Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Nov 2nd 2008, 1:22 am
#16
Joined: Oct 2005
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
I agree with your first paragraph but the second paragraph depends on your area as in our local area Private out performed State that said the State schools weren't far behind.
But at the private school the kids aren't allowed to constantly swear in class or jump around and disrupt it and there is a fair attempt at teaching them respect for each other which wasn't happening in the State schools I encounted here. There will be good and bad in both systems and even in the past our sons school did have the resident paedophile who masqueraded as a do gooder then abused the kids in his care. That said he's now gone.
But at the private school the kids aren't allowed to constantly swear in class or jump around and disrupt it and there is a fair attempt at teaching them respect for each other which wasn't happening in the State schools I encounted here. There will be good and bad in both systems and even in the past our sons school did have the resident paedophile who masqueraded as a do gooder then abused the kids in his care. That said he's now gone.
Firstly, I agree that it's a very personal choice and any parent that chooses to send their kid to a private school is perfectly entitled to do so. These things often come down to something as elusive as the way a school 'feels', so there's little point in beating people about where they've chosen.
That said, you're deluding yourselves if you think they get a better education at a fee-paying school. In terms of basic results, the state schools out-perform the private schools every year.
That said, you're deluding yourselves if you think they get a better education at a fee-paying school. In terms of basic results, the state schools out-perform the private schools every year.
GOVERNMENT schools have beaten high-fee-charging private colleges in this year's HSC, winning top spot in a majority of the state's 38 education regions. Public schools topped the HSC list in 22 regions across NSW but their success was even more pronounced in Sydney where they won 13 to the independents' three. Source
I'm certainly not going to take the moral highground on this and if we found, after visiting them and looking into them, that the best school in this area for our son was private, then we'd pay up.
Nov 2nd 2008, 1:51 am
#17
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Nov 2nd 2008, 4:48 am
#19
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Speaking as a teacher in a private school, I do hope that student numbers don't drop dramatically as there may then be forced redundancies amongst teaching staff coming into play! 
In my experience, sending your kids to private school here in Aus is not seen as being as elitist as it is back in England. It's just that many, many parents here don't seem to trust the state system.
In my experience, sending your kids to private school here in Aus is not seen as being as elitist as it is back in England. It's just that many, many parents here don't seem to trust the state system.
Nov 2nd 2008, 5:59 am
#22
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Hopefully teachers are the last last resort. Fingers crossed for you
Nov 2nd 2008, 7:38 am
#23
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
now you know i hate to agree with you on these forums
anyway, we are more than happy with the state choices we have made here in melbourne, however before coming here i had no idea about the private and public system and how 'big', it is here.
If i could transport the state schools , along with teachers and resources that my girls went to in scotland then it would equal a very 'posh private school here'
.However they are adaptable and are 'surviving' (along with some out of school tutoring), but as a parent in all honesty if i could sacrifice my nanny and hols
to send them to a decent private school here then i would without a doubt.However i feel for the poor families who's kids are not adaptable and need more support than the public schools can provide, due to lack of funds and resources and the parents do not have the luxury of looking at private schools, in this instance i would say everyone loses, kids , parents and society.
As parents we can only hope wherever we are and in which predicament we find ourselves in that we have tried our best for our kids and put the individual needs of our children to the forefront of our lives.
Last edited by Margaret3; Nov 2nd 2008 at 7:50 am.
Nov 2nd 2008, 11:58 pm
#25
Joined: Apr 2007
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Within days of landing in Oz i had my two kids enrolled in the local State school - OMG - what a major mistake!!! My kids both went to 'good' state schools in the UK and when i look at what they've ended up in i could cry.
We're now looking at going private and paying about $7,000 per year for each child just to get them the same as they had in the UK for free. I'm no snob, i just want a good education for my children and to feel that they're in a safe environment when they're at school.
We're now looking at going private and paying about $7,000 per year for each child just to get them the same as they had in the UK for free. I'm no snob, i just want a good education for my children and to feel that they're in a safe environment when they're at school.
Nov 3rd 2008, 1:46 am
#26
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
I must be a snob from a family of snobs then... I went to private boarding school from age 11 and I'd like to send DD to a private school (not boarding though) when she's the same age.
At the end of the day I dont think the education aspect is the only aspect of school - I got two GSCEs from my fee paying school, OH got about 10 O'levels/CSEs and he went to a comp (the sort of school that gave me nightmares!). BUT I had a bloody great time at school, learnt a lot of life skills and independance and, although a couple of girls got expelled for getting drunk and quite a few smoked, there were no drugs or bullying issues at our school.
At the end of the day I dont think the education aspect is the only aspect of school - I got two GSCEs from my fee paying school, OH got about 10 O'levels/CSEs and he went to a comp (the sort of school that gave me nightmares!). BUT I had a bloody great time at school, learnt a lot of life skills and independance and, although a couple of girls got expelled for getting drunk and quite a few smoked, there were no drugs or bullying issues at our school.
