Category: Private School

Industry and business activity to be studied

In this report, I have chosen education as my business activity which involves comparison between public and private schools in the UAE. The main activities in this report involve comparison between private and public schools in the UAE.

In order to do an effective comparison between these two kinds of schools, the project centers its study on the following areas or aspects of schools, performance (in doing homework), gender population, mode of transport and nationality population.

Such aspects will provide important information on accessibility of education in both the private and the public schools. Also information on the rising demand of private schools and the reason they are preferred by foreign students. Education plays a crucial role in the economy of the UAE. It is the main reason for increased productivity and income.

Strategic effects of education on the economy of UAE

Education is strategically important to the economy of the UAE. This proves the words of the President of the UAE education is like a lantern which lights your way in a dark alley and an increased attention of his wife to promoting this issue in the country (Al Sadik 219). This is because the relationship between education and economic growth is vital.

Education is the key determinant of increased productivity and growth in the economy of the UAE. Education is an important element in development of skills necessary in enhancement of modernization and growth in the country. In their study, Joan Muysken and Samia Nour emphasize the interconnection of low development of local technologies and slow restructure of the economy with the poor education (957).

To improve the situation in the country, in the fall of 2003, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research& initiated a special national level planning group aimed at advancing national educational policy in the UAE (Fox 2).

The UAE is endowed with abundant natural resources; oil and gas. In order to ensure improved technology in processing of oil related products, intensive training and education is needed. Such training also provides jobs to the citizens of the UAE. Education plays a key role in research and technology. Research and technology ensure that education provided matches the requirements of job market.

Education is the key element in ensuring that the UAE emerges from the economic crisis facing the world today. The country seeks to play an active role in education in order to ensure an economy which is knowledge based. The reason is that, an educated person is able to turn risks and challenges into social and economic opportunities which are feasible.

All strategies and development plans of the UAE are influenced by education because it plays a vital role of removing all obstacles which hinder sustainable development and achievement of high rates of growth. With rapid increase in the countrys population, education is the key investment because this population provides human capital which is important in the UAEs economy.

Comparison between public and private school will impact the economy because it shall give a guideline on tastes and preferences of different students. This will help the government at this time it is investing heavily on education. The study will affect the economy also by showing contributions of gender and students of different nationalities towards sustainable development.

Methods of data collection

The data collected is both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through observation. The most employed technique of observation in this report is in-depth technique. Participative and non- participative technique was partly used.

In-depth interviews were carried out through a short questionnaire which had the questions on performance, gender, mode of transport and nationality of students was administered. These interviews were done face to face, computer assisted and through telephones.

The ones done through computer and telephone calls were directed to known persons like principals, head teachers or head of departments to give information on performance of students and gender population. Questionnaires were administered to students and were done face to face and provided information on all four key areas of study.

Surveys were employed too to observe the behavior of students, the mode of transport they preferred and the nationality percentage.. These methods were used to reduce errors that may occur as a result of using one method of collecting data.

Participative and non-participative methods of observation were partly used to observe some of the students behavior in order to make observations too, mostly on mode of transport and nationality aspects. Secondary data is usually collected and recorded by someone else.

This data was derived from records, books, logs and journals. Journals on leaders of the UAE on their plans of investing on education and importance of education to this provided secondary data. Such data was readily available on libraries and internet.

Data analysis

The data collected was in numerical form. Tally method was used to derive data from every questionnaire, call and survey. A table containing the four aspects of study had to be drawn (columns for performance, transport, gender and nationality and rows for private and public schools).

Use of spreadsheet program in form Microsoft Excel was most appropriate in calculations of percentages as well as displaying the results. It provided an appropriate means of summarizing the information collected.

Graphs were used to display the results and gave an excellent choice. On x- axis was the independent variable, that public and private schools while on y- axis was the percentages for each (dependent variable). The data was in sets so different colours had to be used for labeling purposes. Also a legend has been provided in all graphs.

The data collected showed girls performed better in doing their homework than boys on both government and private schools. It also showed that the enrollment of girls was higher than boys in both kinds of school.

