Most parents consider private school because of some of the outstanding reasons like smaller classes and first-class faculties. Apart from these, there are other valuable reasons why parents prefer private schools for their children. Some of these reasons are:
1. Personal Attention
Many parents want their children to have a considerable amount of attention even while they are in school. These parents often feel that since they were able to spend a lot of time taking care of their children right from infancy, the children should continue to have this level of care even in school.
However, this level of care is more achievable in private schools because they have smaller class sizes ranging from 10-15 students, depending on the grade. Schools controlled by a religious body have more students in a class, usually 20-25 student range. When the number of students in a class is lower, the teacher will be able to give individual attention to each child.
Another key aspect of improved individual attention is that the issue of discipline does not come up often. Most students attend private schools for two primary reasons: the strong urge to learn and the fact that lots of private schools are consistent about enforcing codes of conduct. Meaning, if a student acts inappropriately or defaults, he or she will face the consequences, of which expulsion is included.
2. Religious Teaching
Private schools have the freedom to either teach religion or not, following the mission and beliefs of the school, unlike public schools where religion is kept out of the classroom. A committed Lutheran can find hundreds of schools owned and managed by Lutherans. In such schools, your beliefs and practices will be appreciated and taught every day. This goes for other religious denominations as well.
3. A Balanced Program
A balanced program is one where academics, sports and extracurricular activities are given the same amount of attention. Every parent wants their child to have this, and most private schools strive to provide a balanced program by encouraging their students to partake in sports. In some private schools, Wednesdays are partly for formal classes and the other half for sports. On the other hand, there may be Saturday classes in boarding schools, after which the students can participate in team sports.
Sports programs and equipment differ from one school to another. But the finest ones are found in some of the more established boarding schools, compared to the ones in many universities and colleges. The scope of school’s sports program doesn’t really matter, what is most important is that every child gets to engage in some form of sports.
The third part of a balanced program are the extracurricular activities. Just as sports are mandatory, students are also mandated to take part in at least one extracurricular activity. Luckily, most private schools offer a variety of options including art, music and drama.
When going through school websites, do not only assess the academic curriculum but also review the extracurricular activities and sports. Ensure that your child’s interest and needs are appropriately satisfied. Bear in mind that extracurricular activities and sports organized within the school are usually coached and monitored by staff members. Seeing your teacher leading the soccer team and having the same devotion and love for sports builds a positive impression in a child’s mind. Private school provides many opportunities for teachers to lead by example.
4. Parental Involvement
Most private schools operate a three-way partnership, where parents’ involvement in their children’s education is required. Generally, the extent to which parents are involved in their kids’ education is higher in preschool or elementary grades than in boarding school or high school.
However, the type of parental involvement depends on the parent, the amount of time he/she is able to give and his/her skills and experience. Taking your time to observe and know where your skills may be needed is usually the best thing to do. If the school is looking for a talented organizer to handle the yearly auction, don’t rush for the lead role without observing how things are done as a committee member for at least a year or two. If your child’s teacher requests that you help out as an escort on a field trip, see it as an opportunity to show that you are an outstanding team player.
5. Academic Differences
Many private schools are not compelled to just focus on the curriculum for the purpose of preparing students for a test. Therefore, they can concentrate on teaching students how and not what to think. On the other hand, bad test scores in public schools could imply negative publicity for the school, less money and even a bad review for the teacher.
Private schools are not accountable to the public, hence, they are not under any pressure to please them. Although they have to meet or surpass state curriculum and minimum graduation demands, they are only answerable to their clientele (parents and guardians). If the parents are unsatisfied, they will withdraw their children and take them to a school that will satisfy them.
Since private schools have smaller class sizes, it will be much easier for teachers to identify a child who is lagging behind and then solve their problem instantly instead of waiting for a longer period to address the issue.
The teacher-guided method of learning is usually used in most schools in order to show students that anything is possible and learning can be fun. Private schools offer a variety of teaching methods from the traditional to the modern methods. So, it is now your responsibility to search for the school with the methods and beliefs that best fit your goals and objectives.
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