Private vs public schooling?

[Rossi Gal]

Weeeelll... My 2c worth...

I have 3 daughters, all went through the public system.

We had our kids far too early (unplanned) in our life and before we were really in a good position $$ wise but abortion was not an option for either of us, we slipped up and we determined to make the best of it. (that sounds negative but thats not the reality - our house has always been one of lotsa kids and lotsa love and laughs). Anyway - we saved a little harder and purchased a house in a reasonable school zone. The house was the crappiest house in the street and we spent 7 years slogging away at it while the kids attended the local kindy and school. The whole time they were in the system we got involved with the schools. We served on committees, helped with fund raisers and went on the field trips etc etc. I was even the school netball coach for 3 years.

ALL our kids thrived in that environment.

High school is where the wheels fell off for one of them. She was just attracted to trouble in a big way and at the bigger school it was harder for parents to build the same relationship.

The other 2 did OK.

2 of the 3 are now at University and doing well. Above average result I suppose.

1 of the ones at uni had a learning disability and passed one school cert subject (51%). Watching her sob her heart out over that was the most heart wrenching thing I ever saw, 'cos she really worked her guts out. School did fuck all and didn't care 'cos really they are over worked and get paid stuff all. We supported her 100% and found a local person that could help which we paid for. She decided to repeat that year, even the subject she passed and nailed everything with a 70% average. That was one of the most uplifting things in my life. She is in 3rd year Uni with an A average.

The rest of my family? Private school did no favours to one brothers kids, the other brothers and sisters kids went public and most of them have gone onto Uni or good jobs.

The moral. Public school is good enough for almost anything BUT the parents have to fill in the gaps, you cannot abdicate this responsibility (applies to private as well IMHO). You will not get a seamless delivery of excellence, it's just too big for that to happen. You MUST get involved and be prepared to step in and fill the gaps when required and keep the kids motivated to learn.

If the kids see you at school and you know their teachers on a first name type basis you will get the feedback you require to let them succeed.

So - In summary. Find a public school that encourages parents to be involved and take advantage of it. If one parent has to stay at home for a few years to fill gaps, then thats a wise investment. Be prepared to pay for extras (lessons, sports, tutoring) and stay on top of the homework etc. Make it part of the family routine and the school a part of your social life and you have a better than average chance of a good result.

Paul N

Well said, I do agree that as parents you've got to be involved. the problem is so many parents(not all) use school as a baby sitter. they think because their kids are now at school, they dont need to be so involved...this is where kids go down hill. and its always once they reach high school. you hardly ever hear of kids getting kicked out/getting into trouble etc etc at the younger age. it is through their teen years that they need, more than ever, parents involvement.. its a necessity

[Indiana_Jones]

Well said, I do agree that as parents you've got to be involved. the problem is so many parents(not all) use school as a baby sitter. they think because their kids are now at school, they dont need to be so involved...this is where kids go down hill. and its always once they reach high school. you hardly ever hear of kids getting kicked out/getting into trouble etc etc at the younger age. it is through their teen years that they need, more than ever, parents involvement.. its a necessity

Too true

-Indy

[Finn]

I love that bit, because those who send there kids to public school dont really love there kids obviously. Man you should sell hoovers. You seem to have issues with your life and everything around you. Perhaps a different kind of school would have made you happier. My Parents didnt love me. Did yours love you Finn?

Thank you Dr Phil. Unfortunately, weez waz poor so I got to see first hand how useless NZ public schools are. The only thing that saved me was my mother who went to school in Canada and consistantly challenged me and taught me what the real world was like. I thank her for my achievements in life. She was also a little crazy and I think I was tared with that brush too.

So what's your excuse for chopping wood for a living?

[Lias]

I went to public, private, and did correspondence. My little sister has been to "alternative" schools, and been home schooled.

I am unequivacably in support of sending kids to private school, at the very least for secondary. If the children are motivated to succeed themselves (rare but some are) they can do well in public schools, but often will do even better in private schools. If I had the money my step-daughters would be going to Wanganui Collegiate (IMHO the best school in the country) when they are older, but short of a winning lotto ticket this isnt likely to happen given that the fees for boarders are ~22k a year per child, and that excludes uniforms, stationary, tuck money, trips etc etc.

I'm also of the opinion that home schooling, and quite possibly "alternative" schools should be illegal. I could rant for quite some timeover this, its a huge bane of contention in my family. My parents decided that because I wasnt exactly a perfect teen, the school system was at fault so they refused to subject my little sister to the system. Having never attended a normal school, my sister is indrediably more fucked up than I was as a teen, and I lay alot of the blame on the fact she attended an "hippie" school, then was home schooled for a few years, and is now attending Athena Montessori College. To be fair thou my parents complete lack of ability to discipline her is also a contributing factor.

[Motu]

So what's your excuse for chopping wood for a living?

I may not of recieved a good education - but my parents were so proud of any achievment I ever made,and those were pretty few.I got the education they were denide,my mother in particular.My father was out of school at 13 to work driving his father's trucks...my mother never a got a chance.With the boys away fighting in the war her father used the girls to run the farm,they were nothing but slave labour to him,poorly clothered and underfed.When she was no longer useful to him she was sent away to Auckland,selling the only thing of value she had - the horse her father abandoned as bad blood to buy some clothes.