In regards to the mode of transport, a higher percentage prefers cars as compared to buses in government school while in the private sector are the opposite. Also the study established that a high percentage of foreign students prefer private schools. This is because these schools offer foreign languages. Such conclusions will help the government in decision-making when investing in education.

References

Al Sadik, T. (2001) Evolution and performance of the UAE economy 1972-1998. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective, 4, 46, 202-230.

Fox, W. (2007.) The United Arab Emirates: Policy choices shaping the future of public higher education, 3, 20, 49-55.

Muysken, J. and Samia N. (2006). Deficiencies in education and poor prospects for Economic growth in the Gulf countries. The case of the UAE. Journal of Development Studies 42, 957-980.

Introduction

The increasing importance of education in the modern world makes parents particularly concerned with the choice of school for their children. More and more of them now tend to give preference to private schooling over traditional public ones (Smith 13). There has been a heated debate about this prevalence since a lot of aspects (including academic curriculum, funding, racial integration, and personal educational views) have to be taken into consideration before making a reasonable choice.

Importance of the Topic

It may seem that the topic is not worth discussing as it is a personal business of each family to decide, which option is better for their kids. However, an informed choice is hindered by the lack of awareness of the real state of things. Due to a generally positive and elite image of private schools, many parents believe that a more prestigious institution would offer their children better studying conditions, closer attention of teachers, higher standards of education, and a more tolerant attitude (implying no prejudice, segregation or bullying) (Warner and Elser 5). However, when we have a closer look at the problem, we will find out that those who are convinced of private schools educational supremacy are deluded by advertising or fall victims of the more expensivethe better effect. Thus, it is highly important to restore justice to public education and ensure that the choice parents make is a well-grounded one.

Research Results

Research, involving more than 300,000 middle and elementary school students from 15,108 schools of different types, revealed that students attending public schools outperform those from a private school, specifically in mathematics (Public Schools vs. Private Schools). Other studies analyzed the results of nationwide standardized tests and concluded that public schools also did better than charter schools (Crawford).

These results are supported by Christopher and Sarah Lubienski in their book The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools. The authors analyzed math achievement scores as, according to their view, this is the best indicator of school effectiveness. The point is that this subject is learned primarily in school, unlike other disciplines, the success in which may depend on background knowledge acquired at home. The authors of the study investigated two datasets. The first was a longitudinal study of the app. 20,000 students who went to kindergarten in 1998, whereas the second focus group involved app. 300,000 four- and eighth-grade studentsin both cases, the results have proven that the leading position of private schools is a myth: Math achievements in public schools were much higher in both cases. Also, students were interviewed on topics of segregation and bullying: The answers proved to be much the same (Libienski and Libienski 56-61).

Implications

The results obtained show that the solution to the problem of choosing a school should not be a random one. Before making up their mind, parents should analyze the statistics on the topic to see whether the institution under consideration can provide an education of higher quality than that offered by a traditional school.

Public school teachers are more likely to have proper certifications and are required to participate in programs of professional development, which accounts for the fact that they are aware of current educational trends. In fact, it turns out that teachers of private schools are more likely to use outdated materials and fail in instructional approaches (Smith 27). This can considerably impair the quality of education.

Conclusion

As we can see, the answer to the question of whether to choose a public or private school is not a straightforward one. In many cases, private schools offer more comfortable conditions, better facilities, and closer attention to each student. However, parents must be careful about giving preference to this option since all these benefits, despite their attractiveness, fail to give better academic results. If they want their children to acquire a good background, theyd better opt for classical education.

Works Cited

Crawford, Amy. Public Schools Beat Private Schools. Boston Globe. 2013. Web.

Lubienski, Christopher A., and Sarah T. Lubienski. The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

Public Schools vs. Private Schools: Which are Better? The Cycle, uploaded by NBC News. 2013. Web.

Smith, Gregory A., ed. Public Schools That Work: Creating Community. Routledge, 2014.

Warner, Benjamin P., and Monica Elser. How Do Sustainable Schools Integrate Sustainability Education? An Assessment of Certified Sustainable K12 Schools in the United States. The Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 46, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1-22.

