There are many relatively well-disciplined schools, and even more well-qualified teachers. 8:30 just does not grab me. Which of course, is a fantastic comment on the Australian public school system. In my circumstance, my choices went from one to eight. Teacher man talks from his experience to give you a baffling review. I was also fortunate enough to be in a very strong and competitive (academically) class that set the achievement bar very high for all of us. How do we fix the public school system (trust me, it needs fixing). However, while both have their advantages, one isn’t necessarily better than the other. I’m not sure how those advantages could be incorporated in public schools since they do have to teach everybody. by Teacher Man | Aug 24, 2011 | Education & Academic Tips, Student Life & University Issues | 19 comments, “After teaching in the public school system, I am honestly considering sending my kids to a private school”. I don’t have a lot of experience with extremely large public schools in terms of talking about what they offer, but I know that the private schools I’ve seen are way ahead of the game on average than their public counterparts. When these students are not challenged they never learn how to climb academic mountains and overcome obstacles. Public school skip the private school tuition but have larger classes and less teacher-student time. Public schools are required by law to employ certified teachers. Public and private schools are different in funding and their learning environment. A public school student may or may not have a parent with a high opinion on education, but I suspect it’s a lower percentage. There is no doubt that quality is attached to where you live. Certain school districts may have variations to this rule. But related to your article, I have three thoughts. When you send your child to private school, there is much more to do and decide than public school. They are encouraged to learn how to manage time. I’m a British teen, last year of Highschool (year 11), attending a private school in England. Education is something that everyone considers a priority. Take a look at some of the most expensive schools, notable public school alumni, and learn more about “private” public schools. However, granting admission to a student is up to the school authorities and is based on tests and other criteria.Admission to public school is determined by the address of the students. I got into a fist fight with some guy in my science class. Schools with fewer than 20 students at Year 12 were excluded, as were select-entry public schools. Choosing the best option is often one of the most significant decisions that parents will make for their children. I did much of my student teaching at the most prestigious private school in Manitoba (or at the very least the most expensive! Every community has a zoned school and students attend their respective zoned school. Like many teachers, the high school students who run Spectrum Robotics have made major changes to their courses for students with autism. Maybe some sort of voucher system? Are teacher’s unions too strong, and counterproductive to the good of the overall education system? From my outsider view this is even more true in the USA with their recent education policies regarding funding as a reward for past results. The magnet schools were a complete change. In the private school vs. public school debate, there are no easy answers to find. You could tell… Read more ». While I enjoyed this experience very much, I don’t believe it is at all representative of the vast majority of public high schools in North America right now, and it certainly has no correlation to a private school experience. I grew up in a small rural area, and went to a very tiny K-12 school (around 160 students… yes, these schools do exist). Publi… Probably because people have argued for years about their benefits and drawbacks. However, a private school can be expensive. Public Vs Private schools, ... it is just not realistic to believe that a teacher can meet 30 different students at their level in a 60 minute class. I don’t know if all school privatization would make a ton of sense. The most obvious discrepancy between public and private schools comes down to cold, hard cash. International Money Transfers for Overseas Education: Guide & Recommendations. Really eh, you found that private school limiting in academics? When it comes to private versus public schools, there isn’t a right answer to the question, “Which is better?” But given the different qualities of each type of school, there is a right answer to which one is right for a particular student. In private schools, there’s an expectation that parents are paying for more access to teachers, and more input into their child’s learning. As a teacher in many places across North America right now, you are expected to teach an incredible range of students. Plus, private high schools are known to produce higher standardized test scores. The biggest perk of attending a public school over a private school is saving money. I attended Catholic school for K-12, but my parents often considered sending me to public school. In private schools, pupils and teachers are encouraged to speak in English, while in the public schools, Nepali is used. Great points here. If I was in an underserving urban area I would be a lot more tempted to pursue private education, but the public schools in my area are highly rate…though you raise some good points about public education overall. And she wasn’t the only one. A comparison of public and private schools, the pros and cons of each, and a look at the cost of getting a stellar education at both. Magnet schools are public schools that require a higher academic standard and a competitive admission like private schools. Sadly, in the area I live in, most private schools are religious and require children to follow religious guidelines. What you say has a lot of merit, but I do think that the district you live in plays a big part in the quality of public education. The private versus public school debate seems like a tale as old as time. One important thing to keep in mind when determining a school choice is the long and short term effects on students and their views. This is a good option for public school teachers to embrace out of necessity, but please don’t tell me that it is a substitute for the environment of achievement that exists in private schools. Is standardized testing the answer? School sector effects on student achievement. No