According to this report, its not the type of school you went to, but those chats around the dinner table that really make the difference.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Public school or Private; Does it really matter?
According to this report, its not the type of school you went to, but those chats around the dinner table that really make the difference.
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There are many things in that article that I definitely question the validity of. The article relates the SAT to being similar in nature to an IQ test. That is a false statement. The SAT does not measure your ability to reason but rather if you have the skills to take a test and manage your time appropriately. An IQ test measures your ability to reason complex multi-layered problems. There is quite a difference there. Also, I don't see why religion would have any positive effect on anyone. Not to slander religious schools, but I don't see their correlation to education.
Aside from my qualms with this article, It does serve to prove the point that people have been making for years about kids who sit down and have family dinners or engage in active conversation with their parents. That, however, is the only redeeming quality that I see in it. In my opinion, it was a waste of the minute it took me to read the article.
I think in times it does matter whether you go to a private or public school. I believe this because my sister goes to FBBA for middle school and she has 10 times more work then I did when I was at a public middle school. However, everyone thinks differently and going to a certain school might not effect how you do on you SAT or ACT.
This article makes me feel bad for those parents that spend a lot of money for their children to go to a "better" school when it seems that private schools don't have the effect they should on students. Also, I agree that relationships with parents have a huge impact on a student's work and effort. But, I would have to disagree with Jared in his comment that religion does not have a positive effect on anyone. Not to get into a pointless religious quarrel that would'nt solve anything, but obviously if one read the article one would see that religion does in fact have a positive correlation with education, whether one agrees with religion or not.
I think the difference between public and private schools is definately an important one. People are paying more money to private schools for their children to go there, therefore the teachers are paid more allowing them to want to teach more thoroughly and effectively. I also think it actually depends on the kid themself whether or not they really want to learn and get a lot out of an education. Religion may not have a direct corelation to education, but it does tend to have a positive effect on the learning environment for those who understand it. To say that it doesnt have a positive effect on anyone is kind of narrow minded, in my opinion.
wait thats mine ^^^
I agree with the fact that private school students make higher scores on the SAT and ACT but, this is not due to them being smarter, but because they are more prepared for such test. While public schools students are taught the TAKS curriculum, private school students are taught SAT and ACT prep, because they are not required, by the state, to take TAKS. The high SAT and ACT test scores received by these private schools is what gives them their good repuation.
If I shelled out a few grand for my child to go to a private school, I darn well better be getting my money's worth.
I agree with what Kaeli has mentioned. It is amazing to see that some kids do not care, and the parents are worse. The sad part is, many parents don't care, and the public school represents a free baby-sitting service for their unfocused, ill-behaved (but can do no wrong) progeny. You get a school with open-minded, dedicated teachers, motivated students, and concerned parents it is a beautiful thing, but the educational system is designed to break those combinations up and reward the worst performers.
Too much anonymous pressure is put on kids to achieve such and such by a certain time due to TAKs requirement. Kids develop at extremely different rates. To say that a child HAS to be able to read or add by a certain age is wrong to me. These should be guidelines, not have the stigma of failure attached. And I think in private school, you would get a more tailored to the student approach.
What happens in a public school when you don't understand something? They make a cursory attempt to clarify, then move on to meet state requirements. If you attend a private school, you can spend a bit more time necessary on the subject until it is truly learned.
I shouldn't have kicked the trip wire. Doh.
