public school, but the school taxes are pretty steep. But, you get what you pay for.
wowser said... 122
aggiemom: Kate may or may not have alot of money in the bank....doesn't really matter. Kate is such a narcissist that she will continue to spend cash going to NYC to get her hair fried, keep going on lavish trips to continue to feed her ego and delusion of being a "stah"...In her head, an offer is right around the corner because why would anyone NOT want her...she is after all, Kate Gosselin.
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I'd hate to think she is THAT delusional. You might be right, but dang! lol
I agree Kate should be saving that private tuition money since she doesn't seem to be capable of even looking for a mediocre job.
BUT-those kids have all attended the same school for awhile now. Even when they were 'reality stars'.
If they were to move to a public school I tend to think the teasing (and worse?) would be god awful for them. Not only would they be the 'new kid' times 8, count 'em 8, but the history for all to see over and over and over again is and forever will be out there.
All thanks to the greed of their parental units.
The Honey Boo Boo family has internet attention. They all have "charming" nick names. They have probably beaten Kate in Google searches...she can be proud.
TLC -- Trainwreck Lookers Coming.
The private vs. public school debate is lively and interesting! The difference is that private schools are selective. They pick and choose students who are best for their bottom line. This explains their high test scores/college acceptance rates. Most quality private schools have fully certified/highly qualified teachers; however, some charter schools in my area do not require certification.
Students who are underperforming in these schools are weeded out, and perhaps told that "We cannot meet your needs..."
Since I teach myself, I can say that there are excellent teachers and bad teachers in every type of school. Teaching is really an art, and it doesn't matter how many degrees, endorsements, and experience you have. One of the best teachers at my school has about 4 years of experience, and she is amazing! We can all remember clearly our wonderful teachers and, unfortunately, the lousy ones we had.
Perhaps when the gosselin children started school, they may have needed a private school, as there was so much about their potty training, etc exposed on line that in a public school they may have had a very hard time. But now that Kate is off the air and the children have completed a full year of adjustment to school, no vacays, then maybe she should look into the local public schools, Perhaps she could even put the stronger kids in that school. I know several of her children are delicate, I could always see it. Now the kids have learned to have friends, can you imagine they only had each other for years. Now that they are making friends, can interact, don't dress them alike and put them in public school. Stop making yourself "seen" Kate, get rid of that hair, it is not you and it is so sad to see that Easter photo with you and the mini skirt, the big boobs & that hair. You are approaching 40, you have teenagers and you are trying constantly to draw attention to you, but for what reason? You have to come to terms with life as it is now. You need to sit down with a good accountant or two and figure out how to keep the money, if you have to sell that house, do your own mowing of grass, you have a lawn mower you can ride, so do it. You aren't cleaning your house, you are busy trying to get publicity, get back on TV. It is over.
I am a RN, I went to Penn State and after 4 years, I had to work as a LPN before I got state licensing for RN, then I had to take course over the past 10 yrs to keep up with changes. Being a nurse today with a diploma like you have means working in a nursing home where you may be a LPN or a private nursing home may call you a RN, but you will have to take courses to update you. It is a very different world since you were 21 or 22 and a nurse, even kidney cleansing is all new, computerized. So while you were making the $$$, now learn to save it, get to work, stop with the hair, get back to the real world, face it, cry your tears because LIfe is happening.
When my kids were applying to colleges, according to private counselors specializing in college placement, there are many factors that contribute to the admissions decision, especially in private schools. Students are awarded points based on test scores, GPA and class standing. However, there are bonus points awarded which can tip the scales when evaluating two similar students.
Legacy--Having a parent or grandfather/grandmother who attended the school
High school standing--High schools are ranked, too! Therefore, a 4.0 student from a school that is considered academically excellent will be given additional points, as compared to an identical student from a lower ranked school So, a 3.5 GPA and a lower class ranking at a higher scoring school, could be awarded more points towards admission than a 4.0 student at a lower ranking school.
First generation college--If you are the first generation to attend college in your family, additional points are added.
Fame--If you are famous, or the child of someone famous or an elected official, you will be given extra points. How else did George Bush junior get into Yale/Harvard?