longer is 50% the sought-after academic standard (as it is in public schools). The good news for parents is that public schools cannot charge tuition. Anyone may apply to attend a private school, there is no zoning based on the students address. Obviously lots of what I have to say will be anecdotal, and conclusions will likely be drawn from generalities as opposed to scientifically-collected data. The culture of achievement (a term that I made up, so take it for what it’s worth) in private schools is such a huge asset to teachers and parents. Funded independently through tuition, grants, alumni, and community, Teachers don't necessarily have to be certified, Teachers must be state certified or working toward it, Sign Up to Receive Guidance on K-12 Schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , private school teachers earn an average of $10,000 – $15,000 less than comparable public school positions. Niche helps you discover the schools and neighborhoods that are right for you. I am definitely not saying that students cannot succeed coming from the public school system, or that all private school students are going to be Einstein and are superior to their public school counterparts. Students and parents may choose to go to private school for a variety of reasons, including religion, the desire for single-sex education, as well as just experiencing a more flexible curriculum, which is something private schools are known for. Choosing the best school for your child is one of the most important decisions parents have to make for their children but most parents rely on rumors and hearsay in deciding on whether to send their children to a private or a public school. Similarly, magnet schools are public schools that have high academic standards and competitive admission like private schools. Private Schools. I honestly believe that in some cases the investment in a private school education will have an unbelievable rate of return, and one far greater than any other investment. This study was designed to investigate why parents choose to send their children to Private or Public schools. Public schools, like charter schools, offer the structure of private schools without the cost. Let us help you narrow down the plethora of school choices by taking a closer look at private schools vs. public schools and tackling the debate. There are many, many reasons why, but the foremost reason is that while our standards have slipped a little, international standards are going through the roof. While these suggestions may have some degree of merit, I would suggest that they are vastly overrated. Here’s an examination of private and public schools and how to figure out which one may be right for a student. When teachers gear their game plans to the middle of the class in a public high school, and face a lot of pressure to make sure as many students pass as possible, the end result is that the brighter students, and the students that want to work hard, are not challenged at all. My point is even if you think your local public school is high quality, it is getting harder and harder to find real high quality due to illogical incentives (that often contradict each other) and no accountability within the education field. Anyone that tells you different is blatantly lying, or has been misinformed. The bad news is that public schools are complicated, often underfunded operations influenced by political winds and shortfalls. It appears to soak through their pores and influence everything they do. As public schools face budget cuts that lead to larger class sizes and fewer resources, many private schools continue to flourish. While this may seem like the worse option when it comes to staff quality, ALL teachers in public school must be certified by the state in order to be a teacher. Depending on how you look at it, there are certainly some pros about private schools, including that they tend to have smaller class sizes, better quality materials and school equipment and a more flexible curriculum that they’re able to tailor to suit your child. The public school system is simply babysitting now with a billion restrictions on actual teaching in place. The bottom line is that peers have an undeniably massive effect on teenagers. I agree with all the points you made about the advantages of private schools. Most people might assume that private schools would be hands-down better than public schools because of their unique offerings and smaller classes, but that’s not necessarily so. If we had a kid who was really in to the performing arts or wanted to become an aeronautical engineer, we’d be set, but… Read more », I am a product of private school education. A school is an institution where students acquire knowledge and skills that will be of use in their future, so choosing the best school for them is vital. Public schools do have a much larger class size and less flexibility in curriculum as well as more regulations and rules. This is why I honestly think it may be a great investment for a lot of people (especially since you don’t have to pick the most expensive ones to get the majority of the benefits). Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. While they are a useful tool to introduce students to positive social values, I believe the focus of public schooling has been so far removed from its core responsibility – making people smarter – that we are failing our most basic responsibility, and we are definitely seeing the results. And according to Niche data on tolerance, private schools are more likely to be accepting of students from minority groups and more prepared to combat bullying with anti-bullying campaigns. People are usually passionate about one or the other for valid reasons. Obviously they still have the standard teenage issues that all school environments have to some degree, but this passion to excel in the classroom and whatever else you choose to do – the idea that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing RIGHT – is immeasurable in its value. Although I didn’t attend a private school, I spent 6 years in public magnet programs between middle and high school. Public schools are free—no tuition required. Private Schools vs. Public Schools: Pros & Cons Parents all over the country ar e at some point faced with the question: public school or private school? This would breed a higher performance from those kids, even if the education were identical. It’s impossible, and the academic-elites that are promoting this view have likely not been in a high