Caught in the rut of Private/Public schooling, or need to make an informed decision based on facts?
Like any other Parent who would like to give her child the best of education, I am constantly finding myself thinking and wanting more clear justifications on Private Schools as opposed to Public former 'Model C' schooling. I am currently concerned about how we get to opt for either of the two. Are the decisions we make based on what will be best for our children or is mainly about the 'images' we want to potray.
A lot of middle class parents who are working hard to live better lives than that of their parents are found to be making most major decisions based on affordability. Understandably so, if when growing up there was always only a bottle of tap water in your home fridge, you will want to make sure that your child has different options of cheese when he/she opens your fridge door. I am no different to this! I have made a lot of life sacrifices to be where I am and to have what I have. When my son cries CHEESE, I ask which one! The same shall go for his education. However, maturity, information and exposure will teach you much more than just having to afford. Why is it that you think your child should attend Private schools? Are your reasons in-line with your values and what you hope to achieve for his/her future? Can you outline distinct proven facts for your choice of school? Do those distinct facts work for you?
In my research I have spoken to both Parents and kids who took and/or went to Private/Public schools. I have friends from both worlds and I am a Parent who has a child that goes to a Private creche. My son is Four and has been going to a Private creche since the age of Two, I still cannot justify why we are paying so much for his 'education' at his level. I have gathered that there are no clear cuts to this. It is really about what you think works for you. Both Private and Public Schools have their pros and cons. The final product really greatly depends on the actual charecter of your child.
Now looking at the obvious major differences between Public and Private Schools. Private Schools boasts smaller classes, that immediately makes a Parent comfortable that the child will get individual attention. The curriculum is based and advanced on relevant life requirements. We cannot fault the administration excellence and specialized teachers, extra curriculum add-ons to stimulate all types of kids. The advanced well-taken care of fascilities like: Sports, Libraries etc. Most kids that goes to Private schools come from affluent backgrounds, therefore your child has an option to create a great network that will assist him/her in the future. As the saying goes, you are likely to become what you sorround yourself with the most. You must note that I said your child has an OPTION to create the network, one should not be illusioned that this WILL be the case. Like I said earlier, as a Parent - you do what you think you need to do and hope for the best end product.
On the other hand, Public Schools have larger classes. Teachers at these schools need to be twice as good and very determined to bring out the best in each and every child in a big class. As a kid in a big class, you need to stand out on your own. As a result of this, I'd personally suggest that if you have a child that absorbs slowly, that should be a reason for you to take him/her to a Private school more than the mere fact that you can afford. Curriculum at Public Schools is influence by Government and that sometimes keep our Public Schools behind. Former "Model C" Public schools are constantly fighting to keep a minimum number of students in classes but black people backed up by their Government are making this very difficult to achieve.
Late last year my family lost my Aunt. Her son had to move schools and go stay with his big sister in Cape Town. We obviously had limited time to get him admitted at a reputable "Model C" Public school. Taking him to just any Public School was not an option for us as we believed it would affect him somehow as he had been to "Model C" school all his life. For the life of me, I did'nt know that If you reside in a particular area/surburb and the school near your home refuse to admit your child (especially with an unforseen reason like death), you can actually contest this and Government will order the school to enrol the child. Now as we celebrate the fruits of our freedom, we should be mindful of our unintended contribution to a sluggish change. Taking my example above, yes we were desperate for school and the situation was out of our control. When you do take time to sit back and think how many other families who had a similar problem knocked at that school doors. Meaning if good Public Schools try to maintain a minimum number in class, there will always be a challenge of late applicants with 'unforseen circumstances' backed up by Government.
If you noticed, costs are not featured in my discusion of differences above. Again if you are well informed, you should know that high price does not necessarily equals quality. You pay high costs at Private Schools because they are run and funded privately with no Government assistance. They hire specialized teachers as opposed to Public Schools that employ qualified teachers. In most Private Schools, a particular subject is taught only by a teacher who has specialized in it. At the Public Schools on the other hand (especially schools in the townships and villages), a teacher with a teacher's diploma is trusted to teach any subject that he/she got to learn about at collage. With all due respect to teachers, just because you learnt it at collage does'nt mean you can teach it, that will just compromise the level of your output product. Fascilities offered at Private Schools are on par with the tuition asked.
You probably still thinking its obvious that its best for you to take your child to a Private School. So do I. However, I strongly believe that it is unjustifiable to pay so much for a toddler to go and sleep at creche. In my experience, my son is no different from my friends' kids that goes to public creche. The difference really is when you compare a creche in the village and a creche in the burb.
On Saturday, friends invited us to their home to watch football. It was one of my favorite gatherings - couples sessions. I was even more happy when 'not so close' couples also came in. I knew that it will be a very interesting evening. As a writer, right there and then I knew football was just a facat. We did what we do best, came in with our heads up high, holding our partners' hands like we have everything under control. In an oldest loved fashion, men went outside by the fire and women flocked in the kitchen. As you can guess, there was more than enough talking. This topic about Private/Public school seem to have kept us together. We had varying interesting opinions on why we take our kids to Private schools. The discussions were so relevant to me as I hoped to gather more clarity on the matter. I realized that we take little to no time to understand what goes on at Public Schools. The mere fact that we went to Public Schools seem to compel us to do what we did not get, and in this case - going to Private Schools. Although it was not said in words, I could see that we still have a lot of fear in us as to how people position and percieve us.
