Is Private School Worth It?

[wylie]

At a large dinner party last month for 12 couples, a fellow investor lent across and suggested that of his two boys, he'd dearly love to send one to private school and one to public school, and invest the significant differential over the years to see what the difference was upon graduation.

Where on earth did you dig up those dinner guests .

There is asolutely no snob value for us in choosing our sons' private school. Our decision to chose this private school over the very good public one a few suburbs away was purely driven by the atmosphere, and ability for them to get rid of "bad apples" quicker than the state schools can, and our oldest boy's temperament.

In fact, the nearest boys school has so much snob value that it would be the last place I would send my boys. I cant stand the carry on of some of the families we know whose sons attend this elite school.

We chose a lower to mid-range cost-wise private school because of its reputation for caring, community education. Our second boy would have coped admirably well in the public system, but he is thriving in the private school. The families (though some are extremely well off) do not display any outward signs of wealth, and absolutely NO snobbery, ever.

Those that want an elite school would not chose this school anyway .

I would guess most families are not wealthy at all. Our youngest boy (at the moment) doesn't think he will go past grade ten, but that may change. I am very glad he is not in the local public school with the local boys who don't want to be at school, but have to attend until grade ten, because my son would possibly be swayed by them.

I would go with whatever you want to do, as everyone has their own agenda and reasons for sending their children where they do.

 

[lisag]

again, individual needs
my children go to a private anglican school that caters for K to yr12.
My reasons, Hubby and I went to public schools.
I went to one in the western sydney, lived in fear of having head flushed down the toilet, not looking the "bad girls" in the eye etc. Moved to another public school from yr 9 onwards to yr 12. A better school, had nearly everyday of it. Struggled through the ******** of bullies, (nothing thankgod ever happened to me, I think I bluffed most of the bullies away). I only just made it to uni, and suddnely the big wide diverise world existed outside a tiny narrow minded gates of public schooling. I loved everyday of university and it was the best 4 years of my life.
Did I just go to the wrong schools maybe.
My husband also went to lower social ecconomic school, (worse then the ones I went to), a very intellegant boy who was shoved under the seats at lunch time and sat on. He was a bright student, but in the end the hsc marks weren't great. Again made it to uni and achieved outstanding results.
I proud to say we are both proffessional in our careers. Point of the story, if my parents could of I would I loved to have gone toa private school, yes I also was tutored at home in math and chemistry, to make up for what the school didn't cater for (or cared).
My eldest daughter is in the gifted and talented classes 6 grade, debates, choir, golf tornuments etc
My second son has learning delays,(pregnancy related) and has had compassion and understanding and naturing from his teachers and special reading teacher's to help him. He is a very sensitive boy, and I am sure the public schools would eat him alive.
The 3 rd child is wild boy full of spirit and self proclaimed greatness. I am sure without boundaries and strict rules enforced ...well who knows
The 4th well she is just great playing with the fairies and pixies going to school next year.
My point to all of this is its a personal choice and by no means am I keeping up with the Jones or showing off I work 2 jobs to send them to this school, and if I had any doubt if it wasn't worth it they wouldn't be there.
Not all schools charge a hug price shop around and compare, in fact my fourth child will be free due to sibling discounts.
I am very happy

 

[pieman]

I went to both and knowing what I know now I would work 2 jobs to send my kids to a private school.

 

[MTR]

I really could not give a rats which is best, seriously everyone has a bet each way, how many Prime Ministers, successful business people went to pubic or private for that matter, and who really cares.

I would be asking how many of u have happy kids, cos they have great life and lots of love. I can never really understand why so many get caught up in this stuff.

We take our 2 girls overseas each year, great education and beats paying $12,000 pa each.

Cheers, MTR

 

[joanmc]

I went to public and hubby went to private. Our kids all did 3 years Montessori before going to state primary and state high. For the most part we have been quite happy.Eldest is 20 and already has a block of land (bought at 18) but that is from our teaching and not schooling.

We always look for ways to complement our kids education. We would not hesitate to pull our kids out for a day to experience something different.e.g. when we had our business we had a job 3 hours away, pulled kids out on the Friday and stayed in Hervey Bay and kids got to go to a working aquaponics farm and help harvest fish.

The only thing I have ever worried about is that the local demographic here is not really condusive to forward thinking individuals (very welfare oriented) and of course most of the welfare kids go to the local state schools, but I feel that what we do at home plays a bigger part. Also our kids all had very good peer groups that were going to the schools and we were happy for them to keep those groups. We worried that changing schools they might not choose their new friends so wisely. Middle kid is still friends and socialising with the same kids for last 10 years and for the most part are good kids (none are generational welfare).

So we are happy with the state system but I can see why people choose private too. In the end I guess you know your own children the best, so look at what is available around you and then choose. Good luck.