Wooohooo im the first catholic to my knowledge to comment! Although i go to a public school (no religion affiliation what so ever), i really excited to see the catholic high school come out on top! I personally know about 30 kids who go to Strake Jesuit and St. Thomas and their inteligence level all depends on the type of student. If they test well, actually enjoy schoo and plan on going to college, and their determination to succeed. Now that I have been through the public school system and seen its "crapy" nature, i kind have wish I went to Strake. Its nothing personal, but i know that those schools dont have to put up with the Beaurocatic junk that public schools must go through. Personally, i wouldnt change it if i could because i am happy with my life, but I still wonder what would have come of me and what types of schools would i be applying to if i went to a catholic high school. (probably the seminary, i would soon be known as Father Hines or Friar Hines, lol) But regardless, if you want to be challenged and know you want to be prepared, attend a prive school. These schools are geared up for the best and brightest. From my experience with the education system, I find that if you set the goal of student to be enrolment in a major university and the families are having to pay for it, they will more than likely succeed. Also i forgot to mention that the majority of students are not challenged in our school systems like they should be. I for one see that I dont know how to think anymore. My brain has been overahauled these past two years and it is amazing how much more we learn when we are forced to think for ourselves. The public schools just arnt cutting it anymore...I have little faith in the education I am receiving from the government except for a few classes. When we are speaking 3 diffrent languages like the kids in Turkey are tought from birth, I will be happy and when we can all successfuly do trig by time we are 18, i will be happy. So in short, I think the American public school system needs an overhaul, especially in Texas.
I do think that a student's family has a great impact on a child's academic life. Parental expectations help to motivate kids to work harder, whether they are in a public or private school. I was a bit surprised to learn that overall, private schools are not that much better than public schools, i had always thought the opposite was true. But it makes me feel more confident in the education that i am receiving.
My answer to whether it matters to go to public or private school is no, it doesn't. From my personal observations, both are equally bad.
I know several people who either taught at St. Thomas Episcopal or sent their kids there. From both sources I have heard that rich parents send their kids to a private school because they got kicked out of a public school for bad behavior and the discipline is supposedly better at private schools.Plus, like Brian said, parents sometimes just want to keep their kids out of their hair, or, by sending kids to a Christian school, hope that students will behave themselves because they are supposedly surrounded by good role models. Also, because the students are so rich they have plenty of money to buy drugs, and because private schools are generally smaller than public schools the drug use is more noticeable. Oh, and about there being less bureacracy at private schools: one person I know quit teaching after 30 something years at St. Thomas episcopal because the administration was getting ridiculous. What I have mentioned is not unique to St. Thomas (which, by the way, is an extremely religious school), as I have heard comments similar to these about St. Agnes, St. John, Episcopal High School (known for its drugs), and FBBA.
Of course, as everyone knows, public schools aren't much better. There's the drugs, bad discipline, bureucracy, lousy teachers, lack of funds, and emphasis on teaching to the TAKS test.
I think that there is no guaranteed school to go for succes because a student's succes depends on how much they want it and how hard they work to achieve it. A good student will be a good student, whether at a public school or a private one, and a bad student will be a bad student.
Maybe it does matter if a person goes to a public or private school, but I feel that it is actually up to the student. If the student truly wants and has a set goal to achieve high SAT scores or whatever, that person would do anything to attain that no matter what type of school he or she attends. Then there is this religion thing that says Catholic private schools prepare students better. That assumption is just ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.
A big percentage of a person's education is dependent on the student itself. Motivation and ambition is something that has to be developed in a student's mind regardless of the schooling(public/private. We all go to the same college, and we all fight for the same job.
I think this study brought up some interesting points. Although the article claims to have taken into account the nature of student's backgrounds - financial situations and parent involvement - it still seems problematic because some students that attend private schools do so for the rigorous program, while others have been kicked out of public schools already, but to make such distinctions is difficult if not impossible in a blanket survey. In addition, the point about inner-city 12th grader's scores being inflated due to the absence of high school dropouts was valid, and it did not even cross my mind. Regardless, private v. public schooling will always remain a debate amongst parents and educational behaviorists.
Parental guidance and encouragement certainly causes students to succeed in school, whether public or private. However, private schools are definitely a lot more hardcore than public schools. They move a lot quicker and involve much more indepth learning styles. My best friend goes to Houston Christian HS, and although she is a junior, she is taking all the same classes that I am, as a senior. Overall, I think private schools offer a better education than public schools, though, ultimately, it depends on the individual student to determine how successful he or she is.
Students get the most out of their education as they chose to. A student who strives to work hard throughout his time in school will inevitably attain a higher knowledge than say the slacker who sleeps in the back of every one of his advanced classes. Private or Public...neither is "better". Both have their advantages and disadvantages. At the private school my sister goes to, her education is much more personal because her classes are smaller - thus the teachers are better able to suite the needs of their students. However, public school can be just as rewarding and in my opinion - realistic, in the sense that we live in a diverse world (whereas a private school is more likely to be focused on students of a particular house-hold income or need).
