Private schooling
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12113
Printed Date: 09 October 2025 at 7:34pm
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Topic: Private schooling
Posted By: Bombshell
Subject: Private schooling
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 9:34am
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DId you know private school fees work out cheaper than Daycare?????
had a look at strathallen fees this morning on some paperwork and turns out it is $40 a week cheaper for her to go to a private school at age 5 than current day care fees!!! Good grief!! Although if you dont pay oen lump sum and pay weekly it is $4000 more so about the same price then! 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 9:49am
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yeah but at daycare they have to change nappies and feed them and dont they supply food too?...
are you looking at schools already? |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:13am
And the fees get bigger and bigger the older they get. At Charlottes school its only £900 a term this year but by junior year its £3800  When we move back the school we have them enrolled at is relatively cheap to begin with $3995 p/yr, but increases to $6843 p/yr by year 11/12!
We had to enroll them now even though we aren't coming back until 2010- the application form for Kate had her picture from when she was 2 months old. Looked so ridiculous but they have a 3 year waiting list so we only just snuck in. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: Leish
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:18am
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Yeah there is a great private school down here that we are looking at enrolling Noah in. They have early childhood too and take them from age 2 and it is around the same price as daycare. I was a bit shocked as I thought it would be waaaaaayyyy more expensive. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Katherine
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 1:36pm
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I didn't know that, BS... I've been starting to think about schools for Emma Rose and really like the idea of a private school. DH doesn't much care, but I'm particularly attracted to all-girls' schools because I had such a good experience at an all-girls' uni. Where is Strathallan? Maybe I'll come with you to the open days! |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 1:56pm
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Strathallen is out Karaka way
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Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 2:13pm
| If we're still in the school zone we're in now when Joshie goes to school we'll be applying to get him into others on the "out of zone ballot". If those fail then he'll be going private. |
Posted By: muppet
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 2:33pm
Go the private schools! I went (as did both my brothers) to a private, single-sex school and had the most awesome education there. I've taught in a co-ed state secondary school for the past 3 years and have just got a job at a private school next year and CAN'T WAIT! State schools are so under-resourced and the class sizes are stupidly big. I know when I eventually have a bubs I'm going to be very picky, just because I know what schools are like. Although I'm talking from a secondary school point of view here - I'm sure that a lot of state primary schools do fantastic work. 
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Posted By: meow
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 2:39pm
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I actually hated going to a single sex high school. Lots of catty girls in their little groups.. but I guess that happens anywhere you go. I'm not impressed by the co-ed schools around here though.. def will not be sending DD there. The only frustrating thing is that we are renting so don't know where we will be living in another 1.5 years, so we can't decide on a school yet (due to zoning). ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 3:13pm
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I like the idea of private schooling - mainly for the resources available and the smaller class sizes. I also think that they offer kids different opportunities to state schools. I dont like single sex schools though - I went to an all girls school for forms 3-5 and hated it, I was bullied and didnt do well academically, but when I moved to a co-ed school for 6th / 7th form, I became top of my class...go figure! I just wasnt part of any of the "in" crowds at the all girls school so never really felt like I was fitting in. I also think that single sex schools dont teach kids to socialise with the opposite sex without it being about romance / sex...does that make sense. In the real world (work / uni etc) you have to be able to have relationships with boys / men that doesnt involve flirting and I think that if you dont learn how to do that at school then it can be hard once you leave! Does that make sense?
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 4:16pm
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LOL Katherine - sure thing. Heaps of kids from east auckland and south auckland now go there! It is both male and female!
I went private for a year and single sex school for entire high school in any event....I was actually a good candidate for it cause mum had to keep the boys away from me at home let alone at school! LOL!!! We will see - I am not a fan of private for primary but after that it is up for grabs depending on how Miss Ella does - if she has genius IQ (like mummy!!!) then we weill look at it as a possibility...DH never went single sex or private so not a huge fan...so her abilities will probably be the make or break as to where we send her....think for primary we will be in cockle bay zone by then Katherine. |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 4:17pm
| BTW Strathallen is $10000 per annum (or thereabouts) fro primary and $12500 for college per annum |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 4:28pm
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I was a private school girl right from 5 years of age. Single sex school and all. Yes it could be catty etc but it was still the most awesome education and has given me a lot more advantages and opened a lot more doors being part of the "old girls" network.