My simple argument still stands - what do you hope to achieve when you send your toddler to Private creche? I can understand when the child starts high school (Grade 8). My opinion at this stage is that you have a greater chance of mutual participation in shaping the child towards a certain level of exposure and network. I also further believes that at this stage, a child have leant to live with a variety of kids from different backgrounds which will teach him humility and tolerance. In high school, you can niche him towards his ultimate educational goal. Social skills are just as important as education. I believe every Parent should strive to expose his/her child to how the world operates at large, and not allow kids to understand only people who live like them. Obviously this is not to suggest that all Private school kids are brats, but a majority of them are. They measure success by what their parents got to achieve, and rarely that life is about what they personally got to achieve. I write to be corrected, but top accademics I know do not come from Private Schools. Private schools breed I know of excel mostly in sport and ofcause their articulation and comand of the English language (if that counts for something).
Private School just because you can, or Private School because its far better than Public 'Model C' schools? I'm very interested in your comments!
Until next time, stay vigilant!
Tamara Booi
Interesting topic indeed and gives you a lot to think about. Firstly I would like to believe its a personal choice based on what you perceive quality education to be and what it means to you. However I have realized and found that amongst our generation (ages 25 - 40) it has really become about status. Don't get me wrong here, I have nothing against private schools as my 4 yr old goes to a private crèche where we stay. However my 7yr old goes to a public school.
ReplyDeleteIt breaks my heart when I think of the money we spend on the private crèche for a 4yr old who goes to crèche to socialise, eat and sleep. When half of that money we could use towards the education of a child in primary or high school that is less privileged. However this is the only option we have because of the area we reside in. I do not believe in private schooling at primary level at all.........and that's just me. If my kids had any special needs (which I thank God they don't ) maybe I would consider it. Yes, they are 24 in a class which might be more than your average private school class .........but really is that the case? I was told that at the private schools in grade 1 they bring back a new book to read everyday unlike the public school where they bring a new book twice a week. But is that the point? So what are they being taught here? To cram words into their heads or to read with understanding..........sounds like the Chinese way of learning to me which I do not want for my children, atleast not at primary.
Then comes the issue of status, money, competition and stupidity! Yes, you read right! STUPIDITY! Please tell me why you would want to sacrifice your last penny to pay so much money for school fees? You would rather raise your family in sub-standard living conditions because you want to talk your child to a private. You cannot afford to buy yourself a decent pair of shoes, take your children on a lousy holiday to Cape Town, a night out with the girls is impossible and let alone a night out as a couple! Who are you doing justice to? You might say your child cause all these sacrifices are for them! Really???? I doubt it very much. Will your child really appreciate the value of private schooling at primary? Are you maybe not doing injustice to your child? At this age are they not comparing their fathers cars, homes they stay in, parties they have and and? Are you not infact exposing your child to unnecessary childish ridicule? I don't know maybe not!
You don't own a home but you pay 100 000 a year for school fees? What are you teaching your children? What legacy are you creating and will leave behind for them? Lets not imprison our minds please people. Can we stop being snobs for a minute and use our brains. What is this freedom we have if we are going to continue to think that the white man's way is the correct or right way. And not to say I will never take my kids to private schools but now at primary.
Greetings to the forum at large
ReplyDeleteIndeed there is much to be said on this topic. My contribution is based on the following: I am a product of both Private and Public Schools.
I alone in my family (last born child) attended multi-racial, co-ed (learners of both genders), public schools. I also attended a religious/church orientated private school, also co-ed and multi-racial. I attended a private school with only black, Xhosa learners and only white educators, also co-ed. I began at a township public school. And ended up at an all-girls, multi-racial public school where I matriculated.
The only advice I could ever give to a parent when it comes to such a topic is… the day you discover that you are expecting, is the day you enrol yourself in a 9month psychology short course. Because everything you do in life from the day your little one is born will ultimately determine the person your child grows up to be.
Take some time to familiarise yourself with the different behavioural traits that you can expect from your child, because every single decision you make about your child’s future and wellbeing rests on your being able to detect from as early as possible what your child needs. If you can understand this little person and the way in which God has uniquely designed them, you will save yourself a lot of headaches and pennies.
For me, the child is the most important person in the equation.
When you understand your child and understand what their needs are, you set criteria which will best suit your child.
Don’t be lazy or shy to do proper research. Find out what the different schools have to offer and select your school based on your child’s unique needs. Look for the school that create a harmonious blend between home life and school life.
Your child’s development, your child’s health, your child’s safety, value for money; those are all good criteria to assist in measuring the standard to which the school may cater for your little one. Do not compromise.
Remember, children are not all the same, so from choosing a private, public, academically strong, culturally strong, technical school… all that rests on the person who has to endure 6 – 10 hours at this establishment every blessed day.
Remember, school is just one part of your child’s development. All they do there is get exposure. Exposed to different morals, different cultures, different personalities and most scary… different sources of information. It is the support at home that takes all that data and processes it into useful information. In a loving environment where they feel safe to be themselves, free to make mistakes without being judged and it is there where as a parent, you are able to monitor how the school is fulfilling your child’s individual needs.
Good luck to the parents… I still have a long way to go before signing up for that short course in psychology.
Hugs and kisses... Original Angel