Education or Experience?

[NattyNattyBooBoo]

We have a choice of giving our DS all the experiences when we go away on holiday. (This Easter was Pompei and climbing Vesuvios. I'm not talking about lying on a beach type holiday) or a private education. His state school is ok but we have a tutor in once a week and I don't feel they can get him to his true potential. I may be wrong. However if we pay for a private education his experiences will be limited for the next eight years. Would he be better off at a state school or travelling and seeing the world. We can't do both.

I have one child at state and one at private. If I had to choose between holidays/tutor with state school and private I think I'd go for the state school option. Being at private school but unable to do any of the trips the school offer and knowing your friends are all of skiing, etc every holiday and you're not would be a bit tough. The private eduction is better overall I think - I'm more confident that the teachers all know what they're doing, but there have been plenty things along the way to give my state educated child chances to reach his potential.

Also worth thinking what you'd enjoy most - it's your life and your money too, and I'm guessing the holidays are something you all enjoy not just for your DS.

Thanks Bluelilies. Some points I hadn't thought of.

state school and experiences would be my preferred option.
From the people I know, those who have travelled a lot and seen the world are the most charismatic, calm and content.
It seems like experience and travel are important to you too so don't sacrifice it all.

I'd go for experiences and topping-up the state education, personally, plus considering going private for 6th form.

Unless your state choices are particularly poor, i.e. failing schools, or your child has special needs, then take the state option. Just don't leave it to your child/the school, keep an eye open on what they're doing, check your child's exercise books, check they're doing their homework properly, check they're revising for tests and jump in at the first hint of problems, whether it be at the school, i.e. bullying or poor teaching, or with your child, i.e. not doing the work, or being shoddy with it. Parental involvement is the key whether state or private even though some people try to delegate that by paying private! Some schools (state and private) are content to let pupils drift, so you have to be there to stop that. Don't forget that even failing schools will get some pupils through with top grades and into decent universities - probably those pupils whose parents are there to pick up the slack!

My parents chose education, and whilst in itself it was a great experience, I did feel a bit hard done by at times.

Consider also maybe saving some of what you would have spent on fees to help him buy a house when he's older?

Or spend the money moving into the catchement of a cracking state school.
Not popular on MN but widely practised.