Private Vs Public Schools – Which One is Better?

Parents often face the hurdle of whether to take their children to a private school or a public school. Government funds public schools whereas parents pay hefty fees to take their children to private schools. The question is: which one is better? Private schools might not be affordable to struggling families, hence their only option is public or charter schools.

Since money plays a big role in determining whether to take your child to a private or public school, you often realize richer parents tend to take their children to private schools while the commons opt for free public schools. The question is which one is better? If you think private schools are better because of their small size and individualized learning, think again! It is not a good fit for every student. And the worst thing is having a child with special needs where the public or private school is not appropriate but alternative school.

What are the pros of a public school?

There is no cost for children to attend school, it allows the haves and have-nots to get the chance to take their children to school. Your child will get a chance to interact with the children from the neighbourhood hence developing great relationships amongst each other.

Local parents will also have a chance to interact during school parents meetings, so all parents from different walks of life will interact for the benefit of the children and the school and the community at large. Public schools have great infrastructure compared to small private schools. All infrastructural projects in public schools are funded by the federal government, hence classes and other facilities are standard.

Children in public schools get exposed to diversity and different cultures, unlike private and religious-based who strictly advocate their religion. Public schools provide better amenities and other services such as occupational and physical therapy unlike in private or religious schools. Public schools have better facilities like sports grounds, swimming pools and other state-of-the-art facilities compared to private schools. Public schools admit all children, even those with disabilities, unlike private schools who have the prerogative to deny admission if your child is disabled.

Staffing is adequate in public schools because teachers are paid by the government, unlike private schools where teachers might be overworked. After all, the owners are looking to cut down the cost of employing teachers.

What are the cons of a public school?

There is a likelihood of overcrowding of public schools because the population is growing faster than the establishment of new public schools. Larger class-size strains teachers and children will never get individualized attention. Some schools face indiscipline cases due to poor neighbourhood backgrounds. Not all schools are the same even when they are found in the same town or city. Some perform extremely well while others perform poorly. The safety of the children in public schools is more questionable than those in private or religious schools.

The pros of a private school

Private boys schools might be the right option for wealthy and richer families because parents are the ones funding the schools. The benefits of private schools include; small class-size which enables the children to get individualized attention from the teachers. Private schools provide challenging curriculum. Some private schools are attached to a certain religion hence children learn the values and virtues of that religion.