What school to send your child?

[Fenella]

I voted for unsure... Will probably be public co-ed, but am considering homeschool (at least for a while). We've still got heaps of time to decide, though

[Bathsheba]

My DH and I attended public schools which was good enough for us back then but sadly it's not the same these days. Back then our schools enforced a uniform which taught us to take pride in our appearance: socks up, shoes polished etc... these schools couldn't give a damn how the kids rock up. Also "back then" they taught a bit of religious ed... these days they can't even mention Santa. The public system is just not the same (confirmed by BIL who is a demoralised public teacher).

So we've sent our DD to private schools and essentially she is getting what we got. Shame we have to pay so much extra for it. She also gets the added benefit of being in an environment where they don't cut down the tall poppies by calling smart kids "teacher's pets' etc which is what DH and I had to endure. She loves school so at the end of the day it's all worth it, even the critical comments from our relatives who think we've turned into snobs!

[Coolabahdee]

My sister's and I attended public schools for both primary and high and all three of us have degree's. My sister's are both Early Childhood teachers and I am a Registered Nurse with views to defect to teaching since the hours and pay are better especially with five children. I really don't believe it makes a difference. We live in a small country town and there is only one Primary school, but we are moving at the end of this year to Brisbane. There are exception to every rule, I know that there are definately schools I wouldn't send my children to but that decision is not based on the fact that they are public schools but due to the fact that the schools are in lower economic suburbs and therefore unfortunately the world being what it is I don't want my children socialising with these children, call me a snob, I don't care. Atleast I try to keep my children safe. I have a lot of friends who went to private schools and they send their children to public school and actually only a couple of them have a degree. I think a child's education depends not only on their teacher's and the school, but mostly on the parents involvement and interest. Personally, I wouldn't consider home schooling for my children, my reasoning for this is we believe that the social and emotional development of a child is very important and we believe that we as social creatures benefit from contact with other people on different levels. Children are children not adults and need other children to interact with on a daily basis. I also believe that the people around us shape the kind of people we become, so it is important to put them out there and it also helps that develop independence and judgement skills. Two of my children go to school, one in kindy and baby is in daycare for four hours once a fortnight while I go to work. My two older children do hockey and Ballet, my three year old will start teeny weeny's dance class this year.

Froofy definately not a criticism, just curious, you must be very stong and dedicated to do it, what was your decision based on for home schooling?


edited, I hate my spelling errors, lol

[Fee]

A public co-ed school for our kids. Both DH and I went to public schools and have no problem with them.

There is no way we could afford private school fees even if we wanted to send our children there.

[Coolabahdee]

Maybe Queensland schools are still good in that way as every school including the one my girls go to have a strict uniform policy and it does matter how they rock up, infact Calamvale Community College P-12 (2250 students broken into 5 sub schools on one huge campus), the public school my girls will be attending next year, has a very strict uniform policy. Sports uniform which is the standard school polo shirt, basketball shorts and sneakers can only be worn on sports/PE days and the other four days children must where the full school uniform which consists of white blouse, blue tie, blue skorts or skirt black leathers and white sock and a blazer has been approved for winter wear. Parents and children must show cause if they don't comply. Yes, the school is in a middle class suburb and most parent should be able to afford them and they have a uniform pool for parents to buy second hand uniforms. I can't wait to send my girls there next year.

[Bathsheba]

I've lived in QLD, NSW, WA and VIC. Unfortunately Victorian public schools are the worst in terms of uniforms and the facilities of the schools and from what I've heard; teacher morale. Most of them are shockingly maintained, consist of portable classrooms etc. If we lived in a country town things would be different and our kids would probably thrive there. Too many schools that I've been to here seem to have the vibe: "we're all only here 'cos we gotta be... we don't give a toss about our environment (granted they are probably not given the funding but you don't need funding to teach the kids not to destroy things) or the way we dress". Unfortunately, yes, I am making judgements based on external appearances but I believe they reflect the culture of the school. I know I might sound like a complete snob too but so many people we know wouldn't catch public transport (like I do) because it's all too "icky, unreliable, full of psychos etc" or use the public hospital system (like I am planning to) for the same reasons but are happy to use the public education system. Maintaining your own private car and paying private health care fees cost thousands per year too... I agree private education is very expensive but it's more important to me than getting around in my own car (for example). I'm not saying I'm right... just defensive and confused when friends of ours are happy to spend thousands on upgrading flash cars on an almost yearly basis and maintaining lifestyles that I think are highly luxurious yet complain about having to pay for their children's education.

