Public vs. Private Education

[Major Harris]

there have been some strong statements in some recent threads regarding education, with some people seemingly completely disgusted w/ public schools.

personally, i'm for public education. i realize my bias, i went to public school and work in the public school system. with all of the varying opinions, i put it up for debate.

as for me, i would never send my son to a private school. i don't want him in the lily-white country club type atmosphere (a stereotype, i know, that's why i want to hear the other side).

a lot of people point to higher college attendance rates of private schoolers, yet they refuse to acknowledge that if a parent can afford private school, they can afford college.

some point to test scores and overall academic performance in private schools, but forget that private schools pick and choose who they educate. little sarah that is terrified of the world and can't function properly because uncle johnny decided he would take her virginity at the age of 9 doesn't go to a private school.

public schools don't have that luxury.

please keep it civil. i know we can do it.

[Coach Williams]

I'm having my kids private schooled until highschool.......They need some kind of outside the box racial/ethical/moral knowledge and it won't come in a private school........

I just can't imagine someone being raised in a private school having the knowledge I have regarding lower income lifestyles and growing up.......it's very enlightning.....

Ironically 30K a year is a lot of money compared to my childhood...If my kidos grow up used to money I think they may lack the drive to overcome my enviroment I have........Once I get a college job the sky's the limit.......

that's just how I feel though......

[Pete]

It really doesn't matter which rout you go IMO. It comes down to parent involvment, and support given at home. You can get good or poor results from either school system.

[Major Harris]

It really doesn't matter which rout you go IMO. It comes down to parent involvment, and support given at home. You can get good or poor results from either school system.

that's a good point pete that goes largely unnoticed when debating the topic.

one that puts their kid in private school tends to be a more involved parent than the failure stories of private schools, just as a successful public school students typically have more involved parents than unsuccessful students.

[cjcdaman]

that's a good point pete that goes largely unnoticed when debating the topic.

one that puts their kid in private school tends to be a more involved parent than the failure stories of private schools, just as a successful public school students typically have more involved parents than unsuccessful students.

Two points...

1. I bet there are some parents out there who think that putting their child in private schooling will solve any problem, meaning that they might not be the best of parents. Although, I do agree with the majority of private schooling children having parents who are more involved.

2. I was a public school student and my mother and father divorced when I was two years old. I got to see my dad plenty throughout my childhood, but man did I get away with some stuff that IN NO WAY would I have gotten away with had he been living with us. Not to mention, some of the things I did get caught doing. . .I managed to talk my mom out of telling my dad because she knew I was going to get the beat down. Point of the story, I will not make the same mistake with my son and/or hopefully other children. If I had my dad keeping an eye on me, I think I would have finished college already instead of only being a year and a half in.

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

It really doesn't matter which rout you go IMO. It comes down to parent involvment, and support given at home. You can get good or poor results from either school system.

Apparently, parental involvement only get's you so far these days.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154010

At least with private school, parents have the ability to shelter their kids from left-wing agendas and pure indoctrination.

[cjcdaman]

Apparently, parental involvement only get's you so far these days.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=154010

At least with private school, parents have the ability to shelter their kids from left-wing agendas and pure indoctrination.

I do agree with you strongly for myself. But for my son, I think it would be best to just explain to him that there are people "like that" in this world and that he should respect them. He doesn't have to be their friend, but at least show some respect. The reason I say that is that homosexuality is way more prevelant nowadays than ever. I could be wrong, but I sure as hell don't remember a show like "Will and Grace" being on TV when I was growing up.

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

I do agree with you strongly for myself. But for my son, I think it would be best to just explain to him that there are people "like that" in this world and that he should respect them. He doesn't have to be their friend, but at least show some respect. The reason I say that is that homosexuality is way more prevelant nowadays than ever. I could be wrong, but I sure as hell don't remember a show like "Will and Grace" being on TV when I was growing up.

That's fine, but I reject the notion that acceptance of their lifestyle constitutes respect. Also, I would argue that it's not the govt's business to decide what's morally acceptable for my children, especially when they are so young.

