Community Chat

[shoekitty]

Englands school system is way different than ours. Most go to trade type schools at a certain age. I don't think education is mandatory past 16 could be wrong. I believe they are considered a democratic socialist country.  There is also a great class system still at work. I don't know whether the public education that is offered is that great, but it is ranked with US in quality.  But our schools have fallen so much, maybe they have too.  Also, it is probably liked the US.  If you live in a good area, with involved parents the schools are great.  But if you are in poor, run down area with high crime, the schools are bad.  

[shoekitty]

As a grandmother who has put several of my grandkids in private schools with college prep, the diversity is there.  The poster who said people put their kids i private school to avoid the lower class, is well....won't go into to that. There are also scholorships .  Tutors and special attention to academics that most public schools don't have the resources for.   But the private schools we are familiar with have kids from all walks of life. The reasoning for private school are varied.  Many kids don't do well in public school, and thrive in a private school .   Know with one of my grands they went from barely passing to graduating with nearly 4.0 GPA and on to top University. Some kids just get by.  Personally I think many kids flourish better in a school environment many private schools have.  I have found the classes offered are better, better student/ratio, and tutoring and special help available.  More homework, tons of projects. There are just things many public schools do not have the money or staff for.  Sad, but true.

[lgfan]

I went to both private schools and public schools. I would never spend money on private schools. When I started public high school I was tested and was two years behind in my reading level. In private schools it is a sink or swim attitude. If a student is having problems in academics it is up to the parents to solve the problem by finding tutors. The school will not help.

[Danky2]

Every one of my children has gone to private school.....the last ones high school was 

35,000 per year. It was worth every penny for all of them......The "bad" apples were asked (told) to leave . We,as parents, would simply not tolerate it. 
I loved the dress codes (jackets shirt and tie) ......no revealing clothes for the girl's.

Very good education for each of them.....nothing se--ual, no political sides...just an

education where they could think for themselves..

[Mersha]

---

@Danky2 wrote:

Every one of my children has gone to private school.....the last ones high school was 

35,000 per year. It was worth every penny for all of them......The "bad" apples were asked (told) to leave . We,as parents, would simply not tolerate it. 
I loved the dress codes (jackets shirt and tie) ......no revealing clothes for the girl's.

Very good education for each of them.....nothing se--ual, no political sides...just an

education where they could think for themselves..

@Danky2 

Interesting...I would think in that environment you would be encouraged to act and think in a certain way to conform to the school's way of thinking and acting, not so much for yourself.

The parents would not tolerate the "bad apples?"  Are parents in private schools that involved in behavioral issues of other students?

In our state, public school teachers need higher accreditation that those teaching at private schools.

---

[hckynutjohn]

---

@chrystaltree wrote:

I'm sure it's the same in the UK as it is here.  $24K isn't even a lot of money for rich parents who can afford it.  There are exclusive private schools in my area that charge $35K for elementary school, $50k for middle and high school.   The parents are paying for low student to teacher ratios,  teachers who are better educated and come from a higher socio economic background than public school teachers,  a curriculum that strives for excellence and puts achievement first.  They don't want their children exposed to working class students who are more likely to have troubled backgrounds.  Private schools are free from many government mandates that prevent teachers from actually teaching. And then there are things like music classes, foreign language classes, fencing, ballet beginning in elementary school.  Before my girls started school I would go through those catalogs and dream about being to send my girls to them.  Which isn't to say our family would even be considered by those exclusive schools but a mother can dream.  But we did want something better than public school so we sent them to good parochial schools.  Discipline, respect, strong work ethic were important to us and those things were weak in public schools.  

@chrystaltree 

"working class students"? What the he!! is that supposed to mean. I started working a full time job when I was in the 7th grade in a Catholic School.  Sure, none of the other kids worked, but they also did not live in Public Housing Projects. They actually lived in their own homes.

I may not have graduated high school, but my life was/is better than many that grew up differently. I did get my GED while serving in the United States Army.

hckynut  🇺🇸

---

[Danky2]

MERSHA------

Absolutely not....We were all in agreement about how we wanted our children educated 

We were all involved in the issues of each child if they behaved inappropriately.

All of our teachers had a masters degree or higher.

[Isobel Archer]

Well one clear advantage I see is that in these private schools, the kids must actually be learning to read at grade level - or I doubt parents would continue to pay these sums.

That is certainly not true in public school.  I have a friend teaching in Fairfax County (alleged to be a good school district) who had several children in fourth grade who could not read - and no English was not their second language.

[CANDLEQUEEN]

---

@KKJ wrote:

I'm not familiar with private schools in England, but am all for it in this country after what I've seen going on in schools even in my small neck of the woods.  Have any of you heard of "furries"?  It's going on here.

---

@KKJ Yes, I have heard of them, my grandson's old friend said he is one.....I don't know what is going on!!!!!!!!!

[Stray]

Well, I went to public grammar & private HS. Way back when I was in school, there were armed guards in the public HS. Today, there are guards & metal detectors. I’d say safety would be a concern as a parent

My father transferred me from public HS as I was too distracted by sororities, football games, cheer leading & my grades were not at my usual level. I missed the extra activities & gym & music classes at my new school. So I think you have more socialization & varied curriculums in public schools & both are important for young minds.

However, the level of teaching was better in the private school, classes smaller & more individual attention.

I did enjoy public school more & grammar school plus I had to travel pretty far to HS but I think the level of education was better and served me well in life.