Heritage--Native Americans are awarded extra points and eligible for many scholarships.
Geographic -Schools want a student body that represents all areas of the US and other countries.
Diversity--While some state laws have banned affirmative action, schools still rank diversity of population as a top priority.
Activities/Leadership--Participating in sports, student government, clubs and community service adds points. Believe it or not, attaining the highest scouting award ( Eagle for boys, Gold for girls) is a big plus because it demonstrates a high level of achievement.
Essay-- Personal hardship, disabilities, goals, personal vision and clues to ethnicity all contribute to the admissions.
This information was confirmed in books, articles and guidance counselors.
Our highest rated state university publishes a matrix every year. If grade point, test scores and class standing fall within the guidelines, then admissions is guaranteed (at least in-state admissions)., without review. Borderline applicants go into review. Our daughter fell just outside the matrix, but was admitted, while several of her friends with similar academic achievement did not. Her father graduated from that school. He dropped something off at the admissions office and saw that "legacy" was written in bold red letters across the top of her file.
Kate must be having a great time in LA with Steve since she's not blowing up her twitter.
Aggiemom: Kate just proved my point in her latest tweet - she thanked ALL HER DIE HARD FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT....I can see her practicing her "emmy speech" in the hotel mirror in SD that she is sure is "right around the corner" if ONLY they would give her another tv spot! lol yes indeedy - she is THAT narcissistic!
wowser#132..
You've got Kate's number, lol.
She's hoping for some PR this weekend...what's the odds of that happening?
She's hoping for PR time? What the heck does that mean? She's near LA, there are tens of thousands running, including no doubt some REAL celebrities. Is that what she means - she wants to get some publicity? Wow.
wowser said... 132
Aggiemom: Kate just proved my point in her latest tweet - she thanked ALL HER DIE HARD FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT....I can see her practicing her "emmy speech" in the hotel mirror in SD that she is sure is "right around the corner" if ONLY they would give her another tv spot! lol yes indeedy - she is THAT narcissistic!
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I bet the speech will go like this.
I'd first like to thank myself for doing all the hard work it took me to get here.
Secondly I liked to thank Jon and the haters and, TLC for trying to stop me.
It's hard being a single mother of 8 kids with NO help from anyone.(hold of crocodile tears and lots of me's)
Kate stated in her tweet, Hoping for PR time. What the hell is that supposed to mean. Is she going to try to put in some PR for her Home Episodes. She has nothing to PR about. I guess she's going to try to sell her product again. Hear ye, hear ye, I have 8 children that want to return to TV. Kate get over it and get a job, even if it is mediocre.
Wowser as you said, it's all in her head, she is a Star, and no matter what anyone says, she deserves all the adoration from her millions and millions of fans and don't anyone ever forget that.
Could the PR time she's referring to mean Private Running Time?
Kate tweeted-"Can't wait 2 enjoy the run & hoping for PR time!"
The PR time she is referring to is Personal Record time-meaning she hopes to beat her best time for running 13.1 miles.
She thinks she's so cool, speaking in runner's language.
Kate Is A Twit -- thank you for doing the almost impossible. You made what Kate says make sense. Thanks for the PR explanation.
PR time??????????????? Wait...I can't stop laughing.....
Kate is a twit said... 138
Kate tweeted-"Can't wait 2 enjoy the run & hoping for PR time!"
The PR time she is referring to is Personal Record time-meaning she hopes to beat her best time for running 13.1 miles.
She thinks she's so cool, speaking in runner's language.
&&&&&
I had a feeling she was showing off for her fan!
Dmasy-glad to be of help. My daughter is a runner-that's why I know what PR stands for.
Of course, knowing Kate it's easy to assume she meant "Public Relations".
FL Mama said... 137
Could the PR time she's referring to mean Private Running Time?
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Private Room with Steve.
OK, thanks Kate is a Twit, I thought PR meant public relations. Now it makes sense that it would mean Private Running Time. Although I'm sure, knowing Kate, that she will try to promote herself and her brood if given the chance.
I hope Kate hasn't fully "retrained" herself to sleep in. The starting time for the race is 6:15 am. I wonder what time they have to check in?