Would love to send Maddie to my old school but given the fees are currently sitting around $10K I believe I think that might not be an option for us.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 4:29pm
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But then again doing the maths....maybe we will...... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 7:23pm
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I'm amazed that they work out cheaper than daycare! -------------  |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 7:54pm
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I went to an all girls school and while I spent a fair amount of time at the boys school I was really glad my parents sent me there. I would love to private school Andrew (Huntly here we come for intermediate) but there aren't any around here that I know of that aren't Catholic. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 7:58pm
| We'll be going public, I have no desire to send my child to a private or a single-sex school. I've studied the benefits/disadvantages to both and I really don't like the "old girls network" that paws talks about. I would rather my child learn life skills and get by on merits alone (not saying you don't Paws, it's just my experience). Plus, I'll be working in a public primary school as a teacher, and IMHO its the passion of the teachers, not the resources or how much money you throw at the school that will help your child get ahead. And in order to find those passionate teachers? It's luck of the draw really. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:20pm
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In private schools girls are still expected to work hard, generally a darn sight more is expected of them, (at least by parents considering how much they are paying!!).
Old Girls network only opens so many doors, ultimately you still have to have the skills behind it. That's my experience. Certianly the girls in my year who didn't achieve still got nowhere, and they weren't eligible for the old girls network anyway unless they graduated. I've contacted my old school today to see what the process is but B and I are thinking along the same lines as you BS...primary school she could go public and then we could look at her going to my old school. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:21pm
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hmmm you obviously dont live in south auckland then EM!
I dont think I would have survived from primary school...most girls i knew that went from age 5 are not working and married straight out of school etc! and most had no clue about life...and amazing how much my old High school HAS as far as funding goes However having been a south auckland girl I see a lot of my primary colleagues have not raised themselves up at all...and I think the school had nothing to do with it...it was the social skills of the parents etc...my old primary school had me as the only kid of divorced parents when i went there...now it is a decile one school full of HNZ and WINZ kids! We are kinda lucky to be in zone now for some good primarys and also a college that is well up there next to the private schools if we need it.... so we will see.....interesting the difference in views tho.... 
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:32pm
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we only have a boys and a girls college here and both of them suck, so unless they change a heck of alot in the next 12 years, I'll be plumping for boarding at a private school in CHCH. Education is a ticket to the world, and you only get one chance to do it well. Interestingly, our intermediate here is really really bd as well, so I want to send the children to a school that goes through to form 2. The one we have in mind, I have to put Jakes name down next year, and Char's as well, although if he goes, she will get in anyhow. So much tothink about, but so far away!!! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: MILF
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 10:40pm
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we are sending the girls to a catholic school, and hopefully a catholic high school as well. the only private school here is a girls school, and i just dont believe that primary school aged girls benefit from a single sex environment. there is so much about life and living that boys can teach girls, and i dont mean that in a sexy way. besides, with no brothers, my girls will need the intereaction with other boys to learn about them.
depending on the girl and boy though, i think single sex high schools can be a good thing. but dh doesnt like them. he went to a co-ed school all the way through, until 7th form, when he went to a boys school. he loved the fact that in the mixed classes ( in the senior school boys high and girls high combined classes in some subjects) he was the only one who knew how to relate to the girls and could talk to them. the other boys didnt have a clue. but i guess everyone works everything out in the end dont they  ------------- Lyla - mum to Xanthe - my big 4 year old 
and Jordis - 1 year old 
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 08 November 2007 at 11:11pm
| If you decide not to go Private Macleans College is one co-ed up their with Private schools and St Kents in Pakuranga have girls there now in sixth and seventh form earlier probably by the time your kids get bigger |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 7:14am
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I think it all very much depends on the child. My step sister went to private single sex schooling, and she would have benefited going to a co-ed school as she has no real skills for interacting with men. The would have happend private school or not though, it was she single sex that was the problem. I agree private schooling can be good, but there are just as many good teachers at good public schools. And not sure who said it, but it isn't always the resources that make for good teaching, it is the teacher... very true.
