Please clarify

[EngTeach]

I was reading a post about private school in B&S and am confused by the terminology.
Here in US:

Public Schools are free and supportrd by tax dollars.

Parochial Schools are associated with a religous group and parents pay tuition. ($4000-$5000per year) Some call these "private" too.

Private Schools charge tuition but are usually very
expensive and not affiliated with a church. Sometimes they are called PrepSchools.

From what I have read I think these terms mean different things as far as money and even quality. Will someone please clarify? Thanks

[Ice-Maiden]

Two of my family attended private Catholic schools; I went to a private C of E school. I adhere to neither religion, but just know that the fees were high and the education very good. Public schools are for "the old boys" and their offspring, and don't even MENTION finishing schools! It seems to be about what you can afford, but plenty of brains come out of ordinary state schools - so you tell me!

[EngTeach]

hi Ice, thanks for the answer. It seems as if what you call Public are like what we call Private. Usually the old money brigade and new money looking for acceptance.

Our public or free schools get a bad rap, but many are very good despite low funding, low pay and less than involved students and families. I teach in one such school and love the students.We are an urban or inner city school but graduate about 70% on time and most of them go on to college or uni. (This is above the Ny state avg. BTW)

Didn't mean to ramble on so. Thanks again.

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Here in the UK, schools are basically divided into 'state' and 'independent' schools.

'State' schools are funded jointly by local and national government. They're run on a semi-autonomous basis whereby it's the school's governors who are responsible for appointing staff but it's the local education authority which actually pays them. Education in state schools is free.

There is a sub-sector of state schools which are 'voluntary aided' or 'voluntary controlled', linked to a specific faith. These are schools which have greater autonomy but which still, ultimately, receive their most of funds from the public purse. Most of these schools are Church of England or Roman Catholic but there are an increasing number of Muslim schools within this sector. Once again, education in these schools is free.

[Buenchico]

The independent sector is made up of fee-paying schools. The 'elite' independent schools (or, more accurately, their head teachers) are members of an organisation known as The Headmasters' Conference. Such schools are referred to as 'public schools'. (i.e. all public schools are 'independent' but not all independent schools are 'public'). Most public schools (unlike the majority of schools in the independent sector) are primarily (or wholly) boarding schools.

The name 'public school' is clearly inaccurate but, like so many things in this country, it's rooted in history. Eton College, for example, (one of the UK's so-called 'top' schools) was founded by Henry VI, in 1440, as a charity school for poor students.

The average annual cost of education in an independent school is currently �9000 ($18000) for day pupils or �20000 ($40000) for boarders. The top public schools, such as Eton, Charterhouse and Harrow, charge nearly �25000 ($50000) per year.

Chris

[EngTeach]

Thanks for all the answers. I would love to teach abroad just for the experience. Though I strongly suspect when it comes down to it kids are kids and the administration is all the same. Thanks again.