Private or public school? Discover in this article the advantages and disadvantages offered by both types of education.
When it comes time to enroll children in school, parents have many questions. Close to home or work? Bilingual or not? Is a large or small school better? These are the main doubts but, in some cases, another big question is added: private or public school?
Defenders of public education will say that this is better. For their part, those who have their children in private schools say that it is the most recommended option, that their children are better cared for and that they deal more closely with the teachers and the management team . I have experience in both types of teaching, since my son has gone to several schools for labor mobility issues. Some public, others private.
Do I prefer private or public school? They both have their good things. But the best thing is to analyze the characteristics of the two so that you can see the existing differences.
PRIVATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOL?
The advantages of public education
Public schools for primary and secondary education are the most numerous in our country, where there are more than 20,000. Its management is the responsibility of the State , so families do not have to pay to send their children to these centers.
In a previous article we saw the cost of children’s education , so not all households can afford additional expenses to those already involved in books, school supplies, extracurricular activities and the dining room.
Teachers, in this case, have to take an opposition . In addition, when there are interim teachers, you know that they have to be continuously training to be able to present themselves to the oppositions that come out. And this is one of the main arguments used by those who consider that public education is better.
There is also the fact that the public school is secular , so it admits students of all religions. In short, it is a public service to which all children have access, regardless of social class, ethnicity, nationality or religious belief.
Does it have disadvantages? As well. One of the most criticized is the segregation of students.
The advantages of private education
Then we have private education. In it, we find more than 9,000 centers that are divided into two different types:
- Private management schools subsidized by the state. They are what we know as concerted schools and, in principle, they are free (some have the so-called “voluntary fee”).
- Private management centers of private subsidy. Students have to pay a registration fee and a monthly fee, the amount of which varies depending on the school.
Among the characteristics shared by private and concerted centers, the following stand out.
- They have a split day . In addition to that, they finish later than public schools that also have classes in the afternoon. This lengthening of the school day is a compelling reason to take children to these centers when both parents work outside the home. I have to admit that it is very good for me that my son does not arrive from school until 5:30 p.m. If he went out at 2, I wouldn’t have anyone to leave him with.
- The children wear a uniform . Some people see this as another expense to add to the list, but I think that in the end you end up saving money on clothes. Above all, when they reach an age in which they demand certain brands. And you forget about: “Mom, what should I wear?”
- Teachers are hired by the school itself . Are they worse because they have not passed an opposition? Not necessarily. In fact, from my point of view there are two advantages in this type of hiring. On the one hand, schools can hire the professionals they consider to be the best fit for their educational project. On the other hand, since they do not have a guaranteed position, they do not sit back in their positions.
It is also important to point out the fact that the distribution of students is more homogeneous. Some say that these children live in a bubble and that if they get better grades “it will be for a reason”.
From my experience, if students from private schools obtain better academic results, it is because the ratio of students per class is lower and because teachers have more time to dedicate to students the attention they need in those subjects that cost them more.
Not to mention the facilities they give us parents to meet with the center’s management or with our children’s teachers if a problem arises.
The bad thing about this model is that not all families can afford it, so it can no longer be said that they offer a public service.
Have you already chosen between private or public school?