I agree with Susie, Macleans and St Kents are good schools. Not sure what it is though, some kids just always end up finding trouble no matter what school they are in ------------- "> 
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 7:41am
| Yeah I agree with you Sarah Beth it is the teachers that make the schools good and also whether the child wants to learn |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 8:20am
I so agree with that!!! We still had kids who got into trouble big time...though one difference in how that trouble could be dealt with (assuming behavourial issues). I still vividly remember one girl stole a book off another girl and she was expelled from the school within 3 hours for example. Public schools don't have that option. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Sarah Beth wrote:Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 8:57am
They do, or similar, 2 boys at my highschool were expelled for misconduct. Actually 1 was suspended for 10 years (that way they can go to night school). Unfortunately a school has to enroll them if they are under school leaving age, a private school wouldn't however ------------- ">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 9:32am
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yeah I think that's were the difference comes in...public schools can say no and see ya.
I have no idea but does it also depend on the public school? 'Cos B was saying at his school that incident wouldn't have been an expulsion and it definetly wouldn't have taken 3 hours to complete the hearing etc. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: muppet
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 9:58am
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Public schools have to go through a board of trustees hearing before an expulsion is decided on, and then they have to find alternative education for the student (if they're under the legal leaving age). I think students can get away with a lot more at a public school - kids can wag for weeks, swear at teachers, be threatening towards others etc. and they might get a 2-day stand down. That sort of thing just wouldn't be tolarated in a private school.
While it does depend on the passion of the teacher, private schools pay teachers more, have more release time, better working environment and can therefore be more picky about who they employ and therefore tend to have high quality teachers (not saying that state school teachers aren't good, just saying that there is a bit more of a guarentee that private school teachers are good teachers). I was made to teach a subject that I had absolutely no prior knowledge or training in this year at my state school - that generally doesn't make for good teaching! I do think primary schools are different - there's no way that I would send my child to a state secondary, but would probably send them to a state primary school - partly for the co-ed-ness and partly because I believe there's so much parents can do to help their kids get a solid education in primary school, but it's harder to help them at a secondary school level. Also, I feel that when they hit adolescence the classroom environment changes - girls hang back while boys are out to impress. Oops sorry about the essay  I read this site all the time but haven't really posted before as we don't have any kiddies yet, but I'm really passionate about education so I couldn't help but join in! Hope I haven't offended anyone!
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:06am
I think you are pretty bang on there. I know there certianly are some very passionate awesome teachers in public schools but just based on my experience the quality in private schools does tend to be higher and they tend to stay as I believe they are better paid. B has been doing some seminars at schools around Auckland and has being going to schools right from decile 1 to 10 and he has said that the difference at Dio for example as opposed to some of the others has been very marked and he really can see the advantages. After talking last night we are leaning more and more strongly to hopefully enrolling Maddie from the equivalent of either form 1 or 3. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:12am
I'll say! I remember another girl in our form wagged too many classes and ended up on a daily report..she had to sign in with every teacher for every class for about a whole term. If that had been broken even once I hate to think what would have happened next! (not to mention how much her parents would have killed her! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:23am
That is SO not the norm in public schools! I don't know what schools you are referring to, but there is no way that that stuff would happen in most schools down here. I went to a high decile state sec school and if you wagged one class, you were in big trouble. Surely the upbringing of the children comes into that a bit too? It's funny you mention about better quality teachers, yes their processes for employment can be a lot more in-depth, but at the end of the day, you basically employ someone off a CV and a couple of references. You only find out if they're a teacher of a higher standard than would be at a state school after you employ them. Oh, and need I mention the growing rate of abortions and teenage pregnancies among private school girls? Just to throw a spanner in the works! (Sorry, have just done a big course on sexuality education - all about how chn develop relationships and the messages they get from schools). |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:30am
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I went to a public school until 6th form and had the time of my life but only passed 4 subjects in 6th form. My parents took me out of that and sent me to chch girls (which is public but single sex) and I got a b bursary. My friends from my other school who were probably about the same as me didn't pass so i think single sex is great for education. But on the other hand I hated chch girls and just found the girls so horrible and only made one true friend (I had others but stopped talking to them the day I finished).
