Teaching in a public school or a private school?

Question

I am about to finish student teaching in Pennsylvania. I will be certified to teach German in public schools, but I have also thought about applying for jobs in private schools. What are the benefits of teaching in one over the other?

Answer 1

Public often pays more with better benefits; private offers students who are generally more motivated to learn.

Answer 2

These are gross generalizations, I'm sure, but based on my experience in both...

Benefits of public schools:
-- Higher pay; better benefits (This is very important!)
-- Ability to impact students of diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds
-- More casual dress permitted for teachers

Benefits of private schools:
-- More freedom for teachers (in some schools you can talk about religion, hug students, have more say in the curriculum you use in the classroom, etc.)
-- More parental involvement
-- Fewer behavior issues
-- Students more motivated to learn
-- More emphasis on elective classes and special programs
-- Smaller class size

A lot of this depends on the type of private school in which you choose to teach. A religious school will typically have lower pay than a ritzy, college-prep private high school. In regard to freedom for teachers, a lot of it depends on the type of freedom you want. For example, in a Christian school you will have more freedom to discuss religion with your students, but you may have more restrictions on the clothes you can wear to work.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

All generalizations are wrong including this one.

Public schools pay more money

Public school teachers have better pensions
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Public school teacher jobs are moire secure

There is less clerical work in private schools

There are more time demands in private schools

There is less opportunity for advancement in private schools

Private school students are better behaved.