PRIVATE SCHOOLS VS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: WHICH IS BETTER?

MARY ANNE C. PATDU

Many of us think that private schools are for the rich while public schools are for the poor. Well, part of it is true because we have free basic education in public elementary and secondary schools. Parents are not obliged to pay for the tuition fee in public schools because it’s already supported by the government, while going to the private schools cost a lot of money.

Let us first list down the pros and cons of both.

Public school pros:

* It is affordable/ free.

* They have uniformed curriculum.

* All teachers are eligible to teach.

* It is closer because it’s part of your community

Public school cons

* Overcrowded and big classes.

* Teachers and pupils’ratio are not in proportion.

* Some public schools lack access to basic resources for learning like books and computers.

* Can result in pupils missing out individual attention.

Private school pros

* Smaller classes sized.

* Teachers can give better individual attention.

* Have better access to resources like books and computers.

* They can improvise academic curriculum.

* Some are religious based schools and focused on values education. Private school cons

* It is far more expensive compare to public schools.

* Most children are from a wealthier background that can intimidate middle class children.

* Some of the newer and smaller private schools have a limited offer for extra curriculum activities.

* The religious emphasis can be a hindrance for those who follow different religion.

In the end, private and public schools both have positive and negative issues. There are many good public schools and good private schools. As you can see, there are no clear-cut answers or conclusions.

Which works best for you? That’s for you to decide.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher I at Northville Elementary School