You see, paying for private school very early in life involves a cost that many don’t consider- the opportunity cost of that money compounded over decades. Curriculum-wise, I have near total freedom. Most college-preparatory private schools do a thorough job of preparing their graduates to succeed in college; however, this too varies … I have only taught at private schools, so I can only speak from experience on that. I️ hear retirement options for private school teachers is bad. What are the pros and cons? These posts will be manually approved as soon as possible. It’s important to take some time to consider how these factors will play into your family’s lifestyle. Most private schools typically follow the same requirements as public schools. A lower percentage of traditional public school teachers than of private school teachers had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree (39 vs. 42 percent), and both percentages were lower than the percentage of public charter school teachers who had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree (50 percent). This means that you can be fired if they feel like you do something immoral, which can include something as simple as enjoying a cold beer with your friends to going to something racier, like visiting a sex shop. Most public schools are run by the city board of education. Sorry not sure if this was actually helpful. Pros of private school: more freedom to teach your interests. Pros of private school: more freedom to teach your interests. Private schools have a pretty small number of students in them and can vary a lot. Live with your parents until you're 35? Teacher workload (in my experience) is less in a public school, because there are more bodies to spread the work evenly. You don't get to select who your students are. Private school teachers make way less than public school teachers.Average salaries are nearly $50,000 for public, and barely $36,000 for private. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Cons of public school: administrative oversight is notorious for being negative and restrictive more often than not. My kids will be attending public school (even if I can pay for private school). I spent a couple years in public schools. Christopher and Sarah Lubienski’s new book, “The Public School Advantage”, claims that public schools are better at teaching math than private institutions. One definite pro I have discovered that parents and community members tend to be very involved and supportive. The report also indicates that on average, public school teachers earn higher salaries than those in private schools do. Public School vs. I have many friends who are in the public system who enjoy the security of their pension as well as having a union to support them. We rotate doing before school/after school parking lot supervision, break and lunch supervision, and being "on duty" during plays, concerts, basketball games, etc (taking tickets, watching hallways, etc) a certain number of events per year. Many private schools have morality clauses built into their contracts. To me, it's really about personal preference. What are your views on teaching at a private school vs a public school? The percentage of new teachers (less than four years of teaching experience) is higher in private schools at 16 percent, compared with public schools at 11 percent. Due to cost of living or level of community wealth, a teacher in California earns an average of $50,438, while one in Florida earns a lower average of $39,187, according to PayScale, December 2010. Some of your colleagues should have retired years ago. Evaluations in public schools can be nerve-wracking. This being the case, it is entirely possible to find that the education and experience of public-school teachers in your area surpasses that of your private school … Anyone may apply to attend a private school, there is no zoning based on the students address. Teacher certification in private school vs. public. These are all unpaid. All things education and teaching! Students spend more time studying core subjects. Direct messages to mods about community business will be ignored. Learning is standardized, and teaches students to test, rather than how to learn and function in society. The Opportunity Cost of Public vs Private. I've never asked for a parent to come in for a conference or addressed an issue that was totally ignored at home. willing to commute in any weather via bicycle? Most of the time, when I ask for a resource, it's approved within the week. I don’t have to worry if I mention God or if I don’t mention God. More students means more grading which is a nightmare, especially for new teachers. What about guaranteed pension? If you have a question for the mod team, please contact us via modmail. Public schools require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate to be a certified teacher. Schools can be good or bad wether private or public. Learning is standardized, as are assessments - both of students and educators. And, if you feel like you are fired for unjust reasons, legal recourse can be easier than in a private school. You have to act as a unit (can't really negotiate or do back room deals and the wind isn't always blowing in the direction you want to go). The bad news is that public schools are complicated, often underfunded operations influenced by political winds and shortfalls. I work at a Catholic high school. In most private schools, you need to manage your own retirement and insurance isn't as nice since the school may not be able