Inc. The decision to send a child to private instead of public school is a complicated choice for any family. It is commonly held that private schools offer smaller classes, higher standards, and a great deal more academic pressure than their public school counterparts. Families considering private over public education should move past these broad generalizations, however, and ask themselves exactly what such distinctions mean for their child.
Smaller classes offer more direct instruction and face-time with the teacher.
This factor may represent the most significant qualitative difference between a decent public school and a good private one. Often such factors are governed by tax base and funding issues rather than by any educational strategy. Since there are many fine teachers in both private and public settings, I can think of no more important element than the mentoring, instruction, and guidance potential generated by more face-time with the teacher. This is only possible in small classes where the teacher can spend more time with each individual child. Parents often consider private schools because they believe that their children will be exposed to higher academic standards and more stringent expectations of conduct and development.