Public vs. Private

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 07-01-2004, 11:47 AM

I'm considering transferring to a local public school, for a number of reasons, but mostly because they've got more to offer in my areas of interest. But I'm aware that I could be making the worst mistake ever. Just as a little survey, because I know a lot of you have gone through different methods of schooling...what are your thoughts?

I've been through public, private, tutoring, and homeschool. I've seen pros and cons to each one.

I learned the most from tutoring, but had no contact with other kids my age.

Homeschool was niiiiiiice, but...same problem. You have to get out of the house once in awhile.

Public gave me contact with a variety of people, but classrooms were crowded (Even though the public school I attended was relatively small), and I could never trust that my classmates would be, eh, behaving themselves, on campus. Facilities were disgusting--toilets didn't flush, no doors on the stalls, drinking fountains gave red water if they worked at all...dirty floors, cracked walls, bottomless auditorium seats, etc.

Private gave me a dependable education and the security that at least kids would be abstinate and sober on campus--I don't care what they do at home in their alleys, as long as I don't have to see it. I also liked the dress code. It wasn't as strict as most private schools' uniforms, but it was rigid enough to blur the economic lines as far as clothing goes. Plus, I have strong ties with my friends, and plenty of people outside of my little niche that I can talk to.
The downside to my private school is that everyone is of a much higher social status than I am. Dress code or no dress code, I can't really escape that. Also, the school acts like it fosters "out-of-the-box" thinking, but their choices for budget cuts (All in the arts, pretty much) betray the school's left-brainedness. So I always sort of feel left out. Thirdly, it's a tiny school, which is a positive aspect in many ways. But I've been with the same seventy kids for four years, and it's starting to drive me crazy. The bittersweet thing about small schools is that everyone knows you. You have an epithet that you establish from your first day, and it sticks to you socially no matter how much you change.

[ July 01, 2004, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Princess Zelda of Hyrule: God Bless ]

El Barto · 07-01-2004, 01:21 PM

Typicallty, I think the best education is found in private schools. I'm not thrilled with the idea, though...

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 07-01-2004, 01:34 PM

Yeah, I'd have to agree. My older sister went to a public school for pretty much all her life, and she was constantly complaining about how lazy and awful her teachers were. Private schools definitely offer better quality in their courses.
But public schools offer a greater variety. Which is one of the reasons why I'm considering switching over. I've never taken a music theory class, and I really want to take psychology. My private school doesn't offer either of those courses. For core subjects, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors basically have two options: Honors or regular. Which stinks.

ocarinagirl · 07-01-2004, 10:30 PM

Hell, public school has always worked fine for me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ditto · 07-02-2004, 01:22 PM

I attended/survived public school, but I never knew anything else. Go if you think it'll give you want, but it sounds like you know the ups and downs of every system better than any of us could ever enlighten you to.

What's this nonsense about social status, and people being higher than you? What's that mean? We don't live in bloody Britain.

I wonder what I'd have turned out like if I'd gone to a good school...

Hm... had more friends, but probably would have had to work harder or have been less successful. God knows my biggest sin is Sloth.

AJ Middleton · 07-02-2004, 02:55 PM

Public by far.

Juliet · 07-02-2004, 03:40 PM

Sorry, everyone, you're going to have to put up with a virtual twinfight...

Quote:

The downside to my private school is that everyone is of a much higher social status than I am. Dress code or no dress code, I can't really escape that.

So? Nobody cares about economic status at our school except people who are needlessly self-conscious about their own.

Quote:

Also, the school acts like it fosters "out-of-the-box" thinking, but their choices for budget cuts (All in the arts, pretty much) betray the school's left-brainedness. So I always sort of feel left out.

1. Right-brainedness
2. The budget cuts have affected choir and nothing else. We just got the whole theater redone, remember?

Quote:

The bittersweet thing about small schools is that everyone knows you. You have an epithet that you establish from your first day, and it sticks to you socially no matter how much you change.

And this would be different in a public school...how?

[ July 02, 2004, 03:56 PM: Message edited by: Juliet ]

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 07-02-2004, 04:14 PM

Quote:

So? Nobody cares about economic status at our school except people who are needlessly self-conscious about their own.

To hear people talking about their parents buying them a new car every time they get in a wreck, to hear people talking about buying new cell phones because their old ones are a week out of date, to go over to friends' houses and not be able to drink WATER in the living room because their parents are so fussy about keeping the expensive furniture tidy...and, even worse, to have everyone outside of school assume I'm a super-genius from an enormously rich family...I only got into the school in the first place because I'm a girl. Which is totally unfair, because there are lots of guys out there who merit a spot lightyears more than I do.

