2 Year Old Not Enrolled into a School. Too Late?

Just need suggestions from parents about schools in general. I am looking for good public schools around my area which is Chadstone VIC. My daughter is 2 years old and my friends and relatives get shocked when I tell them that we have not enrolled or started looking for schools for her.

We are in bit of a dilemma whether to send her to a good public school, catholic school or a private school. We cant really afford a private school with a high mortgage but if push comes to shove we can arrange some finance from the bank of mum and dad. But some people say private schools are better and some say public. We also want to look at Catholic schools which some say are in between public and private.

I did a lot of google search and filtered a few good ones around my area. But happy to move to rent somewhere close by if public schools are better there.

Please hit me up with suggestions if you have any experience or know about schools in this area. What I should look for in schools eg small number of pupils, good play grounds, amenities etc.

** Thanks for the awesome replies guys. Made me laugh and educated at the same time. A little bit relieved as well. 2 year old is sleeping a lot better as well ;)

Comments

    • +2

      I know someone who was enrolled in private school before they were even born.

      How?

      Did the parents enrol the semen and egg??? Did it require 2 forms?

      • +16

        There's a period of time between conception and delivery called pregnancy. This period of time generally lasts around 36-40 weeks in humans.

        • -1

          There's a period of time between conception and delivery called pregnancy.

          Good chance they wont get an offer from the school if you leave it that late…

    • Instead of a cigarette after conception you fill out an enrolment form then roll over and fall asleep?

  • +1

    My 4.5 year old had been enrolled for a year now, and as of earlier this year due to being a sibling her 2 year old brother is now too. Little one even comes up on the app for lunch ordering etc!

  • +2

    Your local catholic girls secondary school is not great, as someone who went there. I was far more better off and happier at the public high school further out that I went to before I transferred to do my final years. Don't waste your money imo. Happy for you to dm me if you want to hear about my experience.

    Is Chadstone out of the McKinnon SC Zone???

  • +5

    I’m in a similar situation but my little one is 18 months we’re looking at the pros and cons of public vs private. We can afford private, but if we couldn’t I’d definitely go public as there’s a lot of positives to public. Given that you say you can’t really afford private, I think it’s worth considering what other things you might be able to spend the money you save by going public on, for your kid e.g. sports clubs/training, music lessons/instruments, tutoring, family holidays.

    • worth considering what other things you might be able to spend the money you save by going public on, for your kid e.g. sports clubs/training, music lessons/instruments, tutoring, family holidays.

      Good advice, don't forget to get them into a few extracurricular programs! AND SWIMMING LESSONS!

      just my 2c, would go with Public + good private tutor

  • +12

    Check out your local public school first. It it's within walking distance there would have to be a lot wrong with it to not go there.

  • +5

    I don't know how so people can afford private schooling, and they usually can't. I was catholic schooled, hated it. Too much time wasted talking about the sky pilot, and we didn't get extra attention at school, I struggled a bit. Every school has some derro/delinquent/shit kids in it, its up to the staff at the time how to deal with them and I think that makes or breaks the experience for everybody. Local public school here had 6 12 year old kids suspended for having vapes, at least they weren't selling heroin like what was going on in the 90s…are parents on here involved in their P&Cs?

    • +1

      I think it depends where you live a little. Where we are the two most expensive private school that are very good, charge about $18,000/year for the senior years (less for primary). Based on my current salary that equates to less the that my earnings from working one day a week after tax. It’s also less for private primary school than we pay for daycare currently even after the subsidy. However I know in Sydney and Melbourne the top private schools can cost double that.

      I agree with you on the religion side of things though. We aren’t religious so I’m leaning towards the school that whilst having a ‘Christian tradition’ doesn’t seem to make this the centre of everything, where a lot seem to be very focused on this.

      There have been serious assaults on students by other students at our catchment area public school, hence considering private. Otherwise I think the teachers in the public schools are probably some of the best.