[Major Harris]

oakton, i understand your concern for that topic. personally, i think the parents should have been given an opt-out. but i don't think that's the norm. i also don't believe that private schools have all the answers and have no problems of their own.

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

oakton, i understand your concern for that topic. personally, i think the parents should have been given an opt-out. but i don't think that's the norm. i also don't believe that private schools have all the answers and have no problems of their own.

It may not be the norm today, but it sure as hell sets quite a precedent. Certainly private schools, like any human institution, has its own set of problems and is far from perfect. But I'll take those set of problems over the problems of most public schools any day. There's also a host of other advantages and personal preferences that I'll present later, when I have some more time.

[jpillian]

I do agree with you strongly for myself. But for my son, I think it would be best to just explain to him that there are people "like that" in this world and that he should respect them. He doesn't have to be their friend, but at least show some respect. The reason I say that is that homosexuality is way more prevelant nowadays than ever. I could be wrong, but I sure as hell don't remember a show like "Will and Grace" being on TV when I was growing up.

Come on -- what about Bosom Buddies or Laverne and Shirley

My wife and I attended public schools all of our life -- Iowa for myself, and Colorado for her. She's a primary school teacher by trade, and has taught here in Texas. She's generally not impressed by the focus on standardized testing in general (i.e., teaching to tests). She's also got enough horror stories to keep us fairly skeptical of the public school system here in Garland, TX.

So, we're going to probably end up sending our kids to either one of our Lutheran churchs' schools -- or if that's too expensive -- just homeschool the kids.

I always felt, even in the exemplary public schools in Iowa, that I spent a LOT of time waiting for the other kids to "catch up." I think one of the MAJOR advantages to homeschooling is that you can set the pace for your children much more effectively.

Anyway, that's where we are at right now -- with a 3 year old, 10 month old, and -3 month old We'll see where we are at when our oldest is set to start to Kindergarten. Mama will probably be pushing out the door to public school, regardless of her experiences :laugh:

[cjcdaman]

That's fine, but I reject the notion that acceptance of their lifestyle constitutes respect. Also, I would argue that it's not the govt's business to decide what's morally acceptable for my children, especially when they are so young.

Can't disagree with any of what you said. I definitely don't want to see two guys kissing and holding hands in public. But, I also don't want to look at some 450 pound whale wearing a two-piece bathing suit. So, I will say that I was completely against allowing gay marriages, but as for actually being in that kind of a relationship whether it be man/man or woman/woman is a right that they have. As of now, and hopefully for a long time, gay marriage will not be a right.

Come on -- what about Bosom Buddies or Laverne and Shirley

:laugh: I was going to edit my post and say that I forgot about "Full House."

[Cdowwe]

I went to public my whole life. Kinda like seeing girls all day.

[Cdowwe]

On another note...does anyone know if that No Child Left Behind testing is for private schools as well...or is it just public?

[twa]

Well I sent mine to public school other than kindegarten,we debated about it but decided exposure to different groups and ideas was best.

With parental involvement and a strong dose of personal responsibility the results have been very good overall.

I also feel removing your children from public schooling hurts society,I know that my wife and I (along with the kids) made a positive impact in some other kids lives.

[Major Harris]

It may not be the norm today, but it sure as hell sets quite a precedent. Certainly private schools, like any human institution, has its own set of problems and is far from perfect. But I'll take those set of problems over the problems of most public schools any day. There's also a host of other advantages and personal preferences that I'll present later, when I have some more time.

i'll be interested to hear them. i want to see the other side. public schools have their problems, so do private schools, so i can see what you're saying about choosing one problem set over another. for me, i just want my kid exposed to diversity, which public schools generally offer more of than private.

[Major Harris]

She's generally not impressed by the focus on standardized testing in general (i.e., teaching to tests).

couldn't agree more. NCLB, while it's intentions are good, is poorly implemented and does just what you describe.

