The Pros and Cons of Teaching at a Private School
On the opposite end of the public school spectrum lies employment as a teacher at a private school. Over the past few years in the face of lockdowns, teacher shortages, ever increasing regulations, administrative responsibility, and violence in the public school setting, some teachers are turning to employment in the private sector instead.
There are a number of advantages to teaching in a private school, with several corresponding disadvantages. As a part of our continued pro/con series for teachers (you can find the first article here), check the lists below to determine whether private school employment is a fit for you.
-
Small classes
Private schools on average have a much smaller student: teacher ratio (12:1 compared to 25:1 on average in public schools according to the Princeton Review). This allows more time to individualize attention and customize learning.
-
More creative lesson planning
Since private schools aren’t subject to state regulation and curricula, teachers tend to have more flexibility in lesson planning, allowing for greater differentiation and a more child-centered approach.
-
Greater focus on academics
Some private schools place a heavy emphasis on achievement and implement a more intensive curriculum as a result. This may appeal to some teachers, who object to the current public focus on administrative programs that don’t necessarily correlate with academics.
-
Fewer behavior problems
Problem behaviors tend to be rare or non-existent in institutions where parents are paying customers and schools can’t afford to tolerate disruptive behavior.
-
More parent involvement
While some teachers might view a Pro like this as a Con, the investment parents make in private schools for their children tend to lead to greater involvement, making the school-parent connection stronger.
-
A more uniform culture
Since private schools are much more likely to specialize their strategies, skills taught, and students admitted, teachers who are particularly strong in a given area or with a given population may find it easier to fulfill their professional needs.
-
More personal leadership
Owing to their smaller size and smaller administrative departments, private schools often lack the bureaucratic complexity of their public counterparts, making it easier to get help, solve problems, and access school leaders.
-
Lower pay
Private school wages in general cannot compete with those of teachers who work in public schools, and private school teachers cannot necessarily count on regular pay raises. Generally speaking, private schools (being smaller and/or ‘individually’ owned) are far more susceptible to downturns in the economy.
-
Fewer benefits
Similarly, private school benefits such as health insurance and investment opportunities, etc, tend to be much less available to private employees.
-
Additional duties
Private school teachers are often required to take on extra roles in supervision or in after-school programs, often without additional pay.
-
Less instructional support
Public schools generally offer a plethora of instructional support programs, plentiful opportunities for professional development, and assorted administrative supports. Private schools generally lack the funding to participate in such offerings to any great degree.
-
Less cultural diversity
Private schools as a rule tend to be less diverse in culture, ethnicity, religious preference, and income, creating a more insular environment that may or may not be attractive to certain teachers.
-
More parental involvement
As noted above, greater parental involvement can be a double-edged sword, creating support on the one hand and increased pressure on the other. Parents paying higher tuition fees may be more demanding as well, creating an additional source of stress in the workplace.
-
No teacher associations or unions
Teachers in private schools are wholly subject to the whims of administrators, board members and parents, who may directly fund and support the school.
-
More restrictive dress codes
Some, though by no means all, private institutions rely on dress codes to reinforce school culture. Though a smaller consideration than many of the cons above, this point could be a discouraging factors for some teachers, particularly those who work in lower elementary or special ed.
The decision to work in a private or public school setting can be shaped by many factors, including instructional philosophy, bureaucratic tolerance, wage expectations, preferred academic specialties, and more. Teachers who are single or self-supporting may have less financial leeway than those with working partners who are able to offset potential deficiencies in pay and benefits. Private school employment can be rewarding or stressful, depending on one’s goals.