      • Yeah community makes a huge difference. Some kids joined an ethnic gang in high school but thankfully it didn’t spiral into anything

  • -2

    Quite simple, private school is for the lazy parents that don't want to instill in their children that hard work is required and instead want to pawn it off on a school, while wasting a significant sum of money. While in the past, there may have been more merit for private schools, in the days of the internet there is literally zero academic resources that are exclusively available to private schools. Put simply, there is no excuse not to do well in the public system anymore, and if they are, it's either because they're not working hard enough or they haven't been taught right, both of which are on the parent and student, not the school.

    I've also found the significant hand holding provided in private schools negatively affects them when they come to university, as they have not learned how to learn independently, as well as the sense of entitlement that comes from being in that privileged environment.

    A much better solution would be to use the money you were going to waste and put it in a trust for them to use as a house deposit, An actual tangible difference that will set them years ahead of everyone else their age, regardless of what they're studying and send them to the best public school you can.

  • +15

    This shows how screwed Australia is.

    The way of life is kids riding a bike to school, playing with mates after achool. Not getting dropped off at 7am and getting picked up after 5 and then off to tutoring lessons.

  • +2

    how rediculous. you have plenty of time. don't worry

    the public school that services whereever your home is HAS to take the kid (except for weird places in sydney i believe)

    if you want a surefire back up get the kid baptised in the catholic church - then the catholic school that services wherever your home is also HAS to take the kid
    (source: i moved around a lot as a kid and that baptisimal certificate was a ticket to a small-class-size school spot wherever and whenever we went - middle of a school year, middle of a term, middle of nowhere, no problemo!)
    (but of course you don't have to be baptised catholic to go to catholic school by the way, you probably know this but thought i should add.)

    as for money
    public school = money
    catholic school = more money
    fancy private school = even more money
    what's worth it? depends on; your kid and their needs, your area's schools, your priorities and values, your circumstances.
    it's hard for someone else to tell you these things

    there are other options to consider too. (sorry don't want to make your choices even harder)
    there's home schooling, distance education, specialist schools for kids with different needs, and alternative schools for example waldorf steiner schools

    so many choices, it must be so hard to be a parent

  • +1

    David Gillespie wrote a book on this recently. I think his conclusion was that most of the paid schools weren't worth it and there were better ways to choose. Would be well worth a look. Probably available at a library near you.

    https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/185419143?keyword=ANL%20AND%20…

    • +2

      Most of children's products are pressure selling to parents. It is like anything that has the word baby on it would be twice the price. Vitamins for pregnancy and breast feeding etc (given you can't have too much Vitamin A during pregnancy but you can get a blood test to figure out which vitamins you actually need).

      School is the same thing. The devil is in the statistics. It is like universities saying 96% of their graduates have a job within 1 year of graduation. But they just hide segmented data, you might be in a job but is it one you want and is it paying average or not really, or actually you got an accounting degree but you're driving a taxi.

  • +1

    I know it was 18 years back but we went to the local public school the year before. It was a good school and in demand but AFAIK if you are in the catchment they can't knock you back

  • +4

    I wouldn't bother with private school until high school at the earliest. It's very common for people to start in private school in yr 7 or yr10

    • I would say opposite as the early years form the basis of how child develops their learning abilities.

      I've seen numerous examples where child went to private in Primary schools and scored really well in Selective school exams in NSW to get into top public schools. Not sure, if similar situation in Vic about High school but definitely in NSW.

      • If your aim is a chance at a spot at the most selective schools then yes, perhaps private is the best from the start, but for the majority of people this isn't achievable. I attended private school from year 4, but I plan on sending my children to public for primary, then reassessing for secondary.

  • +1

    A lot of catholic schools give a big discount (eg: 60% - 70%) if you have a Health Care Card, which includes the Low Income Health Care Card, which you can get if either you or your partner individually earn ~ $50k or less:

    https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/ce…

    • wow really? great tip, never crossed my mind

      edit: oh catcholic school.. some bad experiences shared above

  • +2

    Public school.

    I went to public, mate went to private. Education quality was the same.

  • There are great public primary schools near you! Hughesdale PS particularly - the principal is amazing and setting a great standard for the school, and has a very friendly, down to earth parent community.

