What is Best for the Children?

There are many debating about the pros and cons about private schools versus public schools as pointed out by the article Private versus Public. Most of the hot topics when comparing public versus private are money, standardized test scores, curriculum, and special needs. 

MONEY: 

• Private Schools- Most private schools gain their finances through donations, grants and tuition. With gaining their own money without help from the government those schools are able to create their own calender's and curriculum. The money goes towards the faculty, staff, coaches, athletics and student clubs/interests out side of athletics. 
• Public Schools- Public schools get their funding from federal/state funds. There are pros and cons to having money from the government: there are more regulations formed by politicians. Depending on the school district, how large or small, the district may be underfunded. Where the one lives in the district also gets funding based on the taxes, in better districts parents pay higher property taxes to help with the school budget. 

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES:

• Private Schools: Since private schools do not depend on government funding, private schools do not need to give out standardized tests. 
• Public Schools: Public schools do give out standardized test such as the MCAS and PARK, to be able to level the children in the correct learning levels. 
• HOWEVER! In different studies and research there has been a back and forth of which school is actually ahead when being tested with standardized tests. 

CURRICULUM:

• Private Schools: There is a freedom to create their own curriculum and assessments of the children. Private schools can gear the lessons to the needs of the children ad specialize the curriculum to what the teachers think are important to learn. 
• Public Schools: Since the funding comes from the government the schools have to follow state regulations. These regulations instill a certain curriculum and assessments. There are specific procedures that the teachers need to carry out through out the day and teach the children to the "standardized tests" 

SPECIAL NEEDS: 

• Private Schools: Private schools get to pick and choose who they let into the school. Private schools do not need to accept children with special needs into their program. For some special needs there are extra resources that will be needed, which may not cover by the regular tuition and grants. 
• Public Schools: By new laws public schools are required to let children with special needs into the classroom. There are specific education programs and resources for children with special needs. 

In my own experience I was in a public school from preschool to eighth grade and than private school from ninth to twelfth grade. Both were great experiences for myself. My public school district was a really good district and my private school was a great private school. However because of the stress of having to take standardized tests to determine my leveling in school, my parents decided for me to go to private. My private school gave me less anxiety. 

Either option is good depending on the child. When going to decide which is better for the child, parents should research their school district and the public schools they are looking at. Research could determine if the school district is a good one or if the private school teaches the beliefs a parent would want to instill in the children.