Would you go into debt for your childs secondary education?

[Astrid]

It is so interesting how our education experiences are so different. For my first 2 years of high school I went to the 2nd worst school in the area, it was bad, it was falling down, had rat, kids pulled knives on teachers etc. You know what though? I received the best education at that school. The teachers were passionate to teach those who were willing to learn. In year 8 I was top 97% in the state for maths and top 95% for science, I was also Dux one semester. Yes this school had a bad rep, but if you came out of it with good marks it actually made you very employable as it meant you were smart.

For year 9 & 10 I went to one of the top schools in the area as we had moved, it was the public equivalent of a private school. My education plummeted, there was so much more favouritism amongst the teachers who actually tried to be friends with the popular kids. They were so hell bend on school averages that if you were average or doing well you were ingored. A lot of effort was put into the kids who could not wait to leave when they hit 16. They had a horrible self learn system that was just not for me, I lost my love for science and was falling to the bottom of the class (to silly to know that self learn meant cheating, not learning). I was still top at maths, but the maths teacher had his favourites and ignored their cheating, so I looked liked I was bottom of the advanced maths class. It all came out in the maths competitions that I was actually good at maths and his favourites were not.

I deeply regret the change in schools, I was warned by the teachers to not make the change. Anyway what I am getting at? Basically that reputation may not be the best bearing on what is the better school for my children. I would much rather help fund raise for a public school that meets the needs of my children than give money to a private school that may look good for them to have on a resume.