If someone was to pay your childrens education ....to any school. Would you still be happy with what you thought was the right way to go? Public or private
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If someone was to pay your childrens education ....to any school. Would you still be happy with what you thought was the right way to go? Public or private
Where we live now I am really happy & wouldn't change it for the world. We are in a small town with a small school. There are only 13 kids. 4 in the infants class. I'm very happy as its more personal & I know DD is getting alot of the one on one & there is alot of family involvement in the school. Every parent is involved. Any family issues are very understood & if there is ever a problem it's never ignored or put off. We had a small issue of bullying & it was sorted straight away. The older kids all keep an eye on Jaz & make sure the little boy leaves her alone. It is an excellent public school.
BUT, being only 13 kids, we are facing closure. If this happens I'd prefer a private school. I don't know why, but I feel they are the next best option to a small school.
I'm a private girl all the way. I'd sell everything I owned and work three jobs to send my kids to private schools.
So, if money wasn't an issue, things would definitely not change.
JMHO.
Hmmm ... depends on the kid. Personally, I would abolish all private schools and make it a level playing ground so that having money can't buy you a better education. However, given that I'm living in the real world, I'd try to stick to my principles and send my child to a public school. I think smart kids make it through regardless. But if they weren't doing well and I thought their future would be adversely affected then yes I'd have to swallow my principles and send them to a private school.
Yeah it probably would, sad but true. I LOVE the school Paris is at & I know Seth will be going there too. But I have friends with kids in inner city schools, and we would change if we could afford it purely because the education is a lot more thorough and involved IMO, classes are smaller and the opportunities for the kids are better. BUT I would also want to have the financial backing so that Paris was able to do all the things her peers could iykwim.
We are really happy with our DD's school so we would continue sending her there I think. She has been going to private girls' schools since she was at pre-school level and she's aways loved school and thrived. There is no perfect school, you have to match the school to the child so expensive doesn't mean 'good'. I never thought, before I had children, that I would want to send them to private schools but now, like Divvy I am a strong advocate for them. Just my opinion that the Australian government does not fund education to the standard I believe that is necessary and I'm not prepared to have my children find themselves in the same position I was as a child. I was sent to public schools and always found myself in huge classes of usually 30+ children and overlooked because I a shy child. I loved learning but every bloody lesson was spent settling down the rowdy kids :( I just don't want my children's time wasted. As it is now it is a significant sacrifice paying my DD's fees (especially as I am a SAHM) but we are getting there. If money was no object I would also have her educated abroad. We plan to do this anyhow (work overseas with my DH's career). If money was truly no object I would, if it was agreeable to my DD who is now in grade 7 (high school) send her to several good schools throughout Europe... maybe completing her education at a Swiss finishing school! (it's not all about etiquette BTW LOL although yes you learn business etiquette according to all the cultures of the world but these days it's more educational than just learning social niceties).
I don't have problem paying for education. I agree that there should be a good basic standard of public education but if you have the money (and you are prepared to spend it) you should be able to buy the best with all the "extras". I have a bigger problem with buying "must haves" like plasma TVs to be honest (our TV is about 40cm square and that's fine by us!)... but that's just my opinion :)
Yeah i reckon it would be different for each child, we're expecting our 3rd and there is no way we could afford private for all 3 when they're all old enough but our oldest for example is so active that i think he would just get himself into trouble at a public school where the funding isn't there to give as much attention to individual needs. I really want for him to go to a private school. Its simply his personality that requires for him to have a bit more attention and to be in a very positive atmosphere. Our second child on the other hand is the sweetest little boy who i believe would be fine in a public school.
There are government 'special' schools for kids who are always in trouble, and when these kids go to these schools they have positive results because they are getting the extra attention and positive reinforcement they're personalities require. I want for #1 to get a positive start however and already be in that environment in a private school rather than wait for him to be labeled a troublemaker and be expelled from several public schools before getting the attention he needs.
If money wasn't an issue I would definately send my children to a public school. If the local school didn't suit them then I'd transfer them to a differant one.
I don't think that schooling is just about what goes on in the classroom, it's also about what happens in the playground and after school.
I think it's important for children to socialise with a wide vatiety of people and that's more likely to happen in a public school. The area that we currently live in is one of the most multicultural in Australia I think my children can only benefit from mingling with people from such a wide variety of backgrounds.
