讀後心得

Recently, the admission rate for private junior high schools in Taipei has dropped to as low as 5%, described as "harder than getting into National Taiwan University." This has ignited a high level of concern among modern parents regarding private schools. In fact, this phenomenon is also prevalent in Silicon Valley, USA. Author 唐光楠 observes that parents in Silicon Valley generally prefer private schools, especially in scenarios where housing prices in school districts are expensive and public school resources are scarce. Due to the high prices of housing in school districts, many families choose to send their children to private schools, resulting in a decrease in the number of students in public schools, which further impacts funding distribution. Moreover, the expectations of Silicon Valley parents regarding education make private schools the preferred choice as they seek a more challenging learning environment. The trend of choosing private schools is not only an issue in Taiwan but also a challenge faced by parents globally.

Recently, many private middle schools in Taipei held entrance exams. According to media reports, the acceptance rate at some schools is as low as 5%, leading many to say, "It's harder than getting into National Taiwan University." This phenomenon shows that private schools are quite attractive to today's parents. However, this situation is not limited to Taipei; in fact, Silicon Valley in the United States is facing a similar scenario. As a mother in Silicon Valley, I have my own observations.

Many parents in Silicon Valley have established a consensus of "private school priority." The formation of educational beliefs often depends on parents' backgrounds. My husband and I received public education in Taiwan from a young age, graduating from university afterward, and our first experience with private education at USC shocked me. There, true poverty lies in a lack of strength—in terms of economic resources, academic abilities, and interpersonal relationships—these are far more important than wealth. Therefore, as a mother, I choose to let my children be educated in quality public school districts in Los Angeles. In the United States, the barriers to entering quality school districts are relatively low, and compared to Taiwan, the diverse good districts also give Taiwanese families an opportunity to enroll.

However, it was shocking to first hear in the middle-class hub known as Silicon Valley the sentiment that "upon arriving in Silicon Valley, one should give up public schools in favor of private ones." This surprised me and raised many struggles, especially with the burden of paying a total annual tuition of $50,000 to $100,000 for two children. As I delved deeper, the reasons why Silicon Valley parents favor private schools became increasingly clear:

• School district housing prices are astonishing: Every Silicon Valley resident might roll their eyes at claims that "houses in America are cheap." As a real estate agent, I know firsthand that prices for four-bedroom homes in the Cupertino school district have risen to $3.5 million (approximately over NT$100 million), making it difficult for ordinary families to afford.
• Resource shortages in public schools: In Silicon Valley, due to insufficient funding, many schools have had to appeal to parents for help, and there have even been reductions in teaching staff and curricula, leading to a decline in the quality of public education.
• Educational content does not meet expectations: Many parents view private schools as a shortcut to nurture their children because the standardized teaching methods in public schools may not meet their expectations for advanced learning.

Even though some public schools in Silicon Valley have quite good educational resources, funding concerns frequently lead to disputes over resource allocation. Therefore, as society gradually polarizes, more and more parents are becoming more extreme in their educational choices. I desire my children to have a happy childhood, but I also hope they can grow up in a good environment. Under such circumstances, the criteria for selection often boil down to price, which reflects the current social reality.

The choice of whether to enter private schools is not only an issue in Taiwan but also reflects the anxiety of parents in Silicon Valley. This is likely a question that our generation of parents needs to continuously ponder.