Jul 27

Jul 27 Selecting The Right School For Your Child

Having a family represents a wide variety of challenges, from feeding habits, manners, to what I consider key in the development of a child; SCHOOLING.

There are several factors to keep in mind before deciding what school is right for your child. Sometimes it is hard to get correct information, because word of mouth can be a big a factor when looking for tuition, and everyone’s experience can be different. Here are some points to consider...

What is the difference between private and public schools in Mexico?

The difference between schools, is a simple matter of ambiance. Private schools are known for offering multiple options in the extracurricular area but the required credits to achieve a diploma or certificate are not too many. Private schools try to be ahead of the system and sounds like a great option, but unfortunately they can lack commitment from the staff due to the pressure to get good numbers. And I don't mean grading, I mean $$$.

It’s sad, but in the end, it’s a business and that plays a big part when it comes to performance of the staff - you know, more pressure, less personal involvement. I am not saying that it happens in every private school; there are some that are well organized and have been successful at it, but the purpose of paying tuition is to guarantee your kid's successful learning.

In public schools it’s a bit more challenging for the parents. Since schooling is technically free, they can be tough when it comes to discipline. Public teachers can be very involved and will not take spoiled attitudes. Ultimately there are other students fighting for their spots in free education. What this means is, even when overcrowded, public schools always maintain the standards required by the department of education. Whereas private schools don't always comply to the standards, and manage the actual education and learning based on the performance of the class, not the actual standards required by the education department. Therefore, a rotten kid could be expelled due to attitude problems.

Even though the news is always reporting rallies from dissident teachers, the teachers that are doing most of the noise, are the ones that refuse to be tested to verify the actual knowledge of their subjects. But for the most part, the public school is an excellent option for those kids that like to be involved and have few attitude issues.

How can you, as a parent, help shape your child's education?

Have good channels of communication with the teachers.

Get involved and support your child, especially with projects, throughout the school year. It’s always a good way to keep tabs on your kid's performance. The main complaint from teachers is that parents are not involved enough, and the follow up at home is extremely important. The more you set boundaries along with the teacher, the easier it is going to be to make your kid a successful student. For example, the teacher and the parents have to be on the same page, to promote a better understanding of what measures to take regarding respect, value for authority, and personal development while overcoming obstacles or setbacks.

Keep in mind that a teacher is not the only one responsible for your kid´s development.

Teachers are responsible for teaching subjects and giving your child resources to help them research and increase their curiosity. The actual development of those techniques is up to the parent and the student. What I'm saying is, the teacher will lead your kid to the right choice, but it’s up to you, the parent, to make your kid follow that choice. And if the choice is not entirely convincing, talk to the teacher before making negative remarks in front your kid - as that could be damaging to the image of authority of the teacher, and then the responsibility will be entirely yours.

Make sure your child’s teacher is aware of issues at home.

When it comes to discipline, you've got to make sure the teacher is always in the loop about big changes in family related issues. Most of the time the behavioral aspects are influenced by changes at home and parents are not open about these issues with the school. This could lead the teacher to believe that the student is just having an attitude problem.

So, Public or Private???

Public schools are a good option; they are always easier to deal with it when it comes making sure your child has the credits that are required by the education department. Unfortunately, some classrooms are overcrowded and the quality of service could be diminished due to the number of students in each classroom. That also creates a need for the student to keep up with their classmates, in the curricular aspect of course. And could be challenging for those kids that are shy or quiet, even though we live in an area known for its hospitality. Public schools can be difficult because the chances to get noticed by the teacher are almost none, or only if the grades are great.

Private schools are a good fit for a lot of people, however, the truth of tuition lies within the organizational skills of the administrative area, and could be quite the issue for some of the staff. In private schools, no teacher has job security, and ultimately a teacher lacks the authority to make many decisions regarding the welfare of the student. Everything needs to be reported to a head master or a principal, and a simple problem can have a lot of people involved. Therefore a solution can be delayed. For the most part, private means better for a lot of parents, but no school can guarantee the knowledge acquired in a student, that is always a job that requires all the attention and supervision of the parents as well as teachers.

Which one is best for my kids???

Well, let's see..
You know your kids better than anybody, and the likes and dislikes of your kids will play a big part into how they learn best. All you have to keep in mind is that the more comfortable you feel, and the more you trust the teachers or school, the better, because that will make your kids feel they are in good hands. Therefore, the one thing they have to do is follow rules and guidelines. As I said before, it is quite the decision to make, but the main factor is comfort. And when I say this, I mean price, activities, schedules, distance to commute, and what I consider most important, access to your child´s records and teachers at any given time.