Public v Private

[RockingBaker]

We look on the basis of support for disability for DS as the priority and then philosophies, policies, community feel, etc afterwards. Most private schools up here didn't even have full time SN staff. For us the best choice is a public school. They have a variety of programs, cater to quite a few religions (which was important to us, we're atheists but want our kids to be exposed to numerous belief systems/cultures) and are an excellent fit for our whole family. High school will be harder and more dependent on DS' needs.

[Floweryfields]

My preference would be a small private school - with christian foundations if possible for purely personal reasons. Where I am living now, I see first hand the difference in children who go to the large state school vs the small private school. Sad to say if you have a child with learning issues in the state system, they are destined to fall through the cracks - classes of up to 30 there is no other alternative really. Prep has no class sized cap here either and with only one state school in the area, they ended up with 36 students last year - no additional staff are provided as staffing is set in the first term of the year. Of those 36 students there were 4 ESL (2 with no english at all) and more than 6 with learning difficulties.
The same can be said if your child is exceeding their expecatations as the state system can provide additional stimulating material for the gifted child either in it's current format. This is in my town only, not generalising other state schools in other areas as everyone is different.

[~Kim~]

It really depends on the type of philosophies, learning, experiences etc that you want for your child. Then it depends on the school.
Money isn't an issue for us either and we chose public for our DD1. She had places at the two local private schools and when we lined them all up, where she goes now suited us all far better than the two private schools.

ETA see Ausgirl that's why I think it's totally dependent on individual schools. In the two private school transition classes here there are 30+kids to one teacher. In DD1s class there are 2 classes of 20 to 2 teachers and one fulltime and two part time aides plus the indigenous assistant, the ESL assistant.

[nickle730]

The public schools near us are quite large (5-7 primary classes for each year level, 25-32 kids in each class) and appear to be poorly resourced. In our investigations (admittedly, 6 years ago for DD1) we found a lot of jaded, unenthusiastic staff in our local primary schools. Our local public schools left me utterly depressed. I couldn't imagine leaving my child there each day.

We chose a small private school for our kids. Classes are capped at 22 for Prep and 24 for other primary classes. Double stream primary (two classes each year level), triple stream secondary. Teaching resources are plentiful; if something is required for either a class or an individual child, it is acquired. The teaching staff are enthusiastic and the children are all engaged - no child 'slips through the gaps'. The children are all valued as individuals, encouraged in their strengths and supported in their weaknesses. The sense of community is fantastic which, as well as being enjoyable as a parent, is IMO an important example to set for our children. A cohesive community working together for a common goal despite individual differences.

I read others saying that people who choose private school are 'buying peers for their children' and I disagreed. But I guess I am buying into a community which holds the same value and enthusiasm for educating children as I do. I'm happy for that to be a by product of paying to send my children to an environment where they are valued and engaged every day.

I do think that the private vs public debate should be influenced by what is available in your own area, as well as considering the needs of the individual child. I saw public schools I disliked, but I also inspected private schools I wouldn't consider sending my children to. We are committed to a private education for our kids and I feel confident we have found the right school for our family. I hope others find the right school for their kids, regardless of whether it's public or private.

[AwesomeFoursome]

I think it depends on the schools in your area. We are sending DS to the private one and the girls will follow. The public school in our area is so bad I wouldn't send my dog there, let alone my kids. I know a little boy who was 7 and his mum found he had been taking a knife to school to protect himself from kids bullying him. We have had kids from that school bully DS when his been on our front yard, he was 3, these kids were 10-11 years old . DH went to the public school, he cant spell, his writing is so bad its barely readable and he was bullied so bad I think it still affects him in some ways. But I am not against public school, if we were in a good area with a good public school I would send the kids to it.

[Amity]

Public primary (but lucky enough to live in a very affluent area with highly engaged parents and community and staff)

Private secondary. It opens so many doors here in Melbourne.

I'm more than 15 years out of high school and well established in my career and I am still regularly asked what high school I went too.

[Jennifer13]

Public for primary here because the private schools are mostly single sex and I prefer co-ed.

Torn for high school for the same reason. But most likely private.

I should add, because of all the 'voluntary' contributions that are added to our public school semester fees, there is a great difference for what is on offer at our local primary school and many others. I have friends who send their kids to a private school elsewhere who don't enjoy the same level of resources.

[Jennifer13]

I'm more than 15 years out of high school and well established in my career and I am still regularly asked what high school I went too.

It's which university here. Although, because of where I live, I think most ppl assume I went to one of the private girls' schools anyway. Where you live seems to matter an awful lot in Sydney too.

[*Ang*]

I read others saying that people who choose private school are 'buying peers for their children' and I disagreed. But I guess I am buying into a community which holds the same value and enthusiasm for educating children as I do. I'm happy for that to be a by product of paying to send my children to an environment where they are valued and engaged every day.

This particular quote really resonates with me. Within a 15km radius we had 4 catholic private primary schools in different socio- economic areas, to pick from as well as our local public school. The public school we are zoned for there is no way I would send my children to - very rough, limited resources.

The school we ended up choosing is a small single stream Catholic primary in a lower socio-economic area BUT the community feel that it exudes drew us to it. The families are so supportive of one another, every one knows each other and the children don't get "lost" within the system. This is supported by the fact that for next year's kindy which DD2 will be attending, there were only 8 spots left for children other then siblings and they had over 60 applicants - it known amongst the community for being a lovely school.

We have a number of lower income families within the school so we are definitely not "buying" our children access to a certain type of peer group...instead we are buying them fantastic pastoral care, community involvement, supportive teachers and families.

High school will definitely be private just not sure which one.

[Phteven]

It's which university here. Although, because of where I live, I think most ppl assume I went to one of the private girls' schools anyway. Where you live seems to matter an awful lot in Sydney too.

Clearly I lived in Sydney for too long because I have absolutely no interest in where anyone went to school but I think it's perfectly normal to ask where where someone went to Uni. They ask where you went to uni in the ACT too. Maybe because it's full of refugees from Sydney.

[fionas]

Personally I hope I'm raising a child who would grill someone who ever asked where she went to school as to the intent behind that question and have the charisma to pull it off without hindering career chances

The whole private school network is an alien concept to me and I'm ideologically opposed to my DDs using it to pull strings. Having said that, I would really like them to mix with high achievers in order to know they are just as good as them. I want them to see that high aspirations are normal, without having to pull strings, if that makes sense.

[Astrid]

Down this way it is not where you live, but where the kids were concieved and preferably where yourself was conceived. (Apperently a couch in West Brunswick does not help social standing) So much fun dealing with the born and bred Clique