    Less experience with public high schools, but Glen Eira is great nowadays (don’t listen to previous generations - it’s changed a lot) and Bentleigh SC also good - great facilities and teachers.

    Kids in my sons year went to 17 different high schools - split between public schools McKinnon, Bentleigh, South Oakleigh, Glen Eira, Ashwood and 12 different private schools!

    You’re probably too late for a Caulfield Grammar and maybe Kilvington, but not for most others if you decide to go that way.

    I remember taking my kids to playgroup after moving into the area and being told the same thing. Very different to where I was living before. Kinder positions are probably hardest to find - so get onto that soon!

    Best of luck!

  • +1

    As a parent of an 18-month-old. I am not even thinking about school yet. My wife is a school teacher and will most likely send our daughter to a local public school and then possible private for high school (Year 7 onwards).

    We are just getting her into Childcare two days a week now to build her social skills with other kids.

    As someone who went to a private school from Prep through to Year 12 and had my siblings do the same, the facilities and opportunities the school provided me was great and wasn't something I feel like I couldn't have achieved at a Public school. I was heavily involved in the Tech Team (lighting and sound) and had some of the best equipment which set me up for a career in that area. Not only that but we frequently did concerts and productions more often than what I could see public schools do which allowed me to get a bucket load of experience and public service recognition.

    My wife is a public sector primary school teacher and the schools she has been at vary in what they offer students and it is all based on the demographic. Low economic areas often do the bare basics, and one school she was essentially a glorified day care provider! But at another school the students and parents were very involved which made the kids better. It all depends on the area and school I think.

    Obviously with private education, the expectations of the students and parents are higher.

    Overall, my opinion is Private Education for senior years when the kid(s) can apply themselves and make that $$$ worthwhile.

    Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

  • I have enrolled my 18 months old to private ELC + Prep already. (Circa $3k with $2k deposit)
    My wife went local public school and the experience she's talking about is nothing but a horror show.
    We're fully aware about 'budget' options such as moving into good public school catchment or enrol the kid into private after primary etc.
    But given that's almost everyone thinking about, we're doubtful about feasibility.
    Seeing all that extremely small and dense units built around good public school zone, we believe there will be catches such as school catchment will shrink over time.

    My 2c based on my research is private schooling also can go different path depends on what you want.
    Some schools are pushing kids to study hard and expel if they don't comply after some warnings.
    The others, which what we want, doesn't do that and effectively just serve as "huddle" to filter out students. i.e) only reasonably wealthy family can enrol

  • I know the area very well as I have fam who live around that area and I went to school nearby a long time ago.
    You're relatively fine until you need to think about high school for your kid/s unless you are also zoned into Parkhill Primary School as well.
    For high school, you're zoned in Ashwood High School and it's really bad, it's pretty much the black hole of education in the eastern suburbs. It's been that way forever and I don't see it getting any better in the next decade. The reason is due to the large amount of public housing zoned in it.

    I'm sure you've looked at the better education website, it's good to see how schools are ranked.

    Depending on how much you value your kid/s education, I would look at the nearby eastern suburbs zoned to the high schools, Mt Waverley, Glen Waverley, Highvale, Box Hill, and Vermont. Forest Hill is not good… same as Ashwood.
    Plenty of good private schools in the east but they are expensive.

    Good luck

  • -2

    2yo worry about school? where your friends and relative come from? Mars or China?

    • You're kind of racist?! Aren't you?

      For your information, a lot of parents who have a "good income" often think about their kids future way before they can even walk. Some private school have even a waiting list that stretch on a couple years… and these parents are definetly not only chinese. They are australian, indian, chinese, dutch, french, british … but they are high income earners and need the best for their kids… and no, they are not from mars or China.

      • You're kind of racist?!

        Are Martians a race?

        • +1

          If they do exist?! In which categories would you put them? Race? Another human being? What will make you different from a martian? Do you think human from earth are the only "thing" alive in this universe?! If you consider other living as martian ? What are you for them?

