Mar

10

Schools : How to Get Good Education? Choices…

March 10, 2008 |

Graduation Cap and DiplomaEducation is priceless but our wallets are not bottomless.  We all want the higest education for kids, but there is a point where we have to call it enough - not because we want to, but because we can’t go further.  The governemnt provides education for kids in the US.  Fairly good one compared to what the average kid in the world gets, although some argue not as good as what could be found on other industrialized countries, or even non-inudstrialized countries (if you use indicators like literacy rate).

We certainly want to ask the government to improve policies on every aspect of our lives, including education.  But politics are slow.  We also have to think about what options we have, while politicians decide how to distribute the tax bounty.

Parents who care about the education of their kids face several tough choices:

  • Tutoring / Complementary Education - If school is not enough, they can find someone to extend their education after their leave the classroom.  After school programs can help.  Tutors can give an edge to a kids ability to learn and succeed.  Traveling abroad can increase a sense of awareness that speeds up education.  You probably get the idea: education happens beyond the school walls also.
  • Charter Schools - Line up in the local charter school waiting list (most good ones have long lists).  Line up early and you can give private-like education for free to your kids.  Just hope your kids name come up fairly soon.  (Or vote for those who promote more charter schools).  Some people argue they are just as good or bad as public schools, but if your local school is really bad, even something less-bad could be an improvement.  I am all in favor of Charter Schools.  At least the parents who send their kids there have voluntarily made the choice of better education: chances are a bunch of parents interested in education is a good thing.
  • Move - Some towns have better school systems than others.  Some towns have school systems that are better than private schools.  Normally those who collect more Real Estae Tax (where houses are more expensive) do better.  This has a significant cost in a family income.  Paying $30,000 more in mortgage every year can be a scary thought: unless you where already prepared to pay $25,000 for each of your kids to go to a private school. (The actual ammount paid depends on where you decide to move).  Newsweek lists the top 1,300 public schools in the USA.  A good realtor should also be able to help you with this.
  • Private School - Affiliated to Church - I went to one of these.  The church gives an economical alternative to private education - and argue it is of the same quality.  Still costs anywhere from $2,000 to $15,000.  In my opinion very good value, if you can live up with the religion and pretend to be pious for a while.
  • Private School - Unaffiliated - The rolls royce of education, some say.  Others suggest is individuals benefiting from someone else ignorance at its best.  I have seen the good and the bad (just as any other option listed above).  Some people argue that Private schooling is not better than public, if you ”adjust” for demographics (if you consider the level of education, income, and residential environment of the parents that can pay the school).  The NSCPE, who typically oposes private schooling, argues this.    However a Harvard University study found that private schools came out ahead in 11 of 12 comparisons of students.  It normally sets you back anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000/year/kid.
  • Homeschooling - With so many parents deciding to stay at home to take care of the kids, this option may be advisable.  Most of the time it doesn’t happen overnight: the parent has to go through some education him/herself and sometimes they need to get a license.  Curriculum has to be approved by the government also.  It is not an easy task.  But then again, if a parent has the time, and is not satisfied with the local public school system, why not contribute to their own family by saving them the trouble and money of moving to a better school district or paying private school.

What have you done to improve your kids education, while waiting for govenrment to improve the system?  Are there other choices?


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Dual Income vs. Stay At Home | Money And Investing on March 10, 2008 12:31 pm

    [...] Schools - (In Favor) Many parents are faced with a difficult challenge: find a good school for their children.  Homeschooling become a very interesting option when compared to a private school.  At stay at home parent can potentially teach their children better than a bad public school.  This may save money versus moving to a better school district or paying for private education. [...]

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