Quote:

1. Right-brainedness

What are you talking about? Budget cuts in the arts defintely don't demonstrate right-brainedness. Especially when those same cuts don't seem to be taking place in athletics. They made a HUGE stink with the footfall state championships.

Quote:

2. The budget cuts have affected choir and nothing else.

They don't have the piano lab anymore. The only ensemble that's still in uniform is the jazz band, and who knows how long that will last.

Quote:

And this would be different in a public school...how?

More people. Tons more people.

ocarinagirl · 07-02-2004, 05:59 PM

No, I'm pretty sure it's left-brainedness that cuts out the arts. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

^Yeah, my high school made a HUGE deal about the football team. Which was stupid, since they weren't even any good. It was the basketball team who pwned everybody and went to state.

[ July 02, 2004, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Bad Andi ]

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 07-02-2004, 06:21 PM

Football is overrated. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

*All football players at VGF tackle me*

ZeldaGirl · 07-02-2004, 06:55 PM

^ Football is overrated. Nobody cared a lick at our school about volleyball, (it's season is simultaneous with football's) and we were the state champs! And football finished with a mediocre record, but everyone went to their games... okay, anyways, I'm ranting.

[img]tongue.gif[/img]

I'd go with public schools over private.

[ July 02, 2004, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: ZeldaGirl ]

***CaptHayfever*** · 07-03-2004, 12:13 AM

Oddly enough, most of the kids in my private school were dirt poor (tuition being their big expense), yet somehow a LOT of them were getting new cars from their parents and bragging.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Katyrna · 07-03-2004, 01:09 AM

In my experience, public is better. I attended private all my life up through 7th grade. Public changed me mostly for the better (I'm still a recluse--kind of--but not nearly as much!), and I had a lot more options when I switched to public. Hard transition, but I know it was well worth it.

Viceroy Nute Gunray · 07-03-2004, 11:11 AM

I was homeschooled throughout this year due to my surgery. Homeschooling does greatly affect your social life and skills, no arguing about it. But, public school has a great deal of problems also.

AJ Middleton · 07-03-2004, 12:49 PM

Public school, I suppose, depends on where you are. Our school district has been ranked as one of the best in the nation, so naturally I support it. But I know things are totally different down in NYC.

Juliet · 07-03-2004, 04:05 PM

*Suddenly gets "America" from West Side Story stuck in her head*

Quote:

To hear people talking about their parents buying them a new car every time they get in a wreck, to hear people talking about buying new cell phones because their old ones are a week out of date, to go over to friends' houses and not be able to drink WATER in the living room because their parents are so fussy about keeping the expensive furniture tidy...and, even worse, to have everyone outside of school assume I'm a super-genius from an enormously rich family...I only got into the school in the first place because I'm a girl. Which is totally unfair, because there are lots of guys out there who merit a spot lightyears more than I do.

I'd prefer whining about cars and cell phones any day to hearing people brag about drugs, drinking, sex, and all that crap, right in front of the teachers like people did at our old public school. And at least people don't beat each other up on our current school's property.

Wow...you'd think someone who's been surrounded by rich people for so many years would've learned to look beyond all those TV-ingrained stereotypes.

Who assumes we're super-geniuses from a super-wealthy family? Name one person.

Quote:

What are you talking about? Budget cuts in the arts defintely don't demonstrate right-brainedness. Especially when those same cuts don't seem to be taking place in athletics. They made a HUGE stink with the footfall state championships.

Right-brainedness is creativity. Winning the state championship is a big achievement that deserves a lot of recognition. Did they not make a huge stink about West Side Story as well?

Quote:

They don't have the piano lab anymore. The only ensemble that's still in uniform is the jazz band, and who knows how long that will last.

We're not in uniform because nobody wants to be in uniform. We took a vote, remember? They don't have piano lab because Mr. C and Mr. D aren't there anymore. We're getting the whole Arts wing redone, remember?

Quote:

More people. Tons more people.

Tons more people to leave a permanent bad impression on.

Princess Zelda of Hyrule · 07-03-2004, 05:49 PM

Quote:

I'd prefer whining about cars and cell phones any day to hearing people brag about drugs, drinking, sex, and all that crap, right in front of the teachers like people did at our old public school. And at least people don't beat each other up on our current school's property.

Nobody did that at our old public school. It was ELEMENTARY school. The place where you get sent out in the hall if you cuss.