I may only be a tradesman,but my mother was bloody proud of me for doing it.

[Aitch]

At the time it was struggling and some of the teaching staff were very sub standard! Not to mention the two who were fired for fiddling with small boys...
However in the 6 years I was there I made a few lifelong friends. I also learned to be pretty self reliant. ( No mummy and daddy to run to when things get tough)
Of course it would be different for the day boys. I stay well clear of the Old Boys association, all they ever seem to do is ask for money!

[Ixion]

I may only be a tradesman..

Only a tradesman? Only !

[Blackbird]

[QUOTE=Ixion]

I may only be a tradesman../QUOTE]

Only a tradesman? Only !

Couldn't agree more. Plumbers, domestic sparkies, tilers etc do very well indeed. Irrespective of whether your child is academically inclined or not, the best gift you can give them is a good attitude and self-reliance. After that, you keep your fingers crossed and hope like hell!

[James Deuce]

They try pushing the Maori language onto 3rd formers if I remember correctly at quite a few schools. That's bogus if you ask me.

And most Maori's I know can't speak the language? :S

-Indy

That's not a justification, it's a long established racist Victorian principle

They should start at Primary School like I did, and my kids are/will be.

There's a huge raft of reasons why Maori are fighting to make their language an culture an acceptable part of NZ culture, not the least of which is that us white fellas banned it for 70 years.
.

[Finn]

I may only be a tradesman,but my mother was bloody proud of me for doing it.

Easy tiger. I was responding to the wood chuckers little side swipe. I'm not that much of a prick.

[Motu]

And I'm just saying it may of not been that great,but it was so much better than what they had before,with most kids of the previous generation not getting beyond primary school.You need to look at what preceeded before you critisise.

[98tls]

Iwent to private school at 8.....i was a long way behind those there that had started at 5....teachers were brillant and being a border i filled in the evenings playing sport which suited me fine.looking back i guess it was all a bit of a waste of money as after the 5th form all i wanted to do was go work for the old man.Have always felt a bit guilty for not carrying on after my parents spent all that money......you can lead a horse to water but cant make him drink as they say.

[sAsLEX]

That's not a justification, it's a long established racist Victorian principle

They should start at Primary School like I did, and my kids are/will be.

There's a huge raft of reasons why Maori are fighting to make their language an culture an acceptable part of NZ culture, not the least of which is that us white fellas banned it for 70 years.
.

Should it not be a choice though? Is forcing culture on people appropriate, I agree we should learn where we come from in school but if you want to learn the language there is plenty of oppurtunity to take up that challange and go somewhere to do that.

I would disagree if Maori became a comulsory part of the ciricculum *see speeling aint my strong poitn*. It should be a choice as forcing it on people is just like they way they were forced not to use it.

[cowpoos]

Bullshit.

When are you supposed to do this magical education?

After 8 at night when you get home, or before you leave for work at 7am?

KIndergarten? Crock of shit that is. Glorified babysitter/CYF enforcement officers.

You offering?

Every kid is different.

No way in hell my 5/nearly 6 year old would have been reading, writing, or doing math before he started school. Boys shouldn;t start school until 6 anyway, and in case anyone thinks different you are not legally required to start school until 6. No other Western country starts boys at 5 at school. They produce more testosterone between 4 and 6 than they do during their teenage years.

He's now exceeding expectations, no doubt due to some good teachers and some good help from home, but making blanket statements about what kids should be achieving by a given age is rubbish. The Primary school down the road is Decile 10 so it attracts teachers who give a shit and our involvement with them has been constant and challenging for both parties.

Son 2 will be watched and we will make a decision about private or public depending on how much trouble he causes. He's too friggin clever for his own good and gets bored easily plus he's huge and has no fear. Funniest moment to date is biting the Mob member's son on the arse at the McDonalds playground in the Hutt - after pulling his pants down first. Mongrel Mob Jr (about 10) had attacked Son No. 1 so No. 2 sprang to his defence. Mongrel Mob Dad pissed himself.

Son 3 will probably got to Montessori.

I dissagree aslo jim...when ever you spend time with kids they are learning...their minds are evolving...taking things in....its no effort to be teaching a kid to read with a bed time story or teaching them to count with the toys in the bath,etc....doesn't take alot...below school age children [be it below 5 or 6] have incredible active brains and there uptake is amazing....especially if what your doing with them has a level of interest for them...think how quickly they would learn to count if it was counting lollies?

and montessori schooling is brillent for learning impared children...I don't think there is anything in place in NZ that can match it....

[cowpoos]

my personal opinion of mainstream schooling in NZ and probally the western culture...is that it teaches everyone to think the same...makes for a shit load of dumb people....

they learn the same things....to get the same results....yawn!!

I also believe in the home schooling ideal and also the rudolph steiner schooling system [well minus the eurithmye]....or a mix of both....but if the parents are dumb....I don't see it would work to well with home schooling...
schools don't teach kids to have opinions either...and the ones they do they limit to choices....limited choices...

be good if schools taught you to think broadly....rather than show you what they want you to remeber to get by....