| As parents we want what is best for our children; the | | | | any concern, talk to your child's guidance counselor |
| best health, the best neighborhoods, happiness, high | | | | and the principal. Public school takes work, effort and |
| self-esteem, and the best education. A good education | | | | commitment but quality education can be found there. |
| starts with the type of schooling the child is exposed | | | | Private Schools Private schools have long been |
| to and how high the quality is of this schooling. Also | | | | associated with wealth, privilege and better quality |
| taken into account is the preference of the child's | | | | education. Children of high status people go to private |
| parents. After all, different parents look for different | | | | school. But is it really better than public school? In many |
| things in their child's education. Some want socialization | | | | ways, probably. Class size is usually smaller which |
| or special services while others are looking for small | | | | provides for a lower teacher-student ratio. The |
| class size and high quality educational materials. Still | | | | educational materials are usually better quality. |
| other parents are most concerned with creative | | | | Students in private schools are often held to higher |
| thinking and child-directed learning. Following is a | | | | standards than the pupils in public schools. Of course, |
| comparison between four main types of schooling; | | | | when parents are paying big bucks for their kids to go |
| public, private, home and lastly unschooling. | | | | to a school they expect that school to perform. It is |
| Public Schools There is much criticism about the public | | | | important to note that socially speaking private schools |
| school system - its poor quality, low teacher standards, | | | | don't seem to be that much different. Kids are just as |
| lack of art and music education, etc. But it should be | | | | judgmental and cliquey in private schools. |
| noted that without public education many children | | | | Homeschooling At one time homeschooling was |
| would have no exposure to education at all. Public | | | | associated with strictly religious parents who did not |
| schools were started to ensure equal educational | | | | want their children corrupted by conventional education |
| opportunity. Unfortunately between poor financial | | | | or families who lived so far away from any school |
| management and disorganized educational goals, that | | | | that homeschooling just makes more sense. More |
| equal education is pretty pathetic. | | | | recently, however, homeschoolers are just looking to |
| With all the cons of public schooling it doesn't seem to | | | | have more input into their children's education. Thanks |
| make sense to send your (or any) child there. | | | | to the Internet, schooling your children at home has |
| However, there are some good points to public | | | | never been easier. There are dozens of sites offering |
| education and it serves important functions in society. | | | | material (both for free and for sale) to help |
| Since the beginning of public schooling, literacy has | | | | homeschool your child. |
| increased to nearly 95% in the last 150 years. Basic | | | | There is some concern and criticism that kids who are |
| math skills is a proficiency that most people have in | | | | homeschooled don't get the socialization that other |
| America now as well as the ability to write well | | | | children get from school. This may have been more of |
| enough to fill out an employment application and | | | | an issue in the past but modern homeschoolers make |
| express an opinion to an elected official. Additionally, | | | | it a priority to ensure that their children take part in |
| the work force benefits from public education, not only | | | | sports and other group activities so that socialization |
| as a pool of future employees but also as a place to | | | | can take place. |
| keep kids watched while parents work. | | | | While homeschooling can be the best type of |
| As a parent you can do a lot to increase the | | | | schooling for some children, it takes a huge |
| effectiveness of your child's public education. Insist on | | | | commitment from the parents in time, energy, and |
| conferences with teachers. Many teachers now | | | | money. One parent has to stay home and spend a |
| provide students and their parents with an email | | | | good portion of the day schooling. Although you can |
| address. Stay in contact with them this way. Join the | | | | find some inexpensive or free homeschooling sources |
| PTA and attend as many meetings as possible. | | | | for education supplies, the loss of an income can be |
| Attend school board and city meetings. If you have | | | | daunting for many families. |