Hmm-now that Kate will be in the same city as her fan MSD(Mr San Diego), is she ignoring him?
HspncElvis@HspncElvis
@BHappyLoveLaugh @TrippenIn @Kateplusmy8 Needle in a hay stack. I e mailed Kate for a meeting point for a hello and a picture. No response.
She hasn't been tweeting to him either.
Hahahahaha! "first I'd like to thank myself for doing all the hard work it took me to get there" ...I almost choked laughing. This is why I read this blog..so many funny peeps. Maybe we should help Kate write that "fantasy" speech...if she had written it, it would have been "honestly, I would like to umm thank umm myself first because umm it's so hard to take care of 8 count em 8 little moneymakers, I mean multiples and I have so much to do....I mean honestly it's so hard because they actually want me to mother them but they just don't get it,,,I have to like fry my hair in NYC like every 4 weeks and ummm like I honestly have to tan and get my teeth bleached....ummmmmm oh wait, I would like to thank all my fans for ummm like supporting me and standing by me and tweeting me and sending me like free stuff that I so deserve....yadayadayada. Sad but I actually can hear her in my head... Oh well...good luck in SD....."she is run-ang" run Kate run!
This is why she picks and chooses where she runs....She will only go to where its to her advantage.....only to benefit her and her only...PR..MY ASS..
Ex Nurse, this is an excellent list.
I work at a 4-year university. A factor not on the list is in-state, out-of-state, and international student tuition. What is the mix of the three tuition generating areas (above) that upper university administration wants coming from a financial standpoint.
International students clearly generate more money, but what is the diversity mix of the applicants. In-state generates the least amount of tuition fees but states like to be loyal their own high school students. Out of state students are willing to pay the higher tuition because their state may be in a financial crisis and unable to support higher education.
The other factor is what percentage of offers made to potential students actually enroll at the unviersity. This changes the diversity and financial mix of a beautiful matrix.
Another financial factor is with the increase in tuition each year, can an international student afford to come to the niversity? International students need to prove (in writing) that they have the monies to afford tuition/fees, etc. as well as support themselves while attend college. BTW because of Visa restrictions international students can only work on campus.
I'm rambling a bit, sorry. But as an insider I see that there are many factors that play a part of undergraduates attending college. Again Ex-Nurse did a great job of providing a list. I only added the financial element.
How can she have PR (personal record) time if she's never done a 1/2 before? Makes no sense.
Betsy (128): "The difference is private schools are selective." I'm not really clear what you mean by this.
You speak of private schools (in general) as though they are all for "gifted" students. In the case of the Gosselins and their school, those children started there in kindergarten, which the sextuplets did twice (and wasn't there some sort junior K they did before that?). They were not "selected" to attend this school--their older sisters were already there, and their parents chose the school and could afford to pay for it (whether discounted or not). You make it sound as though there was some competitive aspect to them being enrolled there. Was there? Does anyone know for certain?
While "selective" may hold true for private schools where children are enrolling for, say, the high school years, I don't believe it applies in the case of the Gosselin children and the way they ended up at this particular school. If you know otherwise, I'd be curious to know what the selection criteria would have been.
As for Kate and her "PR time," she said she's hoping to run the 13.1 in under 2 hours. She claimed last week to have run 10 miles in 1:30. I guess it's possible (I don't know anything about the course--is it mostly flat?), if she can stick to a 9-minute mile. Not easy; pacing yourself correctly is the hardest part (or so I'm told).
Kate is a twit - you don't have to check in. You just show up at your designated corral and run. The checking in and picking up of race packets was probably done yesterday and today. Tomorrow, if you want their extremely overpriced carb loading dinner, you can go to that. But there aren't really any other pre-race activities for Rock-n-Roll.
PJ's momma-thanks for explaining, but don't they have to be in the corral by a specific time before the start?
As for the PR time, she's probably hoping to beat her own "unrecorded" time from her various runs at home or the time it took her to run 13.1 miles in Vegas.
I can't resist (zero will-power here)...
So Katie and Kiwi are headed to ole' San Diego this weekend, aka "A Whale's Vagina". Fitting!
