Some you drive by every day. Some you regularly see on the news. Some you’ve never heard of before.

There is no shortage of private school options in Oklahoma, but parents must sift through numerous defining factors to determine what school is the right fit for their child. Religious affiliation, cost, class size and educational philosophy are just some of the big questions parents must ask.

Obviously, not every school will fit every child.

“The curriculum, schedule, class size, special programs, tuition, atmosphere of a school and other factors determine the school’s ‘fitness’ for your child,” says Olivia Martin, interim director of admissions at Holland Hall.
There are certain factors that all parents should consider when evaluating if a school is right for their child.

Gut Response

As simple as it sounds, the feeling a school gives parents and students is a great indicator of fit.

“It’s the feeling the parent gets when they walk through the door,” says Matt Vereecke, school director of Monte Cassino. “Schools really take on the feeling of their community, so parents can usually identify if the school has a good administration, whether the kids there are happy or sad, and they’re not going to put a student in a place where they’re not going to be happy. If they’re not happy, they’re not learning.”

Child’s Personality

Structure or independence? Quiet or community? Parents must first know their child and his or her strengths before evaluating school programs.

“As the parent, you know if your child has certain needs and/or preferences and in what kind of classroom/curriculum her/she will thrive,” says Martin. “Does the school provide programs that challenge and inspire your child in his/her interests and strengths?”

Community And Educational Philosophy

“Every school has its own personality and, really, its own charisma,” says Vereecke. “These are the people that will become the parents’ friends and their student’s friends. Parents have to ask, ‘Who will my student be when they leave this place?’”

The community aspect of the school should not stay inside the schoolhouse doors either, says Martin.

“School is a second home to students, and the school culture should mirror a caring family,” she says. “The school should not only foster a sense of close community within its walls, but also work to make the larger community in a city a better place through community service and participation in civic events.”

Schools that encourage students to be an active part of the community often have more successful students leaving high school.

“A well-rounded student is more likely to attend the college of his/her choice and will also take a variety of skills and knowledge into the larger world,” says Martin.

Class Size And Ratios

Regardless of age, small class size and individual attention can make a difference to students.

“Students often experience more success in all areas if they are in smaller classes with qualified and nurturing teachers,” says Martin. “The classes should be small enough that the teacher(s) can truly know each child on a personal level.”

Religious Orientation (Or Not)

Many private schools across the state have a religious affiliation, which some parents seek out and some don’t really consider.

“The religion question is usually the biggest we get,” says Vereecke. “We’re focusing more on universal human values like building community, learning hospitality and serving others than on proselytizing. We would say our values are Catholic, but they’re really universal aspects: If you’re Catholic we want you to be a stronger Catholic; if you’re from a different religion, we want to help you be stronger in your faith.”

Tiered Considerations

Though certain criteria are more important at certain ages – for preschool level students, the teacher is one of the most important considerations a parent must make, while middle schools can be evaluated on how prepared their students will be to enter high school – the match of the school to the student remains the most important factor for determining fit.

“Discovering whether your child can thrive and grow in all areas in that particular school” is the most important factor, says Martin. “If you instantly feel you belong there when you visit the school, you probably do.”

It’s no secret that the mature human body does not work as efficiently as its younger counterpart. Blood flowing through veins has obstacles. The brain and glands don’t stimulate hormones that communicate with the rest of the body with quite as much vigor.

“As we get older, systems fail, or individual pieces fail that lead to failure of systems. Among other things, testosterone levels go down,” says William Reiner, a professor and urologist at University of Oklahoma Medical Center.

Men in general have a gradual taper in testosterone production. This decline begins just after levels peak in adolescence and early adulthood. According to the Mayo Clinic, testosterone begins to decline in males around age 30, then continues to decrease by about one percent each year.

Some men can reach a symptomatic low in testosterone in their 50s and 60s. This is sometimes referred to as male-menopause. However, Reiner says, menopause is the complete failure of the system. Unlike the female reproductive system, the male system is not designed for complete failure. Low-T or, more scientifically, hypoandrogenism, are more accurate names.

The Low-T Low Down

Despite what TV and radio advertisements pushing drugs to help men with Low-T might lead one to believe, many men are never affected by this decline. Reiner suspects less than half of men have enough of a drop in hormone levels to become symptomatic.

However, those that do have symptoms typically notice loss of stamina, low energy and even hot flashes first, says Reiner. The Mayo Clinic also lists changes in mood and sexual function, weight gain and muscle loss as symptoms.

“Nothing can be done to prevent it. Not as far as we know,” says Reiner. This shift in hormonal production is a natural part of aging.

Reiner does say he would not be surprised if one day the chemicals and drugs that are commonly used today are increasingly making declines in testosterone a bigger problem.

General preventive care and a healthy lifestyle, which will keep the circulatory system healthy can help ensure that some affects of declining testosterone are minimized or at least not compounded.

Men with good vascular health can have intimate relationships even as their testosterone levels decrease.

Men who feel a loss of stamina or low energy can visit their primary care physician to discuss symptoms. The doctor may do a blood test to confirm low levels of testosterone. Then testosterone can be taken by injection, patch or gel.

Failure To Communicate

Reiner says the decrease in production of testosterone is because of  “a disconnect between central brain function and the testicle. (They) no longer stimulate each other appropriately.”

Reiner explains a seesaw pattern in which the brain, pituitary gland and testicles work together to regulate the levels of testosterone in the body. When testosterone levels dip, they trigger the production of more. When an adequate level is reached they shut down production. In time, like memory, Reiner points out, this begins to break down. 

In women, the reproductive system actually ceases creating the hormones that fuel it. This results in the more acute and pronounced change than the gradual decline in men. Most men do not have a total failure of the system that produces testosterone.

Pitfalls And Perils

Hormonal issues aren’t the only ones aging men need to monitor.

While the loss of testosterone in many men might be the most discussed aspect of andropause, it is not the only significant change facing men beginning as early as their 40s and continuing through their senior years.

Joint trouble is a common occurrence in men in their 50s, brought on by a combination of injury, wear-and-tear and osteoarthritis. Low-impact exercise might be key to staving off the pain and limitations of joint trouble. Even mild bicycle riding, for example, has shown to significantly reduce pain and other complications.

After as young as age 35, men begin to lose bone minerals, and it can begin to have a noticeable effect by the age of 50. Healthy calcium intake, under a doctor’s supervision, is certainly one way to address the issue. The other is putting your bones to work for you to strengthen them, notably by running, walking and strength training.

A number of issues, from inactivity to bone mineral loss, can tighten a man’s spine and pelvic muscles, forcing other parts to pick up the slack and lead to back pain. Exercise such as Pilates, yoga and even exercise with a foam roll can help alleviate the situation by increasing flexibility and strengthening stomach muscles, which reduces stress on the back.

Between the ages of 50 and 80, men can lose 35 percent of their muscle mass, which can lead to additional complications. This is a time to commit seriously to muscle-building exercises. Done correctly, there should be little more risk of injury at 50 than there is at age 20 from lifting weights or similar activities. Make sure you’re following good practices and strength training can help offset the loss of muscle mass – and make you feel better, too.

The effects of aging in men might be less discussed than women’s menopause, but men also can have a more hands-on strategy for staving off those effects. – Michael W. Sasser