to bargain on the same level as a public school can. The good news for parents is that public schools cannot charge tuition. I work at a private school and it is quite a good experience. Unlike public school, private school does come with a tuition bill, and sometimes (though not always) you may need to drive or carpool outside your neighborhood to get your child to your top choice. Plus no protection or voice. Publi… People are usually passionate about one or the other for valid reasons. The private school I teach at pays more than the public school district it is in, but generally speaking, private schools do pay less. We use no standardized tests other than PLAN/ASPIRE for an overall picture, and SAT/ACT. I've taught private, public, and charter and my favorite is private. Many public schools do a good job of preparing students for college, but some do not. Private schools allow creativity and skill development more than relationship building. What state do you teach in if you don't mind me asking? Wages are typically higher in a public school, and teachers are unionized. The private school I teach at pays more than the public school district it is in, but generally speaking, private schools do pay less. Not every school pays or provides benefits at this level, but some do. I also now teach in a private school (8 years) after 14 years in public schools. Also there is no 'opt-out' of sex ed classes. However... class sizes that approached 40, broken air conditioners during the spring time, pressure from administrators, from department heads, from parents... at some point, I just realized that I don't get paid enough to deal with all this. Public schools are not regarded as 2nd class. The parents care about their kids education. Checks off the "meaningful" and "fun" boxes. Pay can be a huge factor in many schools...my school isn't elite by any measure, but our pay is better than the public school right down the street. If the answer to any of the above was "sure" then by all means, consider private school. That holds extremely true for public vs. private. Though she had a parent after a phone call threaten her and the school ignored it. However, granting admission to a student is up to the school authorities and is based on tests and other criteria.Admission to public school is determined by the address of the students. eating and shelter optional? Here private schools pay about $10,000 a year less than public schools. To them, that's worth the larger class sizes and different classroom composition. I get compensated more in terms of salary. I spent the last 5 years in a private school. Public schools can be really flexible in what you get to teach. Competitive private schools have salary and benefits that rival local public schools and there is a lot more autonomy. I'm probably more bias since I teach science, but there are a lot of private schools that won't let you teach evolution at all. The most obvious discrepancy between public and private schools comes down to cold, hard cash. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Public schools have to take all comers, but through fees, entrance exams, targeted scholarships, interviews, discretion and discipline proceedings, private schools can pick and choose. I love teaching in a private school setting. These requirements are set by the state; whereas requirements for private schools are set by their individual governing boards. Do you live like a monk? No office politics, no constant state standard testing. Which can be common, bad students stay if their parents are donating a lot. I have a friend at one private who loves it, the environment, pay, co-workers, etc. Now, I (from Europe, in Japan since 2015) am on the fence of deciding whether or not to send our 2nd daughter (9yrs) on a japanese private middle school (私立中学校). As with all industries, location can influence salaries for public and private school teachers. Also the minimal bureaucracy is a huge plus when it comes to purchasing or arranging field trips. It is neither pro private nor pro public. •Public school curriculums demand unwavering teaching styles. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. According to 2017 data, the majority of public school students attend suburban schools, but enrollment in urban schools is not far behind. Public school teachers are required to be properly certified while private school teachers typically don’t need any formal certification. However, if you have a supportive administration they can also really help you identify what you need to improve. Private school curriculums, on the other hand, tend to focus on each individual student and what subjects they need in order to succeed. Private schools often having staffing issues because of their budgets. Private School: Teachers. Learning in both public and private schools is measured through standardized testing. Because this post turned out to be a major hit with Google, I have revised it to reflect my views now that I have 2 years of home-school under my belt as well, and our children have also attended 2 years at a private Christian school and 5 years of public school. I have seen a private schools declare bankruptcy and everyone lost their jobs. Passionate about one or the other for valid reasons, stories, insights, and teachers unionized! The pros and cons of public school students attend their respective zoned school time, when ask! Bureaucracy is a huge plus when it comes to purchasing or arranging field trips bankruptcy! 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