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Private school vs State School?
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See I used to think that, but since going to university have encountered numerous products of private school education and have found them to have actually not benefitted from smaller class sizes.
I have often found that whilst not lacking knowledge, privately educated kids have relied too heavily on their teacher, therefore once they get to university they are unable to work things out for themselves in the way that perhaps a state-school educated child would have had to adapt to.
I have also found that certain children 'blessed' with private education ( I am not supposing that private school education isn't highly benficial to some) have a certain self-importance about them, as if their parents providing this luxurious education makes them more important.
Of course these are both generalisations and each student and school is different, but I just wondered if anyone else had encountered anything similar?
I have often found that whilst not lacking knowledge, privately educated kids have relied too heavily on their teacher, therefore once they get to university they are unable to work things out for themselves in the way that perhaps a state-school educated child would have had to adapt to.
I have also found that certain children 'blessed' with private education ( I am not supposing that private school education isn't highly benficial to some) have a certain self-importance about them, as if their parents providing this luxurious education makes them more important.
Of course these are both generalisations and each student and school is different, but I just wondered if anyone else had encountered anything similar?
My first, 2sons went to state schools and daughter to private....after being totally dissatisfied with SS education. Agree public schools do instill self-confidence and a comraderie not found in SS.
Every child in ps has to reach given standard each term else the parent will withdraw child & fees are lost. Not every child is academic regardless of school and uni is not the ultimate goal for achievement & success for all.
Every child in ps has to reach given standard each term else the parent will withdraw child & fees are lost. Not every child is academic regardless of school and uni is not the ultimate goal for achievement & success for all.
No uni isn't the ultimate achievement and success for all.
I think I like the idea of private school, posh uniforms, nice surroundings, potentially good academic results etc..
but had I the decision to make for my child, I don't think I could take the risk of my child becoming too self-important.
Although I'm sure there are many grounded products of private school too so perhaps im reading too much into it.
I think I like the idea of private school, posh uniforms, nice surroundings, potentially good academic results etc..
but had I the decision to make for my child, I don't think I could take the risk of my child becoming too self-important.
Although I'm sure there are many grounded products of private school too so perhaps im reading too much into it.
I disagree about State education being the same wherever you go actually. Yes to certain extent, but everyone knows that there are good schools and bad schools, often relating to their catchment area.
Surely the very essence of a school is that it is academically-slanted, given the fact that it is an educational institution?
Also with state schools you still have the choice between single-sex or co-ed which can make a big difference depending on the child.
Surely the very essence of a school is that it is academically-slanted, given the fact that it is an educational institution?
Also with state schools you still have the choice between single-sex or co-ed which can make a big difference depending on the child.
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Zacsmaster, that's exactly what I was getting at. Every state school in the country is different in terms of its ethos, specialisms and people. However, they all teach the same, basic curriculum and foster the same values. They all work to the same, basic philosophy. They have to because they belong to the government and they are paid to. The child either suits the system or has to learn to suit it, because the system won't bend (it's just so flakey that it looks flexible).
Private schools, however, exist to suit just about every type of child and family you could find, from Eton to Summerhill. Somewhere on the spectrum, you will find a school whose philosophy suits your child. Admittedly, most parents want a school that will enable/encourage a child perform well academically, which many private schools do - they know where the money is, after all. But it's not - and shouldn't be - the only definition of education and not every child needs or benefits from that. If you want something different without going down the home-education route, then you have more chance of finding it in the private sector.
Private schools, however, exist to suit just about every type of child and family you could find, from Eton to Summerhill. Somewhere on the spectrum, you will find a school whose philosophy suits your child. Admittedly, most parents want a school that will enable/encourage a child perform well academically, which many private schools do - they know where the money is, after all. But it's not - and shouldn't be - the only definition of education and not every child needs or benefits from that. If you want something different without going down the home-education route, then you have more chance of finding it in the private sector.
Choose the school, not the system. Private schools can choose their 'customers' and can either not make public their 'failures' or expel them. Some very good and some appalling educational standards and practices are to be found in private schools as well as in state-run schools - in the latter, it 's much harder to hide the consequences, and can prove hard to expel pupils for a whole raft of reasons. FYI, the last state school I worked in had 100% A-C passes at GCSE.