So I'm torn what to do with my kids. I think I'd like Jack to go to a single sex school because I'm worried he will leave school with no qualifications (like ben) |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 11:33am
I disagree with this too. I think it depends on the school. I admit I went to a high decile school (one of the top on the Shore) and bad behavious was not tolerated. There had to be evidence (not just suspicion), and appropriate action would be taken. Sometimes for the sake of a student they were asked to find alternate schooling (much better on the record than an expulsion or long term suspension). Private school may not have done this, but it does concern the welfare of the student which is what a school should be concerned with
This isn't that common in public schools, unless filling in for relief teaching for a period. Every secondary school teacher I know that teaches form 5 up has a university degree (this is possibly because I am an Aucklander), and they teach the subject they studied at university, this gets a bit funny though when you consider a biology major, they teach science so have to do chemistry and physics as well (but then, that is what the curriculum, teaching resources, fellow teachers and teaching manuals/books are for!) As for the single sex thing, I know a lot of people that went to single sex public schools, and a lot of them have had trouble interacting with males on a friends level, seems to be an all or nothing thing. I know for me, females can drive me batty and I would have lost the plot at a single sex school. Boys however are said to thrive at a single sex school ------------- ">
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Posted By: muppet
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 11:39am
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All good points. I guess it depends on the school - unfortunately that is what has happened in the high decile school I am at. NZ education has a way to go, but so long as there are supportive parents in this world kids will no doubt come out of it well
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 11:47am
This was similar at our school...there did have to be hard evidence and often it was "suggested the student would be happier elsewhere" but if all that failed then explusion was what happened. Parents were generally pretty quick to choose the first option. I would defiently send Maddie to a public school if it was like your's SB!! We would want the same standards and values as my school. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 11:50am
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My school has changed over the years now, it was *cough* 10 years ago now *cough* It is much bigger now, and some complain that it is too big. The 'bad' school is now a really good one, and our local college I would never have sent Jack to but a new principal is said to be making a big difference. That said, if I am still working where I am currently, I will be hoping to get jack in the schools near work so he can be dropped off onthe way. At the moment, they don't have full rolls and last year every child that went on the ballot to be accepted out of zone got in. Fingers crossed that continues.
Gen, I can think of 2 schools in the same area you might like to send Maddie to (1 not so sure, think it is catholic, not sure how you feel about that) ------------- ">
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:28pm
not macleans! i hated macleans! they only care about you if youre academic or athletic. As for all those stupid rules, 2 metres between girls and boys etc, i for one am forever institutionalised and can never walk on grass again *hangs head sadly* |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:38pm
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I wen to Southland Girls high School, which is a public school, but when I was there (in the late 80's early to mid 90's) it was very much geared towards girls who were sporty or rich. I came from a very poor household, so felt I was disadvantagd some what in terms of how the teachers treated me/us, So that "eliteist" type of behaviour goes on in all schools, public or no. I did do quite well, good marks etc, good passes with school c, 6th form etc, but I absolutely hated it. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:58pm
I agree!! It always bugs my how many assume that becuase I went to a private school me friends and i must have all been elitest rich snobs when the reality was that so many had parents who were working thier butts off or mortaged heavily to to give us oppotunities. You get the cattiness and the cliques and the snobs anywhere! heck you only have to put a bunch of girls in a room and watch what happens! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:14pm
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I am glad I sent Kelly(caitlynsmygirl) and her brother to a state secondary school
Couldnt do it with my special needs daughter she has gone to a special school but would have gone to a state secondary school had she been normal |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 5:05pm
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LOL Kelly obviously isnt!!!