Industry and business activity to be studied

In this report, I have chosen education as my business activity which involves comparison between public and private schools in the UAE. The main activities in this report involve comparison between private and public schools in the UAE.

In order to do an effective comparison between these two kinds of schools, the project centers its study on the following areas or aspects of schools, performance (in doing homework), gender population, mode of transport and nationality population.

Such aspects will provide important information on accessibility of education in both the private and the public schools. Also information on the rising demand of private schools and the reason they are preferred by foreign students. Education plays a crucial role in the economy of the UAE. It is the main reason for increased productivity and income.

Strategic effects of education on the economy of UAE

Education is strategically important to the economy of the UAE. This proves the words of the President of the UAE ‘education is like a lantern which lights your way in a dark alley’ and an increased attention of his wife to promoting this issue in the country (Al Sadik 219). This is because the relationship between education and economic growth is vital.

Education is the key determinant of increased productivity and growth in the economy of the UAE. Education is an important element in development of skills necessary in enhancement of modernization and growth in the country. In their study, Joan Muysken and Samia Nour emphasize the interconnection of low development of local technologies and slow restructure of the economy with the poor education (957).

To improve the situation in the country, “in the fall of 2003, His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research… initiated a special national level planning group aimed at advancing national educational policy in the UAE” (Fox 2).

The UAE is endowed with abundant natural resources; oil and gas. In order to ensure improved technology in processing of oil related products, intensive training and education is needed. Such training also provides jobs to the citizens of the UAE. Education plays a key role in research and technology. Research and technology ensure that education provided matches the requirements of job market.

Education is the key element in ensuring that the UAE emerges from the economic crisis facing the world today. The country seeks to play an active role in education in order to ensure an economy which is knowledge based. The reason is that, an educated person is able to turn risks and challenges into social and economic opportunities which are feasible.

All strategies and development plans of the UAE are influenced by education because it plays a vital role of removing all obstacles which hinder sustainable development and achievement of high rates of growth. With rapid increase in the country’s population, education is the key investment because this population provides human capital which is important in the UAE’s economy.

Comparison between public and private school will impact the economy because it shall give a guideline on tastes and preferences of different students. This will help the government at this time it is investing heavily on education. The study will affect the economy also by showing contributions of gender and students of different nationalities towards sustainable development.

Methods of data collection

The data collected is both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through observation. The most employed technique of observation in this report is in-depth technique. Participative and non- participative technique was partly used.

In-depth interviews were carried out through a short questionnaire which had the questions on performance, gender, mode of transport and nationality of students was administered. These interviews were done face to face, computer assisted and through telephones.

The ones done through computer and telephone calls were directed to known persons like principals, head teachers or head of departments to give information on performance of students and gender population. Questionnaires were administered to students and were done face to face and provided information on all four key areas of study.

Surveys were employed too to observe the behavior of students, the mode of transport they preferred and the nationality percentage.. These methods were used to reduce errors that may occur as a result of using one method of collecting data.

Participative and non-participative methods of observation were partly used to observe some of the students’ behavior in order to make observations too, mostly on mode of transport and nationality aspects. Secondary data is usually collected and recorded by someone else.

This data was derived from records, books, logs and journals. Journals on leaders of the UAE on their plans of investing on education and importance of education to this provided secondary data. Such data was readily available on libraries and internet.

Data analysis

The data collected was in numerical form. Tally method was used to derive data from every questionnaire, call and survey. A table containing the four aspects of study had to be drawn (columns for performance, transport, gender and nationality and rows for private and public schools).

Use of spreadsheet program in form Microsoft Excel was most appropriate in calculations of percentages as well as displaying the results. It provided an appropriate means of summarizing the information collected.

Graphs were used to display the results and gave an excellent choice. On x- axis was the independent variable, that public and private schools while on y- axis was the percentages for each (dependent variable). The data was in sets so different colours had to be used for labeling purposes. Also a legend has been provided in all graphs.

