What school to send your child?

[dinky]

Both my daughters attend a public co-ed primary school. Shannen is in Grade 5 and Tayla is in Grade 3. The standards of teaching so far have been brilliant, especially this year. Tayla is one of the youngest in her year level and has some developmental problems that we are currently seeing a private occupational therapist for, which the school is in full support of. Shannen on the other hand, is extremely bright and excels at everything.

I have already been sussing out the local secondary colleges. We have 2 about 5 minutes drive away and I am lucky as I have friends with students at both. I have chosen a public co-ed for Shannen, I did that in Yrs 7-8 and then went all girls and was not a good idea. the school that I have chosen is smaller than the other, smaller class sizes, well funded and interested in their students welfare, which is extremely important.

I am currently having issues with my primary school over the fees not covering what they were intended to and me having to pay for basic items like pens, pencils and books. I guess things have changed a lot since I went to school, where we used to get the brown paper bag with our supplies for the year in them, these days the school supposedly holds on to the extra supplies and then hands them out, unfortunately they run out my Term 2. Something doesnt add up!!!

[Debbie Lee]

Dinky, that's the way we do it. The kids have their supplies at the beginning of the year and it has to last the whole year. Because I have such a young grade, all of the coloured pencils, led pencils, glue sticks etc. are just put in tubs in the middle of their tables and they all share. I have almost run out of glue and the led pencils are depleting at the children use them up like crazy! There just weren't enough ordered!
Whatever is left over (and I doubt any will be left over) stay in the classroom for the next year. Eventually each classroom builds up a bit of a supply (though always limited of course). I have a new classroom so there isn't much of anything in back-up supplies.
I don't think the schools do it maliciously. I think they just try to use it to the best advantage and try to spread the supplies out as far as they will possibly go. There are limited funds and state schools are very reluctant to charge even more in fees for more supplies. They are already aware that fees are hard enough to pay as it is.
The grade next door to me have their own pencil cases as the teacher prefers the kids to have their own things and be responsible for their own things. That's her preference and I would probably do it that way if I had older children (I just find that the children that "lose" things alllll the time benefit from the sharing because then they are not always missing out iykwim?).

[dinky]

Debbie

Thank you so much for your reply. I just dont understand the fees business at all. We had a new principal take over and the fees have increased by $50 per child, so I would think that they would be able to get the necessary basics for each child on that. It is really frustrating when you are on a tight budget and the girls come home saying that they need new books etc. Last year they supposedly allocated $90 per child for materials, but we had nothing left by mid Term 2, one of the teachers let it slip that only $30 is spent on actual supplies, so it has been frustrating a lot of parents and we cant get answers out of the school.

[Debbie Lee]

I can imagine how frustrating that must be. Esp. when the kids run out of things so early in the year! I thought that running low by the end of term 3 was bad!
It is such a pity that there just isn't enough money at schools for basic supplies for the children. You shouldn't have to fork out extra money when you have already paid so much! I even have to get the kids to buy tissues for the classroom because they aren't supplied. It is silly really! I would buy them myself but my kids go through a box every few days and I simply can't afford it.
I guess that is why we teachers "appear" to strike so much. Not only are we underpaid, but we can't provide the best education we would like because of lack of funds. It's frustrating from all angles!
I just hope that whatever gov't gets voted in at the election does more to support public schools. Goodness knows we need it!

[Ally]

All private and public school teachers recieve the same degree to teach in the first place. If you want your child to be well educated then send them to a school that makes THEM HAPPY and where you can clearly notice that they themselves are willing to learn. What many don't realise is that its up to the child itself to learn and both public and private schools aren't going to make a difference. Only you and your child can help make a difference. If your child is not achieving to what you think that they can achieve, then thats when you have to be a parent and take care of the problem and find out why this is happening. It just might not have anything to do with the teaching of private and public schools. So just take time out and talk and listen with your child to find out what they think is best for them and not what YOU think is best for them.