TBH I don't think that educationally children benefit from private schools. Every year when the HSC lists come out in NSW public schools fare better than the private schools. Last year the split between public and private for distinguished achievers was 52/48 in favour of public schools and the top 3 schools were all public schools. Luckily for us 2 of them are not far from us.
If I thought that either of my boys would perform better in arts and humanities subjects in a single gender school I'm lucky that there are a few publicly funded ones around.
I would rather save my school fees so that we can afford to take the boys to places in Australia and abroad that will enrich and instruct them in ways that a classroom can't.
Thank you all for your insight....lol I still have no idea what to do. I wish there was a consultant that came and evaluated your child and suggested schools that would best suit them.
That's a great idea Bec.
If I has a duaghter who was into maths and science I would definately send her to a girls only school. If I wasn't near one of the good public ones and couldn't move to near one I might consider private.
Same if one of my son's likes one of the subjects that boys excell if girls aren't around (English, humanities etc).
I have alway said that I would send my kid to public primary school but if they had a real intrest that would excel in private high school then if we could thats where I would sent them, but if they were more hands on kids then I would go public.
I was sent to private school but I think my parents would have been better off sending me to public as I was not academic and would have done much better plus enjoyed school more if I could have dont hands on things like home ecc and wood work.
There is often the misconception that sending children to private schools limits their exposure to a wide variety of people. I'm not sure where this comes from but when I compare my public education to my daughter's private education she by FAR has mixed with more nationalities than i ever did. In her first year of private school she shared her class of 22 with children from China, India, New Caledonia, Turkey, Japan (3), and there were a few second generation Greeks and Italians. Anglo saxons were certainly not over represented. Three of these students had very limited English skills as well so she had to overcome the language barrier when playing and talking to them. Throughout her schooling there have been many many cultures represented in her classroom, and probably even of a wider representation than at the local primary school (by percentage). Many parents are working expats and send their children to private schools too. In her current year there are students from Switzerland, Mauritius Island and South Africa. So I would like to dispel that myth when applying it to my DD's school. I would be very concerned if the school population was predominantly Anglo here in Melbourne where the norm is multiculturalism. I agree wholeheartedly that diversity is a wonderful aspect of any school and it is for this reason that in an ideal world my DD will be attending an overseas International School in the near future :) Also in regard to exposure to people from a wide variety of people from different economic backgrounds there is also the misconception that all private schools are populated by wealthy and materialistic people who flaunt their lifestyles. Maybe that culture exists in some private schools but from my experience there are just as many Mr and Mrs Average incomes struggling to pay school fees at my DD's school as their are wealthy snobs sending their kids to the local public school. As in all aspects of society there are materialistic people and not all people who send their kids to private school afford it easily, like us. When I mix with other mums at school events, sure, there are the snobs and I chat with them for a while, suss them out, and if they have too high an opinion of themselves I move on. I don't feel intimidated by them... I know that appearances can be deceptive and all might not be as rosy as they are desperately trying to portray LOL My DD's best friends don't make her feel any less than equal because half the time their parents are struggling too! As in all areas of life, you choose who you mix with and I don't think public schools have the monopoly on decent, genuine and diverse people. Just my opinion :)
I have a similar personality to my son who i think would benefit better from a private school. I failed at school and not because i wasn't capable, i know i certainly could have done all of the work put in front of me. The problem was i had a bit of a short attention span and no one even came down and sat with me to make sure i was doing what i was supposed to be doing. I would rather sit there and chat with the other students who were exactly the same as me not doing their work, or make some excuse to leave the room to go elsewhere where i could get out of doing it. This is where i think a nice private school would be better for him, i believe he would get more attention and be with other students who's parents would be giving their kids more attention and making sure they do their work. I'm not saying of course that there aren't students with parents who care in public schools but the truth of the matter is occasionally you do get a family where the parents don't care and just send the kids to school because its the law and to get them out of their hair. Its these kinds of students who would unfortunately end up being a bad influence on others because the teachers aren't well funded enough to give these students the attention they should be getting from the parents. I also believe that you are far less likely to come across these types of disruptive influences in private schools as parents pay so much for their kids to go and its always because they want the best for their kids and they usually are willing to put in the time and effort as well as the money to see that their child gets what they need.