The data collected showed girls performed better in doing their homework than boys on both government and private schools. It also showed that the enrollment of girls was higher than boys in both kinds of school.

In regards to the mode of transport, a higher percentage prefers cars as compared to buses in government school while in the private sector are the opposite. Also the study established that a high percentage of foreign students prefer private schools. This is because these schools offer foreign languages. Such conclusions will help the government in decision-making when investing in education.

References

Al Sadik, T. (2001) Evolution and performance of the UAE economy 1972-1998. United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective, 4, 46, 202-230.

Fox, W. (2007.) The United Arab Emirates: Policy choices shaping the future of public higher education, 3, 20, 49-55.

Muysken, J. and Samia N. (2006). Deficiencies in education and poor prospects for Economic growth in the Gulf countries. The case of the UAE. Journal of Development Studies 42, 957-980.

Introduction

Since historic times, private schools have an educational advantage over public schools. They employ an independent learning system from that of public schools. Consequentially, the private school’s education is highly valued, and most parents are willing to pay more for the private school’s educational advantages.

In fact, private schools continue to produce most of the ruling classes in many countries. In the recent past, there has been a rise in the demand for education offered in private schools relative to public schools notwithstanding the high cost of private education. Accordingly, the competition by private schools for qualified teaching staff has led to a recurring problem of teacher shortages in the labour market.

According to Chubb and Moe, private schools employ a larger share of teachers despite the small number of pupils relative to public schools (97). In this regard, the gap in the state sector and independent school sector has been widening. However, the most pertinent question is whether the teaching methods employed in private schools are in any way different from those used in public schools.

While the disproportionate number of teachers in private schools relative to public schools may compromise quality education in public schools, the teaching methods is largely responsible for the disparities between the two sectors. Evidently, teachers in the private education sector enjoy better work conditions including working with fewer pupils, longer holidays and better pay than their public sector counterparts do.

This can be a source of the competitive advantage of private schools over public schools. Rigorous evaluation and recruitment of highly qualified staff ensures quality-teaching methods in private schools compared to public schools. The differences between public and private schools cause the disparities in performance.

The Private and Public School Teachers

The demand for private education has been rising. It is in this context that the demand for teachers by private schools has also been increasing. As expected, private schools have more teaching staff per student than in public schools. As a result, the teachers in the private sector are able to teach a relative smaller class of students and deliver a broad range of learning activities than teachers in the public sector.

This provides the rationale for the relatively higher fees charged by private schools. In addition, the increasing pressure for teachers to deliver improved academic credentials and provide a wider variety of curricular activities has led to increased demand for more qualified teaching staff. Evidence establishes a link between academic performance of the pupils and class size (Chubb, and Moe 101). It is clear that, more resources generate better academic results in the private sector.

Thus, the growing demand for high-quality education is manifested in the rise, in demand for private education. Although, the market supply and demand forces influence teacher’s labour market, institutional constraints largely cause the disparity (Chubb, and Moe 99). Hiring of private schools in private schools is mostly decentralized and a prerogative of independent schools.

In addition, historically, the private schools comprise of a small share in the teacher labour market. The private teachers tend to possess specified skills and competencies that differentiate them from the public sector teaching staff.

In particular, subject specificity is evident in the private sector compared to the public sector. In addition, private schools are not bound to follow a rigid national curriculum, which public schools have to keep. Independent schools also teach traditional subjects, which are not taught in public schools such as sports and music. Charter schools possess some elements from both private and public school systems.

Usually, private schools design their curricula and select their teachers independently. On the other hand, public schools have to adhere to federal, state and local educational standards. Thus, teaching in private schools differs markedly from teaching in public schools in many ways. The differences range from educational standards, resources and the level of teachers’ training, which results to the educational disparity between the two sectors.

With regard to funding, the public schools entirely rely on government funding, which means that they are bound to follow educational standards set by federal, state or local governments. By contrast, private schools receive funding from different sources including grants, tuition fees and endowments.