("... They named it San Diego... which of course in German, means a whale's vagina." Courtesy, Will Ferrell- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy)
Activities/Leadership--Participating in sports, student government, clubs and community service adds points. Believe it or not, attaining the highest scouting award ( Eagle for boys, Gold for girls) is a big plus because it demonstrates a high level of achievement.
____
I think the one thing that gets confused here is that while having a lot of involvement in different activities obviously produces a well-rounded H.S. graduate, it is not necessary a MAJOR plus for college entry. Having one specific skill that can be exploited by the college is a better way to get a college's attention for admission. Scholarships go to those who have mastered one skill, not those that branch out to numerous skills.
Here's a tip I was told once: Play the tuba and be willing to be in a marching band. You'll get a full ride at the school of your choice.
heather
I still haven't figured out how marathon running pays the utilities bills and buys organic pineapples.
Anybody?
(snark)
Maybe she'll wear her fancy Winning is Finishing shirt!
I also took the "PR" wrong. Can you blame me? Look who we're dealing with....
twit, no, as long as you are in your corral when it advances toward the start, you are good. I was in corral 8 last time and people were coming in just moments before we started. Nobody's really policing the corral except the pacer, who is sort of looking at bibs to make sure people didn't jump corrals. There's just too many people for anyone to officially police anything at all.
She probably is hoping to beat her unofficial time, but it's doubtful that time was run on as accurate a course as this official one. Who knows what she thinks? Who cares, actually? She's gone across the country, leaving her kids with nannies once again, for no good reason, as there are many races close to home. I hope she falls flat on her face, although with all the work she's had done to it and her boobs, she might bounce right back up like one of those "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" toys of long ago.
It's easy to see why Kate picked this marathon--the course basically goes from high to low, pretty much all downhill and flat as a pancake for the 4-5 miles. If she doesn't "PR" on this course, I'd be quite surprised.
I just checked back on her results in LV (also a very flat course) and her "official" (ahem) half-time there was 2:15:51. So I guess the under-2-hour goal is not completely ridiculous.
I'd love to see her do Seattle. Hills galore. Maybe she will, it's no doubt on her bucket list like every other city that her kids are not occupying!
amy2--Thanks for the additional info. State universities are required to take some percentage of in-state schools--after all, they are subsidized by resident's taxes. But, no doubt, they need those out-of-state and international tuitions because they are much higher.
My girls played fast-pitch softball. I was amazed at how many parents counted on full athletic scholarships as Plan A. No Plan B, though. If they had encouraged their kids to focus at least as much on academics, then they may have qualified for financial aid. A few got full scholarships--those were usually the ones that were well-rounded and also at the top of their class.
Kate is a twit said... 146
Hmm-now that Kate will be in the same city as her fan MSD(Mr San Diego), is she ignoring him?
HspncElvis@HspncElvis
@BHappyLoveLaugh @TrippenIn @Kateplusmy8 Needle in a hay stack. I e mailed Kate for a meeting point for a hello and a picture. No response.
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Lol... even more proof that Kate doesn't like her fans, she just plays someone who does on Twatter.
Fan meet and greet in St Louis? nooooooooo
Driving 9 hours and getting to spend more than 3 seconds and a quick picture with her? nooooooooo
Meeting a fan who lives in San Diego and requesting a meeting when she's in town? [[crickets]] nooooooooo
When will the sheeple braintrust get it? You can kiss her ass, you can tell her she's perfect, you can send she and the kids presents and gift cards and please.......... do keep talking about that beach trip you'd like to pool your money to send her on. Just don't ask a damn thing from her. What part aren't you getting?
Gift of grab said... 151
Betsy (128): "The difference is private schools are selective." I'm not really clear what you mean by this.
Gift: Yes, I meant at the high school level, not at the elementary level. They can selectively weed out the low performers, because low test scores hurt their profit margin and reputation.
You can envision the conference: "Mrs. G., I'm afraid our school is not meeting your child's needs. We have tried a variety of strategies to help Billy be successful (teacher shows the data and steps taken), but he is not responding to the intervention. We truly want what is best for Billy. Here is a list of schools that might be a better match for his/her learning style..."