As i said before i also think it depends greatly on the child. I'm not ruling out public schools as any kind of lower education. My second child is a really sweet little boy and i believe he would do well at a public school. He's got a much mellower personality and i think it would be easier for him to do his work, work a little more independently and not get so easily distracted.
Its really more about the atmosphere of the school. A smaller school like ones you would get out further into the country i think would also be great for giving students the attention they need to achieve even though they might be a public school, unfortunately where i live though all the schools around here are the government funded over crowded ones where just about anything goes.
I don't think that either school system has a monopoly on decent people and obviously there are awful private schools and awful public schools just as there are great schools in in both systems.
On the subject of diversity I can speak only from my own experiences. I went to private and public schools and whilst there was certainly diversity of cultures at my private schools at the public schools there was far more diversity amongst students, staff and parents. It wasn't just a matter of cultural diversity but also there was a far greater diversity of world views, sexuality, political views and economic diversity as well. At the public school I attended there were gay teachers and parents and as a result of this openly gay students as well. At my private schools I have no doubt that some students were gay but I have no idea which - they weren't out. Of course there was some diversity of world views at my private schools but to my knowledge none of the parents or teachers were leading such activley alternative lifestyles as some of the community involved in my public school - none of the private school teachers were goths and none of the parents lived in communes lol.
As far as the very rare families that don't care go, thier children leave school in year 10 unless they genuinley want to be there and there was just as many parents who were uninvolved in thier children's education at my private school. I noticed very little differance in the numbers of disruptive students in either system (I think I was one of them rofl) and TBH the teachers in the public school seemed more committed to our well-being than the teachers in the private system. A few of my public school teachers had successful careers in thier fields but chose to teach, none of my private school teachers had practical experience in the areas they taught.
My private schools did offer more extra-curricular activities but TBH if my children want to join a choir I can arrange that without the assistance of a school.
For a while we considered a private school for primary because of the extra possibilities of language instruction but I'm more a fan of immersion so I think my children will learn more from 3 weeks in a country than a year in a classroom :)
ETA - In terms of economic diversity even parents who are struggling to send thier children to a private school can be assumed to be somewhere near or above the average income - it's not likely that they will be far below it.
TBH I felt sorry for some the children who's parents were struggling to afford the school fees. It seemed like they felt the responsibility and they were carrying a bit of a burden, of course others didn't feel it and had no problem lightening up occasionally. One of the girls had never been on a holiday with her family!! That freaked me out.
If money wasn't an issue I would move to an area to ensure my children went to a good public school. We are just out of the catchment for the very good highschool that DH and I both attended - apparently kids from our area can get in if their grade 6 marks are up to scratch.
As for a private school - DH and I would be hard-pressed to find one which reflected our outlook on life. We are both not at all disposed towards religion and probably lean more to atheism, and our politics is quite left. So I would not like the idea of sending my kids to a private school which on the whole tend to be policitally conservative and religious. This stems from my own experience - I was at a private school til year 10 when I became quite politically aware and it was really hard for me to stand being at school at all (I switched to the public school I mentioned above and was much happier). So really my biggest reason for not sending our children to a private school is I don't see how we could easily find one which wouldn't be in total opposition to many of the things DH and I believe in. Kind of the same reason why many deeply religious people won't sent their kids to a public school I guess.
(I know there are private schools which are left leaning and secular, but they all tend to be "too far" left for DH's and my liking - ie: the kind of schools where the students decide if they go to class or not. So we are too fussy really LOL!)
It's hypothetical - I can't see us ever having the money to pay for private schools, but even if we did, we would be in a very similar situation to RoryRory, in that some of the secular, liberal private school models seem to be lacking in structure in their curriculum.
Although, there could be a benefit in sending my child to one of the more progressive religious schools in the area, perhaps exposure to ideas that he will have little exposure to at home or at a secular school will help him to shape his own views on the subject?
