I am posting because my parents are debating on whether or not to send my little sister, who is in 4th grade now, to a public school in the near future.
She has been going to a private public school her entire career, but now both her and my mother are ready for a change. The workload is getting pretty intense and they are just kinda fed up with some things. However, my dad wants her to have the discipline that they offer at her school now. He is afraid that she will be too distracted in a public school right now. (She is pretty social and into sports by the way.)
I actually went to the same school and didn't transfer to the public school until I went to high school. I enjoyed having the structure, discipline, and closeness at the private school. However, it was difficult for me to make friends when i transferred because everybody seemed to have their "cliques" of friends already. Overall, by the end I had a good time there and it allowed for more diversity and opportunities in my life. I also plan to teach in a public school system.
So, my question is, what would you do in this situation? I know you don't know my sister or hometown very well, but what do you think overall about switching students from private to pulblic, etc.? (By the way, the public schools are fairly decent with relatively few major problems, but like any school they have their share...) What do you think are the benefits and/or drawbacks of switching to a public school?
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated! Thanks!
I attended a public school through high school, and went to a private college. It was an interesting change, and I didn't socialize much. I was there to get an education.
I have a student that transferred from a private school into my classroom in January. She is one of my brightest, and most behaved students. She adjusted very well to the new environment. In an elementary setting she has more of a chance to socialize and get to know the students that she is with all day. In high school or middle school/jr. high school, you change classes every hour or hour and a half. There's less chance for you to plant your roots and stabalize yourself. I know people that have done both. It really depends on her personality and what the public school is like.
I had 12 years of private school before college. It was a positive experience. I teach in a public school.
I will send my daughter to public school (as long as it's a decent district). I feel the diversity prepares them better for what they'll experience post-secondary. I have two step-kids that graduated from the school where I now teach. They had an above average/excellent education, and are doing fine in college/business. I've always provided a gentle persuasive arguement to my siblings regarding public schools. They were all set in their ways based on our education. Then my sister had a child who needed extra assistance based on an LD. When they couldn't get the support he needed from the private schools (not to mention a couple of instances I felt were probably actionable), they sent him to the public school. In two years, all of their kids were going to the public schools in the district.
Generally, the private schools benefit from smaller classes, better discipline, usually high-quality instruction, etc. But you can get that quality of instruction at a public school if the student and parents are motivated enough to pursue it. Which I feel is another valuable "life lesson."
Generally, the private schools benefit from smaller classes, better discipline, usually high-quality instruction, etc. But you can get that quality of instruction at a public school if the student and parents are motivated enough to pursue it. Which I feel is another valuable "life lesson."
I sooooo agree. Depending on what type of private school it is, there may be larger classes than a public school. There is also the chance of having several grade levels in one classroom. There are benifits of both.
If your sister will eventually be put into the public school system, I think it may be better to put her in it so there will be more of a chance for her to grow her "roots" in the class. Am I making any sense to anyone besides myself?
First let me start by introducting myself. My name is Nancy. I am college student and single mother of a beautiful 6 year old little girl.
The reason I have joined this thread for two reasons. My daughter currently attends a private Christian school here in FL. From the moment of her birth public school was never an option. I can't tell you why, it's just always been there, in my mind. To give my daughter what I feel is a better education I must work 2 jobs, due to the lack of child support.
Lately I have been 2nd guessing my decision. Oddly enough, as the good Lord always does, a strange opportunity was presented to me. My final assignment for my current class is a research essay with a topic of my choice. I have chosen Public School vs. Private School. I am hoping to find the answers I need, I guess to validate my decision. Would my daughter get the same education in public school without the big ticket price?
I was hoping that you all would help me during this journey of realization and essay fear. Would you allow me to ask you questions, both students and teachers?
I'll be happy to help out if I can, though I'm not sure how much help I would be with your topic. I went to private schools K-12, and the only public school teaching I did was student teaching; I've taught at a private school for 2 years now. But I did want to suggest that maybe you could set up observations in both types of schools (preferably more than one school of each type), and see if you can get a chance to interview both students and teachers in each type of school. Not necessarily asking them "do you think this is as good as / better than / worse than the other type," but just asking questions about what they're learning, how they feel about it, what opportunities they have, etc. Then you could use those responses and your observations in both types to draw some conclusions of your own. Just a thought!
I have taught in both private and public elementary schools. I have had students that have transferred both ways (private to public, public to private) and since it was an elementary situation most made the adjustment easily. This past year I had a student transfer from a private school in Michigan to a my classroom in a public school in Georgia. Socially he adjusted very quickly. Academically he had a great deal of difficulty due to the fact that his school hadn't covered several things that our school covers in the first grade. However, he had wonderful parents that worked with him very hard to make sure he was able to make up most of the ground. So I would highly suggest that your sister transfer now rather than wait until highschool age. It will be a much smoother adjustment most likely.
I would be happy to participate. I have taught only in private schools. I attended public elementary and private (Catholic) high school. My own children attended private school at early grades, switched to public school for awhile, then attended private school for upper grades.
My little sister switched from private to public school in fifth grade. It was good for her to make the transition in elementary, because there is still one teacher, one class of kids. Middle school is such a huge change. She is doing great now (she just finished 8th grade). Her grades slipped a little this year, but it was mainly because she was doing varsity sports at the high school.
Another thing, the kids that switched in middle or high school had to test into their grade. They couldn't just say, ok I finished 7th now I'm in 8th.
