Saturday, December 10
♥ Argumentative Essay: Private School vs. Public School
Education is something that everyone considers a priority. A school is an institution where students acquire knowledge and skills that will be of use in their future, so choosing the best school for them is vital. One dilemma that parents have to go through is deciding where to send their children to school: private or public. There are many notable schools out there, but really, what’s the best choice? Judging by the educational system in the Philippines, it is preferable to study in a private school because its quality of education and learning environment are superior to public school.
Everyone wants to get the quality education that they deserve because having a good quality of education leads to a productive learning process. It also enables students to create better output in their studies. There are certain factors indicating that private schools have a better quality of education than public school. First thing to consider is the facilities. Private schools do not get funds from the government. Instead, they secure funds through tuition fees and sponsors. The sectarian catholic schools can get financial support from their corresponding congregations. Therefore, private schools have higher budget than public schools, enabling them to improve their facilities. The classrooms are spacious enough to accommodate the students. There is a sufficient supply of chairs for everyone. The technical facilities of private schools are also commendable. The laboratories (computer, science, TLE) are up-to-date and the equipments are technologically advanced. The comfort rooms and the campus itself are well-maintained. In general, private schools exert effort in enhancing their facilities to provide a community that is conducive to learning.
The next factor to consider is the student-to-teacher ratio. The students per class in private schools are on the average number (one teacher is to forty students). Unlike in public schools, the student-to-teacher ratio is extremely beyond the normal rate (one teacher is to sixty to seventy students). Thus, private school teachers can give more attention and focus on their students because they handle a less number. Also, students can focus more on the discussion because of the undivided attention the teacher gives them. The last thing to take into consideration is the school’s influence. In private schools, the administrators are giving immediate response on the issues of their students. The rules and regulations are strictly implemented and certain disciplinary actions are being imposed properly. This makes their students more disciplined and less prone to unprecedented acts. Private schools value their reputation and their influence on their students.
One element in knowing that the students are experiencing a good educational system is through the school’s learning environment. Having an exceptional learning environment creates an atmosphere that motivates the students to study. Private schools have better learning environment because of three reasons. First is the security. Private schools tend to have tighter security to protect their students and staff. The schools have policies regarding visitors. There are also curfew hours in private schools. For example, students are not allowed to stay on the campus after 6 pm and they are obligated to go straight home right after dismissal time. There is also a strict rule about the “No ID” policy. The ID serves as an identification to prove if one is really a student of the school. Next are the classmates. Students in private schools have a better upbringing because of their exposure to a more pleasant and peaceful environment. Students also learn from their classmates; therefore, it is also essential for them to socialize to people with good moral character. The formation of a good relationship between students enables them to work with more enthusiasm and cooperation with each other. Last is the school structure. As mentioned before, private schools have higher budget because of a wide range of financial support sources. This will help improve the structure of the school and this will, again, make an environment conducive to learning for students. It helps students to study more effectively if their surroundings are amiable.
On the other hand, there are a few points that favor the stand of the public school. First is the low cost or free tuition fee. But come to think of it, students can benefit more on a higher tuition fee. This is the main source of income of the school, and most likely, this will also be the main source of the funds for the school. This will also be the source of wages for the teachers. If they are getting enough wages, they will be motivated to work and teach properly. The facilities are also benefitting from the tuition fees, as mentioned before. After the paying the fixed costs, the extra funds will go to the expansion of the school and upgrading the equipments. There will be space for various rooms like speech laboratory, gymnasium, science laboratory and the like, which will lead the students to discover more than their usual classes in the “four-walled” room. Chemistry, for example, will not be enjoyable and interesting to the students if there are no laboratory activities. Students in public schools don’t benefit much on the low tuition fee. Public schools are more prone to corruption because the government handles their funds, and usually, they don’t get the sufficient amount of funds needed by the school.
Next argument is that teachers in public schools have graduated with a degree. But let’s think about the “basic” of economics. People are basically self-serving, and they look out only to their own interest. In general, if the amount of work in the public school (with 1 is to approx. 60 students) with minimal pay is compared to the amount of work in the private school (1 to 40 students) with a reasonable pay, then it is logical to assume that these teachers would prefer to teach at a private institution than a public one. Ever heard of a murder in a local public school? One student killed his teacher in the terminal because the teacher embarrassed him. So teachers will not risk losing their lives and wasting their time to teach in circumstances like this.
Another argument is that most people can’t afford to go to private school; thus, it creates a “rich or poor” divide among children. But if parents are willing to make financial sacrifices, then it does not matter how high the tuition fee is. The important thing is that their children get the best education they could have. Actually, there are financial aid and scholarship programs available in private schools. These programs can help assist parents who are having a hard time paying the tuition fee. As mentioned before, tuition fees are used in improving facilities and the system of the school and with these, students acquire a good education. It is not the side of the “inequality” that should be looked at. Instead, the focus must be on the students’ education because this is far more important than anything else.
Clearly, private schools have a better educational system than public schools in terms of the quality of education and learning environment. Not only do students enjoy studying and learning, they are also more secure and taken care of by their respective institutions. They are formed to become holistic and discipline citizens of our country. Students receive the education they need and are exposed to a conducive environment. I highly suggest that parents should take these things into consideration when deciding where to enroll their children because it is their children’s education that is at stake. Remember, education is the greatest gift anyone could ever receive.
References:
N.A. (N.D.). The Advantages of Private Schools vs. Public Schools. Retrieved from http://www.essortment.com/advantages-private-schools-vs-public-schools-39827.html
Elizabeth, M. (N.D.). Private Schools vs. Public Schools. Retrieved from http://www.educationbug.org/a/public-schools-vs--private-schools.html
N.A. (N.D.). Private versus Public. Retrieved from http://www.greatschools.org/find-a-school/defining-your-ideal/59-private-vs-public-schools.gs
Abel, K. (N.D.). Can You Afford Private School? Retrieved from http://school.familyeducation.com/money-and-kids/private-school/29622.html
12/10/2011 10:26:00 AM