[the burgundy and gold]

i dont know if it's like this everywhere, but in my city the private schools are almost 100% white kids.

Seeing how that when you get out of school and go into the real world that it's not going to be all white kids, i think that public school really gives you a heads up on how to 1. talk to other types of people and also public schools teach you how other types of people live.

i've been at public school my entire life, i have a good amount of black/ spanish friends so it's very easy for me to talk to these types of people. But those kids who transfered to my school from private schools, have had a really tough time adapting to not being the most popular race at school.

[drums and skins]

I think it really depends on the local "market". Inner city schools often perform mediocre-to-bad (there are exceptions, but this is a generalization), so a private school might be the best answer. In the outer suburbs, you may have an extremely good private school nearby, but then you'll have to factor in the performance of the local public schools. Then you have to factor the family's social setting that can influence the kid's behavior (things like 'are the parents involved or even around?').

In my area, there are decent high schools(despite how much B.S. I thought it was) and a private school, Calverton. I've had friends who went to Calverton and everyone of them has social issues. Even the girl who came to public school for her high school years had social problems. She had troubles adjusting and I saw her go through like 4 years of social adjustments (identity crisis, i guess) in just the 3 months that I knew her. Of the other three I've known: one was a huge nympho (not a completely bad thing but not exactly healthy if you know what I mean) and the other two were cutters/stereotypical emo princesses(guess what, their parents weren't around much!).

I think it depends on the environment and such. In certain situations, a public school may be better than private school. In the end though, success isn't up to just the school.

[Major Harris]

i dont know if it's like this everywhere, but in my city the public schools are almost 100% white kids.

Seeing how that when you get out of school and go into the real world that it's not going to be all white kids, i think that public school really gives you a heads up on how to 1. talk to other types of people and also public schools teach you how other types of people live.

i've been at public school my entire life, i have a good amount of black/ spanish friends so it's very easy for me to talk to these types of people. But those kids who transfered to my school from private schools, have had a really tough time adapting to not being the most popular race at school.

i think your first sentence meant to read that PRIVATE schools are 100% white kids............if so, i agree with you. mostly rich white kids in the private schools around here, except mercersburg academy in pa. people from all over the globe. but it's more expensive than some colleges to go there.

[Major Harris]

In the end though, success isn't up to just the school.

ding!!

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

Thus far the biggest misconception and stereotype presented in this thread is that all private schools are populated exclusively by wealthy white people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not all private schools, particularly Catholic schools, mirror the "elite" schools (e.g. St. Albans, Phillips-Exeter, etc.) which also happen to be the type of schools that everyone most commonly associates w/ the stereotypical 'private school'.

[zoony]

I don't have much to add to this thread that hasn't already been said, other than I'm very interested to listen to the debate back and forth.

My wife is a teacher (public schools), and it is very interesting to listen to her point out all of the flaws in data that exist when people criticize this country's schools. Major touched on a few of them in his first post.

But we will have to decide where to send our child... there is a private school in Seymour that is K-12, and has students from all around the world that attend. Many local kids go there but do not live in the dorms of course... I think that would be a good experience to be exposed to all of that at a young age... but I also think our child would learn a lot in public schools as well.

It is going to be a tough choice, to be perfectly honest.

[Seabee1973]

private education is the way to go especially christian schools. with all the stuff coming out of public schools they just dont impress me anymore

[Major Harris]

Thus far the biggest misconception and stereotype presented in this thread is that all private schools are populated exclusively by wealthy white people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not all private schools, particularly Catholic schools, mirror the "elite" schools (e.g. St. Albans, Phillips-Exeter, etc.) which also happen to be the type of schools that everyone most commonly associates w/ the stereotypical 'private school'.

i'm just going off of what i see. i cited an exception, but around here, that's the way it is. private school 'aint cheap, and unfortunately, it's the rich white folk that seem to be able to afford it moreso than others.

and to be fair, there are plenty of misconceptions floating around here in regards to public schools. not all public schools have a left wing conspiracy driven-agenda.