This gives them autonomy to set their own educational standards that confer them an advantage over public schools. With regard to teacher qualifications, public schools have teacher accreditation programs such as the state credentialing program (Chubb, and Moe 102) that all public school teachers have to undertake. On the other hand, since the private schools set their own standards, the accordingly set their own teacher credentialing requirements.

Comparisons between Public and Private School Teaching

Comparisons of private and public school teaching can be difficult given the many factors at play. Furthermore, schools are better evaluated at an individual level over a given period.

Dee posits, “Academic performance in private, public, and chartered schools is variable, ranging from satisfactory to dismal” (421). A study conducted in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Education established that, student achievement, especially in mathematics and comprehension, were higher in pupils in private schools compared to pupils in public schools (157).

Besides the school sector, i.e. private or public, student characteristics including previous academic achievement, economic status, level of motivation and parental support and involvement in their children’s learning also have an impact on performance. Furthermore, school’s characteristics including the composition of the staff and students, nature of the community and the class size may influence the performance outcomes independent of the school sector.

Nevertheless, there are crucial differences in public and private school learning particularly in coursework. Often, private schools teach subjects on religion and ethics, a practice largely lacking in public schools. According to Dee, private schools pupils are required to do more course work in high-school level extending up to a whole year compared to public schools (419).

Much emphasis is laid on high-demand subjects such as science, mathematics, computer technology and languages. Furthermore, students in private schools are more likely to participate in community service as a requirement to graduate. The private school’s curriculums contain diverse topics such as music to nurture talent and exceptional skills. In contrast, such topics and education on morals and religion are not integrated into public school curriculum.

Another difference between the two education sectors arises in the pedagogical methods used. Both private and public schools employ unique teaching methods, as they deem appropriate. Thus, differences in teaching practices range from assessment techniques, student discipline, grading system and standardized tests. Private schools, unlike public schools, usually design their own tests and assessment criteria and set their own rules.

Differences in Academic Programs

Major reform efforts have been put in place to ensure higher academic standards for public and private schools at elementary and secondary levels. One of the goals of these reform efforts is to enable students to handle subjects such as science, mathematics and reading in a competent manner. At the elementary level, various aspects of instructional methods differ between the public and private sectors.

In particular, the classroom instructional methods, handling of homework and time allocated to core subjects are different between the two sectors (Stubbs 161). Ballou and Podgursky found out that, teachers in public elementary school spend, on average, 3 hours more on core subjects (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies) than private teachers do (399). In contrast, private school teachers allocated more time on subjects such as physical education, art, music and religious studies.

At the elementary level, teachers in both public and private schools employ similar instructional strategies. As Stubbs puts it, “elementary teachers in private and public education sectors explain concepts using a chalk and a board or a projector”, (154).

However, private schools show increased use of information technology, television programs and computer applications as learning aids (Stubbs 156). In addition, private teachers often involve videotapes or computer applications when explaining a concept while public school teachers normally lecture.

Elementary instructional methods between the two sectors also differ with regard to homework. According to Ballou, and Podgursky, a higher percentage of private school pupils handle more homework in a week than public school pupils (394). Besides, private school teachers are more likely to correct and return homework to pupils given the small size of the classes they handle.

The differences experienced at the elementary level also exist at high-school level. Overall, the academic programs in private schools are more rigorous compared to those in public schools. Pupils in private schools are required to study a foreign language and take more units at high school than public school students. Ballou and Podgursky study show that, high school graduates from private schools have studied advanced science and mathematics units such as algebra and trigonometry among others (411).

Besides the curricular differences, academic support and health-related services for students also vary between the two sectors; the availability of these services depend on resources available in the school and the significance a school places on the support services. Given that private schools have more financial resources, they are able to provide a broad range of support services for their students.

Nevertheless, some services may be present in public schools, in line with the requirements of local, state or federal legislations. Private schools also have wider library collections that serve the academic needs of the students adequately. Library and media centers are indispensable facilities in any school as they provide the students access to learning materials.

In addition, the class sizes in public schools are relatively bigger resulting to a higher student/teacher ratio. According to the U.S. department of Education, private schools teacher to student ratio stands at one teacher for 13 pupils against the public school’s 16 pupils per teacher (154). However, this may not be applicable in schools dealing with students with exceptional needs.

