As an educator, you will have to make the choice between teaching at private versus public school. Understanding these differences is a very important first step to making the decision. Some important factors to consider include student base, government oversight, teacher education requirements, class size, and salary.
Student Base and Class Size
Public schools must accept any student regardless of experience, intelligence, or behavior. This means that teachers have classrooms filled with diverse students, requiring differentiation. As far as student base is considered basic, teacher education requirements do not require teachers to learn management skills that may be necessary in difficult student situations. However, it also means that teachers can take pride in knowing they are participating in educating everyone in our society.
In the private versus public school debate, it often comes up that private schools are quite selective about their student population. This means that private schools have a more homogeneous student base, making it easier to teach without having to make too many accommodations and without too many interruptions. In public schools, class size can range from 20-30 students, whereas in private schools class size remains small to best serve students whose families are paying tuition.
Government Oversight and Salary
Because taxpayers fund public schools, those schools must meet curricular requirements and administer state-mandated standardized tests. This can make teaching in a public school somewhat stressful. However, when considering private versus public school, it is important to remember that high expectations and standards at a private school may lead to stress over student performance as well.
One interesting difference between private and public schools is that a public school teacher can make as much as $15,000 more than a private school teacher.
Teacher Education Requirements
Private schools can hire whomever they want, which makes it easier to become a teacher in a private school, but this is also the reason their pay can be lower. Public school teachers must hold a license to teach. This requires a bachelor’s degree, certain coursework, a background check, a standardized test, and a state fee. It is definitely more difficult and expensive to become a public school teacher. That said, private schools tend to have high standards for their teacher education requirements because they are scrutinized by the families they rely on to survive. So while it is not a requirement to have highly educated teachers in private schools, it is common practice.
Private Versus Public School — Teaching Differences
In private schools, teachers choose the materials with which to teach; however, in public schools, teachers must use materials purchased by the district while also spending a great deal of time managing classroom differences and facilitating state-mandated programs addressing health issues, social skills, and standardized testing.
An Education Week article highlights findings from a study by authors Christopher and Sarah Lubienski, a husband-and-wife team of education professors at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: “Public schools achieve the same or better mathematics results as private schools with demographically similar students.” The success of public school teaching cannot be underestimated because of the challenges in heterogeneous grouping. The more diverse a student base, the more difficult it will be to teach.
Making a decision between teaching at a private versus public school is important. There are many factors to consider in terms of what feels right for you. One thing is certain: teaching is very personal. So if you ensure you have the right teacher education, you can be sure you will have opportunities to do what works for you.
Learn more about the Lamar University online M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership program.
Sources:
The Atlantic: Why Are Private-School Teachers Paid Less Than Public-School Teachers
The Atlantic: Why I’m a Public-School Teacher but a Private-School Parent
Education Week: Public Schools Outperform Private Schools, Book Says
Education Week: Private Schools vs. Public Schools
The Guardian: Teaching in Private and State Schools: The Differences, Priorities and Styles