school classroom in the last 10 years (at least). I think all school should be privatized. Things may have certainly changed since then, but I found private school extremely limiting. I agree with you about a number of things. Yet, in retrospect, I wonder if sending our kid to private school would have been a better move for her! We are not religious (and are rather antii-organized religion, at that), so that wouldn’t be a good fit for us. My husband was an 8th grade public school science teacher for 4 years and is in his 2nd year as a public school librarian, and yes, if we have kids, they will either be home-schooled or be in private school. My position is this, do your research, know all your options available, have the facts, and then make an informed decision that best suits you. As public schools are based on zones, private schools in my opinion offer more schools to choose from, which give you more options as a parent. This article will go through the pros and cons of the two school systems. Nearly 50 million students enroll in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Any specific reasons you think it may or may not have been right for her Barb? The secondary education experience that I had was not typical or average in anyway. Am I just a cynical public school teacher? Having an independent education is important, but it is also something that comes at a price for some households that exceeds what they can afford. 2. We do have a number of really good charter schools in the area, but they tend to be very focused. Do we go to longer hours or more school days (most schools across North America are at about 180 days right now)? You’re not alone. Public schools are being held responsible for fixing every social problem society has. I could not agree more on the parental involvement aspect. The latest HSC results from 2017 show that while the top-10 schools are dominated by public selective schools, the top state schools also outrank a number of high-fee private schools. This is fine for the spoon-fed environment of high school, but then they hit post-secondary education, or a competitive job environments and… well you can see the results on every international test score. In New York City, however, the price tag is much higher. Benefits of private schools Why parents choose an independent education for their kids Find a list of schools . I went to private school until the end of 6th grade, and then to public school through High School graduation. Interesting that we are both public school teachers who are seemingly unimpressed with the system. I have no idea how you quantify the impact that this culture of achievement has on students. The differences between them can help with the. Public vs. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. The average public school classroom in Los Angeles has more… Read more ». Because public and private schools are governed by different federals laws and regulations, the quality of teachers can vary. I have seen many parents that are fairly agnostic decided to send their children to religious-based schools simply for the advantage I’ve talked about. …, How a Student-Run STEAM School Adapted to the Pandemic, A Teacher’s Perspective on the Pandemic: “This Is All Temporary”, Private School vs. Public School Breakdown. The Best 5 Business Credit Cards In Canada, Questrade RESP Review: Saving for My Child’s Education, Canada’s Best Meal Kit Delivery Services for 2020. 2) While this sounds very logical I can guarantee that this will never happen because parents would have way too much room to argue… Read more ». Private schools are often preferred to parents over public schools for a number of reasons. By the time I graduated from public high school, I had completed a year of college level calculus, college level Biology and Physics and my school had created an independent study Computer Science course where I told them what I wanted to learn and they bought the books for me.… Read more ». Private School: Study Says There is No Difference found the following resources, articles, links, and information helpful. To teach their children the necessary skills for an ever-changing world, many parents are choosing private school education.With options ranging from boarding schools to alternative schools to preschools, there is almost certainly a school to suit each and every child. Whew, that was a long-winded intro, hope you’re still with me! I am simply stating that for parents and students that are committed to having youth reach their full academic potential, private schools offer some undeniable advantages, and that the gap is growing every year. I do not deny that there are a ton of social problems that need help and require fixing in North America. Public Vs Private schools, which one is better. It was a mess. Students searching for Public vs. Private schools vs. public schools: which one is better for your child? Private school vs public school has long been a debate topic and probably always will be. Most people will point out things like “better discipline” and “more qualified teachers,” as the main reasons why private schools see better results. I just don’t know if a 6-hour school day leaves us enough time to fix all those problems and still teach students to a high level. What group do you want your child hanging around with and learning their cultural norms from? I’m not sure that private schooling is the answer, but I can say with a large degree of authority that there is a huge difference in the level of education I have seen at private institutions versus those of public schools. The teachers never returned any of my assignments so neither I or my mother knew how my grades were determined. It is just common sense that if you have two identical teachers, and one is teaching to private school students who all have a fairly high minimal capability level, and one teaches to the massive (I cannot overstate just how large this range is) range of students found in public school classrooms, one is going to appear a lot smarter than the other because the environment allows and encourages them to teach to a much higher level. Can Your Trust Robo Advisors With Your Pension? We don’t have kids, but we’ve talked about what we would do for school if we did. The best ways to determine whether you are making the right decision for your child is by visiting the school and … For the last ten years, I have been a public school teacher. I am very interested in hearing what everyone has to say about public vs private schooling. A parent that send their kids to private school most likely has a high opinion of formal education, and high expectation for their kids in that regard. Plus, they are under more bureaucratic red tape when it comes to regulations and rules. Knowing how important teacher quality is to you and your child can help you weigh the difference between public and private schools. I’m glad that you are at least aware that you will have to do most of the work in terms of actually educating your child. 