Parental Debate: Private or Public?

Yesterday morning, my fiancée  Sean and I begin talking about the future of our one-year-old daughter, Dior, and we shared our differences on how she should be educated.

We first discuss what we thought she was going to be when she became an adult. I guessed  she was going to take on the role of becoming a athlete because she is so active and loves to play “rough.” He agreed. We both agreed that she would be outgoing, loving, outspoken, and most importantly intelligent based on her actions as a toddler. But there was one thing we didn’t agree on – her education. He is all for public education instead of private or parochial schooling; on the other had, while I am for public education, due to what is going on with the budget cuts and current actions of the school district, I wouldn’t rule out private schooling.

Sean thinks that good public schools are just as good as private schools and there is no need to “waste money on the same kind of education that a child can receive free through a public school.” I debated that there are only a few good public schools in Philadelphia and if something isn’t done about maintaining the entire system, public schools may become obsolete. The Philadelphia school system might just turn into a complete private sector.  But in my heart, I hope my thought is just that, a thought.

Sean even tried to persuade me to transition my eight-year-old daughter, Sheamari, to the public elementary school just a block away from our house. He said, “You would save $350.00 a month that you pay in tuition and gas.” I do agree with him on how much money I would save, but I rather pay a good price for my daughter to receive a quality education.

Sean has decided if the public school system doesn’t reach a peak of improvement, then home schooling would be the next choice for Dior. Here we disagree, again. I prefer a school setting. Not saying Sean nor I wouldn’t be efficient teachers, but I like the idea of my children being in classroom settings, meeting new peers and building educational relationships with their teachers.

 I know it may seem a little crazy to you while you are reading this because we are talking about a one-year-old who has  another four years for us to consider the type of education that she will receive, but there is no harm in planning early. I’m pretty sure that parents, like Sean and I,  have these discussions all the time. But once the time approaches on deciding which schools they would like for their children to be educated at, reality sets in. A parent has to decide if you can afford private school or if you have to search for a good public school where they can send their child.


 One resource I think is useful if you are a parent is very useful is www.thenotebook.org website. They provide not only updated news on the Philadelphia school system, but surrounding school districts, political views on education, blogs, resources and publications for parents, teachers, and students. In the meantime, Sean and I will hope for the best for Philadelphia's public school system and that in the next few years, before Dior begins kindergarten, we will see a significant change that will be beneficial to the youth of this city.