Why do people favour elite schools?

[Starlight]

Well, I suppose the poorer schools, or those kind of tafe schools according to the latest issue of the herald sun's 'how well did your school go?'do tend to get worse scores, and that's understandable. They are the furthest away from libraries, universities where students have the ability to study to the best ability. But, as a whole elite schools, or even the better government schools do tend to have better results because of their cohorts, but population in the school is also a factor in that too.

[paulsterio]

you think that school is just for academics. That is NOT what a private school is. and you say those who have attended either will support that one. I Have attended both, so can comment that its not all about academics!

yes i understand, but that's cause that's what it looks like to you, having been at a private school. personally, i've never experienced that (so i guess you could call me ignorant), but i really haven't felt the need for any non-academic activities inside school, i have a great group of friends outside of school, i play sports, i play guitar...etc. that's all out of school, i don't really understand the integration between education and co-curricular achievements

This thread isn't about how public schools are for the lesser student and that nobody can succeed there, so nobody should be getting defensive about their education. When it comes down to public and private education, there is unfortunately a gap - the gap exists and denying its presence is not going to help anybody. You can be successful at a public school, but at a private school you are offered more tools and opportunities in the pursuit of your goals, be they academic or otherwise. Old boys/girls networks are pretty much the greatest benefit you will ever get from a private school and it's unfortunate that they're so pervasive, but such is life.

I understand that there's a gap, nobody can deny that, otherwise there's no point paying to be at a private school, my ponderings were based on whether this gap is worth the $60,000 or so spent over the years, that's what I'm thinking more towards.

And hey, I don't mean to offend anyone, but like I said, the way this thread is going, it's leading to nowhere, it's an opinionable issue, with points supporting both sides, but having never been at a private school myself, I can only say that I have been more than satisfied with my public school education and that in retrospect, I wouldn't have it any other way. I've come to love my school as well as its shortcomings (e.g. bad English scores, scant co-curricular compared to private schools) because I've found ways to give myself those opportunities outside of school. I'm very proud to say that I come from a school which costs me $400 per year in school fees, a school where the uniform costs me only $150 per two years

[Water]

you think that school is just for academics. That is NOT what a private school is. and you say those who have attended either will support that one. I Have attended both, so can comment that its not all about academics!

yes i understand, but that's cause that's what it looks like to you, having been at a private school. personally, i've never experienced that (so i guess you could call me ignorant), but i really haven't felt the need for any non-academic activities inside school, i have a great group of friends outside of school, i play sports, i play guitar...etc. that's all out of school, i don't really understand the integration between education and co-curricular achievements

This thread isn't about how public schools are for the lesser student and that nobody can succeed there, so nobody should be getting defensive about their education. When it comes down to public and private education, there is unfortunately a gap - the gap exists and denying its presence is not going to help anybody. You can be successful at a public school, but at a private school you are offered more tools and opportunities in the pursuit of your goals, be they academic or otherwise. Old boys/girls networks are pretty much the greatest benefit you will ever get from a private school and it's unfortunate that they're so pervasive, but such is life.

I understand that there's a gap, nobody can deny that, otherwise there's no point paying to be at a private school, my ponderings were based on whether this gap is worth the $60,000 or so spent over the years, that's what I'm thinking more towards.

And hey, I don't mean to offend anyone, but like I said, the way this thread is going, it's leading to nowhere, it's an opinionable issue, with points supporting both sides, but having never been at a private school myself, I can only say that I have been more than satisfied with my public school education and that in retrospect, I wouldn't have it any other way. I've come to love my school as well as its shortcomings (e.g. bad English scores, scant co-curricular compared to private schools) because I've found ways to give myself those opportunities outside of school. I'm very proud to say that I come from a school which costs me $400 per year in school fees, a school where the uniform costs me only $150 per two years

What if you could have a guaranteed place right now for csp MBBS at Monash by paying the extra $60,000 for a private school? Would you regret not paying that? (I know not to ask about UoM MD course because according to you, that course is rubbish compared to Monash MBBS)

[Jdog]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you know the "other way"??

[pi]

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Do you know the "other way"??

From memory, he went to a private primary school, if that counts for anything

[Starlight]

This is something I picked up.