[kylie]

I have 2 DD's and they will be going to Montessori starting in pre-school until grade 6, and then a private girl's school.

[Phteven]

I chose private co-ed. The reason I chose co-ed is that I would like all my children to go to the same school and also I'm not really into gender segragation. The reason I chose private is that I would like them to attend an Islamic school. My experience in Australian shools and DH's as well has been that they teach in a very Eurocentric way. If your not "aussie" you end up wondering why your history, language and culture are deemed unimportant. I would like my children to learn Arabic and all the Islamic schools teach it from yr 1 onwards. In addition they teach Middle Eastern and Asian history as well as Australian history. The only problem is that the best ones have waiting lists as long as your arm and a couple of them achieve very high HSC marks but seem to do so by neglecting other aspects of personal and physical development and asking students who do not atain high grades to leave which I think would be quite damaging to thier self esteem.
I'm putting Yasin down for a few of them and when he's older I'll send him to whichever one seems to suit his abilities and personality the best.

[Karina]

I went to co-ed catholic systemic primary schools , and then an all girls catholic private high school, then a public co-ed high school.
Based on my experiences, i would definately go for a co-ed school. I would definately consider a public school as there are some really dreat ones around, but if i could find and afford a good private one, i would also definately look into it. But it has to be co-ed!

[*Yvette*]

Government co-ed, both primary and secondary. This has always been what I wanted, and my wishes would not change if I won lotto.

We're not religious, so no religious education for us. Ruth does quiet reading when they have RE at school. I can't understand why they are allowed to have RE in Government schools, and I suspect it may be unconstitutional or something. I'm sure I read somewhere about a right to secular education meaning no RE, but all the primary schools seem to have it. Few of the locals here are from Christian cultures anyway, but they try to get around it by saying its to help understand the local culture. It's not my local culture, and I don't see them teaching
Aboriginal, Islamic, Hindu, Tao, Jewish or any other culture. If they teach one they should have to teach them all!! (in government schools) (Grrr)

Co-ed I like because I think genders need to learn to be around each other, seems more natural etc. I've heard that girls do better in single sex schools, but they won't have that advantage when they leave, and I too would want siblings to attend the same school.

Government schools for a few reasons. I like the idea of free and equal education for all and want to be part of it. Also, when I was school age, the private school kids I met (some of them my boyfriends) were 'snobby'. Another reason is that I've heard that although kids from private schools get good VCE results & get into uni, it's not always so easy for them when they do get to uni and have to fend for themselves. Private schools have been known to nudge kids out it it looks like they're not going to make their stats look good.

Having said that, I did go to a lot of trouble to make sure eldest would be going to the best government school available to us, and we moved into the zone 1 1/2 years ago especially.

Happy to say she started high school this year and we're very happy with our choice. Her father (ex husband #1) says he's "not racist but there are too many Asians there" Easy to see why I divorced him. The kids' friends are Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian.........from what I can see mostly lovely hardworking conscientious kids from lovely hardworking conscientious families - a good environment for studying in. And the advantage of being familiar and comfortable with the reality of our multicultural society.

Of course your choices can be restricted by where you live. I had a friend who lived in the country & chose the catholic school because the government one was a shocker! And you can get wonderful and awful teachers whereever you go. Good teachers are undervalued and absolutely the backbone of the country, like good nurses.

Must....stop.....talking............now.

edited to say we moved here 1 1/2 yrs ago

[Phteven]

It seems to mainly be in the maths/science areas that girls do better without boys around. If I had a daughter who enjoyed these subjects or was good at them I might consider a girls school.
I've been told by a few people that private school children don't do well at uni but I've never really noticed it myself or come across any studies that say so. I suspect that it might be a bit of a myth.

[*Yvette*]

Richmond Girls is a government school which specializes in maths & science, & in such a lovely spot on the river too.

[Pandora]

I voted private co-ed, which is what we're think at the moment, but that may change..