You speak of private schools (in general) as though they are all for "gifted" students. In the case of the Gosselins and their school, those children started there in kindergarten, which the sextuplets did twice (and wasn't there some sort junior K they did before that?).
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The tups were not in Kindergarten twice. They should have been in Kindergarten, but instead went to Junior Kindergarten and then Kindergarten. They did not repeat any grade, nor were they in any grade twice. The twins started in first grade.
We're under a tornado warning, with more forecast throughout the evening. The weather guy just said to hang in, it's going to be a long and bumpy evening. I hate this...
LCP, are you in Kate's county? Are you (and her children) under tornado watch and Kate is trying to get PR time in San Diego?
In my state if you start out in community college and do that for a couple of years as a full time student to get "X" number of credits (think getting your core classes out of the way) the state colleges HAVE to take you. Many kids do this to get out of taking their SAT's or if they got low scores on the SAT or maybe didn't meet the GPA or language requirements.
LCP, are you in Kate's county? Are you (and her children) under tornado watch and Kate is trying to get PR time in San Diego?
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I'm in Lancaster County. Kate is in Berks County, next county over to the east. The tornado warning has expired, but another one is about to be issued. Berks is under a tornado watch until 9 p.m.
Ex Nurse,
It's interesting that you brought up fast-pitch softball. My husband and our best friend were f-p coaches for many, many years. Both of the coaches emphasized good grades as well as athletic achievement. Every year for about 7-8 years 2-3 girls received at least a partial scholarship to 4 year universities.
The athletes that didn't take care of both sides of the fence were not scouted and, they did not have a Plan B.
Congrats to your girls!
LCP, I find that appalling. She's tweeting away like it's all farting unicorns and rainbows, and her kids are under a tornado watch clear across the country. How sad.
Thanks for clarifying, sounds like you are OK now, which is good to hear.
My brother and I were competitive swimmers at our High School and on an AAU team. He got a full swimming scholarship to a private university, and he was smart. His coach told him as he left for college "the swimming got you in, academics will keep you there." Coach was a HS teacher who believed in the power of education. Great guy.
Sadly, girls did not receive sports scholarships when I was in school. I am so glad that has changed.
Maybe if Cara continues to play lacrosse and if Mady plays the tuba in the marching band, their college will be taken care of.
The tups went to a church pre-school, then pre-K, then K, now 1st. I think Kate wanted them all to be 'ready' at the same time.
Sounds like MSD is a bit of a juice tank. Always talking about being hung over. I see he asked her when her plane landed. She says I'll find you when I get there. Ha. What if he isn't adequate looking and she takes a look, gets that feeling like, oh oh, not someone I want to maintain a twatting relationship with. He could turn out to be a real geek. She dreams of A-list fans, not toadies like this guy might be. But I bet he has those "damn lettuce wraps" that they've been flirting back and forth about. Two twits in a pod.
According to another blog, Jenny Masche, a mother of sextuplets who used to have a TV show, is going to be running the same marathon as Kate. Battle of the multiple mamas!
This is a great article about "exploitation tv" that was written due to the author's disgust at the new Honey Boo Boo show.
http://tvline.com/2012/05/31/toddlers-tiaras-spinoff-exploitation-reality-tv-criticism/comment-page-2/#comments
Lancaster County Parent said... 163
We're under a tornado warning, with more forecast throughout the evening. The weather guy just said to hang in, it's going to be a long and bumpy evening. I hate this...
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I just caught that on the Weather Channel.
Stay safe & well, Lancaster County Parent.
"The tups went to a church pre-school, then pre-K, then K, now 1st. I think Kate wanted them all to be 'ready' at the same time."
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They went from church preschool to Junior Kindergarten (current school) then to Kindergarten. There is no pre-K at their current school. Early Lower School education goes from Preschool (three-year-olds) to Junior Kindergarten and then to Kindergarten. They weren't all ready for Kindergarten at the same time, so all six started in Junior Kindergarten instead of Kindergarten. They were never in Preschool there. It gets a bit confusing.
The only advantage I see Kate having for the marathon here is time. For her 6:45 a.m. is 9:45 in "home time." Watching the early news soon to see if there's any news of her being in town. Lots of interest, especially in the kid's run with lots of elementary schools planning to enter its students.
