Private schools and the rise of inequality

With the rise of inequality, some parents feel pressured to fork out $120k to keep up with ‘the Joneses’ by sending their kids to private schools. So is it worth it?

As soon as a baby comes into the world new parents start thinking about their children's future. 

Not what pre-school, day care or primary school they should attend but, in particular, which high school they should attend? and whether or not they should be sending their child to a private school. For a lot of parents this isn't even a question. As for those on average salaries, private schools charging up 20-30k per year is simply not an option. Even less of an option when you add more than one child to the mix. 

You may be wondering why parents should worry about which high school their newborn baby should attend as it's at least 12/13 years away but alas, the race into private school has already begun.

If parents want to 'keep up with the Joneses' they need to get cracking on those private school applications. Pronto. With most elite private schools accepting applications for newborns. The earlier on you send the application the greater chance of receiving a place. Parting with money has already begun with some private schools charging around $250 just for processing your application. With a further fee of $3k being charged to accept a place (and no that doesn't always go towards annual fees).  

Most parents want the best for their kids. That is why they entertain the idea of independent schooling. It's natural for parents to want to give their children more than what they had growing up. There has been a recent surge in the independent school’s share of full time enrolments. Up to 14.5 per cent in 2017, by comparison in 1970 only 4.1 per cent of enrolments were in independent schools.This may be conducive to the rise in inequality from 1980 onwards with wealth no longer being evenly distributed.

The decision to go private is one that can't be taken lightly as it will cost upwards of $120k for one child to attend year 7 till 12. 

So is private school worth it? Should parents be paying $120k for their children to get education that is essentially free at a public school? Does it make a difference in the long run?

With the pristine images of private school uniforms, the glossy brochures of clean cut kids and strong academic results. It is easy to see why parents would consider it a good option. As the HSC results do shine in comparison to that of a public school but there is more to it once the surface is scratched. 

The first thing to factor in, is that private schooled kids typically come from a higher socio economic background. 

That means better role models and the sense of 'norm' is skewed into a higher standard. 

For kids with a lower socio economic status, for examplechildren of single parents, areless likely to gain entry into university and may be burdened with helping out at home more often to support their mother/father. Something that may never be required for a private schooled kid, because money is not an issue. 

However, once socio economic status is taken into account, a public school student from a high socio economic background is not necessarily worse off, particularly once a university course is complete. 

The second perceived advantage in favour of private schooled kids is 'networks'. If your parents and peers hold high positions at work you have stronger networks. It is no accident that Miranda Devine (alumni of Loreto Kirribilli) became a columnist with her father Frank Devine already having a strong foothold in the industry. Or Georgina Downer being a liberal candidate for the seat of Mayo. 

Even elusive jobs which are difficult to obtain, are likely to have a number of private schooled kids with a relative or two already in the company. That's the beauty of private schools. It's an invisible conveyor belt that moves kids into where they want to go whilst feigning an equal start to their public school peers. 

It should be noted that networks are not exclusive to private schooled kids as many jobs are granted to people that are known to the employer. So it doesn't always boil down to whether a student was private or public schooled.  

Thirdly, there is the 'resources advantage'.The student to teacher ratio is typically lower in an independent school. Teachers aren't stretched for resources and can channel energy into educating their students. Something that would be rarer with a public school teacher, not because of different attitudes to teaching but the fact that they are under resourced.

So what's a disadvantaged kid to do? Well there are some limited scholarships for students. Unfortunately that child may feel like a fish out of water. While they make new friendships with kids that have way more money, they can be made to feel more like an outsider or have lower self esteem because their car isn't as flashy or their house/ clothes aren't as nice. 

The biggest advantage that private schools offer is being scaled up with HSC results, on average, even when socio economic status is accounted for, students from independent schools were scaled up to six points higher in their HSC results. 

So the question parents really need to ask themselves is whether 120k is worth an extra six atar points and some possible contacts? Or are we just suckers?