Dachlostar, I had to giggle at your comment that there were no goth (for example) teachers in the private school that you attended, to your knowledge. My old housemate had been a teacher at one of Melbourne's most conservative private schools - he lived an incredibly alternative lifestyle and his personal political views certainly did not match those of the school! He had his 'teaching' alter-ego and his 'at home' personality, and never the twain did meet, although he did try to include alternate viewpoints in his lessons when he could sneak them in. So it's quite possible that under the Clark Kent exterior of many private school teachers lurks an alternative 'superhero'! (But your point that a conservative system may not encourage visibly alternative lifestyles and thus may impose a similar rigidity in the views it allows to be taught is well taken!!).
The biggest difference I noticed between public and private school kids was confidence. As a bit of background, I went to a public ie. state school in the UK and out of 300 kids in my year, I was one out of 5 who made it to university. That's not because I was with a bunch of dummies; just that the teaching wasn't great and more importantly kids from a working class background weren't expected to be able/want to go to uni. At that time 93% of UK kids were educated in state schools but only made up 50% of the university population. This was about 20 years ago though so I'm sure things have improved since then.
So having mixed with a lot of private school kids at uni, I was really amazed to find that they weren't any brighter than most of the kids I went to school with. They had just been better trained for exams and were full of confidence that their opinion mattered. When I got to Australia most of my XH's friends were from private school backgrounds and the same thing applied - they were filled with confidence. And confidence gets you a long way!
I must say I used to be a bit of a snob about people's education levels in the "well if I can get two degrees when my mum was a cleaner and my dad was a car sprayer then anyone can" mould. Now having had much more life experience, the people who fascinate me the most are the ones who are self-taught. I have, over the years, become very lazy about learning new things because I think my head basically got 'full' at uni; whereas my partner left (actually was expelled) from school at 16 and is much more knowledgeable about the world than I am with his head constantly in Noam Chomsky, The Economist or The Age.
that's interesting fiona, about private school producing people with more confidence. I read recently in one of the education supplements that public school children who go on to university are more successful there so maybe having less confidence could have its advantages if it makes people work harder or maybe it's more applicible to the UK where the class system is more deeply entrenched.
That's my completely unscientific opinion dachlostar! And I think the differences between the UK and Australia are a big factor too - you're quite right, the class system is (or at least used to be) very entrenched there which is why I left. Funnily enough my privately schooled ex husband used to say that if he ever started a business, he would employ uni graduates from a working class background because they worked their socks off!
But schooling is just one aspect of a child's confidence of course, parental attitudes are also crucial. I had parents who told me that people like us didn't go to university, that I'd better leave school at 16 and if I was clever enough I might get to work in an office rather than the local factory. So I think that, more than the fact that I went to a state school, had a major impact on my confidence levels.
But there's a lot said by media commentators these days about parents giving their kids too much confidence - y'know the 'you can achieve anything you want, you deserve it' kind of parenting. And I think that has its drawbacks too. My 14-year-old stepdaughter who lives in the US is currently struggling in school getting mostly Cs to Fs. Her mum is still telling her that she can be anything she wants, she can be a lawyer, she can work for the United Nations, hell, she can be president if she wants. Whereas, I believe a bit of realism is called for and I'd be telling her 'y'know what maybe school just isn't for you, maybe if you hate it that much you'd be better off not wasting your time, the teachers time and your parents time. Maybe you'd be better off leaving early and getting a job if school sux that much.' She's no dummy but she's no Einstein either. I know it's a cliche but she's exceptionally good with people and I think she'll be really successful if she finds something that uses those skills. I'm not convinced, however, that spending the next four years nagging her to do her homework when she's clearly not interested is going to be very productive at all. Nor do I think putting her in a private school would benefit her. She's just not interested in learning and would rather be out in the real world, doing. Nothing wrong with that, we all have different paths and we all find our way eventually.
That's an excellent point Fiona, not all people are academic, and it's a good thing that they're not. Can you imagine a world where everybody was a lawyer (or a president). Nothing would get done!!
Absolutely Suse. And some of the cleverest, well-qualified people are really quite dumb when it comes to their emotional lives! As I said, I used to think that if someone wasn't dripping in academic qualifications, they weren't worth talking to but in a very difficult stage in my life I spent most of my time drunk in a sticky carpet pub. Not the ideal place to learn life lessons maybe but I regard those few months as being way more educational than all the lectures I attended at uni. They taught me about how kind-hearted human beings are and how wise most people are based on what they've experienced not what they've learnt in books.