Thanks for the clarification, Betsy. I guess Kate has that to look forward to. Oh wait . . .
Once a Viewer, pre-K was at the current school, right? I think that's why I was thinking they had repeated.
I see Kate got one of her paid lackeys defending her again. Her paid friend and make-up person Deanna. I guess Deanna, has a short memory on what a BULLY, Kate was to Jon. Probably the same short memory Kate has.
Kate is a BULLY, but does not like being bullied. Or have people call her on her lies, which Kate then says these people are haters, and then calls them bullies.
Kate there is a difference, between bullies, haters and people who dislike you for the BS your putting out there.
Will Kate be running this race with her two "running buddies" again, or is she gonna be a big girl this time?
Jenny (not)Masche has been running for a long time--she should be able to beat the pants off Kate.
MSD tweeted that he'd e-mailed Kate about meeting up and had had no reply as yet. Which shouldn't surprise anyone.
I haven't posted for a long time, but I have been reading/lurking. I found something very interesting when someone mentioned Jenny Masche running the same RnR marathon Kate is running in San Diego.
I find it very odd that it looks as though Kate is copying Jenny Masche who was touted as the original Marathon Momma of Sextuplets? Way back in 2009...
Think about it...
Kate goes blonde w/ long locks at the beginning of 2010, around the time that Jenny Masche started becoming more prominent in the media and made it big on the small screen for a short time.
The parallels are eerie...Jenny as a (working) nurse, divorced, marathon mom.
If you google Jenny Masche and Marathon you will find pages of information and articles, interviews, etc featuring Jenny Masche as a Marathon Momma.
Did You Know - Jenny Masche was featured in Runner's World before Kate. In 2009 Read Runners World Article
MSNBC called Jenny Masche: Supermom: She gives birth to six, runs marathon
Link to MSNBC interview
Orange County Register Jan 2009
This is not Jenny's first RnR Marathon in San Diego either: Read here she is named near the bottom of the page.
Kate can't even be an original at running. *rolling my eyes*
Once a viewer: Kate held the tups back. Most kids at 8 are going to 3rd grade, not 2nd. Kate held all 6 back cause 2 were not ready for kindergarden. Kate is taking the phrase: they were born together, being raised together, do everything together and die together. The only time those kids will ever be able to do anything separate, if they speak up and tell Kate outright, like the twins did. That is how the twins got away from dressing alike, doing the same stuff, sports, etc. As long as the tups say nothing, Kate will dress them alike, put them in the same sports, activities, like they are a unit, 6-pak, team, whether they like it or not.
If I had tups or twins, and one or 4 were ready for kindergarden and 1 or 2 were not, the ones that are ready would go. I see those kids as individuals, not a set or clones.
Did anyone else see the ROL article about how much the Real Housewives ladies make?
Yikes! Nee-nee makes $750K per season, Vicky Gunvalson makes $450K and the list goes down to the poor little newbie who makes only $30K.
I'm speechless. This is the kind of shitty crap the media rewards with wealth and fame?!
Well, I'm not really speechless but I'm not sure I can say this the right way: no wonder the rest of the world thinks Americans are trashy, rich horrible people - the media glorifies and promotes skeezy people with apparently loose morals (just my opinion of course). The drinkers, the adulterers, the mean and nasty, narcissistic selfish 'stahs' of these shows are supposed to represent our country?!
Maybe that isn't the intent, but the media never glorifies all of us normal, hardworking, honest moral people. We get forgotten, lost among the bright shiny celebrities. (That's said with a snark...)
It's not enough that you and I forge ahead in our normal lives. It's that the media promotes the freaks and skeezoids to the EXCLUSION of us normal folk.
And it doesn't matter one single wee tiny iota if ***WE*** refuse to watch the shows. They just go on and on, sharing their skewed version of reality to the world.
Again, the only way I can find peace in my home and a clear conscience is to drop cable TV. We did and things are ever so much less stressful here.
We actually listened to Bach while eating our mediocre dinner.
I actually go back and forth between refusing to check ROL and this blog, and slipping in a quick look. This blog has some of the smartest, wittiest posters and that keeps me coming back. But the ROL fascination is rubbernecking at a trainwreck, pure and simple. Call me ashamed.