It becomes counter-productive to argue that one system is better than the other because they arise though different needs and ultimately most families appear to choose private schools for social reasons ie 'mixing with the right sort' - and if that's the family priority, that's fine.
It becomes counter-productive to argue that one system is better than the other because they arise though different needs and ultimately most families appear to choose private schools for social reasons ie 'mixing with the right sort' - and if that's the family priority, that's fine.
Excellent post from Lil O'Lady. 'Choose the schools, not the system'. I chose to pay simply because the local secondary school was not, in my opinion, the best option for various reasons. We live rurally, and there simply wasn't a choice of state schools! It is not true that kids at fee paying schools are all from well healed families either. I worked very hard to finance the education I considered would suit best. We struggled!!
My children received a good, well rounded education and achieved excellent results. They are certainly far from self important. There seems to be more respect between staff and pupils at private schools and definitely more care for the individual.
However, there are no doubt some very good state schools.
My children received a good, well rounded education and achieved excellent results. They are certainly far from self important. There seems to be more respect between staff and pupils at private schools and definitely more care for the individual.
However, there are no doubt some very good state schools.
My wife has been a Deputy Head in an inner-city school, and a Head in a Private Prep. School, so she has direct exsperience of both - with mixed feelings.
By definition, any private school attracts a l;evel of family income which the majority of State school parents could not match. This means a nicer environment, but higher expectations from parents. Inner-city state schools attract some of the most deprived children, but their appreciation of things done for them is considerably higher.
As an example - the top year in the private school had children who had all been abroad several times by the age of eleven, the state school had two thirds of children at the same age who had never seen the sea - the majority had never even been out of the city.
If I could have educated my children privately I probably would. I disagree with the need to fund education to get a decent school, but we deal with what is, not what our principles would like.
I think there are good and bad in all areas of education - the major issue is successive governments who have messed and tinkered all the sense out of education and run down teachers' input to a stage where they cannot recruit properly.
Make your decisions carefully, based on the schools available to you, and what will best suit your child/.
By definition, any private school attracts a l;evel of family income which the majority of State school parents could not match. This means a nicer environment, but higher expectations from parents. Inner-city state schools attract some of the most deprived children, but their appreciation of things done for them is considerably higher.
As an example - the top year in the private school had children who had all been abroad several times by the age of eleven, the state school had two thirds of children at the same age who had never seen the sea - the majority had never even been out of the city.
If I could have educated my children privately I probably would. I disagree with the need to fund education to get a decent school, but we deal with what is, not what our principles would like.
I think there are good and bad in all areas of education - the major issue is successive governments who have messed and tinkered all the sense out of education and run down teachers' input to a stage where they cannot recruit properly.
Make your decisions carefully, based on the schools available to you, and what will best suit your child/.
I agree entirely with andy BUT bottom line is, if you can afford private education then go for it, if you can't , then you have no choice. Education is not just gettiing good exam results, it is preparing you for the outside world.....whatever that means.
Private education does not guarantee that, but it is a better option than state education, in my opinion.
I was state educated and only saw Public Schools from the playing fields but realised that there was certainly a difference in the two educational systems.
Private education does not guarantee that, but it is a better option than state education, in my opinion.
I was state educated and only saw Public Schools from the playing fields but realised that there was certainly a difference in the two educational systems.
I think, even if I could afford anything, I would choose a good state school over a private school. I've met so many results of private schools I don't like, and I wouldn't want to run that risk with my child. A perfectly ordinary child could come out of a private school with 'ideas above their station' if you get me, and an arrogance of, 'i am well educated, thus a better person than you' sort of thing. I know this can't be the case with every private school child, and I'm sure many are perfectly polite, but some I've met are the sort of people I wouldn't want my child to turn into.
For children with special needs I think some private schools are brilliant, others of course don't want to know, due to a dyslexic child for example, tainting their results.
For children with special needs I think some private schools are brilliant, others of course don't want to know, due to a dyslexic child for example, tainting their results.
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