Really enjoyed reading your posts Fiona, agree with a lot of what you said :)
Regarding sexual diversity. At my DD's private girls' school (preschool to year 12) there are at least 2 prominently displayed posters advertising the fact that her school is a gay-friendly place. It also says something along the lines of the fact that 1 in 10 people have gay/bi sexual preferences and that it is a normal part of life. I am really pleased to see this information on display. I'm am only still getting to know the staff in senior school and I can't say for sure what all their orientations are but there are a few "effeminate" male teachers. Not that it matters of course. One of my favourite teachers that has taught my DD spoke a lot about diversity to the girls. I remember in her introductory talk to the parents that she mentioned that her previous role was in a remote Indigenous Australian community. Teaching at a private girls' school was a bit outside her comfort zone (she really enjoyed working in her previous role) but she figured she needed to 'try it' before she retired. Honestly, she was THE BEST teacher..... so committed and actually picked up a hearing problem of my DD's that we never knew about! Anyhow, she taught at DD's school for about 3 years I think... extended her retirement a bit I think because she enjoyed it so much and was given every resource she had ever dreampt of. My DD was soooo fortunate to have her as a teacher... i miss her... she was a truely inspirational woman. Anyhow... enough rambling... i just thought I would share a bit on the gay acceptance issue :) You would hope EVERY school displayed these posters.
if money were no issue.....
We can afford to send Archie to a private school and quite like the idea os him possibly being in a smaller class and getting more one on one time with teachers. however ther are only 2 private schools in our town, one is Catholic and one is Lutheran. i was raised Catholic but in the last 10 years have really gone a different way and now dont feel religious at all, Archie has not been baptised and has never been inside a church. DH was baptised Presbyterian (sp?) but has no idea what that religion is about and nor do i. So my dilemma is that i dont really feel comfortable with the idea of Archie going to a school where everything is strongly focused around a particular religion.
i don't feel comfortable with sending him to a public school here either. We are zoned to 2 schools, one of which is in an extremely 'bad' area and is notoriuous for bullies (both kids and parents) etc, so there is absolutely no way we would send him to that school we would sooner move house than send him there. The other public school is HUGE, the classrooms are filled to brim with kids and the school is constantly getting even more huge due to the great numbers of new houses being built in our area, so i feel uncomfortable with the idea of sending my little boy to a great big scarey school, and i also figure the class numbers would be right up there...
i think my perfect school would be a small public school, and i think im gonna fight to get him into one of them.....
schooling is such a huge decision though!
i agree with dachlostar that money spent on private schooling would be much better spent on travelling which could teach the child more in a couple of weeks than a years schooling could!
I just read an article that reminded me of this thread....
NSW HSC results have just come out - out of the top 10 schools 3 are private and the rest are public...
:
Islamic school's debut in HSC top 10
Anna Patty Education Editor
December 20, 2007
THE Sydney Islamic school Malek Fahd has swept into the top 10 HSC performers this year, joining James Ruse Agricultural High, which has maintained first position for the 12th consecutive year.
State selective schools hold seven positions in the Herald's list of top HSC performers.
The private boys' school Sydney Grammar, which is also selective, and Ascham School for girls, are also in the top 10.
Although Malek Fahd Islamic School is not selective, like some other private schools, it has been known to encourage underperforming students to repeat a year or consider another school.
James Ruse, which selects the cream of the state's academic talent, has bettered the success it had last year. The proportion of its year 12 students who scored 90 or above rose from 65 to 74 per cent, the Herald's analysis shows.
Larissa Treskin, who replaced Michael Quinlan as principal of the school last year after he served 15 years, said students had lifted their overall performance in the HSC this year.
"We had a great improvement across the board in the percentage of students in band six [a score of 90 or more]," she said.
"Their teachers are thrilled that all the hard work by everybody has resulted in such great achievements."
Of the school's 48 year 11 students who completed their HSC agriculture exams this year, 45 scored 90 or above, including James Sin, who topped the state.
Hornsby Girls' High School relinquishes its No.2 position on the Herald's HSC league table, to drop into fifth position in this year's results.
North Sydney Girls' High is ranked second this year, followed by Sydney Girls' High in third position and Baulkham Hills High in fourth.