 

[HiEquity]

I'm a reverse snob!

I have always liked the fact that I went through all public schooling in outer suburban schools (at the time!) and went on to get three degrees at the best uni in this City (not that I'm boasting of course! ) I guess others are being candid so I may as well return the favour...

Had a great schooling etc and wouldn't change anything. In first year uni I particularly noticed the lack of self motivation from those who went through private school and were used to much more contact time / help. I've never seen that as a good thing. In my experience the "benefits" of private school generally create an artificial world which just delays the inevitable entry into the real world. There is something about the attitude in many of these places that just doesn't sit right with me... the "tradition" and the "quality" are just a front for a cold hard business that plays on people's emotions, ie:

- Don't you want what is best for our child?
- Yes of course!
- Well, this school is obviously the best!
- Why's that?
- Well look at how much it costs!

Having said that there are some public schools in this City I wouldn't send my kids to but they are very much the exception rather than the rule. In our area the public schools are just great - I see absolutely no benefit in the private system and plenty of downsides, quite apart from the obvious financial impact. I do feel sorry for those who made it knowing that they had every assistance available to them but then I did warn you about being a reverse snob!

As for the lack of excursions, I would rather take my kids on holiday myself! Some of those fees would make for a family trip of a lifetime every year...

 

[Minx]

Well I went to a state primary school in Templestowe. 1/2 the year level went to private high school and 1/2 went to state.
My parents in grade 5 had organised to take me to check out MLC, Genezzano, Sienna and all the other private schools in eastern Melbourne.
At the end of the day I was given the choice as to what high school I attended. No point making ME go somewhere I didn't want to go, otherwise there would of been consequences to pay.
I decided to attend state school in Doncaster. All my friends were attending and I did all right.
Money was not an issue, but I think I saved my parents a hellava lot. they did invest that money for me and at 23 I was briefing my architect. I ended up with a place worth around 1.3 mill.
Anyhoo, my partner went to a catholic primary and a tech high. He was able to attend catholic high if he wanted to but he knew that he wanted to be a builder. The tech school taught him building and construction early on. He did math methods etc, he is very bright in that area but it's required in his line of business.
At a state and private school students don't get to learn about plumbing and engineering.
Today he earns a hellava lot more money than a lot of private school folk.

When I have kids they will attend catholic primary, it's within walking distance and don't have to worry about RE classes sfter school.
As for high I will give them the choice. Worst case scenario they decide they want to attend public high, chances are it would be Balwyn High school. They want to attend Scoth or Xavier or Marcellin that's fine by me also. If they want to attend a tech school we will accommodate that also. I trully believe that all individuals including children should have a choice rather than being informed as to where they are attending.

 

[Perp]

I'm a reverse snob!

Me too! LOL

We keep our 2000 Daewoo Matiz as a kind of "reverse status symbol"; it gives me a giggle to see people look at us sympathetically when we park it in some of the nicer parts of western Brisbane.

 

[Perp]

The decision has to be made on the demographic you live in, and what those schools near you are actually like.

Couldn't agree more. It's not about public or private, as each group of schools is so diverse. It is - or should be - about which local school is the best fit for your child.

The united responses from the wives, sung in chorus, ad nauseum was "It doesn't matter what it costs, we think it's great value, and if you are strapped for cash, then get off your bony @$$ and start earning more fella."

Gee, they were smart women at that dinner.

 

[BayView]

- Don't you want what is best for our child?
- Yes of course!
- Well, this school is obviously the best!
- Why's that?
- Well look at how much it costs!

I didn't know The Jones family lived in your suburb too?

Yeah, look; it's all a bunch of tosser BS (well; not always all - sometimes the private ones are better).

Mostly, just throw it in the basket with all the other "look at me" stuff.

For eg; when we lived in L.A, the closest elementary school to us, which we just happened to be living in the zone for, turned out to be in the Top 5 Elementary schools in California - both Private and Public. It was an excellent school and we (and Son) loved it.

We didn't choose it; just luck. When we got there, we found that about 75% of the school was Korean/Asian a few Mexican and Blacks. Very few WASPS. In our Son's class he was one of three out of 22 kids.

Even had to have interpreters at Assembly.

But, there you go; all these international people were flocking there, moving into the area to send their kids to a mostly free, public school. Many lived in the not-so-flash apartment buildings surrounding the school, making the sacrifice in lifestyle to get the kids into a good, cheap school.

On the flip side; why were there no WASPS there?

 

[poordeveloper]

I trully believe that all individuals including children should have a choice rather than being informed as to where they are attending.

I'm so glad my parents didn't leave this choice up to me when I was 12 or 13 years old. No way would I have been able to make an educated decision other than one based on what school my friends were attending. However, girls do develop earlier than boys so no doubt you were in a better position to decide on your place of education that I was at the time.