As for family...family plays a huge role in education. Students with a parental background that is supportive of their education are much more likely to succeed because they are usually more driven by their parents support.
Eh, I'm tired.
Sometimes I do believe depending on if you go to Public or Private it does matter. By going to Private school you may learn more skills in a particular area than public schools. In the end I believe it is really up to the individual themself to see where their future leads. Determination of doing well in school can not be taught it must be wanted by the individual whether in a private or public school.
To me it really does not matter what school you go to because they all teach the same things in the end. Because their are some public schools that give the students in the school a great education and their are those who do not teach the students anything. Thats the same with private school because your spending money thinking they are getting a better education but they could be or not. It really does not matter if you go to a public school or private school because all that matters in the end if each of the schools are teaching the students the things they need to suceed in life.
I believe all the factors listed in the atricle come into play as far the success rate of a student. Alone, the school a student attends doesn't completely affect the students success, it is the combination of either a lack of parental advice, or lack of student work ethics , that can dtermine a students fate.
I have never liked private schools. I will never send my kids there. First, you have to where uniforms and second, they are usually monosexual. I want my kids to enjoy there time in school and not have to worry about getting in trouble for the dumbest things. (Then again look at Elkins)
I think you have a huge advantage going to a public school, because those are the people that you will see the rest of your life plus public school teachers are the ones that really want to be there. They get paid way less to do nearly the same work for a bigger and much harder to teach class.
I agree with the article. I think that it helps to have qualified teachers and the best education, but if you don't have the motivation and support from home, then you can still fail.
In America, I really do not see the difference between public and private schools. Maybe if you live in the innercity and the school there is really bad, then private school is a better alternative. If you live in this area, the public schools are just as good if not better than the private schools. From what I have observed in American religion affiliated private school is that parents send their kids there hoping that they will be fixed. They cannot handle their kids so they hope religion will fix them, which really is not the case. Private schools such as these are even more of a daycare than public schools.
If we are speaking of private schools outside of the US, then I would agree that they are better. When I lived in Puerto Rico, I attended a private school because the public school were subpar, due to the lack of funding. In the US I see know point in sending a child to a private school when they can get quality education in a public school.
^^^and that is Kate's comment, not Obinna's (he uses my computer)
I agree with Amanda when it comes to private vs public schools. It doesn't really make much difference - I've heard the same thing Amanda's heard about drug levels at private schools (esp Episcopal HS), and the kids I know in private schools don't seem to have many advantages over the rest of us. I think the article is right when it emphasizes parental involvement - I don't think there are many "high fliers" who don't have parents with high expectations and interest in their kids' education. Parental expectations are a huge motivation for kids to do well in school, so kids at a private school whose parents don't care probably aren't going to do better than a public school student whose parents demand straight A's.
I think that it really doesn't matter what type of school you go to. I think how involved your family is depends on how well you do on you SAT, and other tests.
I think that overall, the learning environment produced by oneself and the family plays a prominent role in the outcome of how a stundent performs in school, whether it is public or private. Although they may score higher on the SAT because of the elimination of the TAKS test, in the end everyone goes to college because of the effort they put forth in their academic career. It really does not matter where you went to school, but what you have become because of your education.
The school that a student goes to does not matter. What matters is how much effort the student is willing to put in to make good grades and succeed. Also, from what I know and have heard, most private schools are just as bad as some public school, despite the "private" setting. Alot of people who go to private schools have been forced there from their parents anyway. Althought that may not be the case for all private schools, I believe the only difference between a private school and a public school is the cost.
I think private school kids should be better all around students than public school graduates. I mean they pay for their education and expect to be the brightest when they graduate. I think its just a mental thing that makes you do better in school. Its either you have it or you dont.
