Private vs public schooling?

[BuFfY]

I am doing an essay at the moment on the benefits (or not) of private schooling and I was just curious as to what people on here thought of it.

So if you have children in a private school, or are looking at starting them in one why did you choose that school? Same goes for why you didn't put them in a private school.

Absolute honesty please!

Oh and any stories you might have about your schooling and what you think of it today... every story/opinion would be very much appreciated!

[Motu]

We didn't choose a school - our 4 children have all been home educated.

[Indiana_Jones]

Don't send them Public or private.

send them to...

TOP GUN

"Gentlemen, you are the top 1% of all naval aviators -- the elite, the BEST of the best. We'll make you better. Fly at least two combat missions a day, attend classes in between, and evaluations of your performance. Now in each combat sequence you're going to meet a different challenge. Every encounter is going to be much more difficult. We're going to teach you to fly the F-14 right to the edge of the envelop, faster than you've ever flown before -- and more dangerous."

-Indy

[Colapop]

I gave my son a choice of any college in the Wellington area. He got the prospectus(es) for all the ones he wanted to look at and chose Wellington college. I would have backed whatever decision he made. Wgtn Col. is as good if not better than any private school I have come across. I think it comes down to the Principal and the environment the BOT wants to have.

[SimJen]

The rich send their kids to private schools to fit in, the reasonably well off send them to private schools to get them educated.
Personally i'll be sending my daughter to a public school so she can mix with normal kids of all types.
A few of our friends that went to private/boarding schools are quite frankly a little weird, with hangups etc......not saying this is indicative of all, but enough to put me off
Although having said that, plenty of my other friends are weird too, perhaps its something im doing wrong

[Maha]

I went to a public shool, and i wurned out tine, can spill and evryfink.....

[Swoop]

I believe all the best British spies were educated at Eton.
Private school perhaps???

[ManDownUnder]

I went to a public shool, and i wurned out tine, can spill and evryfink.....

I see they taught you how to drink too....

[SwanTiger]

Public school has to be better.

I have done correspondence, home schooling (same thing I guess), private school, public school and various "specialist" schools for delinquint children with problems and blah blah.

All of them were utter shit, taught me nothing.

Making sure your children hang around the right sort of people will teach them everything they know to prepare them for adult hood.

EDIT: Going to an Op Shop and buying every issue of National Geographic you can find will educate them, then get them working at Mc Donalds or New World to teach them maths.

EDIT: Keep their wages.

[Finn]

If you really love your kids, you won't send them to a Public school. If you do, they will come home stupid everyday. They might be able to speak maori and know that you should always wear your seat belt but that's pretty much it.

Isn't there a good private school up your way? Go and visit them and see the difference for yourself.

[Blackbird]

I was a private school boarder in the UK for a while - hated it because I was fairly shy at the time and didn't cope too well. Ended up at a public mixed grammar school in my senior years which suited me much better.

Our 3 kids all went to high school in Tokoroa. It's a decile 3 school with a high Maori and Pacific Island roll but they did just fine and came out with A & B bursaries. They had a lot of support from us too. They have all been to university and done well. All 3 of them made similar comments that being in the public education system with a wide ethnic mix really prepared them well for coping when they went to university, particularly with socialisation and they've carried that through to their careers.

I think that if you have a good relationship with your kids and take an active interest in supporting them through school, they will succeed in practically any environment if they have a positive attitude.

[SimJen]

If you really love your kids, you won't send them to a Public school. If you do, they will come home stupid everyday. They might be able to speak maori and know that you should always wear your seat belt but that's pretty much it.

Isn't there a good private school up your way? Go and visit them and see the difference for yourself.

Schooling starts at home Finn, doesn't matter where you go to school if your parents don't give a shit. Kids should have already learned to read/write and do maths befrore they even start school, so many can't do the basics even at age 10.

[Maha]

Don't send them Public or private.

send them to...

[CENTER]

What???....' how to be a knob' school??.......

[dawnrazor]

I believe all the best British spies were educated at Eton.
Private school perhaps???

A quirk of the English schooling system means the fee paying (privately owned) schools are refered to as PUBLIC schools, hence the term "public school boys", denotes upper crust toffs in blazers that bugger each other in the showers for fun.
The plebs schools are comps or comprehensives etc.

Don't know the reason for this. Anyone know?

I imagine an education where buggery and its ilk aren't involved is better for the child at the end of the day!

[Finn]

Schooling starts at home Finn, doesn't matter where you go to school if your parents don't give a shit. Kids should have already learned to read/write and do maths befrore they even start school, so many can't do the basics even at age 10.

I couldn't agree more, that's why most kids are stupid. Stupid parents breed stupid kids. But still, a good education goes a long way and you certainly don't get that in a public school in New Zulland.