Public Schools Prepare Learners

[socialist]

Those of us who understand education know that public schools better prepare learners for university than private schools. Private schools are full of grade inflation to appease parents who shell out ridiculous amounts of money. Public schools prepare learners for the real world. Public schools focus on collaboration and critical thinking.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/public-school-students-better-prepared-for-university-1.1228791

[WestCoastRunner]

Socialist, you should probably provide some context to your post. I have taken the liberty of posting some facts from the article you linked to:

"The UBC study looked at 4,500 first year physics and calculus students between 2002 and 2006 at UBC and found that public school graduates scored an average of about two to three per cent higher than private school graduates."

"UBC mathematics professor George Bluman, who was one of the study's authors, said the lack of individual attention on students in public schools may actually give students an edge in the tougher university environment."

I would tend to agree with these statements, however, a caveat. It depends on the public school your children attend. My children attended schools west of Granville in Vancouver which provided them with a high quality education (given the demographics of the area). I was by no means a wealthy parent, in fact I was a single parent but I chose to live there and pay the exorbitant higher rentals in order for my children to receive the best education I could find for them.

Public schools do promote tolerance and absolutely expose children to a wide diversity of cultures. Private schools have the opposite effect.

This is a good topic to explore.

Edited February 9, 2015 by WestCoastRunner

[WestCoastRunner]

Do public schools vs private schools teach the most important 21st century aspects of education? What are they?

[WestCoastRunner]

I think that tolerance is a huge aspect of 21st century education. Of course, we have the academics, the arts etc, but overcoming bigotery and having acceptance in today's society is just as important.

[Guest]

When I sent my girls to school, I could only help them so much with their maths, science, english, etc. But I could see that they grew up to be decent human beings.

I'm glad the school concentrated more on the other stuff.

[Ash74]

When I sent my girls to school, I could only help them so much with their maths, science, english, etc. But I could see that they grew up to be decent human beings.

I'm glad the school concentrated more on the other stuff.

I do not disagree that a good education is important but the social aspects of it are why we were looking forward to sending our kids to school.

To learn how to interact with other kids with different ethnic backgrounds.

I can teach my kids to read and write. I can teach them math but I cannot teach them how to get along with other people.

I help with homework when it is not that dumb ass estimation crap.

Yes the knowledge they are getting is important but just as important is the social skills.

[WestCoastRunner]

I do not disagree that a good education is important but the social aspects of it are why we were looking forward to sending our kids to school.

To learn how to interact with other kids with different ethnic backgrounds.

I can teach my kids to read and write. I can teach them math but I cannot teach them how to get along with other people.

I help with homework when it is not that dumb ass estimation crap.

Yes the knowledge they are getting is important but just as important is the social skills.

Public schools introduce children to gay students, transgender and other ethnicities. These are demographics that would not likely be exposed to kids in a private school setting. If there were gays or transgender students in a private school, you can bet they are in the closet not only with the school but also with their parents.

[Guest]

If there were gays or transgender students in a private school, you can bet they are in the closet not only with the school but also with their parents.

Do you think so? I'm not arguing the point, just wondering why it should be so. These days, I mean.

[WestCoastRunner]

Do you think so? I'm not arguing the point, just wondering why it should be so. These days, I mean.

Well, my kids have been friends with kids from the private schools and their sexuality is certainly private. Especially when their fathers are CEO's.

Edited February 9, 2015 by WestCoastRunner

[Guest]

I would have thought that the parents who send their kids to private schools might be more informed on LGBT issues these days, and more inclined to tolerance and understanding. Being (probably) university educated, recently, themselves.

[WestCoastRunner]

I would have thought that the parents who send their kids to private schools might be more informed on LGBT issues these days, and more inclined to tolerance and understanding. Being (probably) university educated, recently, themselves.

Not so much on tolerance. It is still about maintaining the 'sterotypical image'. You are fooling yourself if you believe this is true.

[Guest]

Well, that's why I limited my conviction to "would have thought". I am surprised, though, that the more educated among us are the least tolerant.

[Michael Hardner]

I can't see what difference public/private school would make, though. Maybe rural vs. urban, or religious vs. secular...

[Ash74]

I can't see what difference public/private school would make, though. Maybe rural vs. urban, or religious vs. secular...

