Choosing Among Schools

Among the many decisions you must make as a parent

, the decision about which school to send your child to is among the most critical. Parents may feel that they have to choose between public school and private school. In most areas of North American you live in an assigned region covered by a public school and perhaps one or two other choices (e.g. Catholic schools in the province of Ontario).

Parents may feel that their local public school is just fine but many may weigh the advantages of private school. While private school tuition is going to be expensive there are likely to be advantages some perceived, some real to sending your children to a private school.

Within the realm of private education, there are many different types of schools to choose from, of course. Once you have freed yourself from thinking of public only you may have many different school options available, including boarding school, Montessori, religious (Protestant Christian, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, etc.) and many others.

Some of the prominent reasons why parents choose private school are as follows:

Educational or religious philosophies

This is really the most popular reason for parents to go private. Many parents who profess Christian, Jewish or Muslim faith believe that public schools propagate secular values or do not support religious or moral principles they profess.

A second very large contingent of private school parents choose alternative schools like Montessori because these schools encourage creativity, or simply because they agree with the alternative philosophy espoused by a certain kind of private school.

Classroom environment

While this can be affected by curriculum such as religious curriculum, the classroom environment is critical to a students' learning. Two quite different factors that are greatly detrimental to learning are a) lack of individual attention and b) bullying. Both of these issues can be benefited by switching to private schools, where smaller class sizes and more accountability can alleviate problems and facilitate a better classroom learning environment for children.

Advanced academics

Generally, parents feel that academics are much better in a private school. This comes from several root causes that make private schools different. While many public school teachers are excellent, public schools are often unionized and this can result in less rigorous discipline and accountability by some public school teachers. Most private school teachers work there because they love teaching students who are eager to learn. In the case of religious private schools or philosophical-based schools like Montessori, the teacher supports and propagates that philosophy or ideal.

Similarly, parents have more say in how the school is run and will often deal directly with their children's teachers. Parents and teachers can work together in a private school to help develop leadership skills, character and values in students.

If any of the above conditions apply to you, you may want to reconsider the school choice you are making. Don't assume that public school is your only choice.

by: Jim Huinink

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