When it came to my education, my mother made a conscious choice to send me to a public school.
She was a primary school teacher who taught in public schools throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. So the public system was a system that she believed in, a system that she knew was staffed by committed teachers and a system that she knew would give me both an academic and a social education.
Thirty years later, I’m proud to have been public school-educated and I suspect who I am today was shaped more by my parents’ ethical stand on this issue than by any other single decision they made during my upbringing.
When it comes to public versus private education, I can understand why parents want the best for their kids. What I can’t understand is why “wanting the best” naturally translates into choosing a private school education.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Australian Education Union, Victoria. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.
The truth is, when it comes to the research, the jury is still out on whether public or private education produces the best results.
Research published in 2009 in the Australian Journal of Education by Gary Marks found that students from independent schools could expect, on average, eight ranks higher on their Australian Tertiary Admission Ranks than their government school counterparts.
But, in 2010, the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) found that, once you strip away the fact that students in private schools come from a higher socio-economic background, there was no meaningful difference between tertiary entrance results from independent, Catholic and government schools.
Top Comments
I attended my local public primary school, which was considered to be one of the "best" in the state and I had a not-great experience. Class sizes were 30+ and while the teachers were good and well-meaning they spent half of class trying to control rowdy students. Being able to go to an "elite" girls' high school honestly made a massive difference in my learning. Last year over 40% of girls at my school got an ATAR of 95, and as a current Year 12 I know I have the support (both academic and pastoral) I need to succeed. In my experience there is no snobbery or comparing of incomes (most girls are from hard working middle class families), and any rare incidences of bullying are solved immediately. My parents' decision to send me to a private school wasn't out of any desire to "join high society", but instead to get the best education on offer.
I am happy to hear that you are thoroughly enjoying your schooling. It sounds like you're currently attending my former school. The friends you make at school will be your friends for life. It has been over 10 years since valedictory and we are closer than ever.
Good luck in your final exams!
We worked around the clock to send our child to a private school. We certainly were not rich and didn't know what a holiday was for many years.
I had terrible experiences at my public school so I wanted better for my child.
We had teachers who came back from lunch drunk. One who used to deliberately touched us inappropriately (on the breasts and bottoms) as often as he could.
There were assaults every week.
Our child was treated very well at the Private school and I don't regret the money we spent. I am not saying all schools are like the one I went to, things probably have changed by now, but I made my decision based on my experiences at a Public school.
I don't regret that for one minute.