Private School | Title Education

The Private School Concern: Cost

Finance — you have discovered — is a fickle thing. Dollars come and go with alarming ease, never willing to settle into your bank accounts and collect the happy interest. Money is instead impermanent; and you’re not blessed with an excess of funds. You can’t always go to PaydayOne.com for help too. You’re shaped instead to the middle class concerns, and all expenses must therefore be understood (and countered). You save as much as you can. You spend only what you must. And the intention of each day is to still have pennies in your pocket.

You don’t always succeed with this but you never stop trying — and you wonder if those attempts will be enough to afford a better education for your child.

The notion of private schools is one that many parents consider. They wish to offer opportunities to their sons and daughters, allowing them to experience stronger lessons and art-enriched environments. Institutions that are not governed by the state are proven to provide an education of value.

They are also, however, proven to demand money for it.

The terrible truth of private schools is that they are not free — unlike their public counterparts. They instead require tuition payments and enrollment fees; and these numbers can be staggering. As of 2010 the average expense of such an organization is $6,600 dollars a year. This price reflects less distinguished districts, however. Along the eastern and western coastlines costs can rise dramatically: with some schools requiring over $20,000 dollars for one term.

For many families these prices are simply too high. Even with financial aid and scholarship programs (which are not always available), the requirements can still be thousands of dollars a year — and many cannot spare such amounts.

It’s essential therefore that all parents understand the specific district costs of schools and what assistance is provided. Recognize the limitations of a budget and do not exceed these. An education can easily form debt and recovering from that would be difficult.

Filed Under: Education, Private School, Students Tagged With: Education, Private school, State school

Waldorf Private Schools

Waldorf schools were developed by Rudolf Steiner in 1919. Steiner believed that the whole child should be educated: the heart, the mind, and the hand. The underlying goal of a Waldorf education is to develop each child into a lifelong learner.

The Teachers Credo

Waldorf teachers strive to answer three questions for every student every day.

How do we find each child’s highest level of academic achievement?
How do we instill in each child a zeal for learning, self-awareness, concern for others, and respect for the world?
How do we help each student find meaning in their life?

Students Grouped by Developmental Stages

Students are grouped into three developmental stages. The first is birth through 6 years old; the second is 7 to 14; and the third is 15 to 18. Fundamental to the Steiner method, is that age appropriate information should be delivered to the student in a way that nourishes healthy growth and learning.

Arts Focus

Waldorf schools emphasizing learning through art, writing, storytelling, and music. Students are encouraged to use their imaginations, to think creatively, and to explore new solutions to old problems.

A Typical Day

Each morning Waldorf students are presented with a long lesson (usually around 2 hours). Subjects for the long lesson center around a theme that lasts for several weeks. The long lesson allows teachers to present material in depth. Following the lesson is a brief review. Then the students have recess. Afternoon sessions are active and involve all aspects of the child. Some of these activities include dance, music, crafts, handwork, and gym.

Waldorf schools strive to prepare their students for a complete and grounded life. Graduates not only master English, math, history, geography and science, but also know how to sing, draw, carve and act. Waldorf graduates know how to work with others and how to think independently.

Filed Under: Education, Private School Tagged With: Child, Rudolf Steiner, Waldorf education

Do You Know Your School Board?

Too often when we think about educational reform or educational policy changes we look to the school district administration or the legislature to bring about these changes. What we often overlook is the role that school boards play in setting educational agendas, measuring student achievement, and overseeing fiscal responsibilities.

School board members are elected officials and school board meetings are open to the public. School boards are charged with:

Creating the educational vision of the district. The educational vision is reflected in the learning environment by the quality of teachers, the measurement of student learning, and the effectiveness of the school/ community collaboration.
Establishing educational goals. School boards rely on community input to their elected officials to set educational goals that meet the concerns of parents, students, and the community.
Developing policy. School boards develop district-wide policies that govern student discipline, student assessment, teaching practices, and much, much more.
Allocating resources. School boards ultimately make the tough budget decisions. In an ever tightening economy, school boards decide which programs to keep and which programs to cut.
Assuring fiscal and educational accountability. School boards, as an elected body, are accountable to their electorate for the financial and educational decisions they make.

As parents and as a community we have a lot at stake in the educational outcomes of our school district. Becoming more involved with our local school board is one way to be sure that our students are getting the best education for the tax dollars we spend.

To find out more about your school board visit your school district’s website and find the current list of school board members and the date of the next school board meeting.

Filed Under: Education, Private School, Public School Tagged With: Board of education, Education, School district

Montessori Schools and Methods

Montessori is both a teaching method and a type of private school. Some public schools have Montessori classrooms. The schools were started in 1907 by Dr. Maria Montessori. Maria Montessori originally trained as physician. It was from this interest in science and scientific inquiry that she developed her method by observing children as they learn. The basis of her method is that the pace of student learning is as variable as the student.

