Private Schools - Research Paper Example

Private Schools Introduction In the United States of America, education is provided both privately and publicly. One of the most crucial public good is education, and both private and public provision plays a vital role. Although the tuition cost in private schools is higher than that of public schools, the merits of private education can outdo the costs. In private schools, the students have better access to teachers compared to those in public schools. Also, the students can have more academic challenges in private schools. Besides, students in private schools may feel safer compared to those who study in the public schools. Background information The private schools were started by the Catholic missionaries back in the sixteenth century. They were first opened in Louisiana and Florida (Henry et al, 2014). The private schools are also known as the nonpublic schools. The private schools are usually controlled by the private corporation. That is, nonaffiliated or religious. Besides, they are supported by the private funds. One characteristic of private school is that of double selection. The private schools select their students and teachers and then the parents or guardians select the schools to take the students. It is, therefore, clear that the private education is due to parental choice. The private schools can be operated by the entrepreneurs whose aim is to make the profit, charities, or the religious groups. Although the public education is free, many people prefer to take their children to private schools. There are many benefits that can be enjoyed in private schools as discussed below. The first benefit of private schooling is academic opportunities provided. In private schools, there are challenging and exceptional educational experiences due to the advanced placement courses and the extracurricular activities among other programs. In the United States, students from the private schools scores better marks than those from public schools on standardized tests (Hahn, Kim & Seo, 2014).). In some private schools, there is a one hundred percent rate of students who are admitted to the universities after passing their exams. The second advantage is that of smaller classes. In private schools, the ratio of teachers to students is lower compared to that in public schools. Students perform better when taught in small class size. Although the private schools vary in size, the teaching style in those schools aims at helping individuals in the small sized classes to advance their strengths and to improve on their weak areas. For the younger students, the children can benefit more especially in mathematics and reading. The lower teacher to student ratio also helps the confidence of children to grow. For classes with a small number of students, the teacher gets to understand the students’ needs and learning styles. The teacher who handles few children has more time to answer individual problems and, therefore, helping the students at individual levels. The third advantage is that of parental involvement. In the private schools, there is an open communication between the administration and the parents. The schools make it a priority to involve the parents. In the private schools, the teacher-parent meetings, the social events, and the participation of parents in the events such as fundraising initiatives makes the parents a vital part in the child’s education. Parental involvement also enables to strengthen the child-parent relationships. The fourth advantage is that of a safe environment. In the United States, the private schools are said to have a reputation of having respect and to be more disciplined. The low ratios of student-to-staff allow more effective control and observation of the students. The teachers can monitor the students closely and control and to discourage bad behaviors. Once the students feel that they are safe, they can improve the achievements. When the children are disciplined in lower ages, they also learn to improve their success rates in future, as they proceed with their studies. The fifth benefit is that of the community environment. In the private schools, due to the small number of students, the friendship that the students form lasts for many years since they live together as a family when in school. The students in the private schools know each other, their dislikes, likes and their quirks. The alumni of the private school create a strong network after they enter the workforce. The sixth benefit of private schooling is that of extracurricular activities. Although in most private schools academics remains crucial and the priority, the students are also encouraged to participate in the extracurricular activities. The activities include music, sports, clubs, or arts. Involving students in the extracurricular activities encourages them in their studies. For instance, the students who are involved in arts have a higher possibility of learning. Involving the students in extracurricular activities make them get a break that gives them time to be away from academics. The students go back to studies when relaxed, making them perform well academically. Besides, the students get a chance to be involved in worthy social situations. The seventh benefit is that of developing today and tomorrow worlds. Despite offering the compulsory subjects required by the curriculum, the private schools can also provide their students with many specializations. They include athletics, art programs, science, and math. In the United States, private schools produce many leaders in business, politics, and society. They are known to be able to adapt quickly to changes in culture and technology. Lastly, in private schools, the satisfaction levels of teachers and parents are high. According to the council of private education, the parents who take their children to private schools are satisfied with the children’s aspects of education than those who takes their children to public schools. In conclusion, parents should at all times be active participants in their children’s education. The private schools offer the best opportunities considering the merits as mentioned earlier. Private schools have few students in a class, they minimize the worries concerning safety, produce students who are more disciplined, and offer an environment where students can get high achievements academically. Besides, private schools provide a community environment making the children get special opportunities that they can’t get otherwise. References Peterson, P. E. (2014). From the Editors Common Core and the War on Self-Deception: Learning the Truth about Schools Helps the School Reform Cause. Education Next, 14(2), 5. Hahn, S., Kim, T. H., & Seo, B. (2014). Effects of Public and Private Schools on Academic Achievement. Seoul Journal of Economics, 27, 137-147. Henry, G. T., Bastian, K. C., Fortner, C. K., Kershaw, D. C., Purtell, K. M., Thompson, C. L., & Zulli, R. A. (2014). Teacher preparation policies and their effects on student achievement. Education, 9(3), 264-303. Read More