Nov 3rd 2008, 4:29 am
#27
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Interesting always is about education. I believe that the education is equal in the state schools its just the schools have to take all comers.
I sent both my children to private school and I do not regret it but I don't think the education was any different. Just as many of their friends who went to the local State School went on to university. I believe we as parents were just as instrumental in our children's education as the school they attended.
I do not agree with the table of schools achievements as I wonder if there is an incentive to push children through and help more than they would get in other schools so that the school looks good to prospective parents.
Also at university its a known fact that children who are educated in the State System, settle better and do better in their first years as they have not been spoon fed at school.
The thing is do we as parents look at ourselves when we are thinking about education, remember how we were at school, were we lazy, were we diligent. I went to boarding school so had no option had to learn it was strict in those days, teachers were allowed to discipline us not the way these days.
I sent both my children to private school and I do not regret it but I don't think the education was any different. Just as many of their friends who went to the local State School went on to university. I believe we as parents were just as instrumental in our children's education as the school they attended.
I do not agree with the table of schools achievements as I wonder if there is an incentive to push children through and help more than they would get in other schools so that the school looks good to prospective parents.
Also at university its a known fact that children who are educated in the State System, settle better and do better in their first years as they have not been spoon fed at school.
The thing is do we as parents look at ourselves when we are thinking about education, remember how we were at school, were we lazy, were we diligent. I went to boarding school so had no option had to learn it was strict in those days, teachers were allowed to discipline us not the way these days.
Nov 3rd 2008, 5:05 pm
#28
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
I must be a snob from a family of snobs then... I went to private boarding school from age 11 and I'd like to send DD to a private school (not boarding though) when she's the same age.
At the end of the day I dont think the education aspect is the only aspect of school - I got two GSCEs from my fee paying school, OH got about 10 O'levels/CSEs and he went to a comp (the sort of school that gave me nightmares!). BUT I had a bloody great time at school, learnt a lot of life skills and independance and, although a couple of girls got expelled for getting drunk and quite a few smoked, there were no drugs or bullying issues at our school.
At the end of the day I dont think the education aspect is the only aspect of school - I got two GSCEs from my fee paying school, OH got about 10 O'levels/CSEs and he went to a comp (the sort of school that gave me nightmares!). BUT I had a bloody great time at school, learnt a lot of life skills and independance and, although a couple of girls got expelled for getting drunk and quite a few smoked, there were no drugs or bullying issues at our school.
Standards really took a turn for the worse in 1988 when O'levels and CSEs were amalgamated to form the GCSE and they've been dropping ever since.
You say your OH got 10 O'levels/CSEs but they're 2 totally different exams and quite far apart in academic criteria.
Nov 3rd 2008, 5:32 pm
#29
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
[/QUOTE]
However i feel for the poor families who's kids are not adaptable and need more support than the public schools can provide, due to lack of funds and resources and the parents do not have the luxury of looking at private schools, in this instance i would say everyone loses, kids , parents and society. [/QUOTE]
Why the need for bold on this bit, is it supposed to be your main point??? It's got nothing to do with adaptability, if you are an average kid in an average school you tend to get overlooked as you are not Einstein or the attention deficit trouble maker who gets lots of attention to try and stop them interfering with lessons. So teachers just leave the average kid to swim along without extra input or one to one time.
It could be argued if the poor parents had been in a school that made more effort with them they may have got a decent job with the $$$'s to pay for the private school then all win, kid, parent and society by having a better educated more resourceful kid.
However i feel for the poor families who's kids are not adaptable and need more support than the public schools can provide, due to lack of funds and resources and the parents do not have the luxury of looking at private schools, in this instance i would say everyone loses, kids , parents and society. [/QUOTE]
Why the need for bold on this bit, is it supposed to be your main point??? It's got nothing to do with adaptability, if you are an average kid in an average school you tend to get overlooked as you are not Einstein or the attention deficit trouble maker who gets lots of attention to try and stop them interfering with lessons. So teachers just leave the average kid to swim along without extra input or one to one time.
It could be argued if the poor parents had been in a school that made more effort with them they may have got a decent job with the $$$'s to pay for the private school then all win, kid, parent and society by having a better educated more resourceful kid.
Nov 3rd 2008, 5:44 pm
#30
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Re: Parents pulling kids out of private schools
Both logic is wrong.
If everyone went to private schools and passed exams and then went on to higher education (and it's a pretty big assumption that private schools can deliver with every pupil who goes through its gates) it still means that not every well qualified academic individual will walk into a high paying job as the demand will far exceed the supply.
If everyone went to private schools and passed exams and then went on to higher education (and it's a pretty big assumption that private schools can deliver with every pupil who goes through its gates) it still means that not every well qualified academic individual will walk into a high paying job as the demand will far exceed the supply.