Age Groupings

In Montessori schools and classrooms students are grouped according to age. For instance one group is 0-3 years, the next group is 6-9 years, the third group is 9-12, etc. The varying ages within a group allows each child to learn at their own pace. In addition, it allows each child to teach another.

Free Range Learning

Classrooms are set up to accommodate learning centers for each subject. Students can move freely around the room, working first on one subject and then moving on to the next. In the course of a school day the student will spend time on every subject.

Interwoven Learning Modules

Rather than teaching subjects in isolation, the Montessori method takes a theme for the day or the week and explores that theme through history, math, science, music, reading and writing. This method allows the student to have a greater understanding of the topic.

No Grades

In Montessori schools and classrooms there are no grades. Learning is measured by the student’s portfolio of work and the teacher’s observations.

According to recent statistics students taught using the Montessori method score above average on standardized tests and perform well in college and life. There are more than 4,000 Montessori schools in the United States.

Filed Under: Private School, Requirements Tagged With: Maria Montessori, Montessori method, United States

Public Education

Public education was founded on deeply religious principles. In fact, the first text book was the Bible. This was during a very puritanical America, and many felt that all children should know the religious basis for our country’s development. The idea behind public education was not to secularize information, but rather make a public the option for students to learn to read and to write, and for families to receive it free of charge. Of course today things look much different than the little school house and hands getting smacked with rulers. Today there is a ground fundamental that all children have the right to a solid education, and that it is the obligation of every parent to ensure that their child is in school.

Today teachers are well versed in their particular area of study, and have mastered very detailed aspects of different topics. This is why students change classrooms for different subjects because the information is so detailed that is could not possibly be taught by one person. This is the case with science and foreign language. It would be impossible for one teacher to know the deepest details of mitosis and be able to teach Spanish, Calculus, American Literature, and History to the depth of what students are required to know these days. Public educators are masters at their particular area of study, and that is of a great benefit for students as they are provided a well-rounded and deep education.

For the beginnings of public school, many students were taught to read and to write, and they were also in a tiny room of students that were from grades k-12. Many students did not remain in school until they reached the 12th grade, as many of them had to help with the family. We are so fortunate to have a system that allows us the ability to be educated without pressure of taking care of a family at the same time.

Filed Under: Private School Tagged With: Calculus, Education, Student, Teacher

Private Schooling

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Private schools have been on the map for some time. They started out originally as boarding schools, and then quickly spread to include specific religious affiliations. The most popular of these affiliations with the Catholic Church. These schools hold reputations for being very thorough in their studies and in the way they teach the three r’s, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. In fact, most Catholic school students are given preferential treatment for college entrance placement because there is the assumption that remedial classes were never taken. This is proven by the Notre Dame entrance exam including advanced Calculus.

Private education has been long sought after because it is believed that student receive more one on one attention from teachers, that the discipline is more strict, and that students are taught to respect, listen, and obey in a way that public schools simply cannot do. The other aspect so private schooling is that for many students, this is their only option. For some students that have found that their public school experience was not optimal, or they found that they were in getting themselves into trouble on a regular basis, private schools accept these students, and prepare a plan of attack on how to create a student that is going to be a life long learner, and become a responsible citizen. Public schools are not always able to do that because of their class sizes and lack of support by other overwhelmed administrators.

Many public school teachers are not in favor of private schooling as they believe that it creates a sheltered environment. This is the case as many feel that having a religious affiliation is more of an indoctrination process than an educational process. Private school teachers feel that public school is over saturated and students lack individual attention. Regardless of the opinion, most agree that making a student the center of the equation is the best policy.

Filed Under: Private School Tagged With: Education, Private school, School, State school, Student, Teacher

Title Match: Public Versus Private

As a parent you want the best for your child. As a student you are likely focusing less on education and more on home much fun high school will be. Deciding which educational format will work best for a particular student is often a source of great debate between parents and their children. Deciding between private and public school can be one of the biggest decisions parents and students can make in regards to their education. Consider three major areas to help decide which fits best for your student.

Educational goals: if your student is advanced or has advanced goals for their education private school may be more in keeping with their educational goals. You should also consider the ability of your local public school to educate your student. Review curriculums from both the institutions to determine which is more appropriate.
Religious affiliation: many private schools are affiliated with a religion. If religion plays a large role in your life or if you wish your student to be educated by a religiously affiliated institution private school might be best. Those who do not wish their students to be exposed to religious education might want to steer away from private schooling.
Socialization: private schools offer a different degree of socialization than public schools. Many are same sex, have enforced dress codes and a student conduct code that is stricter than public schools. It is important to carefully consider these areas during the process of determining whether a child should attend public or private schools.