[peppy75]

We will definitely be sending our children to a public co-ed school. Both DH and I went to good public schools so I don't have any desire to educate our children privately.

We couldn't afford private school fees anyway...

[mooshie]

well our ds starts his first school day tommorrow in a public co-ed primary school which i am more than happy with so far. the school is newish and yes it does have alot of children (around 750) but the class sizes this year for prep is around 20 which is great imo. they also have a strict uniform policy. i have alot of friends who have had children go to the school we are sending him to and there has been nothing but high praise for the way the school operates and the way they care and teach our children. secondary school at this stage is up in the air - the local high school hasn't got a great reputation at the moment but that may change.

we were looking at sending our children to a mixed independant school but i have also had a few friends have children at the one we were going to go to but the problems they have had with a bullying issue and the way the school handled it was appaling so i cannot jusify the fees of this particular school atm.

i guess i am not one to really comment yet as we are just at the beginning of it all but from what i have heard and seen of the public school we are sending our son we are more than happy

[Diesel]

I went to both Private and Public. And my children will be going Public.

From personal experience I feel that children gain more from a public school. Should our children want to specialise in a subject that is not offered at a public school, we will send them private.

Our daughter is attending a public co-ed, grade prep. She is in a class of 18 students. In this class there are 10 children with hearing disabilities and 8 children who have no disabilities (our daughter was picked for this class becuase she is ahead for her age, and could handle the pressures of learning sign language at an early age). Her class has 3 teachers to the 18 students, when the hearing impaired children are out of class (2 hrs a day), she is in a class of 8 with one teacher.

I am really impressed by this school, and do not feel that we could pay for a better education. I also feel that should a children want to learn, they will, paying for an education can not make a children who doesn't want to learn, learn.

I feel it is important to research the school

[firemansgirl]

Both DH and I are privately school educated. DH was a day boy at a Catholic boys school in Sydney and myself a boarder at a Church of England girls school in sydney. So we have decided if we are still living in the country we will send our child(ren) to boarding school in Sydney once they hit high school age. I didn't even begin to mildly appreciate my private school education until i was in about year 10. Now I have been out of school for 12 years, I now realise how lucky i was. But in saying that I don't think it is for everyone, and if i realised my child was struggling with boarding i would pull them out and bring them home.

Leis xx

[*TamaraP*]

When we have children, depending on where we are living, Primary will be Public, but I am hoping to send them to a Private Co-Ed.
Mentone Boys Grammar have just merged into a Co-Ed private, and so far I have been very impressed.

I would not mind having to drive all that way for my children if I know they are going to get the best education.

[Astrid]

We have decided to send Maggie to public school for a number of reasons. Mainly I believe that a private school education does not guarantee anything and I believe we should support the public school system.

Of course finances have played a major part in the decision. I doubt we could afford the fees without losing too much lifestyle (and am not referring to fancy cars). I would prefer to spend the money that would go on fees on other things for Maggie such as a musical instrument and lessons (if she is inclined), sports, a family holiday every few years (our family is spread, so travel like this is important). I believe children benefit from that as well, not just the education side of things.

We have decided not to stay in Melbourne and hope to be back in Tassie by the time Maggie is in high school. Both DH and I went through the public education system down there. The system was fine. My down fall was lack of support from my mother and DH's from too pressuring parents. MIL is insistent on private education as her other son (BIL) did not do well, after meeting him though, I doubt private education would have helped, it is just his personality.

From another angle I am opposed to religious based education, so if Maggie was to ever go to a private school, then it would be an independent one.