Hi,

I'm so very confused and need advice from parents of school going kids. Are Private schools better than public schools? What is the advantage of spending so much (your hard earned money) on Private schools, are they really worth it? If a parent can afford will they be sending kids to private schools?

What is the Desi community of Canada doing, Indians in general don't mind to spend on kid’s education even it means tight budgets. Is there any big difference in the type of education kids get in Private compared to Public? Or its just parent’s prestige in sending kids to Private?

Thanks..................Jona

I am also confued for the same question. We really needs to know if is making some different between Public school VS Private school.

thanks Jonav for nice topic.........

I know that my relatives have put both their children (ages 4 and 6 ) in private school. The husband earns around 10K a month (IT contractor) and wife is a house wife doing a part time home based job. They pay around 600 $ for each child a month. The reason that they tell is that a private school enables the students to get more attention and that the teachers are more accountable.
In my office, we had an Architect who was educated in one of the best public schools in the GTA. He was actually no better than the rest of the lot except that he was highly short tempered and overly self confident.
My view / Take :
I am sure that not more than 1 % of the Desi population can afford private schools ( and esp. when you have 2 or more kids). It can turn to be extremely costly and IMO, there is not much difference between a private school and a private school in Canada. The main diffenences would be :
1. Most students would be from the upper strata of the soceity (thus capitialism is over socilaism)
2. More Individual attention to students and accountability
3. More emphasis on extra curricular activities within the educational system.
4. Trip with the class to destinations across "the ditch" (across pacific, Artic and Atlantic oceans.

Because of the accountability factor these schools are best suited for rich , both parents working Canadians.
For Desi's , who keep a sharp eye on the activities of the students and who educate their children also at home (apart from them learning at schools), it would not make much difference if you are in a private or a public system.
There are equal disadvantages if you allow your child to be associated with only with the rich or whether you allow your child to be associated with people from all the strata of the society.
It is however prudent if you would allow your child to go to a school where the majority of the students come from your ethinic background (like mostly populated by South Indians, Punjabi's, Whites from west Europe, Whites from Canada etc... as you like it)
Hope this helps

Peace out

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Just a live example. My cousins studied in Public school (in Etobicoke). One of them is a Scientist, other is doing his medical, and the younger one is a Registered nurse and has just completed her Masters.

Completely agree with TK.

If you go for Public school then make sure you live in a locality which has a reputable public school. The standard of a school can be found out from various websites.

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Originally posted by jonav

Hi,

I'm so very confused and need advice from parents of school going kids. Are Private schools better than public schools? What is the advantage of spending so much (your hard earned money) on Private schools, are they really worth it? If a parent can afford will they be sending kids to private schools?

What is the Desi community of Canada doing, Indians in general don't mind to spend on kid’s education even it means tight budgets. Is there any big difference in the type of education kids get in Private compared to Public? Or its just parent’s prestige in sending kids to Private?

Thanks..................Jona

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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership

The important thing is paying attention to your children's education and interests and the company they keep. If you are lucky to have a reputed good public school near-by then it would help a lot. There are more bad elements in and around public schools, but if you have raised your children with values and virtues and keep some attention then they will be able to make correct decisions, even under peer pressure. The key is to "show interest" in their activities and spend some time with them and know who their friends are.

Both my sons went to public schools. One is dentist and the other one is a teacher. Both are nice adults. We had our share of challenges with them and we handled it the best we know how.

You can not "control" them as for their hobbies and entertainment, regardless of which school system they go to.

I strongly believe that values and virtues are taught by family and not school.

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Arvy

The only reason I could understand from the above discussion is that Private schools are attention oriented and Public schools not, Right? For public schools parents will need to pitch in their efforts.

As far as I know Indian parents, they will always pay attention irrespective of the school their kid is in, ignoring exceptional cases.

Any other inputs?

Thanks................Jona