Quote:

Wow...you'd think someone who's been surrounded by rich people for so many years would've learned to look beyond all those TV-ingrained stereotypes.

I'm speaking about observations, not stereotypes.

Quote:

Who assumes we're super-geniuses from a super-wealthy family? Name one person.

On the youth retreat. When I mentioned the school I went to, they all thought I was "smart" and "rich". Everyone at the science museum. Everyone at Davis, everyone in choir, everyone everywhere.

Quote:

Right-brainedness is creativity. Winning the state championship is a big achievement that deserves a lot of recognition. Did they not make a huge stink about West Side Story as well?

When did concert choir get any recognition last year when we got up to the state level? Maybe once at assembly, while everyone, including me, was asleep.

Quote:

We're not in uniform because nobody wants to be in uniform. We took a vote, remember? They don't have piano lab because Mr. C and Mr. D aren't there anymore. We're getting the whole Arts wing redone, remember?

While all of that money could be better spent on an accompanist, and as a bonus, a director who knows what he or she is doing. It doesn't matter what kind of palace you rehearse in if the ensemble flat-out sucks.
There's no reason why one person should have to handle all the choirs in the school, and while I'm at it, one person for all bands and one person for all orchestras.

Quote:

Tons more people to leave a permanent bad impression on.

Not if half the people are like total strangers to you.

[ July 03, 2004, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: Princess Zelda of Hyrule: God Bless ]

William Huff · 07-09-2004, 01:13 AM

I've never been to a private school, I don't really want to, from what I've heard of a local private school the sports teams break all the academic rules to be better, and the teachers all think they're so smart, granted that's how our public school is.

I like going to my public school because I can play lacrosse there which almost no private schools have, and I most of the people in my grade are cool.

Juliet · 07-09-2004, 09:33 AM

My private school has a lacrosse team...

imported_ · 07-09-2004, 10:12 AM

Mine too.

My experience has been entirely private school, so I can't say anything about public school. Private in my opinion has been good, however. Better than the public schools near me, if what I've heard is true, but again, I have no way of really comparing.

The only problem is that in an all-boy high school you could have some people developing socially awkwardly, but I think that's the minority.

View Poll Results: Which is better, public or private?
Public	8	53.33%
Private	7	46.67%
Voters: 15. You may not vote on this poll \| Withdraw Vote

07-01-2004, 11:47 AM	#1
Princess Zelda of Hyrule Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hyrule Castle Gender: Posts: 6,128 Thanks: 35 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	I'm considering transferring to a local public school, for a number of reasons, but mostly because they've got more to offer in my areas of interest. But I'm aware that I could be making the worst mistake ever. Just as a little survey, because I know a lot of you have gone through different methods of schooling...what are your thoughts? I've been through public, private, tutoring, and homeschool. I've seen pros and cons to each one. I learned the most from tutoring, but had no contact with other kids my age. Homeschool was niiiiiiice, but...same problem. You have to get out of the house once in awhile. Public gave me contact with a variety of people, but classrooms were crowded (Even though the public school I attended was relatively small), and I could never trust that my classmates would be, eh, behaving themselves, on campus. Facilities were disgusting--toilets didn't flush, no doors on the stalls, drinking fountains gave red water if they worked at all...dirty floors, cracked walls, bottomless auditorium seats, etc. Private gave me a dependable education and the security that at least kids would be abstinate and sober on campus--I don't care what they do at home in their alleys, as long as I don't have to see it. I also liked the dress code. It wasn't as strict as most private schools' uniforms, but it was rigid enough to blur the economic lines as far as clothing goes. Plus, I have strong ties with my friends, and plenty of people outside of my little niche that I can talk to. The downside to my private school is that everyone is of a much higher social status than I am. Dress code or no dress code, I can't really escape that. Also, the school acts like it fosters "out-of-the-box" thinking, but their choices for budget cuts (All in the arts, pretty much) betray the school's left-brainedness. So I always sort of feel left out. Thirdly, it's a tiny school, which is a positive aspect in many ways. But I've been with the same seventy kids for four years, and it's starting to drive me crazy. The bittersweet thing about small schools is that everyone knows you. You have an epithet that you establish from your first day, and it sticks to you socially no matter how much you change. [ July 01, 2004, 01:28 PM: Message edited by: Princess Zelda of Hyrule: God Bless ]

07-01-2004, 01:21 PM	#2
El Barto Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Typicallty, I think the best education is found in private schools. I'm not thrilled with the idea, though...

