Would you go into debt for your childs secondary education?

[Marlene]

I just read your next post.....how dare you leave us in suspense like that!!! LOL.

[blue_hebe]

No I wouldn't. I'm happy with the education I received at a public school and I'm more than happy that my children will also go to public schools. In my opinion, if a child is excited by learning, then they will do well anywhere. I think it's up to my and my husband to make them excited to learn in the first place. School's can only do so much....

[diannescruffy]

Waiting anxiously laaalaaalaaa .

Regards,
Dianne

[Matryoshka]

Yes, we've gone in to debt for more frivolous things than an education, so of course. If that was the price of the education option we had chosen and found to be the best option then definately. For us a quality education is invaluable, it will set our children up for a life time and you cannot put a price on that.

We would just become creative in order to avoid paying interest on those amounts, for instance taking out interest free credit cards and continuously rolling over the amounts to other cards. It's worked well for us when we've needed large amounts of money, and want to avoid interest.

[Fuzzywuzzy]

I suppose it depends on the circumstances at the time. A good education is valuable but if my DD wasn't really engaged in her learning then I wouldn't be able to justify it. Plus I agree that there are cheaper options. Now that you've left everyone hanging I hope you come back soon to enlighten us

[Phteven]

No, most of the schools that top the HSC lists each year are selective public schools so there's no need to pay for a private school.
I'd rather spend my money on the things that can't be taught in school.

[Matryoshka]

No, most of the schools that top the HSC lists each year are selective public schools so there's no need to pay for a private school.
I'd rather spend my money on the things that can't be taught in school.

They're all private in my state, you're really lucky! There's 1 public high school that makes the top list but you need to be in the district to get in. We're an hour away unfortunately.

[Astrid]

I'd rather spend my money on the things that can't be taught in school.

Same here. I think school is only a part of their education, I would like to be able to have the odd family holiday, or get music/dance lessons, really whatever they are interested in.

I remember reading an article about parents going under financial strain for their kids' education and apparently how it was not good for the kids. They pick up on the stress and it puts a lot of pressure on them, as a result they do not learn as well as they normally would.

[Turkish Delight]

TD lurks to see if Sue is back

**sneaks back out**

[Indadhanu]

I remember reading an article about parents going under financial strain for their kids' education and apparently how it was not good for the kids. They pick up on the stress and it puts a lot of pressure on them, as a result they do not learn as well as they normally would.

Thats a good point... how would you react if they didn't do well or failed after putting that money into it?
Money can't buy grades, so yeah I still think unless the school offers something that they are totally and absolutely into I wouldn't pay that much. And even then success is never a given, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink...

[mrsmac]

No, most of the schools that top the HSC lists each year are selective public schools so there's no need to pay for a private school.
I'd rather spend my money on the things that can't be taught in school.

I so agree with you!! I am a big believer in the public system (I teach in it) and I would never go into debt to send my children to a private school.
BTW there are a number of private schools near me that are $20K a year.

[~*lilla*~]

For me personally, no I wouldn't. I went to a few very expensive private schools in high school and in all honesty, the public highs were just as good. Minus the huge fees and literally thousands of dollars per year for the uniforms.

But then again, even if I was really wealthy, I still wouldn't send them to an expensive private school

[lauren22]

Definatly!
After being to a private primary school 2 public highschools and a private high school i can honestly say that personally I would go into debt for a private school education.

[Jennifer13]

I went to a public primary and a public high school in Nth Qld. When I moved to NSW, no one had any idea and it was never an issue. But if the topic of schools you went to comes up and someone is from Sydney - then I notice they get the third degree and/or the judgement that comes with it!

I'd rather fly under the radar. Plus, never affected my ability to get into university and my post grad degree has a very high value for its type and where I went to get it.

[prama]

speaking ppl from private schools - i have a colleague who went to a very good private school, but his attitude towards work stinks. palming off work to others, cunning etc. no guarantee that private schools churn better/higher moralled individuals. another colleague went to a very very prestigious brisbane girls private school and she was bullied cos of her ethnic background.
i dont think in our organisation, we really care which school we've been to, there's ppl from all over the world.

when ive told some mothers that we will send ds to a public school, ive had got the reaction ''aaahhhhh' like im such a bad mother for sending him to a public school where as htey are going to send their kids to a prvate school.

at the end of the day, i cannot tell which of my colleagues went to a public/private boarding school unless they tell me. and frankly i dont care. as long as they are good people and deliver and are sincere at work, that's all that matters.

[fionas]

My XH who went to Melbourne's second most expensive private school and was the partner in a top 6 accounting firm said if he was responsible for recruitment he'd employ purely women from public schools (ie. like me) because they're the hardest and smartest workers! Might have just been trying to get into my pants that night though

[YoYo]

No I wouldn't. I'm happy with the education I received at a public school and I'm more than happy that my children will also go to public schools. In my opinion, if a child is excited by learning, then they will do well anywhere. I think it's up to my and my husband to make them excited to learn in the first place. School's can only do so much....

I agree with this 100%....I have this debate with the IL's (and DH) sometimes. I was publicly school educated, and they were privately school educated. I chose not to go to Uni because I'd already decided what I wanted to do by year 10 and I got into it and studied it. They went to Uni, racked up debt, but it got them no further in life than me. With DS we would see if he wanted to learn and whether it would benefit him first before we ever took that path....I'll be pushing for public education, it does not harm!

[Nicambhar]

Really interesting reading all of the replies.. My crap situation aside, I often wonder why people feel the need to plunge into such a huge commitment.

Minimax - you are so right. I was a straight A student and went to the local high school cause my family couldn't afford to send me to a private school. I never went to uni, but I eventually did my certificate IV in business at TAFE, this never put me a cent into debt and I got a fabulous job and now I work from home for my DF. Whereas XH's wife has done half her teaching course, half of something else and half of something else IYGWIM at uni and thinks she knows it all. When she and my X got married he realised that he also married her $30k hecs debt

Janie - the 12 point font thing is nothing, you should see the txts I get, sometimes I could knock his head off his shoulders too.

Thanks for the support ladies, so muchly appreciated but my job is still not any easier. I hate being in this position.
I just talked to DD on the phone and she didn't want to talk about it because she is enjoying her weekend away with her friends. glad she's enjoying herself.
I feel like forwarding his e-mail to his work, friends, family and the school so they can see just what a lowlife he and his wife are...