At a state and private school students don't get to learn about plumbing and engineering.

I don't think they teach engineering at state high schools in VIC . It's generally a 4 year bachelor degree.

 

[aussierogue]

Its a no win arguement

Essentially i agree with the reverse snobs / TPFKAD etc but i also realise that my decision is more than likely gonna be private.

Why - because
1. I can afford it
2. I have a small amount of FEAR and ASPIRATION (maybe different sides of the same coin?) that maybe this is the right decision for my kids.

Both fear are generally irrational but I think this is what drives most of us. I think its important to recognise this first and then accept it and then make a decisison.

I does amuse me though when people are quite dogamtic about all the completely reasonable and rational arguements regarding where they send their kids to school and also with regards to the language used in describing these motivations.

Where I live there is a curious phenomian whereby kids of primary school age are opften sent to the primary school in the next suburb close to the city. Ie read the more expensive suburb up the road. In all the conversations I have the reasons are all very rational like 'its on the way to work, the school has a better bullying polciy, they wear uniforms etc etc - but if these rational views were actually true then surely you would have some kids going to schools 1 suburb the other way (or even sideways). Needless to say this doesnt happen. Its called being aspirational.

Marketers know this very well. Most products are bought based on human emotions / fears and aspirations but in advertising they give us lots of rational reasons to make the pruchase - airbags, 8 cylinders etc etc. But the killer blow is that people who are dring the cars in the adds live in nice houses and look like people we would like to be! So they have given us consumers a way out. We can make these irrational decisisons and justify them.

Schools have the perfect product in this sense. They can give you things pass rates, show you the swimming pool, quote you anti bullying policies etc etc but at the end of the day they rely on parents aspirations and pictures of cute kids looking great in unifroms.

And the biggest lkicker of them all - what kind of monster would critisize someone for wanting the best education for their children?

This idea gives the price of elite private schools great inelasticity (or is it elasticity) ie they can charge what they want because we do not make rational purchase choices when it comes to our kids schooling.

I for one admit that my decidsions are partly based on undertanding this and my own irrational expectations.

Cheers
Aussie

 

[josko]

I went to both and knowing what I know now I would work 2 jobs to send my kids to a private school.

I stress again,

"It depends on the school and demographic."

I have four teacher friends/relatives that work at various private and public schools.

The things I hear about what the girls get up to at a particular private girls school in Sydney would make your jaws drop.

I have another friend that works at a private Catholic School near by, which I hear is just fantastic.

My overall decision has been made based on:
(From lowest to highest)

1. What I hear about the school and school policy.
2. His intelligence.
3. My son's personality.
4. The friends and families that he is friends with.

I really cannot understand the logic of anyone saying they are sending their child to a Private School without doing the research OF THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL.

It seems that the word PRIVATE is automatically translated to BETTER. This couldn't be further from the truth.

FYI: A study last year also showed that children that attended Public Schools rather than Private were better able to cope and adjust to life at University.

Like purchasing a property: Make educated decisions not prejudice ones.

Regards JO

 

[sue78]

We take our 2 girls overseas each year, great education and beats paying $12,000 pa each.

Cheers, MTR

what has taking your girls overseas each year got to do with anything? if anything it's probably more so for yourself, that YOU want to go overseas.

Sure we take our kids overseas everyear too but I admit it's purely/selfishly for hubby and I. If they asked me to take them overseas and I didn't want to go then we won't be going. If I want to go overseas and it means I have to take the kids then the whole family goes for the ride.

When kids grow up, they can go overseas with their own hard earned money.

Sure you can say my child is bright and doing great at public school but if a child was really bright and went to a brilliant privateschool, omigosh and they helped them to blossom to their full potential...well that's almost priceless.

In QLD Ed this, all children in prep now don't learn phonics until year 1. They keep changing the curriculum. My hubby successfully taugh phonics to every single child in his class who were all 4 years old. Now in QLD kids don't learn it until 6. My hubby's kids are all 6 y.o and way pass phonics already. They are reading. My son Josh knew all his phonics at 3y.o and can read basic through sounding out each letter. We never pushed him. He just learnt it on his own coz we played the jolly phonics CD is the car and it's really catchy.

We've seen how smart kids that come from home gets dumbed down coz they are way ahead of the rest of the class. Good public school teachers will recognised bright kids and give them more challenging work but unfortunately MOST do not coz they follow the curriculum strictly. As a result these kids play up coz they are bored and get dumbed down. Private schools have guidelines in place for teachers....infact they already have a plan for the child even before they start school coz they know from the interview and test.

A lot of the mother's my hubby used to speak to say they would put the child in a private school if they could afford it.