      • Some private school have even a waiting list that stretch on a couple years…

        Many exceed 12 years… So you won't even get in even if you enrol them at birth. The only way would be if they were trying to get an exemption from the anti-discrimination act to allow them to selectively choose kids based on sex, race, colour etc. which some schools do…

        • Another way to get in quickly without waiting "12 years" and no matter what race, color or whatever discrimination school will pull out is actually MONEY! Give them a good "donation" and you will see how many doors open instantly to your kid….

      • why and which part of my word is racist? asking his friends whether they are from China? is the word "china" is now racist? the way you think makes you are a real racist.

        • You could have stop at Mars but you choose to name China out of any other country which clearly show how narrow minded you are! And something you are clearly not aware but most of people who choose to enrolled their kids early are AUSTRALIAN!! So either you are racist or xenophobe the line is really thin! Just an advice for your next conversation, don t single out a country but give some constructive insight. The way you write seems like you have a lot of griefs against China and hold them accountable. Learn your facts before naming a country!

          Op friends can be from a different country/ culture and not necessarily australian . Where kids are enrolled in school at 2 years old like europe ( France, Sweden, Switzerland, …) , hong kong, south korea , ….where kindergarten is free , public and allowed parents to work .And it 's not a daycare as kids have to be toilet trained before being sent. Country like America and Australia choose to make kids start school at 5 or 6 years old with 1 year in kindergarten and then year 1 which is quite late and make give parents a lot of headache as they need to find a daycare before that and be out of pocket a lot.

  • +1

    Public or Private doesn't really matter. It's more about the experience and opportunities presented at the time. I went to a rough Public school and my sister went to a good Private school. My parents didnt have the money when it was my turn. I've never been unemployed, my sister on the other hand didnt have a job for 15 years at one stage. This is more for high school. Probably doesnt matter so much for Primary school. In my rough high school the outstanding students would always be the ones that the parents would invest time in helping their kids with homework etc. So parent actions has a large impact here as well.

    • +1

      I've never been unemployed, my sister on the other hand didnt have a job for 15 years at one stage.

      What do you think might have happened if you went to a private schools and your sister went to a public school?

  • You don't need to enroll that early for public school. Some private schools maybe - but only if you're choosing top tier.

    • You don't need to enroll that early for public school.

      You don't need to enrol at all until the year before you start.
      They have no choice but to take you if you are zoned to that school.

  • Are you in the zone for mount waverley primary? That's a good school.

    Most people don't bother with private school until high school, if they are that way inclined.

    Glen Waverley/mount waverley areas have very good public schools both primary and high school so private school in those areas isnt really needed.

    Since you are renting I'd just move to a good school zone in that area. Thats what we did.

  • If a 2yo isn't already enrolled in a top tier university they are probably going to be a huge failure. Don't bother being a concerned parent anymore you've doomed your 2 year old to be on the dole for the rest of their life.

  • Glen Waverley public school is good

  • Save the money for a good private high school.

    Being from Chadstone, your local public schools should be ok?

  • +1

    For public schools, have you looked at https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/ ? Not sure about the Chadstone area, but I know in some areas primary schools will only take children who live within their school zone as they are becoming overcrowded.

  • -1
    1. LOL they're all wrong. With the insidious brainwashing agenda in education today (but in particular public/government schools and universities), for couples at least, instead of working to buy more toys or enrich their bank account, one parent should be enriching the relationship with/and their child instead by homeschooling (while it's still legal to do so). There's at least a few flavours of pre-prepared curriculae last time I looked, some with qualified support teachers a phone call away, plus homeschooling groups for regular activities and get-togethers including for group excursions, sport, art, woodwork and metalwork, etc (depending on what you or other parents in your area are willing to support each other with), and plenty of online (Australian I mean) forums.

    2. Keep in mind government sets the curriculum. So ALL schooling options in Australia must meet that same [cough] 'standard'. Public will indoctrinate as much of that mandatory nonsense as possible; Catholic is in lock-step with public in that regard; so private has the most leeway to only briefly cover toxic leftist agendas to meet legal requirements but then teach the correct reality (depending of course, on that schools conscience).