07-01-2004, 01:34 PM	#3
Princess Zelda of Hyrule Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hyrule Castle Gender: Posts: 6,128 Thanks: 35 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Yeah, I'd have to agree. My older sister went to a public school for pretty much all her life, and she was constantly complaining about how lazy and awful her teachers were. Private schools definitely offer better quality in their courses. But public schools offer a greater variety. Which is one of the reasons why I'm considering switching over. I've never taken a music theory class, and I really want to take psychology. My private school doesn't offer either of those courses. For core subjects, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors basically have two options: Honors or regular. Which stinks.

07-01-2004, 10:30 PM	#4
ocarinagirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Ehhh? What? Where am I?! Gender: Posts: 3,010 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hell, public school has always worked fine for me. [img]smile.gif[/img]

07-02-2004, 01:22 PM	#5
Ditto Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Not in SSB:M Posts: 354 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I attended/survived public school, but I never knew anything else. Go if you think it'll give you want, but it sounds like you know the ups and downs of every system better than any of us could ever enlighten you to. What's this nonsense about social status, and people being higher than you? What's that mean? We don't live in bloody Britain. I wonder what I'd have turned out like if I'd gone to a good school... Hm... had more friends, but probably would have had to work harder or have been less successful. God knows my biggest sin is Sloth.

07-02-2004, 02:55 PM	#6
AJ Middleton Banned Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 0 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Public by far.

07-02-2004, 05:59 PM	#9
ocarinagirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Ehhh? What? Where am I?! Gender: Posts: 3,010 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No, I'm pretty sure it's left-brainedness that cuts out the arts. [img]tongue.gif[/img] ^Yeah, my high school made a HUGE deal about the football team. Which was stupid, since they weren't even any good. It was the basketball team who pwned everybody and went to state. [ July 02, 2004, 06:02 PM: Message edited by: Bad Andi ]

07-02-2004, 06:21 PM	#10
Princess Zelda of Hyrule Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hyrule Castle Gender: Posts: 6,128 Thanks: 35 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Football is overrated. [img]tongue.gif[/img] All football players at VGF tackle me

07-02-2004, 06:55 PM	#11
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	^ Football is overrated. Nobody cared a lick at our school about volleyball, (it's season is simultaneous with football's) and we were the state champs! And football finished with a mediocre record, but everyone went to their games... okay, anyways, I'm ranting. [img]tongue.gif[/img] I'd go with public schools over private. [ July 02, 2004, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: ZeldaGirl ]

07-03-2004, 12:13 AM	#12
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,661 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	Oddly enough, most of the kids in my private school were dirt poor (tuition being their big expense), yet somehow a LOT of them were getting new cars from their parents and bragging. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

07-03-2004, 01:09 AM	#13
Katyrna Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Hiding in the band locker from the man with an air bazooka... Gender: Posts: 243 Thanks: 6 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	In my experience, public is better. I attended private all my life up through 7th grade. Public changed me mostly for the better (I'm still a recluse--kind of--but not nearly as much!), and I had a lot more options when I switched to public. Hard transition, but I know it was well worth it.

07-03-2004, 11:11 AM	#14
Viceroy Nute Gunray Fallen Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: new york Gender: Posts: 35,822 Thanks: 187 Thanked 129 Times in 92 Posts	I was homeschooled throughout this year due to my surgery. Homeschooling does greatly affect your social life and skills, no arguing about it. But, public school has a great deal of problems also.

07-03-2004, 12:49 PM	#15
AJ Middleton Banned Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 0 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Public school, I suppose, depends on where you are. Our school district has been ranked as one of the best in the nation, so naturally I support it. But I know things are totally different down in NYC.

07-09-2004, 01:13 AM	#18
William Huff Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 85 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I've never been to a private school, I don't really want to, from what I've heard of a local private school the sports teams break all the academic rules to be better, and the teachers all think they're so smart, granted that's how our public school is. I like going to my public school because I can play lacrosse there which almost no private schools have, and I most of the people in my grade are cool.

07-09-2004, 09:33 AM	#19
Juliet Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: The Vinkus Posts: 1,238 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My private school has a lacrosse team...

07-09-2004, 10:12 AM	#20
imported_ Banned Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 0 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mine too. My experience has been entirely private school, so I can't say anything about public school. Private in my opinion has been good, however. Better than the public schools near me, if what I've heard is true, but again, I have no way of really comparing. The only problem is that in an all-boy high school you could have some people developing socially awkwardly, but I think that's the minority.