Joanna Track

Like all mothers (or mothers-to-be in my case) we want only the best for our children.  But sometimes what defines something as “best” is unclear. Should we let them play independently, or should we keep a constant vigil to ensure they’re safe? Should we give them down time, or should we enrich their lives with a myriad of activities?

It seems one of the biggest questions within families these days is “Should they go to public or private school?” From someone who is currently living through this challenge, I can say that it is a sensitive issue (the opinion divide seems greater than that between Obama and Rush Limbaugh!). And as with many debates, I don’t think there is a clear winner.

Having said that, I do have a strong opinion (and since this is my blog I get the advantage of stating a one-sided argument). I am a big believer in the public school system. Not only did I grow up in it (and I didn’t do too badly for myself), almost every successful entrepreneur and business person I know did too.

But it’s not just because it’s the devil I know, I also have a few philosophies as to why it’s such a rich environment for children:

1. Some of the most important lessons you learn at school are not necessarily the ones that are taught in the classroom. By this I mean, that not only is your child learning to read and write, but they are also learning key lessons in socialization. And most private schools provide limited exposure to “real world” circumstances. Being only around one gender, or one religion, or one socio-economic status, creates a very homogeneous environment and not one that I believe provides the best training for real life.
    
2. Public schools tend to provide a much better sense of community. Many parents (present company included) haul their children to schools that are far from home. Not only is the driving a colossal pain in the butt, but the children lose that sense of community and neighbourhood that a public school provides. Some of my most cherished memories include walking home from school with my friends, convening with all the neighbourhood kids at the park, at the corner store, or rounding up the troops for street hockey. When you get to know the kids (and parents) and your local school, you also get to know your community.

3. Does a private school prepare your child 250,000 times better than a public school?  I ask because that’s how much more it costs over the course of 12 years (and that’s just for one child). Not only is that relevant given the current state of the economy, but I also consider the opportunity cost of sending a child to private school compared to all of the other things you can do with that money. For example, one thing that I missed out on as a child was traveling with my family. As an adult I scraped together every spare cent to see the world, and I believe it has been more valuable than any private school education. Having the opportunity to take my children to see interesting places and cultures around the world means so much more to me than knowing that their school has brand new sports facilities or or renovated washrooms. 

My husband and I have made a pact that we will save at least half the money that would have sent our child to private school and will put it in a fund until they reach adulthood. So time will tell who is better prepared for the real world, the ones with the private school education, or the one with a six figure safety net? (Given housing prices these days, I can only imagine what they’ll be come 2040).

I could keep going on, but I know that some will never see it the same way as me. While I think many people select private schools for the right reasons (special needs, substandard public schools in their neighbourhood), sadly I see many people who are caught up in the social status they think it symbolizes. But I’m not buying it (or those silly uniforms for that matter).

One last point. The strength of our public school system is a self-fulfilling prophecy. So the more parents (especially those with higher incomes) that opt to send their children there, the stronger they become. And I, for one, look forward to adding to that strength.