    3. I've been told by multiple people over the years Catholic schools are more debauched than public. More underage sex, more drugs available, more 'child loving' (not in a good way) teachers, etc. So unless someone aspires to deal with teen pregnancy, pour money in only to find they've raised an escort or politician most other people avoid and despise… I don't know why anyone would choose that option. May as well save the cash and go public. At least that way you have half a chance of them not becoming the next generation of sheep.

    • one parent should be enriching the relationship with/and their child instead by homeschooling

      I know a few parents who thought they were better than the education system and home school their kids who turn to be either as fruity as them, or gave up after a few years and their kids were drastically behind going back into the education system.

      • That's like measuring a skyscraper foundation using a piece of used underwear elastic. There's plenty of alternate negatives about sending your kids to public/private school too.

        First, of course they're going to struggle if they swap from one to the other. It's two very different methods of education. A similar thing happens if a kid moves schools, redoes work he's already done, but doesn't do other things he needed to - then he gets tested. He won't be able to answer the question on things his classmates will score high on.

        Also, in a class of 20+ kids, you can bet some are going to fall through the cracks. (And usually it's the same ones over and over again because for example, they get dejected with the teacher's continued apathy to their stuggles, which sets them up for a life of failure. Wen the 'fault' may not be their own, they may just have a different learning style which the teacher doesn't have time to cater to.) Homeschooling otoh allows adjustment on-the-fly, rather than parents only hearing about it weeks/months later when reports come in with 40% or F on them, subjects have long been left behind, no way to make it up, and meetings with teachers who 'just don't get' how to reach your kid are in vain.

        BOTH can fail, BOTH can be great. Just because a teacher goes to uni for 4-6 years, doesn't mean they're going to be 'good' at teaching a child. Conversely, just because a parent hasn't, doesn't mean they're going to be awful.

        Unlike a group school, homeschooling allows the parent leeway. Where the child can for example breeze through things they already know or find boringly easy, then use that time to focus harder on work they struggle with. In fact some (most or maybe even all now?) homeschooling courses with set and approved curriculum REQUIRE a minimum test score. So they do the work again and again, in the same or using different ways, until they do finally 'get it'.

        The huge difference is though, they can put that book aside for a week, month, 6 months, without the immediate stress to get it right, right now. At the same time that work is not just forgotten about because the rest of the class has moved on.

        And using a complete, checked and approved curriculum aligned to the national one, solves the esoteric nature of some parents who try to do homeschool 'freestyle'. (Who knows what the few you've had experience with were using, if they took advantage of qualified teacher support, met with other parents or the State education board representative who are there to help, etc.)

        There are just as many positive stories too - better stories even, than public/private group schools. e.g. I know a young women who was homeschooled. She went for a university interview for some medical course with limited places. She was later told she was selected over people with higher scores because they've experienced and PREFER homeschooled kids, because they often transisition into university more easily, already having learned to apply themselves, put their heads down to concentrate and study, hand in quality work on time without fuss. Whereas a lot group-schooled kids often need 'remedial' type courses upon entry (or halfway through the year after continuously finding themselves behind), like basic English and grammar skills, essay format, how to take concise and meaningful notes, etc.

        All that aside, I don't put a lot of weight in which is 'ahead' or 'behind' the other education-wise. I've known people who come out of university complete morons with no life skills, tens of thousands in debt, marriages that fail in a couple of years… and I've seen others who left school in year 9 or 10 who became millionaires by 30. It matters more what KIND of person they become, and that's often due to their surroundings and/or influence from the type of people around them, rather than any score they achieved. My son opens store doors for the elderly (with no suggestion from us to do so), while others his age push by and can't manage more than a grunt to their parents.

        I'd take the less-educated but decent human being, over the many citizens of clown-world the education system churns out.

        • I'd take the less-educated but decent human being, over the many citizens of clown-world the education system churns out.

