Primary school: public or private?

[EmsMum72]

This has been quite a dilemna in my household for some time. My DH attended a public school for his education and I attended a private school from prep to year 12. After very lengthy discussions (somewhat heated at times), we've decided to send our DD to a public primary school, simply for the fact that we're not in a position to be able to afford public at this stage. I do believe though, that if she is a very bright student (which wouldn't surprise me because she's my daughter ) during her primary school years that we would seriously look at a private school for her secondary years. Our other debate is to choose a school that mainly focuses on the academic side of things, or a school that mainly focuses on the sporting side. We are still debating this because it's more for high school, and we have many years to make that decision (I guess we will have to watch her throughout primary school and it will depend on what strengths/weaknesses our DD has). What are your thoughts?

[SilverStarfish]

I believe that it is your child's teacher that makes the difference and how well the values and philosophies of the school match up with your childs and your own.

I don't think "private vs public" has anything to do with it.

[Elfin]

We are going the same way public primary, probably private secondary if we can afford it.

The type of school you choose really depends on your child. Primarily for me I want my kids to come out of school happy and well adjusted people that feel good about themselves.

I think to send a child that isn't particularly academic to a full on academic competitive school could lead that child to feeling like a failure. Similiarly with a sporting school. Very damaging to self esteem.

Even though my son is quite academic I would prefer to send him to a more holistic school where he has the opportunity to try different things but there isn't too much pressure in any particular area. For my girls I am not sure yet what school may suit them. The best bet is to put your name down a few schools so you have options.

I would ideally send my children to a school that had a good ethos and supports each and every child as an individual.

[Funkychicken]

I don't know if there really should be a 'one v's the other' argument when it comes to educating our children. There are so many reasons for both public and private and it really comes down to what you as parents decide upon. Your own lifestyle is going to play a big part in your decision. Many private/independent schools are based on particular religions. Just as an example, if you are not a practising christian, sending your child to a christian school is a bit contradictory. Same with catholic schools. The child whose family practices what they preach will do so much better than the family who doesn't. But that said, there are often more opportunities in these schools than in public schools.
I also don't think the academic v's sporting argument really holds much cred. There is so much more to schooling than just these two things (they are big, I know). Choosing a school needs to be so much more of a wholistic decision, not one based just on academics or sporting potential.
It really will come down to your decision as parents and what you decide may be different to your neighbour and vice versa-it is standing strong with your decision that counts.
I wish you well in making this decision as it is a very difficult one to make. We spent four years changing our minds back and forth before our first child began school and we finally settled our decision.

[Imsooverit]

Yep, that's the big question. Same thing is discussed in our home. Both DH and I went to public.

I think private because they are more likely to get a better education. I have a friend who went to Churchie in Brisbane (an expensive private school up here) and he said the private school taught him that yes, you can still be a tradie but you must strive to own your own business, not just be an employee. (That's what really sold me on private).

My DH says public for a number of reasons. a) If they are going to learn, they will do just as well and strive just as hard in a public school (he did very well at school - smarta**e). b) They might as well start to learn to be friends with / deal with / associate / communicate with people from all walks of life ie. children from double income families/single parent households/unemployed parent households etc so they get a broad range of understanding of others from different upbringings. c) Drugs are everywhere and kids from wealthy families may have more access to disposable cash to be able to do drugs. He has others but I can't think of any more now - because it's been a looong day.

I should mention, the friend that went to Churchie repeated Year 12 at my public High School, then went into the family business. His parents are super wealthy and own an abattoir. Guess all the thousands of $ in education didn't help him too much.

Anyway, after all my ramblings , I guess we'll be going public because DH feels stronger and has a better argument than I do. Good thing we've got a few more years before we're at that stage.

[iluvmeboyz]

i was in a public school and dp was in a private school i wanted to send my kids to a cathlic school but to much and the primary school there going to has a good acedamic(sp?) rate which is good.

[dreamer80]

Yes, I more than understand how hard to it to make such decision, we had to recently consider schools for our son who hasn’t even been born yet…

Something that may make you think about…at Brisbane Girls Grammar was top school in Queensland in 2006 when comparing OP results (similar to your rank system in Victoria) The school currently is a secondary all girls school from year 8-12. More than 70% of there students went to public primary school, yet is the school is top in the state.

Our son will be going to a private primary school about 10-15mmin drive from us as it has fantastic faclities, good reputation and has had great results, although if there was a great local public school we would have sent him there unfortunately the school in our catchment area isn’t that great!

In regards to academic or sporting, wait and see as your daughter grows older and her intrests and strengths are, I was very academic and my brother loved his sport, we both went to private school through the same affiliation (They were single sexed schools), and both enjoyed and took advantage of completely different aspect of the schools, I loved the science program while my bother loved the Rugby program…

If you think you may want to enrol your daughter in a private high school, may be wise to put her on the list now, just in case, then at least you have that option when the time comes as space in good private school fill up very quick! ( we will have to enrol our son soon after birth at Brisbane Grammar and My parents enrolled me in Melbourne Girls Grammar when i was 18mth old)

Good Luck with your decision

[mum33]

I believe that it is your child's teacher that makes the difference and how well the values and philosophies of the school match up with your childs and your own.

I don't think "private vs public" has anything to do with it.

couldnt agree more

[SorenLorensen]

I believe that it is your child's teacher that makes the difference and how well the values and philosophies of the school match up with your childs and your own.

I don't think "private vs public" has anything to do with it.

could not agree more.

DD will be going to a catholic school, only because i want her there (for a few different reasons). i dont feel her education will be better off because of it though.

[annb]

ohhh we are havintg the same issue...i would like to send DS1 and 2 to the private school starting at kindy because ive had a look around it and its just great, the local public primary school is 2mins walk from my house but just doesnt have the same facitilies. DH thinks that there is no need for private education at least until secondary school as it would make the kids obnoxious and plus it would cost 80k on todays prices to send them from kindy to start of high school and we could better invest that money! BUt like anyone you really want the best start in life for your kids that you can afford to give them becuase by the time they leave school the world will be a different place...so i think we should put their names down to start at junior school and if we can afford it we should do it...ive yet to convince him tho!!