The first private school to appear on the table is Ascham, in sixth place, swapping the position it held last year with seventh-placed Sydney Grammar.
Malek Fahd is ranked ninth this year and was 15th last year. Sydney Boys' High School is 10th in the table this year and was eighth last year. Malek Fahd and Sydney Boys' High are each ranked in the top five schools for their performance in maths, but close to 40th in English.
The president of the NSW Board of Studies, Gordon Stanley, said there was a record number of all-rounders this year - 1035 students achieved 90 and above in at least 10 units of study. (Most subjects are worth two units, some are worth one and advanced courses are worth three or four.) Last year 800 students scored 90 or more in 10 units.
Professor Stanley said the increase might be the most significant aspect of this year's result.
"The standards are the same but the performance with respect to those standards is up this year," he said.
Professor Stanley partly attributed the increase to a rise in the number of HSC candidates.
He said more students achieved 90 or more in English this year.
Four of the top six schools in the Herald's table are girls' schools.
The first academically non-selective school on the Herald's table is the Conservatorium High, in 39th position, followed by Killara High, in 56th place.
Schools are ranked in this way: the number of credits (90 or more in a subject) a school earns is divided by the number of HSC examinations students at that school sit. It removes the natural advantage had by larger schools.
Raw data, based on the number of credits each school receives, still ranks James Ruse, with 167 year 12 students and 804 credits, in first place and North Sydney Girls' High, with 161 students and 625 credits, second.
If the raw data were used in the Herald's table Baulkham Hills High, with 186 year 12 students and 624 credits, would have displaced Sydney Girls' High, which had 161 students and 533 credits, in third position.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/...e#contentSwap1
Brilliant post Chloe, my views exactly. As a teacher in a public school I am a passionate supporter of public education and wouldn't send my children to a private school even if I had tonnes of money.:
The first academically non-selective school on the Herald's table is the Conservatorium High, in 39th position, followed by Killara High, in 56th place.
I know it's not a popular view but I am happy with my DD's school which is Independent. 70% of the girls got 80 and above as their VCE result compared to 20% in the state system.
I hope the state system improves because despite sending my child to a private school i am too an advocate for the public system. Same as health care. But I feel the standards needs to be raised to meet our needs as a family. I hope the Rudd government is able to achieve this.
I wouldn't read too much into that Bath ;) I'm not sure how the Victorian system works but NSW has a fantastic selective schools system which siphons off many of the high achievers and allows them to meet their full potential in the public system. Obviously those schools are going to occupy most of the top spots. If they didn't they wouldn't be meeting their objective.:
ETA - The NSW public school system doesn't just offer academically selective schools it also has Technology High Schools, Sports High Schools, Language Schools and Creative and Performing Arts Schools. I think it's fantastic that students who are gifted in such diverse areas are offered opportunities to pursue their talents.
I think that the best thing about this is that talented students aren't forced to go at the speed of the slowest person in the class which is often the fate of bright students in other systems.
Just an observation that no one went for option three - home schooling. :hiding:
To be perfectly honest, I'd be too scared to homeschool. I have the utmost admiration for other people who do, but its not for me.
That would be my first choice as well.:
A few of my parents friends and one of my Aunts are primary school teachers in my local area so I have an idea of what's available, and TBH there are only 2 public schools that I'd send DS to of the ones available both are outside my zoned to area. There are 2 private schools we could choose as well, but the one I prefer (smaller class sizes, less focus on religion) would involve a 30+ minute bus trip each way for DS. Or if I had no choice there's one of the many religios schools in my area that I's consider.
As for high schools, not any of the local state schools. If we lived in a different area as I said, I'd have no problem with it, but at really have no choice. I have less of an issue with RE in high school as I think kids are more able to express their own opinions and make up their own minds so I'll have no issue in sending DS to a Catholic boys high school in Toorak. (well other than a sh*tfight with DH)
I always wanted to send any daughters I had to MacRob, -- what are people opinons on selective entrance on-private schools? I've alswyas classed Melbourne High and MacROb as private schools even though technically they arent..
