There is always discussion on whether a child is better off attending a private or public school. Each has its advantages. Public schools in affluent communities offer attractive programs, but those in lower income areas in many cases do not.
Many different characteristics are constantly being compared to see which venue is better for developing a child’s education.
But what about the long term? What about the student as a person? What effects do schools have on the kind of person your child will become as an adult?
We all want our children to be happy and to have the lives and careers they want. We want them to do well in school, respect teachers, get along with others, feel safe and feel that they belong to a community.
We want them to be able to explore what interests and excites them and have opportunities to learn and get better with their skills and talents.
Private schools offer college preparation and love of academics
Schools’ first priority is academic excellence. Teachers are hired for their qualifications, commitment, and love of teaching. Private schools hire teachers who will be working more intently with fewer students than their public school counterparts. Private schools offer smaller class sizes and better student –teacher ratios. The lower student-teacher ratios promote more interaction.
This attentiveness and individual interaction can make a difference in the lives of students who look to teachers as role models, not only in learning but in attitudes toward life.
How does the teacher set rules and apply leadership, fairness, and discipline? How does the teacher encourage study, exploration, higher-order thinking, self-expression, and involvement?
These behaviors can have an imprinting effect on students as they grow from year to year, learning to emulate attitudes and values they see in teachers.
Teachers can have a strong influence on student behaviors like self-image and self-confidence. They encourage academic excellence and recognize academic achievement.
Students at private schools have a better chance of attending college and post-college and going on to have professional careers. Many private schools are called “college prep” schools, and there is a reason for that.
To the extent that your child may want to become a professional, a private school might just be the best way to launch such a career.
Interests complement academics
There is more to school than academics, and there is more to life. Children grow into adulthood with interests in the areas that will draw their time and talents.
While they strive for intellectual development and the knowledge of the topics they will pursue professionally as adults, they also want to have fun.
A private school offers a complement of opportunities for exploring those activities that round out a school experience. There are clubs and trips and chances to share experiences with like-minded students.
There are athletics and team sports and chances to compete on many levels. Being competitive is a healthy outlook that will support the growing person in all walks of life, from education to athletics to professional career acceptance and advancement.
Exposure to arts and sciences, music, drama and performance, and other areas of talent are part of the private school experience. Some private schools are dedicated to one particular area where your child can experience a higher level of achievement and advancement.
A touch of religion: for some, high priority
Private schools offer more than academics and a totally different reason for selecting them. Many parents want their children to grow spiritually as well as academically and socially. The best way to encourage that development is in a private school dedicated to the religious pursuit.
Not everyone places religious concepts at a high value for educational institutions. But for those who do, choosing a private school will incorporate the beliefs and practices considered important in later life.
Safety and respect: a concern for all
Being in a safe environment is important, not only for the student’s physical well-being but for the lessons it teaches about respecting others. Threats come in many different forms including gang-related, individual threats, actual physical harm, and bullying in social media.
Students can be taught about these things without being subjected to the actual experience of having to live them.
Research has shown that in private schools, fewer students are physically attacked. Fewer are criminally victimized. Students in private schools report less hate-related graffiti. And they don’t have to avoid certain places at school where there may be a danger.
Private schools stress discipline and establish clear codes of discipline within the school environment.
Learning a culture of respect will help students become responsible adults, recognizing that everyone has a right to pursue his or her own interests and beliefs in a world of mutual understanding and acceptance.
Private schools tend to emphasize this culture.
Responsibility starts at home and at school
Children learn responsibility at home, taught by parents who understand its importance in adult life. Parents work with their children in setting goals, carrying out duties, and exceeding expectations.
Teachers and schools provide the next level of teaching responsibility. The academic bar is set high in private schools. So is the behavioral bar. It’s value-based learning.
There is a premium placed on respect for teachers and other students. High expectations include being present and being on time on a regular basis. Absenteeism and tardiness are kept to a minimum. This is a lifetime lesson.
There is a target environment of zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol. The educational staff watches out for student apathy and indifference. The focus is on active learning and sharing of experiences.
Sense of community prevails
Being in a private school offers a sense of community within. Parents of private school children tend to join in a common bond of shared goals and experiences.
Parents get involved with their children in their educational and social interaction. They support goals and achievements. They help with motivation. They encourage and recognize hard work and good study habits.
Involvement with the outside community promotes civic pride and responsibility.
A choice for the complete person
Private schools can offer a high degree of academic achievement and prepare children a future college education and professional career.
They can teach children to be responsible, set and meet goals, commit to life’s duties and loyalties.
They can reduce anxiety, and stress safety and mutual respect for others.
They can provide a sense of belonging and community, increase self-respect and self-image, and make them more confident in how they pursue the future.
Private school is a good choice for parents who want to stay involved in their child’s welfare – well beyond their school years.
