Public School v.s. Private School?

Question

My daughter is about to start kindergarten and my fiancée and I are having a debate on where to send her. He believes Private school because the education is better. I believe if you want to learn, you will learn no matter where you are if you put forth the effort. As a parent, you make sure that your kid gets the best opportunity possible. Now we are both public school protégées and I am working on my second degree and I've been teaching 12th grade since I was 21 and I am now 25. He also holds a good job. Do you guys think the school makes the person or the person makes the school?

Answer 1

I believe that the person makes the school. My first daughter who was very studious went to public school throughout kindergarten to 12th grade and she excelled. My son however went to plubic school up until 6th grade because he wasnt doing very well and i figured maybe he will get a better education in private i was very wrong my son didnt apply him self and did even worse in private school than he did in public. Therefore, i believe as long as a child applies him or herself and hangs out with the right crowd in school he or she would be fine as the years pass.

Answer 2

A lot depends on your daughter. Will she do well in a classroom that is maybe 25-30 kids, or in a smaller classroom? How involved are the parents in the public and private schools? I went to public school in NY from elementary through high school. It was a good school because a lot of money was poured into it. Yet I never felt I had as good an education as my friends who were in private school. They did better because they knew their parents were paying for them to be there and a better quality of education was expected of them--and of the teachers. All my college years were in private schools--the best education I had.

My son went to private school from elementary through college and did very well. The elementary school had access to learning materials from the public schools because of the Title programs. The teachers/parents/librarian made sure those things were utilized so the school's budget could be spent on what wasn't available elsewhere. He started grad school at a public institution and was shocked at how unprepared the students were. He had to take a few undergrad courses to satisfy the school's program requirements so he was exposed to younger students. Test scores were lower and they didn't have the general wider educational background he had experienced. Most of them were products of the public school system. You also have to consider what state you live in and what emphasis they put on education. By the way, he's a teacher now.

I think if the person puts everything s/he can into a school, then the school will benefit from having that person as a student.

Answer 3

I teach at a public middle school. As a secondary education major, I have read up on the differences between public and private schools. Major studies have shown that the top 10% of private school students score no higher on standardized tests than the top 10% of public school students. The reason many private schools claim better education is that they can pick and choose their students. The number one factor in a child's success as a student is a strong support system at home. If they have at least one parent actively involved in their education, a child is far more likely to score higher grades and be well adjusted. They are also more likely to receive a better education in terms of socialization and experiences. It is smart to expose kids to not only the cream of society, but the negative influences as well. It's a good lesson to learn early while they are receptive to your advice, rather than later when they are opposed to your influence. This is not to disuade you from private schools. But why pay more money when your child can get a great education for your tax dollar? Good luck!

Answer 4

I am a teenager of 15 years old, and i have been to both a public and private school (the private school was a small Catholic school in Oklahoma).

I went to private school for only one year, but that was enough.

I had experiences with both children, and honestly, when i was in the private school i felt held back by ideas other than schoolwork. So i am partially a proponent to the fact that children who haven't experienced life outside of private school would know nothing else except what they have done since the beginning of their education. Therefore, i believe that going to a public school is much more of a feasible, financially easing, more friendly environment. And much like yourself, I'd say that if you wish to build your young child into a successful individual like you so frankly and craftily put your own wonderful life, I'd say go for public school. I am partially for a person making the school because of domestic drive. When the parents push, the child goes. However, if the parent pushes too much, then the child panics/ suffers/ crashes under pressure. So if you feel the need to keep track of your child more often than most, then go with private school, but otherwise, let your child make the school and send her to a public school.

I truely wish you and your family the best.
and i hope that my opinion would give a tad bit of insight to your question

Answer 5

What kind of school - is an important issue. True, one will lean if wants to learn. However, you absorb what you're subjected to. If you put a cucumber in salted water it will absorb the salt and become a pickle. If you put a cucumber in fresh water, cucumber won't become a pickle even if it so desires, because there in no salt in the water.

Public or private - doesn't matter too much. As long as it's good.

I went to a bad school for my first 3 years and I was kicked around by other kids (and teachers!) for wanting to study. After that we moved and I went to a really good school. My grades went up "magically". I graduated with straigt "A"s. I guess it aslo depends on kid's personality - what he can deal with, what is too much to take.

Answer 6

You are both right. If I was in your situation, I would send her to a public school through highschool, and while shes there, you and your husband can save for her college. That would be so much better than making her pay, and putting her in debt by the time shes your age. And plus...gradeschool, and high school dont matter when looking for a job. the only thing an employer looks at is college transcripts. good luck

Answer 7

Private School would probably be better. Find a good one though.