By VANAJA THOMAS
Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, my family instilled in me a strong sense of the value of education.
Being Sri Lankan, education to them was at the top of their list in importance. They both came from large families and because of this upbringing opportunities were limited.
I have a belief, which I would love to pass on to my children, which is to always strive for a better life, and that it’s OK to be more, and want more, than your parents may have had.
I’ve been able to experience so many more things than my parents did because they had this belief too. They wanted me to have the opportunity to travel, have a good education, and have a career. All things I’ve been lucky enough to have experienced – I now even own a parenting website, Little Roan.
This is a Brand Voices post brought to you by Australian Scholarships Group. All opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
Ten years ago I married my husband – an Aussie. We now live in Melbourne and have a four-and-a-half-year-old son. He is the most caring, compassionate and brightest little boy. Like any mum, I want the best for him. I want him to have love and happiness in his life, and a great career that he truly enjoys.
Every evening he enjoys pulling up his stool to the kitchen table watching me cook and bake, something he loves to do. Mixing the ingredients, stirring the pot and even adding salt, he inquisitively looks on to see what my next step in the recipe is.
Maybe one day he’ll want to be a chef, but at the moment, I’m pretty sure his dream is to be his favourite superhero – The Incredible Hulk. Whatever he wants, all I hope is that he lives his dreams and has every opportunity to do what he wants in life.
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Top Comments
I went to a small public primary school and then to a larger public high school down the road from where I grew up in a low socio economic area. I wish my parents had sent me to a private school. I was bright studious young woman, yet my high school was not a pleasant environment. It had weekly outbreaks of violent fighting amongst the kids, rampant drug use, and a general culture amongst the students that "smart is not cool". Needless to say, my motivation to study became less and less and I regret not applying myself to my full capability. I could not see beyond the bubble of my own environment. I wish I had realized my own capabilities and been encouraged. However as a public school student, I felt I never had access to opportunities, wasn't encouraged in my talents, or had access to the resources that students in private schools do.
As a mother of two children now, I am looking into what type of education I can provide for my kids. I have visited public, private and catholic schools. I believe that good education does come with a premium. Yes private schools are costly, yes they are a business, but they are in the business of education, and hopefully they do their business well. If my fees help pay for a lovely, clean and safe learning environment, in which learning and good grades are encouraged and expected, then I say yes! If a private school can offer opportunities for travel, offer new insights to thinking creatively, and hold high standards for behaviour and excellence, I say "Where do I sign up?" I wish I had been able to go to a school like this. High expectations of students is not a bad thing. If you are not encouraged (and maybe even "pushed" a little), how are you ever to know what you can achieve?
As i type this I sit in a private school staff room (which is highly regarded in this area) completing a uni placement before I graduate with a education degree, before this, my first placement was at a public school. Hands down, I would choose the public school for my future children. While private schools have the real benefit of being selective about which students they accept, you still have behaviour and bullying issues. What is lacking, in my point of view, is the sense of community that a public school has. At private schools, there is a dominant culture. It is obvious. In a public school, students learn about interacting with different cultures which simply cannot be taught in a classroom but is an essential skills.
About this 'better quality teachers'. Pish-Posh. We all graduate with the same degree. We all learn the same skills. You can find truly inspiring and high-performing teachers in the public school systm.