Just curious @paulsterio, you chose science as your second preference after bachelor of medicine/ surgery at monash. What was it that made you choose science instead of biomedicine? Considering your first preference that is.

[paulsterio]

Water, but that's a wrong comparison, you don't get guaranteed MBBS at Monash by going to a private school

JDog and pi, that's what I mean by this discussion not being able to proceed any further, a lot of people who only went to public schools, like myself, will be more than satisfied with what they've had

El2012, because there more flexibility in science

Moderator action: removed real name, sorry for the inconvenience

[John President]

Think I might try to add something to this discussion, based on my own experiences...

I went to an outer-suburban public school which was (and is) known for excellence in extra-curricular activities such as music, art and oddly enough, volleyball - despite being academically very average. Also, it's very progressive (no uniform) and filled with a high proportion of kids with very lazy attitudes - although my year level did possess several high-achieving students too.

Yet my school's teachers - in particular the ones I had in year 12 - were very capable and dedicated to their jobs. I really, really liked my school and when I finished VCE, was proud to have achieved our school's highest ATAR in years. Without hesitation, I would say that I couldn't have asked for a better school to finish VCE at. I shouldn't need to, but I feel I should clarify that I am non-Asian, played quite a lot of sport during the year and attended plenty of 18ths even in the months building up to exams, so I wasn't a hermit 

The main flaw, though, was our poor academic environment. Most of the people I mixed with at school were higher achievers than the norm at my school, which helped - but I sometimes felt that my English result would have been better if the other students in my class were stronger, so the teacher could teach to a higher standard. I feel that English, especially, is a subject which is dominated in elite schools for this reason. Another problem - which the OP mentioned - is that many at my school don't believe they can do well, because "we never get good results". You can guess how these types perform.

Although, I would have strongly disliked having rigid uniform regulations imposed on me, so my school suited me well. I loved wearing whatever the f**k I wanted to school. But at the end of the day, horses for courses.

[alex_93]

I didn't even read your initial statement, soz too long...

However I have been at a state school for 3 years and I finished my last 3 years in a private school.

The private school was better by far.

I used to believe that it is up to the individual, but seriously it's not, the individual thrives from guidance, however subtle it is. A key example is how private schools are usually on top of a study design whenever anything changes due to high quality educators that are present in the examining system. I didn't do psychology this year, but there is a new study design, introducing Alzeimers. My school stayed on top, and guess what 10 mark question on the back of the paper about it. 3/4 of state flunked that, many in other public schools (like the one i used to go to) had students doing badly not because they are not motivated or bad students, they simply learnt what is given, unfortunately not being all there is. Similarly this year some physics teachers in state schools continue to teach the 2007 study design, useless... All in all it comes down to you, but that extra something comes from a proper institution

[paulsterio]

Similarly this year some physics teachers in state schools continue to teach the 2007 study design, useless

Well that's why I refer to the study design and develop my own plan and study according to it, no matter where you are, if you study from the study design, you'll be good for the exam

Private schools may teach you everything, but it's not as if they pull this info out of nowhere, it came from resources and if you're saavy enough to find them if you're in a public school, you'll be just as well equipped, that's what I did personally

[alex_93]

leaving 80% of class time useless, but it's free so who gives a damn

[paulsterio]

leaving 80% of class time useless, but it's free so who gives a damn

that's true to an extent, I've never been someone who uses class time effectively, I just usually talk and discuss things, but discussion does help us learn i guess LOL! =.="

[John President]

I think we can conclude one thing from this discussion. This is one issue that will be impossible to gain a consensus on, as everyone has vastly different experiences and viewpoints depending on what schools they attended.

If I have kids and when I start to think about where they complete their secondary education - I won't be thinking "definitely private" or "definitely public". I'll just choose a quality school that suits their needs. And that's an attitude I think more people should take.

[Russ]

If I have kids and when I start to think about where they complete their secondary education - I won't be thinking "definitely private" or "definitely public". I'll just choose a quality school that suits their needs. And that's an attitude I think more people should take.

What do you think most parents do today?

[paulsterio]

What do you think most parents do today?

Blindly send their kids to a private school, paying $20,000 a year and not giving their kids personal attention, which is far more important to academic success than the actual school