Anyway, I'm so glad hubby is an early childhood teacher and has insiders knowledge. If his school was crap we'd send our kids elsewhere. Hubby has taught at one of the most reputable public primary schools in bris and he thinks his private school is better and though we were initially going to send our kids to public coz we are in the catchment area, hubby strongly believes the cost is so worth it to go private.

 

[sue78]

I just wanted to say that I agree totally with Josko!!

it helps if the child has friends, cousins that also go to the same school, especially in their first year!!

I definately think some public schools are great and some teachers in public schools are great too.

The main reason we are sending ours to private is
1) jeff works there, insiders knowledge, 25% discount
2) convenient as he can take the kids to school though i feel sorry that the kids will have to wait around for jeff to knock off
3) kids in primary years are generally a better bunch than public..majority are better behaved. parents work really heard to part with the money and they tend to care more, work with them...you don't really get any parents that don't really care...

unfortunately, you will get some of those parents in public schools especially in lower socio economic areas...lil girls with really messy hair, hypo kids coz they are fed so much sugar, you tend to have a lot more notes sent home to parents in public. this is just from jeff's experience.

 

[Casserole Dish]

We've seen how smart kids that come from home gets dumbed down coz they are way ahead of the rest of the class. Good public school teachers will recognised bright kids and give them more challenging work but unfortunately MOST do not coz they follow the curriculum strictly. As a result these kids play up coz they are bored and get dumbed down.

This is EXACTLY what happened to me (public school). I was writing notes/daydreaming/quietly mucking around BORED BORED BORED at school. Once I deliberatly did the maths test with errors just so I could fit in more. There was NO challenge and NO incentive. I was the class nerd, teachers pet blah blah purely because it was so basic to me (and I'm no Einstein). I left half way through Year 11 in sheer frustration and sick of it all.
Guess what? I got a great job, moved out of home and started my real learning before I turned 18. Then I went back to TAFE (whilst working full time) and got my VCE studying at night for a few hours a week. I'm talking English, Maths, Biology etc.

The bar is set so low in the public system. The aim (it seems) is just get the kids to pass.

I don't care about 'snob status' or keeping up with anyone. The reverse snobbery can be just as bad.

 

[INVSTOR]

Agreed kathryn d.


At a large dinner party last month for 12 couples, a fellow investor lent across and suggested that of his two boys, he'd dearly love to send one to private school and one to public school, and invest the significant differential over the years to see what the difference was upon graduation.

My husband went to average public schools and works alongside people that went to the best private schools.

I know someone who chose to put their daughter in Private (to become a lady) and son in public. Their daughter became a teacher and son became a tradie. I can't see any difference in their attitudes or whatever. Maybe the girl thinks she's a bit better than other people but that's about it.
I think if you choose a school your comfortable with that suits how you want to bring up your kids it's the most important thing.

Consider: Type of children attending the school
Personality/Attitude of headmaster, teachers, school admin (ring the admin and ask a few questions)
School results
What the excel in - sports, music, drama, science?

A lot of schools have websites to give you more info too.

I'm open to private or public, depending on what suits my children the most.

I chose this primary state school for my kids as it ticked all the boxes for me. (extract from website)

The school, which opened in 1915, possesses a very proud, loyal and determined culture which is particularly well supported by a committed parent group. The school is seen as the pride and joy of the community; its reputation and achievements academically, socially, and in sports and arts serve to further promote the school's success.

Special features of the school include:

- a state of the art computer/technology/resources centre.
- a specialist music centre.
- a school rock band for senior students.
- a specialist dance group.
- an outstanding support program for Students at Educational Risk.
- a highly successful Reading Recovery Program.
- a Public Speaking program.
- above state mean scores for all Western Australian Literacy and Numeracy Assessment results.
- a comprehensive reporting program which keeps parents fully informed of student progress on at least four occasions per year and includes oral, written and portfolio reporting.
- fully air-conditioned learning areas.

 

[aussierogue]

Last one for me

I read somewhere that the three major determinants of your childs vocational and financial success in life are in this order

1. What your parents do for a living. (by a long shot)
2. Which suburb you live.
and a distant third
3. Where the child went to school.

I reckon most of us would put the 3 in reverse order and hence this thread.

 

[ernie]

I have one child in Prep. Private school. Why? I did some research and in my opinion it is the best school in our area. That's all that mattered.

 

[weg]

I read somewhere that the three major determinants of your childs vocational and financial success in life are in this order

1. What your parents do for a living. (by a long shot)
2. Which suburb you live.
and a distant third
3. Where the child went to school.

I reckon most of us would put the 3 in reverse order and hence this thread.

I've seen lists similar but not necessarily in any particular order that I can remember but from my observation and I do think the list kind of incorporates it the other important influence is

4. peers and adult role models other than family members (they all help to mold the child imo)