Public Vs. Private School Teaching: Is Hathaway Brown Where You Will Succeed?

From qualifications to class size, teaching in public versus private schools has an impact on an educator’s experience. We asked our teachers what differences they find significant when working in public and private schools. Here’s what they had to say.

Class Size

Public
Public schools tend to have larger class sizes. With a greater teacher-to-student ratio, students have the opportunity to partner with and learn from each other, creating a learning community of peers. Although bigger classes typically do not lack energy, there are still obstacles to overcome. The more students per class, the less time educators have to forge meaningful relationships and find themselves managing behaviors instead of teaching.

Private
Class size is a major factor in the relationships teachers have with their students. Smaller classes, which are typically found in private schools like HB, offer teachers an environment to understand each students’ approach to learning. Having a smaller student-to-teacher ratio allows teachers to be more intentional in meeting the educational and social emotional needs of their students.

Curriculum

Public
Public school curricula must be approved by the state to ensure courses and topics follow the standards set by each state. Although these standards are designed to create curricula that educate, develop, and motivate students, they limit teachers’ creativity. Because state testing determines many aspects of public schools, educators are often bound to teach according to rubrics, which is not applicable to every subject.

Private
Private schools are not bound to the same state curriculum standards that public schools are. Teachers in private schools such as HB, are encouraged to collaborate with other staff to create thoughtful courses that spark interest, discussion, and reflection. The freedom teachers have in creating lesson plans is one reason why schools like HB can offer courses which would not typically be available to students until college such as the Fellowships in Applied Studies.

Qualifications

Public
In order to teach at a public school, educators must have licensure from the state. In addition, teachers must meet the professional development requirements and renew their teaching license every five years. This ensures educators are prepared, capable, and are being held to specifications.

Private
Because private schools function separately from state guidelines, teachers do not always need a teaching license or a degree in education to be an educator at a private school. Some private schools including HB, value experience, knowledge, and an aptitude for teaching. Educators who do have a teaching license are also highly valued. 

Which is right for you?

One of the many decisions teachers must make in their careers is whether to teach at a public or private school. Understanding the pros and cons of each educational environment is an important part of recognizing where teachers will be most successful, ultimately affecting the success of the students. To learn more about what teaching at HB is like visit https://www.hb.edu/about/careers