Private Vs. Public: The Education Debate

When our children near the age when they should begin school, parents are faced with a very difficult and perplexing question - Where to send their child? There are so many different options available, but one of the biggest controversies surrounds the private school vs. public school debate. Some people swear that public schools are the best schools for children, while others argue that they're a waste of money - for something that's not really any better than the public school system. It leaves many parents confused; after all, we want what's best for our children, right? Are private schools really better?

What to Consider

It doesn't matter if you're considering a private school or a public school, before your send your child anywhere, there are 4 important factors to take into consideration:

1. Teaching Quality - The teaching quality is always important, whether you are looking into a public or a private school. We want the best teachers for our children and, in some cases, it's important to find teachers that fit with your child. From private experience, I encountered teachers at one school, who told me that my son had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and that I had to take him into the doctor to get him medicated for it. Instead, I switched my son to a different school. There, he was placed under a teacher that had worked with children with ADHD and other special needs - Her answer? "Your son isn't ADHD. He's gifted!" My son didn't have ADHD - he was bored silly.

You also have to take your local economics into consideration. While you may find some good teachers in the low income inner-city school, chances are that turn-over is going to be pretty fast for teachers (and students). Between low starting salaries and small salary increases, many teachers use the poor quality schools to get their feet wet, all the while looking for something better to come along. If you're looking for the type of school where all of your children will have the same 3rd grade teacher, throughout the years, shoot for a smaller community or a private school.

Teacher's credentials are also an important aspect of choosing where to send your child. While both private and public schools both require that their teachers be credentialed, private schools tend to hire teachers who have advanced degrees in their subjects of choice, whereas public schools will usually accept an education degree, with a minor in the subjects they teach. Both are very capable of teaching your child, but you may find the teachers at private schools to be a bit more in-depth.

2. Class Size - Research has shown that smaller class sizes can have advantages when it comes to teaching children, particularly younger children and those who have special needs. While the research is sometimes debated, few can argue that children often achieve more when they are able to develop close working relationships with their teachers. Children are better able to get that one-on-one assistance that they sometimes need. Again, the private school or small-community schools usually win out over the larger schools, when it comes to smaller class sizes and a smaller student/teacher ratio.

I had the good fortune of being sent to a small Baptist school for a couple of years, before I was sent on to public school. During my stay there, I developed close relationships with my teachers and the other students alike. School was fun for me - It was challenging and exciting, allowing me to work at my own pace, and I literally devoured my schoolwork... and was hungry for more.

When I was transferred over to public school, my parents were told that I would be allowed to work at my own pace and that I could continue working at the advanced level that I was currently at. Unfortunately, these promises fell short and it wasn't long before I was repeating the same things, over and over. I was not allowed to work ahead and it wasn't long before school became a sour place that I dreaded going to. My grades plummeted and stayed very low for years.

A smaller class size would have benefited me, not because I needed the one-on-one interaction, but simply because I needed a teacher that felt secure enough to allow me to work ahead. With larger class sizes, the teachers cannot allow children to work at all different speeds and levels - if they did, they would never accomplish anything in class. For this reason, I am a very strong supporter of small class sizes and the importance they can play in a child's learning.

3. Facilities - When I say this, people are usually quick to think that I mean athletic facilities, but I am looking at the whole picture. While athletic facilities are important to the health and well-being of our children, one must also think of other facilities like libraries and media centers, as well as music and art programs. Some public schools have amazing facilities available to the children. Others are severely lacking. Private schools are about the same - You need to decide what you expect of the schools and visit them, talking to people and seeing what facilities are available to your child.

4. Budget and Administration - These two go hand-in-hand and are important to take into consideration when choosing a school. The budget decides important changes and updates that can be implemented in your school and the administration usually has a say how that funding gets appropriated. Unfortunately, with large public schools, the administration is often bogged down by the administration and unions. Private schools rarely have to deal with unions and they don't usually have all the bureaucratic red tape to go through that the public schools have.

An Educator or a Babysitter?

The main question to ask is whether you want an in-depth education for your child or if you're just looking for a babysitter. The answer seems so clean-cut, when it's put in those terms, and yet people are often stumped at the choice. What's the main reason? Finances.

Finances play a major role in choosing where we send our children. After all, who DOESN'T want the best education for their child? The problem is that there are many people in the United States, and around the world, who don't have the luxury of shopping around for an expensive private school. There are families who find it a challenge just to come up with a couple of bucks a day, just to pay for their child's hot lunch. With college expenses looming in the near future, the thought of paying big bucks for general classes seems almost ludicrous for many.

A Third Option

Following a move, my son was re-entered back into public school and it wasn't long before I was getting all kinds of letters and phone calls. My son was causing disturbances. He was cutting classes. He was falling through the cracks. In the end, I did the only thing that I could do, to ensure he got an education - I home schooled him.

Of course, home schooling is not for everyone, just as private school is not for everyone. Some feel that the public schools offer more diversity in classes and that they better prepare children for real-life experiences. Others favor the private school with their smaller class sizes and focused curriculum. The bottom line is that you, as parents, will have to take many things into consideration. Sit down and think what is best for you and your child - go and visit schools, talk with teachers and principals. Examine all your options. Only when you have done all these things, will you be prepared to make a decision on your child's education. In the public vs. private school war, it all comes down to what best suits your child's needs. That's what matters most.

Sources:

My own experiences with private, public and home schooling

http://privateschool.about.com - NCES study on class sizes

http://www.greatschools.org - Important things to look for in a school