Public vs Private Education

Published on November 22, 2004 By Phoenixboi In Blogging

Today I am going with my sister to enrol her eldest boy into high school.

We have two options of education in Australia either Public or Private.

Her favourite option is Private education with sending him to the Catholic School. Not because she is a practising Catholic but because she has in her mind that the level of education would be better for him. If he doesnt get into that school then the second option is the Public school which is a school based on performing arts.

My nephew is really talented when it comes to performing arts. He is a natural dancer, actor and performer. I would like to see him foster this ability.

Now the dilemma here is that he wants to go to the private school because alot of his cousins and friends are going there. I went to the private school he wants to get into. I didnt feel that my education was better for going there. Alot of my friends went to the public school and I found that they had more options in what subjects they chose. The only subject we had to do that they didnt was Religion.

The difference in the school fees is dramatic! My sister can afford the fees. But should she have to? When the public education system I think is as good if not in some situations better.

Where did you go to school JU user? Was it public or Private and do you feel that it influenced your education in any way?

Comments (Page 2)

Angloesque

on Nov 23, 2004

but I still find the widespread insularity of private school children leads them to snobbery and arrogance.

Not it doesn't, you ignorant dolt!

/joke

Does it really have a difference on the childs future though?

I can only answer this in terms of class size, morals, and opportunities--so yes, they had a positive influence on me. I wouldn't go so far as to say those criteria are exclusive to private schools, although I think they are generally true for some private schools.

Class size: Our low student-teacher ration meant I was on a first-name basis with virtually all of my profs and teachers by the time I graduated, which meant good recommendations and subsequent opportunities, and a lot of networking possibilities.

Morals: I think the parochial high school I went to reinforced my moral values, which have changed since then, but still made for a good foundation.

Opportunities: The relatively small size of my college lent itself opportunities like editing the college paper and literary arts journal, things I would've had more people to compete against in a larger university.

But I generally adhere to the belief that you'll find what you're looking for, wherever you go. And for my MFA, I'll be going to state uni.

-A.

citahellion

on Nov 23, 2004

I went to a private Christian school from Kindergarten through HS graduation. For most of that time I blindly accepted the belief that my private school provided a better education than a public school could. When my brother went to public school (after being expelled from this private school) the sorts of literature he was getting to read made me realize that my education was rather one-sided. I got a bunch of older classics and safe stuff ("The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and such); he got "The Catcher in the Rye", "Flowers for Algernon", and "Harrison Bergeron", among many others. And I had to waste one class period per day on Religion.

I do think that I had the benefit of smaller classes, a smaller school overall, and a more "safe" environment. Yeah, there were still partiers, boozers, and druggies, but it was a small subculture, where it seemed to be much more of a core group when I visited the public school. On the other hand, the smaller school also limited my options for both curricular and extracurricular activities. My school had soccer, baseball, and basketball, and in my junior and senior years they started a little drama club. The public school had a full complement of sports (including particularly football and track) and a full-size, fully-equipped theater.

cactoblasta

on Nov 23, 2004

I went to private schools all the way through my education. As long as you're not putting him into Marist or that place with the stupid straw hats (BBC or Nudgee?) he should be better off than at a public high school. Usually the funding and equipment's better at private schools, so if he's got any other interests seperate to performing then that'll be an advantage.

trina_p

on Nov 23, 2004

What basis do you have for saying that - stupid straw hats? - Uniforms - you don't like their boata and so they shouldn't attend that school. Some of my best friends are BBC boys, there are some dropkicks just as their are some very intelligent, loyal, chivalrous and genuinely nice guys. Likewise there are some complete arses who went to Grammar and some nice guys.
There are some really great guys who went to my school - great morals, smart, university graduates AND there are a few drunken louts who are in jail for various offences

You get out of school - public or private - What YOU put in and what yYOU want to take out of it.

PB's nephew is in NSW not Qld. John Howard went to private school and Mark Latham went to public - depending on you're political views you can take that how you like,

Phoenixboi

on Nov 23, 2004

I think Uniforms are a great idea...I couldnt imagine going to school without being in a Uniform... it's alot less strict these days to when I went to school.. I remember getting into trouble for not having a tie or shirts not tucked in.. When we were in yr 12 we used to get into trouble if the younger yrs werent dressed properly when we were on public transport.

In the school I went to ..which is the school my nephew wants to go we had priests and nuns there and now there isnt any. They were really strict with us.

When I walked into the school yesterday there was still the same smell that I remember about it.. it brought back alot of memories. Not always good ones too. I really didnt like school. Was a hard time for me because of the students that were there.

Locamama

on Nov 23, 2004

I went to Catholic school from K-7. I thought it was a much more respectful environment. I couldn't believe it when I switched to public schools how the kids would talk to the teachers. That just wasn't tolerated in my catholic school. And I am from a small town, if I were in a big city I would think it was even worse. If I had money to send my boys to private school, I would but it isn't possible at this time. I believe also that a much higher percentage of private school students go to college compared to public school students. I am sure part of this is the financial status of the parents but I also think that its just expected that you will graduate and go on to college in the private schools that I have been around.

cactoblasta

on Nov 24, 2004

I was joking - don't take it personally! I went to St Peters for a few years when I lived up there, so it's part of the whole deal to bag out the GPS guys.

In all seriousness you're better off letting the kid decide where he wants to go himself, because he'll probably be happier there, and if he isn't then you won't get the blame.

Phoenixboi

on Nov 24, 2004

In all seriousness you're better off letting the kid decide where he wants to go himself, because he'll probably be happier there, and if he isn't then you won't get the blame.

Yeah we are trying to get him into where he wants to go... although at this stage of the year it is going to be a very hard task.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!