The Smart Bet
When is private schooling most valuable?
As the recession slashes at families’ savings and the state budget axe
looms over California’s public schools, greater Sacramento parents face
a fairly dire dilemma: should they sacrifice other areas of the family budget
to pay for private school tuition, or risk compromising their children’s
education? Of course, there are many fine public school programs in our area,
with wonderful, dedicated teachers, but not every neighborhood affords every
kid the same competitive edge, so what is a parent in that situation to do?
Looking at their limited income (not to mention the rising cost of college
tuition),
many parents are choosing to invest in private education for a limited number
of years. This, of course, begs the question: when is the best time to make
that investment?
We asked three local parents and educators, each with a different point of view,
to explain their strategies. Here are their responses:
A
Strong Foundation:
The Case for Elementary School
By Bill Cole
The early years, grades one through eight, really shape your child, determining
what he or she will be like in high school and beyond. That is why my wife and
I decided that for our children, investing in these formative years made the
most sense. We sent each of our three children to a private elementary/middle
school, then on to public high school. When they left their private school at
the end of 8th grade, they were armed with all of the tools we had hoped they
would gain: a love of learning, a passion for the arts, and a deep respect for
mankind.
Attending a private school meant they had a lower child-to-teacher ratio and
were given plenty of individual attention to cultivate their strengths.
Their private school also offered them a richer education in the arts and music
than they would have received in public school. This was very important to us.
Simply playing instruments in their first eight years at school translated into
high school students who were musically inclined.
The public high school teachers found our students, and the other incoming private
school students, to be more respectful, more engaged, and generally more enlightened
than their public school peers. We constantly received comments from teachers
telling us how nice our kids were and how they were “a delight to have
in class.”
Perhaps most importantly, I believe our children’s private school beginnings
instilled a love of learning in them. They each approached high school with
enthusiasm for education. They weren't discouraged by endless hours spent on
busy work or distracted by students who were not as motivated to learn.
Not paying for high school tuition has given us a chance to save a little for
college—bonus!—while that strong foundation of sharp skills and
good study habits continues to pay off. With their private school beginnings
and public high school experiences, our children were all welcomed into the
top universities in the state. Now I just have to figure out a way to pay for
all three tuitions in the fall!
Bill Cole is a
professor at Sierra College and a proud father of three, ages 17, 19 and
21. You may contact him at stubborndad@yahoo.com.
Minding
the Gap:
The Case for Middle School
By Sharon McFadden and Terry Petlowany
Kids’ middle school years are a critical time for intellectual, physical
and social development. It is during these years that children begin to think
independently, to face peer pressure, question authority, and develop deeper
academic and extracurricular interests. The middle school years are often a
difficult time for both students and parents; they’re also crucial in
terms of making sure students are prepared for the challenges of high school
and are on the right track to meet their long-term goals. For these, and many
other reasons, I believe that middle school is the best time for parents to
invest in private education.
Parents choose private schools because they have high standards in terms of
student behavior, teaching and reinforcing character development. Private schools
offer smaller, tight-knit educational environments as well as personalized attention
from teachers and administrators who understand the needs of students as individuals
and can help guide them through both academic and social challenges. The small
sizes of many private schools enable students to be more engaged in the classroom
and more involved in their school.
The uniforms worn in most private schools (which can be helpful in reducing
peer pressure) are perhaps most valuable during the middle school years, when
kids are most easily distracted by fashion and most vulnerable to peer pressure.
These are also the years when students begin to test the boundaries of a standard
dress code.
Many private schools also offer "values based" educational programs—in
addition to academic subjects—that teach students core values, including
respect, honesty, conflict resolution, and teamwork. In my experience, this
kind of instruction is extremely important for this age group, as students begin
to develop the ability to think critically and more abstractly.
Parents who send their children to private school in these years do so because
they want their children to be well rounded individuals. In smaller environments,
students often have greater opportunities to participate in the arts, music,
athletics, and other enrichment programs, at a time in their lives when self-expression
is so important. Learning teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership skills, and
putting them into practice in a safe environment, allows each student to develop
confidence and pride in themselves and their school community.
Middle school is the bridge to high school, and a private school can help students
cross that bridge with a strong foundation in both academics and personal development.
Sharon is the proud parent of an 8th grader at Golden Hills School
in El Dorado Hills (she also has two children at Christian Brothers). Terry
is Admissions Director for Golden Hills School and the mother of a 2008 GHS
graduate and a freshman at Sacramento Country Day School.
College
Prep:
The Case for High School
By Dawn Brooklyn
As my children headed to high school, I knew I wanted an excellent education
for them. I had been satisfied with their elementary years in public school,
but with college looming on the horizon, I felt I should consider all of our
options.
My research and conversations with other parents led me to believe that private
school students scored higher on standardized tests and had more demanding graduation
requirements, giving them a greater chance of graduating from college than public
school students.
As my oldest gets ready to graduate, I am glad I chose to put him in a private
high school. My children have been surrounded by motivated students and other
committed parents, which has helped to limit distractions and keep them focused
on their education.
My son has commented on many occasions that his teachers truly care about him;
it’s not just a job to them. It’s also been a plus having other
families in our school with similar moral and ethical values. And the opportunities
my kids have had for sports, extra-curricular and community service activities
have been plentiful.
My children are thriving in this safe, supportive environment, and I know that
the money I’ve spent on private education in their high school years has
been money well spent.
Dawn Brooklyn lives in Sacramento with her two children, ages
15 and 17.
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