I'm hanging my head.
Oh, and full disclosure: I never watched any of those housewife shows after the first season of Orange County. That vicky gunvalson rivals kart in the most dislikable category. Amazing that no one knocked her off and that her hubby, the gentle Don, didn't walk off the set.
OK, I guess the Bach didn't calm me enough. I need to take another break - LOL. I'll check in next week to see how kart cheated in this race. I swear, some runners should have made a pact to run around her to see exactly what she does.
Someone, sometime, somewhere has GOT to catch her in a lie.
Anne 173 -- Thanks for posting that article. The writer is Matt Mitovich, who used to work for TV Guide. He's long been a critic of "reality" TV but I don't think I've read anything by him that has been quite as pointed as that article.
Sounds like MSD is a bit of a juice tank. Always talking about being hung over. I see he asked her when her plane landed. She says I'll find you when I get there.
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No, that was a exchange between Yurbuds and Kate:
Yurbuds @yurbuds
@Kateplusmy8 Get your yurbuds on at the @SDConventionCtr! We're booths 424 & 542! Go #beyondthewall with us!
Kate Gosselin @Kateplusmy8
@yurbuds I'll find you when I get there... Thanks!
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Of course Kate will find all the freebies. That's a given.
For those of you who want to follow the convos and see who she's replying to when she tweets why not go to her page:
https://twitter.com/#!/Kateplusmy8
and under her replies you can click on "view conversation" and it brings up the tweet that she is replying to.
HspncElvis says he has emailed Kate about meeting up with her and she hasn't responded. He also said the traffic will be terrible around the venue.
She finally admitted that she ran out on L - said they didn't get to spend enough time together, because she had to high tail it out of there as soon as it was over because she had be somewhere else. Okay. They just don't get it.
Anne, thanks for that link. I don't know if this guy is the first to coin "exploitainment," but it is THE correct word to describe K+8 and almost any TLC show, if you think about it.
Mouse:
Thanks for the clarification. I sort of consider pre-K the same as Jr K from what is offered where I lived, but I guess they are different at their school. To me, pre- K or Jr K is for 4 year olds, and K for kids who are 5...more or less! It IS confusing. Also I found here that what I called pre-school is known as nursery school, for 3-4 year olds.
And anger issues:
I agree the kids, even if inconvenient, should each be placed according to their needs/readiness- they are fraternal, no more likely to be similar to any sibling of another age in ability.
She has a ghostwriter on CC...probably the work of her new PR person. It's blatantly obvious.
Berks Neighbor said... 181
I haven't posted for a long time, but I have been reading/lurking. I found something very interesting when someone mentioned Jenny Masche running the same RnR marathon Kate is running in San Diego.
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Nice to see you! Hope you'll continue to post :)
Berks Neighbor, great observation. D'ya think we'll see Kate and Jenny duking it out at the finish line for the title of "Marathon Momma"? You're right, once again it's Katie-Come-Lately, just copying someone else.
But I believe that Jenny is actually a physician's assistant, which I thought required a fair amount more training than the R.N. (But, I hasten to note, I am NOT starting the R.N. conversation again!)
If they were to move to a public school I tend to think the teasing (and worse?) would be god awful for them. Not only would they be the 'new kid' times 8, count 'em 8, but the history for all to see over and over and over again is and forever will be out there.
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At the school they're at now the lack of trips during the holidays, new mobiles, gadgets and other material goods or well fitting uniforms will get them teased just as much if not more. Socially the main good side of going to a more local school would be the chance to have friends that live closer. But that would make no difference if Khate doesn't allow them to socialise or even leave the konpound. Then again, the kids might want a new environment and a new group of classmates whom they haven't already been teased by or whom they themselves bullied.
I always found it odd that Khate's public reason for the kid's problems at school was that their school was too academic.
Lancaster, my thoughts are with you; stay safe.
I sincerely hope the Gosselin kids are with Jon right now. During tornado warnings, the kids should have the security of one of their parent's being with them, to comfort them during a scary time.
Berk's Neighbor, so happy to see you back. It is nice hearing from you again, we missed you!
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