Private schools are going to have less economic differences I would think. Unlikely to see the lack of nutrition that teachers re seeing in the public schools.

Less immigrants.

Academics maybe better than a public school. Smaller classes means more time spent with the teachers,

[WestCoastRunner]

I can't see what difference public/private school would make, though. Maybe rural vs. urban, or religious vs. secular...

Big difference between private/public. Not sure what rural vs urban has to do with it.

[Guest]

Would you say then, that the student coming out of a private school is better educated but less tolerant than one coming out of a public school.

Going back to my first post on this thread, wouldn't that be the fault of the parent?

I know which school I would prefer for my children, if this were the case.

[Ash74]

Would you say then, that the student coming out of a private school is better educated but less tolerant than one coming out of a public school.

Going back to my first post on this thread, wouldn't that be the fault of the parent?

I know which school I would prefer for my children, if this were the case.

Teaching tolerance and living with it are two different things. Plus I believe 99% of racism is handed down from parents (can't back that up but I till think I am right) We can teach our kids that everybody is equal but if they are in a situation where everybody is treated equal it is a much better environment.

[WestCoastRunner]

Teaching tolerance and living with it are two different things. Plus I believe 99% of racism is handed down from parents (can't back that up but I till think I am right) We can teach our kids that everybody is equal but if they are in a situation where everybody is treated equal it is a much better environment.

Yea, I believe that children being educated in a multicultural environment has many advantages. Even if parents are bigots, I feel that children can overcome those beliefs given exposure to many ethnethicities.

[poochy]

So if your child is having trouble with a subject should you forgo the use of a private tutor because it somehow doesn't mesh with what is, lets be honest, the Marxist ideals of the op? I mean, if i can afford a tutor and someone else can't, the collective will no longer be equal, we must bring everyone down to the same level, anything else just isn't fair.

[jacee]

So if your child is having trouble with a subject should you forgo the use of a private tutor because it somehow doesn't mesh with what is, lets be honest, the Marxist ideals of the op? I mean, if i can afford a tutor and someone else can't, the collective will no longer be equal, we must bring everyone down to the same level, anything else just isn't fair.

That wasn't the point of the op.

... public school graduates scored an average of about two to three per cent higher than private school graduates.

UBC mathematics professor George Bluman, who was one of the study's authors, said the lack of individual attention on students in public schools may actually give students an edge in the tougher university environment.

It's an interesting theory.

And it's a very interesting finding.

.

[Bob Macadoo]

That wasn't the point of the op.... public school graduates scored an average of about two to three per cent higher than private school graduates.

UBC mathematics professor George Bluman, who was one of the study's authors, said the lack of individual attention on students in public schools may actually give students an edge in the tougher university environment.

It's an interesting theory.

And it's a very interesting finding.

.

The study was of 1st year students.....what percentage of private school kids were attending UBC vs. public school? I'd take a whole graduating class going to university than the top percentile scores lifting comparisons by 2%.

[jacee]

The study was of 1st year students.....what percentage of private school kids were attending UBC vs. public school?

I'd take a whole graduating class going to university than the top percentile scores lifting comparisons by 2%.

Sorry ... can't make sense of that. A "whole graduating class"? Not all graduating students will go to university.

This is the sample:

"The UBC study looked at 4,500 first year physics and calculus students between 2002 and 2006 at UBC."

Edited February 9, 2015 by jacee

[Bob Macadoo]

Sorry ... can't make sense of that. A "whole graduating class"? Not all graduating students will go to university.

This is the sample:

"The UBC study looked at 4,500 first year physics and calculus students between 2002 and 2006 at UBC."

If the private school's graduating class is 30 and all went to UBC and the top 30 of 300 from a public school went to UBC which had a better result?

[jacee]

If the private school's graduating class is 30 and all went to UBC and the top 30 of 300 from a public school went to UBC which had a better result?

No one knows because that is not a real or reasonable situation, and not the one studied.

.

[Ash74]

No one knows because that is not a real or reasonable situation, and not the one studied.

.

He has a valid point. If a higher percentage of graduates go to university than that is a better situation. But that being said I do believe that Private school students do miss out on some valuable life experiences. Both good and bad.