1)I agree with the idea that if parents are willing to invest in their child’s education they are likely to place a high value on education, which to me makes that type of people all the more attractive to influence my child. Private Schools : Private School Vs. Public 893 Words | 4 Pages. However, private schools almost guarantee smaller class sizes, since they are exclusive and require special admissions. While at private school it was not uncommon for me to teach a class that had a chess champion, the 27th ranked junior tennis player in Canada, a student organizing a missions trip to Jamaica, and a national math contest winner, in it at the same time, and they were likely not even the top students! It is neither pro private nor pro public. 1. I guess they decided that explaining their view on religion to their children was easier than explaining everything else! I have thought about the benefits of having a child attend public school until grade 8 or so, then switching over, while at the same time taking part in many activities outside of the school in order to stay away from the “elitism” that I find very unappealing. This post is from a student, parent, or professional contributor. Trying to keep it to under 1500 words was a challenge for me! It compares the cost of private versus public school for two fictitious families living in eastern Massachusetts: One family spends $2,120 a month on a median-priced home in the village of Auburndale, which has some of the best public schools in the country; the other spends $998 a month for a home in a neighborhood with average schools, plus an average of $782 a month for private school tuition. This Sunday on 60 Minutes, more behind a manslaughter case, private schools and the extra-talented Sam Smith.. This is NOT true with private schools! It can be a difficult decision for parents to make, and should be made after careful consideration of what is best for your child and family overall . I admit that there is something to the idea that students that attend private schools will suffer from “living inside a bubble” because they don’t get exposed to a lot of the “real world.”  While this is true to some extent, I believe the solution on an individual level is pretty simple. I just keep telling myself to only focus on the day-to-day and to feel gratitude for being employed, as this is temporary and I will get to enjoy my job again at some point. Financed through federal, state, and local taxes, public schools are part of a larger school system, which functions as a part of th… While this may have some great social benefits, there is no doubt that it stunts the academic growth of the top individuals. We continue to educate teachers to “differentiate” instruction to all levels, and while I fully believe teachers should try to make personal connections with all of their students and adapt the curriculum as best they can for different learning abilities, it is just not realistic to believe that a teacher can meet 30 different students at their level in a 60 minute class. To decide if it's worth the investment, examine these major differences between public and private schools. That is the question. Have you considered private or home schooling? How much do you think parenting has to do with this? The options weren’t there, the variety of programs weren’t there, and the accelerated classes weren’t there. Would love your thoughts, please comment. I have many many opinions on this topic. I immediately found the staff and teachers were just as committed and available in our new school. Moving to Australia: Public vs Private Schools If you’re looking at Public Schools in Sydney, we have an interactive map showing the School Catchment Areas at https://liveable.co/schools … I have also been involved with probably 20 or so public schools at this point, all within Manitoba, Canada, but I will say that I am fairly active in reading the most recent educational research and staying informed on events within the global education community. Students get used to intense competition against the best and brightest. But unlike their private counterparts, public schools have larger class sizes and not much flexibility when it comes to curriculum. Private schools offer an environment that is relatively free of all these problems (or at least has them to a much lesser degree). Secondly, public schools have little resources, especially in the rural areas. Also, unlike private schools, public schools have a set of standards to hold to, with teachers that are state-certified and special education programs for students that learn differently from others. And despite Niche users reporting private schools as more accepting, public schools are notably more diverse, so private schools could be measuring tolerance on a smaller, less unique scale. When I was in the 6th grade, I remember one of my 13 year old classmates had a baby. Jessica Silva On Mother’s Day 2012, 23-year-old Jessica Silva stabbed and killed her partner, the father of her young son. My experiences in the private school system have been limited to a couple semesters of student teaching, three years of coaching sports, and talking to several friends who attended private schools their entire lives. But unlike public schools, private schools can design their own curriculum, which can be both an advantage and disadvantage since this independence can foster lower standards. Public or private? This meant lots of one-on-one teacher time, and a strong push to take part in many extracurricular activities. I have probably raised a few eyebrows with the comments I have made on our site here at My University Money, as well as those I have made on comment boards around the blogosphere concerning the argument of public vs private schooling. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 5 million (roughly 10 percent) of students in the U.S. attend private schools. In this globalized world, that is a major issue. My children attended private school as well. 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