Actually Botany College right now would be a great choice - and they have a gifted childrens programme that people are buying into the area to get into...think it was set up by the old principal of MCLeans... I always wanted to go to Kings but now see benefits of being at a girls school to knuckle down in high school EM - you are sooo right about the abortion rate at private schools...abortion clinic was right down road from dio and OMG there were a few people we heard about...and then the ones who went to live with other family etc etc that never quite came back to school...LOL! And do i mention Holmes daughter - the most shameful dio student thus far??? The old girls newsletters (books) we get show how much money is behind these schools....enought to run 10 state schools for a year at least!!! |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 5:22pm
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I think all schools should have a gifted students programme now (or at least something on paper), there was a big enitiative (sp) a few years back (actually I think more than that now) as gifted students were not getting the extra attention they needed ------------- ">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 6:17pm
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Also at private schools, at least when I was in school, the girls at Kings for example, had the most shocking reputation!!!
We had a few abortion rumours floating around our school too, though yeah, that was again a girl who eventually left. BS - I know what you mean about the money! The amount it is costing for my old school to set up it's new Outdoor Education centre and camp down country is huge! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 6:39pm
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I went to a private Catholic primary school (co-ed), then a private Catholic girls college.... The primary school was fantastic, and had a much better reputation in the area than most of the state schools. I loved it there. The college on the other hand, was very elitist, and as always, had the little cliques of girls. And had the highest pg rate in Taranaki. A substantial number of girls in my year now have 2 or more children, usualy to different fathers, and a few had their first children aged between 15-17.
On the other hand, I also went to three other state schools (I was a little sh**) - two co-ed and one single sex - and the single sex was the cattiest college out, and we used to sit on the tennis courts in full public and teacher view, smoking at lunchtime. All that happened is we got a letter inviting us to go to a stop smoking group. The best college I personally ever went to, was a smaller (as in 370 students from forms 1 to 7) college where everyone knew each other and it was so friendly, and small classes with excellent teachers. |
Posted By: Leish
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 6:48pm
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I was just thinking that it must just be girls schools with all the cliquey issues but then I remembered that we are all girls in here so there aren't really any old boys who can give advice/opinions...
We are planning on sending Christopher to a public college but it is the best one (college) here in Welly with the highest pass rate and the best sport programme (we think). He's not all that academic and the school is supposed to be really good about pushing those kids and he's really talented with sports so we think it should be a good fit. I think it's a matter of doing lots of research and finding the best fit for your child - whether that is private, public, single sex or co-ed. I used to be really anti going private for primary but I have been really disappointed in the quality of education at the primary school that Christopher has been to and don't think that it was really a good fit for him. In hindsight I think he would really have benefited from the strictness and higher workload from a catholic or private school. Hindsight is wonderful though isn't it. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 8:21pm
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On the subject of pregnancies I was the first to have a baby from the single sex school but the 10th at the public school (which had less girls).
My coed school had a GATE (gifted and talented education) programme and I was in it haha
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:28pm
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yeah a few schools have extension classes but the gifted programme is not in many schools. I think there is also the school Emma is looking at sending Maya too - the one day school in town which is different again.
I was always in extension classes or top level - which at grammar and private meant THREE languages plus all the usual and extra homework....sucky!!! Paws - Dio have computerised sewing machines, yet another pool comples being built, etc etc...every mag I get I think - well they dont need MY money then...LOL!!! |
Posted By: Leish
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 5:33am
Thats so cool. With all the languages and stuff. Must have been so cool to be extended like that. Hmmmmm makes you think... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jaz
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 6:56am
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It's cool if you want to be extended in languages. DD is off to high school next year and is gutted to find out that 'advanced learning' means MORE languages and you have the priviledge of learning Latin!
The high schools we've looked at seem to multi-level high ability kids. So they may do 4th form English and Science but 5th form Maths if thats where their ability sits. One Day School is great, and extends kids in their area. So if the child is a creative thinker or a talented writer they can work on projects that extend them in that area. They are really good at accommodating kids with learning difficulties like dyslexia which regular schools often overlook when streaming. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 7:08am
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I went to a private all-girls school from the age of five onwards and I adored it. There was a little bit of bitchiness that I remember, but no more than my friends at public co-ed schools talked about and quite possibly less. I had wonderful teachers, a couple of whom I am still in touch with. If I had a girl and we moved back to where I grew up (Adelaide) I would definitely look at sending her there.