          Again, your logic flaws your argument because so few are home schooled. The few I've known are tin-foil hat types or severely under socialised that they have borderline personality disorders, but maybe in your case it is different. However If the tables were reversed and 99% of kids were home schooled do you think you'll have less clowns in the world? Not sure that would be the case.

          Also your kids manners have nothing to do with an education system.

          • @serpserpserp: Flawed? LOL. Hardly. I'm the one with a far greater sample size than your admitted severely limited experience. I've known at least 40 families personally, many of those kids now grown adults with children of their own. Plus the current families homeschooling for the first time. Plus the many more I've met through regular organised groups for social/sport/music/award/excursion gatherings previously mentioned (a conservative estimate of the latter would be 6x times those I know personally). You've observed literally: "a few parents". Probably for minutes of their lives, or third-hand. I've observed, interacted with personally on the same level and in the same situations, for hours each time over weeks, months, and years.

            And again, it depends what TYPE of homeschooling they've had. Just as some public/private schools have a terrible reputation and others good.

            As for 'socialisation'… this is an oft-repeated illogical and silly point. How could anyone consider it 'good' or 'healthy' socialisation for kids to be in a small room, daily, with one adult, and 20-30 kids all the same age, AND they separate themselves at lunchtime into those same age groups too!? (I was one of very few exceptions to that rule when I was in school, which is why I know the former situation is nearly exclusively the case… because I both observed it, and was regularly teased by those in my classes for being the only senior among a group with ages spanning the entire range of high school years/ages from year 7 up.) I've read estimates than out of a high school 40 minute period, teachers claim they spend 30 minutes trying to keep the kids' attention.

            The homeschooled kids I've observed interact with adults just as easily or equally as their own age group, so have a more balanced and mature view of life. Yet they still have a ball with those their own age. They hold conversations, have more mature interests, take more pride in their personal appearance… than 'typical' schooled kids who can only relate and spend time with those a few years at most either side of their own age… seeing adults as 'the man' to either be blindly obeyed, idiots who have nothing of value to share, or an enemy to rebel against.

            I've also noticed another pattern where 'typically' schooled kids are like walking zombies glued to phone screens and computer games, lifting their eyeballs only long enough to get tatts and piercings (and those in places and sizes) that not many years ago were the exclusive realm of prostitutes and porn stars. No, of course not all, but certainly a much greater percentage, and they're still doing the same immature things well into adulthood and beyond.

            The number of guys I've met over the years who never grow up, still obsessed with Playstations and the like into their 30s and beyond, who wonder why their wife leaves them and takes the kids, because they never grew up in the head - is staggering.

            There's another observation… homeschooled families are just closer. Out of the families I know I can only think of a rare few who have separated.

            So even if it all went pear-shaped, their education failed completely, who cares if they don't become a CEO or Prime Minister. I'd prefer kids who love and respect their parents. That's genuine success… not 'raising' someone obsessed with $ or becoming a CEO. No-one on their death bed will shed tears of regret they didn't get one more promotion. They're going to regret the children who left home who they rarely saw because the parent severed that natural connection upon the kid turning 5 by designating others to instill in them what the government preferred.

            And I haven't touched on the anti-science nonsense kids today are being deliberately indoctrinated with.

            • @[Deactivated]: Wow 40 families that you spend hours with every week for years. Where do you find the time to do anything else? Except when you are getting to know the other 240 home schoolers you've just met.

              Yeah. Don't need to hear anymore thanks. Good day to you.

              • @serpserpserp: Are you able to judge on facts/think logically, or you can't cope when your personal biases are revealed to be false? The answer is: the same way every other kid spends hours in school every day. i.e. The parents supervise and/or assists their homeschooled kids at home… which takes hours every day, right? So when the child attends sport/music/excursions/woodwork etc - whatever has been arranged by the homeschooling group in your area by yourself or other parents, some parents do go off and do other things like pay bills and return later. But most of them stay and help where needed, and/or sit and have a discussion. It's just as much for parents socialiZING with other parents with a similar interest, as it is for the childrens' socializATION. THAT is where the hours are spent with other people.

  • You get zoned to a public school that has to take your kid. Just go there.

