50 or 60 years ago that was certainly true at many schools. The odd thing is that most of the older schools were established with the aim of educating children from working class families, not the elite. In the first half of the 20th century the clientele in many schools indeed came from well-to-do families who could afford the tariff. The pendulum has swung in the other direction now with private schools championing diversity.
9. The Homework Is Difficult and There's Lots of It.
Some of it is. Some of it isn't. It all depends on the kind of school you go to. Some schools have academic standards which are probably higher than many colleges and universities. They have libraries and teachers to match. Others have lower standards and/or different programs and emphases. It's all a matter of what you are looking for.
8. You Have No Free Time.
If you attend boarding school, you will have free time. You just won't be unsupervised during that free time. There's always somebody around to make sure that you are safe and not getting into something you shouldn't.
7. You Have to Wear a Uniform.
Many religious schools still insist on a uniform. However, most private schools choose to have a dress code. All that means is that you must wear certain kinds of clothes at certain times of the day. There's still plenty of room for individual expression of style and so on when you are not in class.
6. They Are Difficult to Get Into.
Some schools indeed are difficult to get into. That is because they have far more applicants than they have places. They are highly competitive schools. You have to be really smart and offer everything those schools are looking for in order to be admitted. Thousands of other schools are much easier to get into and offer a learning experience of a high standard.
5. They Are Expensive.
Expensive is a relative term. When compared to the cost of educating students in some public schools, some private schools look very inexpensive. Private schools receive no state or local funding. They exist on their tuition and donation income. Most schools have very
generous financial aid programs in place in order to attract and retain students from families which otherwise could not afford a private school education for their children.
4. They Are Exclusive.
The only schools which are exclusive any more are certain religious schools. These schools usually require families and students to sign a profession of faith and adherence to that church's particular religious practices and beliefs. All the rest are quite egalitarian.
3. They Are Unregulated.
Most private schools are regulated by state education departments. They have to comply with regulations concerned minimum hours and so on. They also have to comply with local zoning laws and must file tax returns with the IRS. Most serious private schools are accredited as well.
2. They Are Only for Students of a Certain Faith.
Many private schools began as church schools. Most of those have an open door policy regarding students of other faiths. Many still require attendance at mass or chapel as strict religious services. Others use what use to be chapel as time for assemblies and
other community events.
1. They Are Better Than Public Schools.
When you compare private schools to public schools, they are very similar in most respects except one: class size. Some private schools, just like some public schools, are excellent schools and produce graduates who go on to any university or college they choose. Generally speaking, parents tend to send their children to private school to get an education of the highest possible standard.
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