For our boy we're still undecided except that we're pretty sure we want to go private at least for secondary school. From the reading I've done - and it's been a LOT of reading, my mum is a consultant for the department of education back in Aus so she gets me lots of studies and papers to read - outgoing, boisterous boys seem to do better in an all-boys environment while quieter boys do better in a co-ed environment, as a generalisation. I guess we'll have to wait and see what kind of personality my little man turns out to have! ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 7:53am
Odd, all the schools I was in during teaching practice had 2 programmes, 1 for children with special needs, the other for children with special abilities, both were pulled out of class, special needs for extra catch up type work, abilities for extra stuff as well. ------------- ">
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Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:36am
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In SA the private schools is really awfull. I dont think the education was better at all but the kids were just totally arrogant. They felt like they were better and even years afterwards if you meet one of them right after them saying their name they will tell you oh I went to Grey (or insert name here) what school did you went too. Must say this totally put me off private schools in that regard.
We did think of homeschooling in SA due to public schools dropping their standards (long political stories) but wanted to meet up with other moms and get a teacher that way rather. Over here I went and visited the schools in our area and we will be sending her to a public co-ed school in our area. (we are lucky however and I can chose from a few schools and we are zoned for them.) If McKayla is talented we will foster that or look into something else then. And I will look as soon as she goes primary where we will be sending her next. We had this program in SA when I went to school that the gifted kids were sent one week a term to a special school where we learned stuff a few years ahead. Was really cool but at the same time you didnt really feel any different as you still went to a normal school with normal kids. (not that we werent normal, sorry early in the morning over here with little sleep again. but I think you guys know what I mean.) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:55am
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In the Uk they have been trialling Co-ed schools with single sex lessons (does that make sense). Helps the boys concentrate in class but still allows interaction between boy and girls socially, it has been having some really good results.
Me and DH both went to public schools in the Uk, I went to the local sh*tter of a school and DH travelled and attended the nearest grammer school (which was single sex). He thinks that the boys at the grammar were sex obsessed and would basically spend all their free time trying to break through the fence into the girls grammar. There were pregnancies at my school and a lot of kids that just had no interest in learning or following rules and their parents had no interest in sorting them out so it stayed that way. The teachers are unable to enforce any discipline whatsoever, most of the worst behaved children also have the worst behaved parents and without parental back up the fight is lost. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:57am
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Oh that sounded like I was slating teachers, I just mean they don't have the resources to enforce discipline expecially cos of being scared that parents are gonna sue the schools etc, is practically impossible for them to even give out detentions anymore. -------------
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:58am
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hehe if my MIL saw this she would go on for pages about the advantages and disadvantages of both public and private. BTW, shes a senior review officer for ERO and was a principal in many schools for years and years..
She's had a chat with me about schooling before. DH's whole family is very much an education family. MIL being in ERO, FIL is a professor at Massey who has a Phd in something about reading and education. BIL is a teacher, and DH works for a company that deals only with schools.. lol.. Ohh, and I have only read a couple of responses on this post, so sorry if I double up in what I'm saying. Anyhow.. we won't be sending Daniel to a private school because of the cost and also because we feel that public school has a whole lot to offer that is often overlooked and we like the fact that Daniel would make lots of friends in our neighbourhood etc. We like the environment better at public than private. MIL said that if she had any say in the matter there is no way she would recommend sending Daniel to private school, even if in Palmy there were more options to choose from (as they are pretty much all religion based). FIL agreed also though it took a bit for me to get his opinion out of him. One thing my FIL (hes also ex principal) said to look out for when choosing a school is to have a good look at the teachers/principals. For example, there is a school in Palmy who has good teachers but they are very divided. One lot is very stuck in their way and do not like any new initiatives and so they are more old school type teachers and hate technology. whereas the others are very pro anything new.. and the principal doesnt seem to be able to influence their staff. When we go choosing a school for Daniel it won't be based on the decile rating, it will be based on the kind of thing I mentioned above. I came from a small school (I think its decile 5) and then went to a small high school that was where everyone who got kicked out of palmy and wanganui schools went there type school and I turned out fine. I went to uni, i got into vet school etc.. so I don't see the need to pay lots of money to a private school. I think that if parents teach their kids that learning is great and fun then they won't have any problems. |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 9:05am
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UGH latin...I was silly enough to take it at University as well...and promptly failed it....Horrid but gave me a greater understanding of how the english language formed....funny that!