It feels strange that our baby isn't born yet and we're talking about schools already. If I found a good public primary school that I could get our child into I would consider it, but the one we are zoned to is not good, I'd move before I'd send my child there.

The closest private school to us is around 6k for prep - 9k for yr12 this year - who knows how much that will go up by in 6 years time..

The one other one we're thinking of is Bacchus Marsh Grammar, they have buses from where we live but its still a 40 minute ride which is a lot for a preppie.

I've found most private schools, at least in Melbourne, have some for of religious instruction though, which I'd prefer not to have (Unless they studied a braod range of religions - I'd be all for that)

For high schools, it would depend on the child, whether their interest are academic, or they want to do a trade etc. McRob or Melbourne high would be my choice if they passed the entrance exam though, and were academically inclined.

[Tracey]

ray ray,
I agree with the BROADER range of Religious Instruction... WEhy do they call it thaqt but then only teach Christian/Catholic!

I did not pay the extra $15 per year for maddy to be taught this, as we are Balinese Hindu, but it's not super strict or anything & I'd think it much smarter to teach all religions so people are more informed & less culturally judgemental & racist... Which is generally religion based!

I was talking to Mum on weekend & we could count during my 6 years (at same primary school Maddy attends!) that there was 1 chinese girl, an Indian girl & a boy from Russia, that was the only other coloured. natinality children I ever came across in primamry school...
Maddy's friends consist of Pakistani's Phillipinno's, Chinese, African, a girl with Cerebral Palsy, Greeks, Italians etc... They get to bring foods in from their parents country to share & learn alot about the other childrens lives etc....

I said Public Co-ed, which is where Maddy goes & is excelling, as it is a school of only 125 students... She is currently in a grade 1/2 composite & thriving, I agree with whomever wrote if the child is comfortable then they will do well, Maddy has spent alot of time at the school the year or 2 before actually attending & so knew the older kids & was comfortable. Also they have a grade 5/6 & Prep or new student buddy system, the Buddies actually did reading, Maths/counting etc with them for an hour or 2 weekly.. They also did school concerts in groups more so than age groups, the entire school pulls together & is one big class! There is no bullying & I am very happy with the school, there was even a teacher there that was there when I was at the school!!!!!

[Mummy2Charla]

I voted unsure/confused as I am not sure what school I will be sending Charla to for Primary and High School.

At the moment we are enroling her into Treetops Montessori School in Darlington for Playgroup (from 18 months) and for Cycle 1 (3-6 years).

We probably won't be able to afford to send her there for primary and high school, so I am not sure where we will send her until we get closer to the time where we need to think about it.

[Elfin]

We will doing public primary but am still undecided about middle school and high school if we will go private for that.

[tigerfilly]

Hello, this is a really interesting discussion to me since we've just been having to decide on a high school for my eldest daughter. My two girls are in a Catholic Primary school which is so very caring and we definitely want a Catholic high school but were worried it would be too expensive for us. Here in SA if you are below a certain income (approx same as to get a health care card) you get a school card so I emailed the school to find out what sort of discount they give. I was so impressed, they give a huge discount to school card holders, plus additional discounts the more children you have in the Catholic school system, and they even said if this still sounds too much we are negotiable!
At the moment I have 2 girls in primary school, which costs about $1500 all up a year, including all books etc, and excursions. High school will be slightly more, increasing just a little bit to Yr 12. Great hey?!
thanks
Tigerfilly

[*Elle*]

Hi there,

I have chosen to send my son to a montessori school,
I love the way they teach kids it is so relaxed but structured all at the same time if that makes any sence, we chose montessori after having some issues with his behaviour and putting him in a programe called twos plus which is like playgroup it made such a huge diferance with Peiter we couldn't not send him to the montessori school,

I am so happy with the choice we have made it is such a great way to teach kids and for kids to learn

[froofy]

We are homeschooling our daughter, and not only does she love it, but her education is just blossoming, and she is so passionate about learning! I know it's not for everyone, but we feel it's the best decision for us and our daughter we've ever made