Are Private Schools worth it?

Penny-Pincher!!

I just think its disgusting that we are all fighting for our children to get a good education, when the goverment should be providing this for all of them equally, regardless of race, religon and financial persuasion.

aliasojo

Tojo_Ralph wrote:

..... (why am I hearing Sally Webster? ) .....

:rotfl:


The area in which I live has a high proportion of parents who just don't care. As a result,the local school reflects the consequences of this even although the teaching standards are good and the teachers care.

Regardless of how good or otherwise the actual teaching is in private schools, I do wonder if the kids who go to such a school generally do better perhaps because they come from a different type of home?

Don't flame me, I know that sounds a bit snobby but living in a community (and I use that word loosely) where attainment and betterment just doesn't seem to be on the agenda..........I have often wondered about finding out about private schools myself.

You can have the best education in the world but if your peer group's best ambition is simply to turn up for registration classes and little else, then pretty soon the rot spreads.

I have a feeling you wouldn't have this issue in a private school?

David88_2

I have a feeling you wouldn't have this issue in a private school?

Im not sure thats always the case, just because someones parents spend money doesn't mean their kid is interested in learning in the way the school teaches them.

tomstickland

Trouble with this thread is that it entangles personal beliefs, political beliefts, idealogical beliefs and thinking about how to get the best for a child.

Forgetting all of that for a moment, I'd say that at least the following input values probably effect the output:
-child's attitude
-parents' attitude
-school's expectations
-influence of other pupils at school

So you a clever and motivated child with supportive parents can through a "rough" school and do well. I know a few people like that. You can also send a badly motivated child with parent's who don't care through a "good" school. I know some people like that too.
However, if you have a well motivated child, well motivated parent's, school with high expectations and no disruption then I guess that you'll have the best situation.

From age 9-13 I went to a very tough private school. Expectations were high. It did not have a lot of money, so conditions were pretty rough. I think that most of my attitude towards getting on with things come from that period.
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Taplledraw

The most important thing is the child goes to school without complaining wherever they go ,be it private or comprehensive. (Very few like going to school but if they go happily thats the main thing!) At my sons school the pupils show you round without any staff around ,you can ask them anything...and we did. Their answers influenced greatly our decision and I know they're not coached beforehand as both my sons have done the job since. Look round and ask pupils not justthe staff and dont chose the boring looking ones to ask!!!!!!

aliasojo

David88 wrote:

Im not sure thats always the case, just because someones parents spend money doesn't mean their kid is interested in learning in the way the school teaches them.

Perhaps not. I really don't know. If a parent is considering investing that type of money though, is it not a little indicative of how they view education and perhaps hold it in higher regard?

I'm talking purely about the social angle here and the beliefs of the parents not the actual standard of education or the child's willingness or not, to learn. I realise that there are many parents who do strive to encourage their child, I just wonder if the mix is of a higher proportion in an area where private schooling is more considered?

Maybe I'm being a little naive here given that I seem to be constantly fighting against the effects that my son's (poor) peer group have on him, but I can't help feeling I would not have the same issues or to the same degree at least, if we lived in a 'privately' orientated society/community.

phoebe03cat

Too right - you would be amazed.....!
I work in a private school for a variety of personal benefits but have chosen to send my own two children to the brilliant state comprehensive up the road. In a previous life I was a deputy head in the state sector. Now that's in spite of a good discount being available where I work. I know too much re: staff, outlook and ethos, peer pressure,facilities etc. Have never regretted it. Need to keep closely in touch with the comp. mind you, but with a good school they're looking for that partnership. I feel my children will be much better equipped for real life and will be able to mix with people fom all walks of life. Small classes and a huge amount of support is all very well but how will they cope when they meet reality unless you are in a position to buy them in? There is a very high dropout rate at uni from private school pupils unable to survive independently. Anyway great support available in good comps, frequently much better sourced, much more professionally run and staffed. Our comp streams and has single sex teaching.Top public schools of course are different altogether-they have their own problems!
Apart from that never under estimate the peer pressure aspect-status in class almost exculsively linked to mummy and daddy's perceived bank balance. You will have to compete in the designer party stakes, cars driven etc etc or trust me your child is made to know about it, unless you are VERY lucky. Both my girls went through private primary. One bounced, one didn't - nothing AT ALL to do with education. One asked me at 10 years old if she could be put on a plane (alone with the chaperone and friends) to go to ski school skiing with her friends! In many respects the education received is secondary to the social pressures. You need to think carefully around this one and factor it in, but whatever you do please don't fall into the trap of competing with your children. !!!!!! the neighbours!

tomstickland

My experiences at a private school were very different. There was no peer money pressure. Different schools, different experiences.

Rikki

Wings wrote:

Latin will cetainly improves one's English vocabulary and grammar, and it is a fantastic "umbrella" challenging subject, that involves problem solving, mythology, literature, history, philosophy and architecture. Children/students enjoy the accuracy, for one has to be spot on, and once they crack the "codes", they are switched on to Literature.

Latin is intended to train the brain, and started at an early age, when a child is growing at a fast rate and absorbing so much, the child will learn to process information in a logical way, and assists in understanding how other languages work.

Look at the guys who make the real money in the City of London, at the top merchant banks, most are all "classicists", their success achieved because they know how to process information properly.

My son is learning Latin.
It is his choice. He has gcse Latin and is now taking it for A level and wants to study Classics at University

It teaches you to think outside the box.

David88_2

I actually did GCSE latin. At a state school.

It was a good and interesting subject, as much for the historical background as the language (and it was a good teacher), BUT I had major problems with the way it was assessed, it focused too much on you knowing passages off by heart rather than making you apply your knowledge.