Conclusion

Private and public school have show variations in many aspects. Overall, the private schools have an advantage in many respects. The teachers in private schools possess certain attributes that set them apart from their public schools counterparts. The instructional strategies used are largely similar between the two sectors.

Private schools emphasize on non-core disciplines such as art while public schools emphasize on the four core subjects (science, mathematics, social studies and English. The differences in curricula, teacher attributes and instructional methods result to some of the disparities between public and private schools.

Works Cited

Ballou, Darren, and Monhro Podgursky. “Teacher Recruitment and Retention in Publicand Private Schools.” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 17.3 (1998): 393-417.

Chubb, John, and Terry Moe. Politics, Markets, and America’s Schools, Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution.1990. 97-102

Dee, Tommy. “Competition and the Quality of Public Schools.” Economics of Education Review 17.4, (1998):419-427.

Stubbs, Marcia. Little, Brown Reader (11^th Edition). New York: Longman. 2009: 156- 163

U.S. Department of Education. The Condition of Education 1997 (NCES 97-388).

Washington D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics,2006: 150-157.

Introduction

The choice of the best school is the eternal problem for all parents. Many debates have occurred on this basis. Public and private schools vary in numerous aspects. Nevertheless, the most significant reason for parents’ choice of public schools is the cost of studying at private schools. Although public schools are free for all students, private schools are better for pupils because of the profound approach to studying and the effective environment for education.

The comparison of public and private schools

The determination of the best type of school can be rather a challenging task. There are both advantages and disadvantages in the public and private sector of education. It is necessary to compare the schools on the basis of several significant factors.

Quality of education

The school program and teachers’ qualifications predetermine the quality of teaching. Thus, public schools should follow the standards defined by the national curriculum. Private schools can offer a wider choice of subjects to be taught. For instance, some schools include specific topics in their programs such as sexual or religious education of children.

Some parents may choose the particular school because its basis meets their principles and understanding of the world. Besides, the teacher in private schools is free to choose thy ways of presenting new material. However, some subjects such as mathematics, history, and science are obligatory in both types of schools.

Private schools demonstrate the better quality of education because of their admission standards. Private schools accept students who pass necessary tests and prove that they have the desired level of knowledge. Such a selection enhances the quality expectations. Public schools have to accept all students regardless of the level of their knowledge. Very often, this fact impedes the achievement of good academic results (Kennedy par. 6).

Exposure to violence

The level of violence in public schools is of primary concern to principals. There have been many cases of shooting in public schools. Consequently, public schools have to work on their security measures. It is also difficult to monitor the intentions and activities of all students in public schools.

On the contrary, private schools are considered to be safer than public. It can be explained by several facts. As far as private schools do not have to accept all students, the risk for dangerous behaviors is lower. Also, it is easier to supervise pupils in private schools because they are less in number.

Class size

The number of students who are taught is significant for the efficiency of education. In public schools, almost thirty students go to one class. Teachers face difficulty in approaching and engaging every student. The time devoted to the lesson is not enough for providing all pupils with opportunities to express themselves and answer.

In private schools, the class is comprised of no more than twenty students. Thus, teachers have the possibility to monitor the academic achievements of every pupil in the class. During the lesson, the teacher can approach every student and evaluate his or her knowledge. Consequently, the teacher notices students who need more attention and can help them to catch up with others.

Social development

The school environment influences the social and moral development of students drastically. This environment includes the social support, the educational programs, relations with other peers, and teachers’ approaches to the presentation of new material. Strong relationships are essential for the efficient social development of the child. Thus, students are more likely to greet each other or help with different activities when they have positive feelings (National School Climate Center 1).

It is rather difficult to define the type of school that is the best for the appropriate social development of children. The social development of children depends on the school environment. One cannot say that positive school environments are typical for private or public schools only.