  • I personally think, good public primary school is better especially if you can find time to spend with your child. Go private if money is no barrier, you are time poor, believe in fairy tales and want your children to believe in them etc.

  • I can only give my first hand experience in this case. My parents sent me to a public primary then a private secondary school.

    In my opinion it was a humbling experience in which I learned people of all walks of life have merit and are genuine people who I made friends with in primary school. Then in secondary school I was either made fun of for not having the most up to date or cool stuff or the less fortunate than myself were ridiculed and everyone was expected to laugh. Had I gone to a private primary would I have turned out snobbish or different? Can’t say but I hope not.

    • true, but another aspect are teenagers begin to be nasty socialites

  • If money not an issue then go private, Just saying if all our kids had trust funds that could only be spent on schooling would we send them to the the local public?

  • +1

    You have a daughter - perhaps a school that values safety and values would be best.

    However this is Australia so good luck with that - most schools conceal abuse, bullying and the rest. Thats where its taught and learned. and that's why things are as they are.

  • I just worry about the badly behaved kids. Would you guys say it's less likely to find troublesome kids in Private or Public schools? Might be just chance.

    • +1

      Depends on the values of the school - private schools tend to tolerate the very rich and well connected kids more but so do public … value enforcement requires focus not distractions like connections, money and power.

      Most heads with a clear focus on values make 2 many enemies to survive very long in any setting, and they are rare to start with. Educational systems reflect the political shit around them - unions protect those accused of sexual abuse, and parents conceal incidents involving their kids.

      Taking responsibility is seen as stupidity in oz these days, which gets everyone nowhere eg our teflon prime minister who rejects entirely the concept of personal responsibility and just whines excuses, like holiday for family, heat of the moment, and need to protect the public purse (robodebt deaths).

      You want a good school for your kids, find one run by someone with values and a spine - you'll need a lot of luck.

      • That's literally what I plan to do. Thanks for the reply.

        • why don't we get rid of neck Ties? seems vestigial

    • I've encountered more dead shits in a private school in the eastern burbs of Sydney (think Toorak) than out in the southwestern Sydney (think Frankston like burbs).

      Money doesn't mean if the kids are well disciplined and/or brought up correctly by their parents. The only reason we've switched schools is that the public system doesn't challenge him enough.

  • +2

    I sent my son to public primary school but switched to private for high school. Mainly because he was bright, but lazy, and I felt that the private school teachers wouldn't let him get away with being Mr 70% Effort any more. I was right - he knuckled down and topped a lot of his classes. His best mate, also bright but lazy, fell through the cracks at the local public high school. That's my biggest issue with public schools - they're great for the kids that want to learn, but not so good for those who just want to slack off.

    I'm probably biased though, as I attended both public and private schools myself and experienced the difference.

    • smaller classes, and better staff ratios - private schools get way too much public money but elites love to steal other peoples money through taxes

      • +1

        Whatever. I wouldn't class myself as an elite - live in a lower socio-economic suburb, pretty basic life - but my boy's education was important to me so I saved up. Even when things were falling apart around me I made sure his school fees were paid. Different priorities, okay.

  • +1

    A 2 year old should be enrolled for pre-school as some popular pre-schools have a long waiting list. On the last year of pre-school you then enrol for Kindergarten.

  • I know quite a few parents that sends their kids to Malvern valley (some living in Chadstone) and have lots of great things to say about the school. Also, even though my kids don't go there you can tell it's got a good school community

  • +2

    Homeschooling is also an option. It gets a lot of hate but I did it in the 80's and I turned out fine.

    Now if you'll excuse me, I have a playdate with my best friends, mum and dad.

  • It's fine, you don't need an education in Australia to make a lot of money.

    • yup the rapehouse makes that very clear…

  • Lots of opinions here… so here is mine.

    Choose a 'good' public school K-6 (ask around)….

    Then in Year 6 make the decision for high school… decide on a public school, selective public school, publicly funded private school, publicly funded Catholic school or home schooled…. based on the academic and social needs of your child. (You will know by Year 6).

Login or Join to leave a comment