I went to a private school (with no religious affiliation) for ten years. I know that my school got me well ahead and prepared for high school and even college. When I got into high school I was learning math I was already taught and books I had already read and analyzed. But the thing that you have to consider is that my graduating class in 8th grade was 23 (between two 8th grade classes). So I don't necessarily think that private school has a better education program I just think that they have higher IQ students and are able to focus more individually on the students.
This is quite an interesting artcile, it's actually quite eye opening. I always assumed that kids that attend private schools are academically superior to the students who attend public schools. The study shows that that's not the case. Those previous studies were all based on the same factors, but when other things are taken into consideration like weather or not parents are involved the students did the same, proving it doesn't matter.
I never believed that private school kids were better educated than me. I have gone to public schools my entire life, and I think I turned out okay, as do millions every year. Private schools attract rich parents who want the school name on their kids' resume to impress college admissions guys. Public school grads let their grades speak for themselves--without the help of a fancy preparatory school heading.
I am also a big believer in family having a huge impact on success in school. Every night I sit down to dinner with my family. We talk about our days and stuff (my dad usually asks me "what did you learn today?"). My parents are very much involved in my school work in that they like to know what kind of homework I'm doing, how my test scores are coming out. However, they are never over bearing. They've simply stated that they expect me to do the best I can, whatever that may be. Because they've always known what was going on in my school life, they have a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of, and if my grades are not up to scratch on my report card, they know. I'm pretty sure that if my parents had never really cared what kind of grades I got, I wouldn't care this much either.
I'm a church-goer, and I'm a religious person, and I think that my religion has only had a positive influence on my acedemics. The basic values learned from religion transfer to all parts of life, including school work. I'm not advocating religious classes in public schools (mostly because of the religious diversity), but I definitely see a positive relationship between religion and success in school.
I do not believe that the school or TYPE of school which determines the intelligence of an individual. I do not believe that a test can rank a person's intelligence with another person's intelligence. A certain school might be better at preparing student A for a test better than a different school prepares student B for another test, but preparation does not determine intelligence. Also, the apparent pattern of certain schools having "more intelligent" students than other schools is misleading information. It is the background of the student, his or her family life, and his or her personal motivation that will determine the intelligence and what the student will pull out of whatever school he or she attending.
I believe that both public and private schools have benefits. For private schools, there are no standouts in what people wear because you have uniforms. Also, you never have to worry about what to wear. For public schools, many people can't afford private schools.
I don't think it matters whether the student goes to a public or private school. Either way, it depends on how much the parents are motivating the child to go to school. Just because a parent pays more to send their child doesn't mean that the child will excel more than a child sent to a public school, especially if the parent sending their child to the private school isn't giving the child motivation to do well in school. Whether students are in public or private schools, they will all experience the same things, good and bad. Therefore, the amount of progress a student makes in their school career is dependent upon them, not the type of school they go to.
In my opinion, it doesn't matter what school you go to, whether pubilc or private. The only thing that matters is how well you study and how smart you are. Private schools are more disciplined than public schools, so they are probably more well-bahaved. Aside from that, I think people in public schools are just as smart as people who are in private schools.
I think is really depends on the person...I know a lot of people that private school is better for them because classes are smaller and there are not as many distractions and things in class. But is it really worth all the money some people pay for those schools? I don't think so...
I don't think the information in this article is all true. I don't think religion has a big impact on how much a student achieves in school. I don't think it has much of anything to do with the students. An SAT test and an IQ test are not the same like Jared said. What determines a student's scores and how well they do in school and in the future depends on family, positive or negative influences, determination and role models. Income does affect a person in many ways, but that does not mean that lower income students don't have the same chance or inteligence to study harder and do well.
It definitely matters which type you go to. Kids who go to private school experience a completely different atmosphere and more competitive nature due to the fact that classes are smaller, making it hard to get to the top of the class. It's two polar opposite worlds.
I think there is a big diference in public vs. private schools. On some occasions I ctually wished my parents had sent me to a private school so that I would not have wasted numerous hours in school "preparing" for standardized tests which were originally made to test how well the teachers are teaching. In a private school, they can spend their time preparing for important test such as the ACT and SAT, rather than making kids study for test that prove how poor, or good, the states education system is, and then studying for the important test outside of school.
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