Public schools can be helpful because pupils have the possibility to communicate with many people. They can find many friends and develop positively. However, there is a risk that the students may find friends who will influence them negatively. Also, an enormous diversity of public schools’ society provides the opportunity to learn how to behave and communicate effectively in society.

Private schools, at the same time, may have the better environment for the social development because of the limited number of learners. Administrators and school personnel can do their best to create the most efficient environment for pupils while it is not always possible in public schools.

Cost

The primary disadvantage of private school is their cost. They are much more expensive than public schools. The necessity to pay for private education limits the number of students whose parents can afford paying annual fees. Public schools are funded by local authorities and provide all students with the equal opportunity for studying.

Conclusion

A variety of aspects influences the choice of school. Private schools provide students with better academic opportunities in comparison to public one. Despite the fact that public schools require no tuition fees and can be useful for the development of social skills, private schools are better because of the high quality of education, a limited class size, and a low level of violence.

Works Cited

Kennedy, Robert. Comparison of Private and Public Schools. n.d. Web.

National School Climate Center. School Climate and Moral and Social Development. 2013. Web.

Need to compare and contrast public and private schools? Essay samples like this one will help you with this task! Here, you will learn about advantages, disadvantages, and differences between public schools vs private schools. Choose your side of the debate and persuade the readers in your public school vs private school essay!

Public School vs Private School Essay Introduction

Comparing private and public schools can be more or less like comparing oranges and apples, two very disparate things that can never be held on similar standards. Choosing the best school for your child is one of the most important decisions parents have to make for their children but most parents rely on rumors and hearsay in deciding on whether to send their children to a private or a public school.

The best ways to determine whether you are making the right decision for your child is by visiting the school and asking for clarification from teachers for all your queries. What school your youngster attend to is a personal decision which is greatly determined by the family values, special needs of the kids, his mannerisms and interests.

This essay critically compares the differences and similarities, advantages and disadvantages and the issues that a rise in both private and public schools that affects the education of the children mainly preschool kids the its effects they on the kids future life.

Private Schools vs Public Schools: Classroom Size & Admission

Statistics show that some time back private school used to do better than public schools but recently this gap has been narrowing and making it harder for parents to choose between a private independent school with a high price tag on it, from a local public school which is relatively cheaper (Diana, 2006).

According to Maureen ( 2011, pp.10) public schools usually have larger class sizes due to the fact that they are required to admit every child who meets the qualifications set by the government. This offers an advantage to the pre-school children by improving their communication and socializing skills since they interact with more children from different races, cultures and social classes.

However, large classes are also disadvantageous in that it reduces the ratio of teachers to students and this tends to limit the teacher’s concentration on students hence limiting the children’s there performance. The average ratio of teachers to students in public schools is 1:17while in private schools its 1:9.

Private schools on the other hand are very selective in terms of their admissions. Some schools cannot admit students from certain religions, races or even economic status. This tends to reduce the population of private schools. Some of the long term effects to children attending privately owned pre-schools are poor socializing skills due to the low population size and similar social classes, religion and lack of diverse cultures (Robert, 2011, pp4).

Cost & Tuition

Public schools are cheaper and they are funded by the government and some of them are usually underfunded. They are a part of the large school system which is part of the government and this makes them vulnerable to the political influence hence exposes them to political vulnerabilities which if experienced affects their performance.

The economic status of the country and the government also greatly affects the operations of public schools. Their curriculum is determined by the government and as you know different regions face different challenges hence the need for different curriculum to meet the different needs. (GreatSchools, 2010, pp.5)

Private schools on the other hand charge a higher tuition fee which is the major source of its funds. This makes them independent and protects them from the political realm hence they are free to determine their own curricula which is usually single minded, producing best results by providing the best quality of education possible (Eddie , 2011, pp.4)

In cases of children with special needs public schools usually have special programs and specially trained teachers who are well trained to work with such children. In contrast most private schools lack these programs and they are sometimes forced to deny such kids admission to their institutions and sometimes these services may be offered at an extra cost.

