Reports show that increasing numbers of families are opting
to send their children to private high schools in Toronto. This trend may
reflect uneasiness over recent high-profile incidents, some of which have
parents concerned about the safety of Toronto public high schools.
When we think of violence in schools, the horrific acts that
occurred at Columbine High School in the United States and the shooting
death of 15-year-old Jordan Manners was a shocking wake-up call that violence
in schools also happens here at home. Violent incidents on public school
property continue to make news headlines which include; emergency lock-downs, sexual assaults, extreme
bullying, gang-related gun- and knife-play, along with disruptions caused by
alcohol and drug abuse.
Some observers feel that Toronto public schools are failing
in their attempts to provide a safe atmosphere for students. The truth is that
Toronto public schools are relatively safe, but even at schools with fewer
violent incidents, teachers spend too much time dealing with less serious
discipline problems, which impacts the quality of education delivered to
students who want to excel. While authorities are working to address the
situation in our public education system, some parents have discovered that private
schools offer a major advantage when it comes to providing a safe place for
students to learn.
The Private High
School Advantage
Private schools, unlike public schools, are not obligated to
accept students who have a history of discipline problems. If an enrolled
student demonstrates undesirable behaviour, he/she may face expulsion as per
the contract the student and their parents have signed with the school.
Well-articulated and clear codes of conduct give private school administrators
the ability to deal with problems in an efficient and timely manner. In
contrast, public schools may have to follow a lengthy process of documentation,
warnings and suspensions before expulsion is possible.
The threat of imminent expulsion is a powerful factor in deterring
improper behaviour, but there is also evidence that the private school
environment encourages good conduct. The best private high schools in Toronto
place almost as much emphasis on character development as they do on academics.
In an atmosphere where integrity and respect are valued and rewarded, students
who identify with their school tend to demonstrate these qualities themselves.
Schools that make core values such as cooperation, service, tolerance and
responsibility as important as algebra marks and basketball team standings can
even help modify the behaviour of a student whose conduct needs improvement.
Private high schools have smaller, more stable populations,
resulting in smaller class sizes than public schools. This allows students and
teachers to form deeper working relationships, which in turn makes it less
likely that students will act out. If an incident does occur, it is far more
likely to be noticed and dealt with quickly in the more intimate setting that a
private school provides.
Standards of behaviour at private schools are higher than in
public schools and the ability to deal efficiently with discipline problems are
superior to that of the public system. This may explain why so many families
are enrolling their children in private high schools in Toronto.