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 9:06am
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Ohhh and another thing about high school was that by 7th form we had small classes and therefore got far more of the teachers attention than I ever would have at like girls high or something.
Like 7th form Chemistry literally was just me and my best mate. 7th form Biology was like 15 people, English was about 20, Physics was 8. And all of us that got to that stage of high school did really well at the end because we were able to have lots of one on one with our teachers if we wanted it It was also a very relaxed learning environment and we had lots of fun while learning because everyone got to know everyone sooooo well.
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 9:33am
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I think no matter what you decide, go have a look at the schools, ask if you can sit in on the class. Don't be afraid of new teachers either, these are the ones with the new fresh ideas and tend to rark things up for the older teachers. New teachers also have a better understanding of the newer curriculums as they studied them, older teachers often get handed them and told to now teach it as well.
As for decile ratings, these can be somewhat rigged so are not the best for picking a school. Check the ERO reports too, or ask around, parents with older children can offer advice (or intermediates are good for telling you about both primary and colleges in the area) ------------- ">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 11:03am
I'm pretty sure all I remember is "Matella est mater"....oh and conjagating Amo etc.... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 11:55am
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sounds like my memory of Japanese
McDonalds - makadonaru Hot Dog - hotudogu hamburger - hambaga and I remember old macdonald had a farm as well. Sure that will be useful one day! ------------- ">
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 5:47pm
yeah! thanks BS!! meh! *pokes tongue out at susieq aka "mum"* |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:37pm
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Charlotte goes to a private nursery now and its great. I just love all the extras that the money allows them to do. For example for the chinese new year they had a group come in and do a full performance. She has a french instuctor come in every Thursday, a dance teacher every Friday, singing teacher every Tuesday, PE teacher on Wednesday (for PE they do a physical activity each term and have a special teacher come in, at the moment its Karate basics- they have also had ballet, tap, skipping...), plus 'cooking' once a week. Each term they also look into a different culture. It may sound slike alot for 3-4 year olds but its all introduced in a really fun way and she comes home most days bouncing about all this stuff. She always surprises me with the things she has learnt on a day to day basis- like over hearing her this morning singing Frere Jaques in the toilet! The school itself has its own pool, vege garden run by the kids and the most amazing playground- its just for 2-6 year olds as they feed into the main school at 7, so all the facilities are aimed at that age group. Each Kindy class has 10-12 students and each of those classes has 2 teachers who go with them to all their activities- all the teachers are lovely, I would have been happy for her to have any of them.
I remember reading a thread a while ago about what kids do at Kindy and being so amazed at how little goes on- they just soak everything up at this age and I love that shes being exposed to all this knowledge now. What I especially like is that because we are paying I feel like I have more say in what goes on. I see it as they are providing a service, giving our daughter as good an education as possible and because we're paying top dollar for it we can say where and when we think things can improve and they fall over themselves to accomodate us. We will be going private all the way just because of the good experience we've had so far. We both went to state schools but I personally feel like I did well in spite of my schooling rather than because of it- very few of my year even made it to 7th form (less than 1/2 of us) and half of that dropped out before sitting Bursary and only about 15 of us actually went to uni. The area we are looking at moving to the private school performs alot better both in sports and significantly higher passes at every academic level. I think that idea of segregating classes in co-ed schools at a high school level is brilliant- hopefully its something that catches on. ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3
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