School Principles

By Philip Stott

As the father of a 9-month old, I realize that I've got quite a bit of time until I need to start thinking too hard about where my daughter's going to go to school, but this column set me off down the public vs. private road, and raised more than a couple of questions.

First off, I'd like to point out a couple of things. Number one: I went to a public school, and don't feel like I received anything like an amazing educational experience. Number two: I've worked, and my wife currently teaches at, an elite private school (red bricks and all). So I'm fully aware of the distinctions between the two, and how wonderful it is to find an institution where learning is valued, encouraged and given a beautiful setting to occur in.

Here's the thing, though: I have a fundamental problem with the concept of private education. I simply don't believe that it's morally acceptable that having money entitles your children (or mine-if I had any money!) to a better standard of education than the family down the block who are struggling to get by.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not advocating bringing all schools down to the level of the one I attended in a misguided attempt to make everyone "equal." I understand the economic theory behind private education. I understand political and individual freedom. I understand why having a choice is important. And, as a parent, I know that I'll do whatever it takes to provide for my child and help her (and any who happen to follow her) to succeed. What troubles me, though, is this concept that money is the key determining factor in being able to do so. Surely every child has an equal right to an equally high standard of education, and it's their ability and application-and not their parents' level of income-that should determine their chances for success. Hopelessly idealistic, I know, but where would we be without ideals?

Now, I'm sure that I'll attract a couple of fairly predictable responses here, one of which I'll deal with immediately. It's a no-brainer that someone will take the above and read jealousy into it, and they'd be half right. Sure, I may envy the privilege that private education has given some of my age-group peers (the networking capabilities, the access to upper echelon jobs). Whether or not their education was "better" is open to debate, though. Is being coached to get into an elite college (and, in some cases, coached through it) "better" than getting into a decent one with zero coaching? Does any of it make you a "better" person, or just a wealthier one?

Where I'm really torn, though, is in what to do about my own daughter's education, when that day finally rolls round (and if being a dad has taught me anything so far, it's that it'll come much faster than I'm expecting). One perk of my wife's current position is free enrolment for faculty kids in her school-a perk worth upwards of $20,000 a year per child at present, and available all the way from kindergarten through high school. We're also fortunate enough to live on the cusp of a very good school district-literally moving a mile would get us into it.

So here's the dilemma: I have a real problem with sending the sort of message to my child that private school engenders-that privilege comes with money, and that while money can't buy success, it can at least buy a better shot at it. And, while I want my child to grow up in a diverse culture (which the school district we currently live in would provide, but the private school wouldn't), I also want what's best for her (which, educationally, the district wouldn't provide, but the private school would). A half-measure would be to move to the neighboring district (diversity plus good public education), but given my conception that all children should have the right to the same standard of education, even that feels like a cop out. So what's a dad to do?