Determining whether a child should attend a public or private school will have a big impact on their future. It is not a decision that should be made lightly. Parents, students and guidance counselors should meet to discuss available options and to determine which will work best for a particular student.

Filed Under: Private School, Public School Tagged With: Affiliated institution, Private school, Public Schools, State school, Student

The Up and Down of Private Schools

Many parents are opting to send their children to private schools in an attempt to provide them with the best possible education. Private schools have many advantages over the traditional public classroom; however, there are some disadvantages as well. Understanding both the advantages and disadvantages of private school can help a parent and their child determine if private school is a good fit for them.

Private schools are traditionally seen as more academically robust when compared to public schools. This is one of the primary advantages of the private school forum. It is often true because private schools attract a higher caliber of teacher due to increased salaries or because they do not rely on state funding. This allows private schools a degree of freedom not seen in traditional public schools.

Many parents also find the religious affiliation of many, although not all, private schools to be advantageous. They feel that by sending their child to a private school affiliated with their religious beliefs their child is more likely to be educated in their belief system. Many parents opt to send their children to private schools that are affiliated with a religion even if they themselves are not ‘religious’ believing that the strict moral and ethical code taught at these institutions provides their children with a leg up over other, publically educated, students.

Private schools do have several disadvantages, but one is more notable than the rest: the cost. By their very definition private schools require their students to pay a tuition fee in order to attend classes. These fees can be very expensive making private education impossible for many students.

Private school is a great option for those that can afford it. Heavier course loads with a focus on total teaching as well as a belief in teaching student’s morals, ethics and responsibility really make this form of education stand out.

Filed Under: Private School Tagged With: Education, Private school

My School, It’s Better Than Yours

It is a debate that has been wages almost as long as schools have been in existence: which is better private or public schools? The truth is both have their benefits and their problems. Deciding which is better for your particular child often has less to do with the argument and more to do with the needs of the child. That being said, it’s still a good idea to stop and consider the benefits of both systems.

Private schools tend to set a slightly higher standard for their students. While they are still bound by state regulations, private schools are just that, private. Because of this, they have a bit more flexibility when it comes to course curriculum, discipline and attendance. In some cases it is also true that private schools often recruit ‘better’ teachers or teachers that are more dedicated. Many parents choose private schools with a religious affiliation to promote continuing exposure to religious education – something that is not possible at public schools.

Public schools, on the other hand, are mainstream. Always co-ed, many parents choose a public school over a private, sex segregated school. Public schools are very much ruled by state law and public opinion. Parents who do not want their children exposed to religious education like this. Public schools also, as a rule, have better developed athletics programs. Parents of athletic students of choose public schools for the exposure they can give their children. Finally, public schools are free – there is no expensive tuition bill due at the beginning of the year.

There really is no answer to the question, which school model is better. Parents should carefully consider the options in their particular area as well as the needs of their child before deciding which educational model will work best for their own child.

Filed Under: Private School, Public School Tagged With: Child, Education, Private school, State school

The College Demands: Private Education Advantage

I’s an easy completion: your child hurries through his assignments, finishing them all without even a sigh. The pages are read; the questions are answered; and he tosses his books aside, eager to explore the virtual worlds of his computer. Homework, you realize, is without challenge. There are no seconds spared for studying. There are no concerns offered for the impending exams. High school, your son declares, is without worry. And you fear that this assumption will follow him to college — where it will quickly be undone.

A public education cannot be denied as valuable. It can also, however, not be denied as incomplete. The state requirements for schools (the courses that must be offered, the credits that must be earned before graduation) are shaped to the minimal. Students have to finish only a low specificity of mathematics, English and more to receive their diplomas. And often this same specificity leads them to believe that college will be the same. All higher forms of learning are thought to be standard… but they’re not. And this can cause immediate problems of stress, anxiety and confusion.

For those educated privately, however, the expectation of hard work has already been instilled.

The demands of a private school are considerably higher than those of a public. Courses are to be taken in excess — such as four years (on average) of mathematics compared to the typical two or a full year of foreign languages rather than a singular semester. This difference reflects the ability for private institutions to create their own curriculums; and the results are students who are more aware of the university rules.

It’s estimated that 52 percent of private school students will seek out bachelor degrees and higher education, while only 21 percent of public school pupils will. And this occurs most often due to the levels of preparation that are provided.

The difference is the expectations and these are forever high when given privately.

Filed Under: Education, Private School Tagged With: Higher education, Homework, Private school, State school