Public v/s Private
More than any other question, parents ask whether they should choose a public or a private school for their child. This is an important question, one that deserves a well-considered response.
Here are considerations that will help parents think through this debate:
What does a public school offer?
A public school offers education at a lower cost than private schools. Tuition is free at neighborhood public schools. This does not make the entire education free. Parents still need to pay fees for after-school care, extra classes and sometimes for specialist support. As public school funding undergoes serious cuts in all states, more parents are stepping forward to fundraise for their local public school to sustain critical programs in the arts, sports, enrichment activities, science camps and such. In some districts, parents are even raising funds to pay teacher salaries. Public school education is not free but it can be substantially less expensive than private school education. In my estimation, parents can expect to spend up to $5000-8000/year to support the school, pay for classes, towards fundraising and after-school care. This number could be quite a bit lower if after-school care and fundraising don't need to be funded.
Public schools draw children from a variety of socio-economic, cultural and racial backgrounds. A public school is representative, in the ideal world, of the democractic society children will grow to inhabit. This means children can learn to work and play with people of diverse backgrounds from the get go. Being able to understanding, interact and ultimately collaborate with people from different backgrounds is a critical skills in our growing globalized world. Of course, to take full advantage of such a richly diverse population, a school needs to highlight and take advantage of the represented differences and similarities. It is not enough that children are bathed in diversity, they need to be supported in processing the differences they perceive and given language and means to respond to conflict that can arise from diversity. Of course, having the diverse population is the starting point for this.
Neighborhood schools give children a sense of community. They go to school with friends from their community. Families and local community rally to support neighborhood schools. This makes the neighborhood school, your school. This sense of belonging is critical to the emotional safety of children. This is only a real benefit if parents actually engage the community they live in.
Public school education is based on state and national standards. State and national standards are aimed at providing an equal quality education throughout the country. Teachers in public schools are all required to be certified, holding specific credentials that qualify them to teach. This said, in recent years, leading educators and teachers have questioned the validity and impact of standards especially as they relate to testing. Standardized that all children have to take starting 3rd grade don't always measure learning. Teacher qualifications are not always an indicator of adequate skills for teaching fundamental skills like Reading or Math or being able to create a safe social-emotional environment. Teacher training courses have come under speculation in recent years.
So what is a parent to do? Look under the covers. Understand the purpose of testing, the impact it has on learning and how it informs teaching. Ask not only for teacher qualification but how teachers are supported in their teaching. The level and kind of professional development a school offers is indicative of how teachers grow in their work and how they are supported.
Why a public school is right for families?
Public schools are right for families for several reasons:
Lower cost
Less or no commute
Assurance of regulated, standardized teaching
Sense of community, school feels like an extension of home
Strong PTA that funds and supports the school
Parent involvement in the classroom
Diversity
What does a private school offer?
Private schools charge a higher tuition and that tuition goes towards teacher salaries, professional development and facilities. Private schools also depend on fundraising for their costs. Parents rally to support private schools above and beyond stated tuition.
The higher tuition gets parents a smaller class size, more teachers for a smaller pool of students. Greater teacher attention in early years especially up to 3rd/5th grade can help a child develop fundamental skills and work habits.
Private schools use their funds to provide greater specialist subjects like Drama, Music, Technology within the school day. This is attractive to parents who want their children to have a well-rounded learning experience. At the high school level, elite sports, travel abroad programs, state and national contests distinguish one private school for another. As college bound students look to build up their "resume", these distinct offerings are enticing.
Private schools often pride themselves on more rigorous and innovate academic coverage. Not tied to state and national standards, private schools are able to innovate, to look at curricula around the nation and the world, to offer curricular practices that keep with the times. They are also able to go beyond stated standards to meet higher learning goals, making children more prepared for what comes next.
Some private schools are aligned to particular pedagogical or religious values. Pedagogical philosophies like Montessori, Waldorf or religious affliations provide a specific landscape of values to learners. This is important and meaningful to families. These values make private schools feel like an extension of home in a whole other way.
Why a private school is right for families?
Private schools are right for families for several reasons:
Smaller class size, deeper, more personal relationships between teachers and students
Specialist offerings
Innovative curricula
Rigorous academics that prepare for what comes next
Alignment with specific values
"How do I decide?" "Is private school education really worth the cost? Is there anything wrong with going to the neighborhood public school?"
Lets peel the onion. Choosing between public and private schools is a personal decision, it is a very personal decision.
UNDERSTAND THE SCHOOL — It comes down to two layes of questions. The first and easier layer is focused on understanding a specific school. These are the factors important for understanding a school:
Academics, what is taught: Academic content is changing as we move deeper into the 21st century. It is important to ask what is taught and how it is taught. What is taught? What is the level of depth at which topics/subjects are explored? At the elementary level ask how are basic skills like Reading and Math taught? At later stages ask how discipline, work ethic, individual interests and higher cognitive skills like critical thinking are taught. Is the curriculum evolving and innovative? What kind of specialist subjects are offered? What kind of support is provided when a child struggles? Are tests administered and what is their impact on teaching and learning? How does the level of academic rigor dovetail into options beyond the current school?
Teachers: What kind of experience do teachers have? How are they supported in their professional development? What kind of additional classroom support is provided — volunteer teachers, teachers aids, parent volunteers? How does a specific teachers style lend itself to creating a socially and emotionally safe environment? Is the teacher passionate about her work? What keeps her passion alive? How does the school support teacher's innovation? How stable is the administration?
Values & Community: What values does the school uphold? How are the values 'taught'? How is a sense of community cultivate in the classroom? How are students supported in developing deep and trusting relationships with peers and teachers? How is the school active in the larger community? How does the parent or neighborhood community support the school? What kind of influence do parents or the neighborhood community have on the school? How does the changing state and national educational climate impact the school?
Logistics: What is the total cost — tuition, lunch, uniforms, after-school care, extra classes, fundraising support and anything else? What is the commute? How easy will it be for you? What does after-school care look like?
WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY — The next, deeper decision-making layer is focused on your child and family. Ultimately, it is time to take information on specific schools and ask what works for your child and family. That is where your decision eminates from.
Your child: What are her unique learning needs? What are her talents? What is her temperament and how will the school support it?
Your family: Does the school align with your values and your hopes? Does it fall within the realm of your logistical stretch — cost, commute, after-school care and more? Do you feel like you can be involved in the school and have the kind and level of impact you want to have? What is the best thing that could happen to your child because of her education? Does a specific school have the potential to make this a reality?
There are as many right answers to the public v/s private debate as there are families. Look under the covers, beyond broad, generalized statements, including those in this article. The nuances of a school matched with the nuances of your child and family will lead you your choice.
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