I've read that too that once at univesity, private school students have a higher drop out rate. I think this is to do with the "spoon feeding" they receive in high school. My beliefs don't necessarily sway to private or public, but to what is the best school in my area. After much research I decided to send my dd to the local Catholic Primary school. Although I am baptised Catholic, I am not practicing, but her school has such a lovely community feel about it and I am happy for her to have religion introduced to her at school. She can choose when she is older if she wants to follow any religion or not. The school demographic represents a wide range of students from various social, economic and cultural backgrounds and they teach about other backgrounds, religions etc. (actually more so than the local public primary). My other 2 dd's will go there and then I will be sending them to one of the Catholic Girls colleges in high school. I have read that girls actually perform better in single sex school than in co ed situations, whereas boys it doesn't matter. The fees aren't as high as a private school, but the school does seem to offer more in terms of extra carricular activities and class sizes were smaller and they encourage alot of parent involvement than our local public school. I think at the end of the day, education is the best gift we can give our children and public or private doesn't matter. You need to do the research and find out what is best for your family.
Actually, regarding boys and single sex education, it can make a significant difference as boys and girls learn differently.
There is an excellent book called Why Gender Matters by Dr Leonard Sax that talks about it.
There are a few schools (private and public, single sex and co-ed) in Melbourne that are introducing single sex classes for some subjects and co-ed for others as well.
That's exactly what it comes down to for me to Jo.:
...but the school does seem to offer more in terms of extra carricular activities and class sizes were smaller and they encourage alot of parent involvement than our local public school. I think at the end of the day, education is the best gift we can give our children and public or private doesn't matter. You need to do the research and find out what is best for your family.
I totally agree Divvy.... I strongly believe in giving the best education to my children... I would sacrifice any want to make sure my kids receive a great education. My parents gave up a lot for my private school education and I am very grateful for that! I knew girls at my school who would travel over an hour everyday to get to school because their parents also believed it was one of the better schools in Brisbane. Sometimes I feel that some parents only think of themselves and not of their kids when it comes to schooling for their kids... high-school in Queensland is only 5 years... 5 years of going without somethings and working hard is not much of a parents life to give up for their kids. That's what I think anyway. :D
I am a huge fan of public schools. I went to 2 different co-ed catholic primary school, then an all girl catholic school up until the end of year 10, and then moved to a co-ed public school for year 11 and 12.
I had the same kinds of issues at my Catholic school as Roryrory mentioned and this was one of the big reasons I felt that I could not stay there. Once I moved to a public school, I felt that I was able to express myself more and that I was more free to have my own opinions on issues without getting told off for not agreeing with my teacher.
I found at the catholic school we were pretty much taught only one viewpoint (on everything, not just religious issues) and I dont feel that this would make for a very well rounded person, if you get what I mean. If you were to have an opinion differnt to that of a teachers, you would be told you were wrong. At my public school, I had friends from different cultural backgrounds and I leanred alot about customs/traditions in other countries (where my peers were from) and about religious traditions in faiths other than christianity. There were people from varying socio economic backgrounds from all over sydney including the blue mountains, but at the catholic school everyone seemed to be on the same level and were all from "the north shore" or "northern beaches" (the 2 schools were in the same suburb) and there was nowhere near as many differnt nationalities represented. There were also openly gay people (whereas I know of a few girls in my grade at the other school who felt they were unable to 'come out' until much later, even though they knew they were gay at the time.. girls were told off if they were seen holding hands, so I dont blame them for feeling that they could not tell anyone).
So, for me, I felt I had a better experience and was able to grow more as a person in a public school. I felt I was also given more opportunities at my public school. With private schools, (correct me if I'm incoreect) it seems like they're pretty much all catholic, anglican or aimed towards some other faith. We're not religious so we dont want to have Claire attend a religious type school and have those views forced upon her.
DH is also dead-against private schools. He is a teacher is a very good public school. You get crap teachers in any school, public or private, unfortunately. I think we probably will look for a good single sex school for high school, basically becauses boys and girls learn differently. We will have her attend a co-ed primary school though. We have a few more years to think about that though, but I plan on doing some research to find a school that best suits her prsonality and abilities.
I think the area you live in also comes into play. Up here we only have a small number of schools I would send my children too, and only a very few are any good. Numbers are very large, bullying is rife and many kids slip through the cracks. At my kids catholic school, only half are catholic, and religion is not taught every day or rammed down your throat. Class sizes are small, and my daughter gets extra help DAILY for her english skills. We have top of the line resources and sports groups. Kids were expelled last year for fighting outside of school hours!!They have zero tolerance for a lot of bad behaviours, and to our family the money is worth it.