Conclusion

Is the question about which schools are better, private or public schools, answered yet? I bet not since there are no clear conclusions since they both have advantages and disadvantages as we have seen. In a nut shell the best school for ones child depends on the values, mannerisms, family, back ground, needs and interests of both the parents and the children. In other words one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

References

Diana, J. S. (2006). Public Schools Perform Near Private Ones in Study. Web.

Eddie, R. (2011). Pre School Education:Private Schools Vs PublicSchools. Web.

Great Schools Staff. (2010). Private versus public. Web.

Maureen, B. (2011). Public vs. private: Which is right for your child?Web.

Robert, N. (2011). Private vs Public Schools: Class Size. Web.

Introduction

The increasing importance of education in the modern world makes parents particularly concerned with the choice of school for their children. More and more of them now tend to give preference to private schooling over traditional public ones (Smith 13). There has been a heated debate about this prevalence since a lot of aspects (including academic curriculum, funding, racial integration, and personal educational views) have to be taken into consideration before making a reasonable choice.

Importance of the Topic

It may seem that the topic is not worth discussing as it is a personal business of each family to decide, which option is better for their kids. However, an informed choice is hindered by the lack of awareness of the real state of things. Due to a generally positive and elite image of private schools, many parents believe that a more prestigious institution would offer their children better studying conditions, closer attention of teachers, higher standards of education, and a more tolerant attitude (implying no prejudice, segregation or bullying) (Warner and Elser 5). However, when we have a closer look at the problem, we will find out that those who are convinced of private schools’ educational supremacy are deluded by advertising or fall victims of “the more expensive–the better” effect. Thus, it is highly important to restore justice to public education and ensure that the choice parents make is a well-grounded one.

Research Results

Research, involving more than 300,000 middle and elementary school students from 15,108 schools of different types, revealed that students attending public schools outperform those from a private school, specifically in mathematics (“Public Schools vs. Private Schools”). Other studies analyzed the results of nationwide standardized tests and concluded that public schools also did better than charter schools (Crawford).

These results are supported by Christopher and Sarah Lubienski in their book The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools. The authors analyzed math achievement scores as, according to their view, this is the best indicator of school effectiveness. The point is that this subject is learned primarily in school, unlike other disciplines, the success in which may depend on background knowledge acquired at home. The authors of the study investigated two datasets. The first was a longitudinal study of the app. 20,000 students who went to kindergarten in 1998, whereas the second focus group involved app. 300,000 four- and eighth-grade students–in both cases, the results have proven that the leading position of private schools is a myth: Math achievements in public schools were much higher in both cases. Also, students were interviewed on topics of segregation and bullying: The answers proved to be much the same (Libienski and Libienski 56-61).

Implications

The results obtained show that the solution to the problem of choosing a school should not be a random one. Before making up their mind, parents should analyze the statistics on the topic to see whether the institution under consideration can provide an education of higher quality than that offered by a traditional school.

Public school teachers are more likely to have proper certifications and are required to participate in programs of professional development, which accounts for the fact that they are aware of current educational trends. In fact, it turns out that teachers of private schools are more likely to use outdated materials and fail in instructional approaches (Smith 27). This can considerably impair the quality of education.

Conclusion

As we can see, the answer to the question of whether to choose a public or private school is not a straightforward one. In many cases, private schools offer more comfortable conditions, better facilities, and closer attention to each student. However, parents must be careful about giving preference to this option since all these benefits, despite their attractiveness, fail to give better academic results. If they want their children to acquire a good background, they’d better opt for classical education.

Works Cited

Crawford, Amy. “Public Schools Beat Private Schools.” Boston Globe. 2013. Web.

Lubienski, Christopher A., and Sarah T. Lubienski. The Public School Advantage: Why Public Schools Outperform Private Schools. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

“Public Schools vs. Private Schools: Which are Better?” The Cycle, uploaded by NBC News. 2013. Web.

Smith, Gregory A., ed. Public Schools That Work: Creating Community. Routledge, 2014.

Warner, Benjamin P., and Monica Elser. “How Do Sustainable Schools Integrate Sustainability Education? An Assessment of Certified Sustainable K–12 Schools in the United States.” The Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 46, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1-22.