Private High Schools in Toronto are Safe

Private High Schools in Toronto are Safe

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.

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