We are on one income with 5 kids, and are definatly not above average in income. I pay per week, with no interest or extra fees, and it is nothing compared to the extra help and attention my kids are getting. We are very far from snobbish, and most families there are just regular folk that want that little bit extra for individual kids. If one of our close public schools offered similar education, then they would of gone there. A small classed, personal public school thats close was just not an option unfortunatly.
I totally agree Jodie :clap: and well done! I'm familiar with your area and would send my DD to the girls' school which has a great reputation if we moved to the region. I'm finding it harder to know where to send my sons though. My DD seems to have escaped bullying which was one of my main aims as I was bullied at one of the local public primary schools in your area and it brings back sad memories. If you can send your child to a school with zero tolerance of bullying then half the battle is won! Kids can't learn if they are sitting in class stressing about being bullied every time they put their hand up or go outside. :(
I have to agree purplemamma, the catholic school my daughter goes to encourage teachings about other religions and cultures in their re classes and it is taught in a very informal manner. I think the curriculum offers such wide variety and I disagree that only public schools turn out well rounded children. They are not about bible bashing anymore and I think my daughter has a better understanding of other cultures and religions through her re lessons and the students are encouraged to give their opinions. Even in grade one she is involved in projects within the wider community. Religion is only a small part of her catholic school upbringing and I am happy for her to be in such a caring, loving environment where the students are taght to respect and care for each other..
I have to "second" that. My DD has attended Anglican schools since pre-school and her schools have taught her about most of the world's religions.... She understands a lot about the Jewish religion for example. I think it's a worry that public schools often avoid teaching anything about religion. It has influenced, for good or bad, world history more than nothing else! You don't have to practise a religion to need to understand it. Some public schools even disallow Santa, for example... why not take the time to recognise ALL the major religious celebrations rather than trying to pretend spirituality/religion doesn't exist in the world. This is the main reason public schools are not going to be our choice.
No, to get a predominantly anglo school you'd have to live in a regional area! No offence to anyone who chooses to do so, and I'm sure that there are exceptions, but my experience in growing up in regional Australia was a complete lack of multiculturalism. There it wouldn't matter which school you went to - I can remember less than a handful of students from different backgrounds to my own (one Chinese, one Sri Lankan and a couple of exchange students from Canada and Germany - so that hardly counts!), and I went to a state school.:
In Sydney where I live now, it wouldn't matter which school you went to there'd be more diversity than that.
We are probably planning on sending our DD to a private school from Yr 5 onwards, but a state school until then. But we are a bit spoilt for choice in our area since there are great schools from both private and public.
Ironically, it isn't money that is my biggest object (in that it would change my mind if it was unlimited, not that we have enough!) but the fact that most of the private schools are single sex and I'm really keen to have her go to a co-ed school for as long as possible. The private co-ed schools are too far away for us. So I guess if money was no object we could afford to go and buy a house near one of the private co-ed schools and send her from the beginning! :)
I have to agree with that too Jennifer. I went to country schools and about as "multicultural" you would get would be a handful of indigenous students.... on the whole. It was 95% Anglo all the way. So I just don't 'get' that argument that my DD's private school isn't multicultural... compared to a regional school it's miles ahead. But I guess you have to compare apples with apples. Should all country kids come to the city to experience multiculturalism? Is that really the be-all-and-end-all?
That was so true Bath, when we were at school, there were just a few indigenous kids. I actually find that the kids catholic school is more multi cultural up here now than the public schools!! My children have a few nationalities there now, and a lot of Sudanese (sp?) that have been moved here are at the school. There lovely kids, and my 7 year old took some under his wing.:D It was just lovely. The school has taught the kids all about Sudan, and in such a small school, my kids have gotten to know them well.
I just find their school so caring, and each child truly is treated as an individual. Even their homework is personalised to their capabilities, not just handed out to whole class. My daughter gets very personal teaching for her troubles with reading, and this year, so she is prepared for years 5 & 6 before high school, her teacher is staying with her ( and two others) twice a week, for free tutoring after school hours.:dance: I never had anything even close to what my children are getting now when I was at a public school here.:(