Public/Private Schools?

Question

With they way that the American School system (only K-12) has been on a downward path, should the gov't spend more on bring the schools up, or work to eliminate public schools and lean towards funding on Private schools. Since the world works supply and demand, wouldn't competing schools with better educations be sought out and schools alike would have to raise thier standards to compete?
Comments? List pros and cons. No stupid answers please.

Everything goes through Congress, so it would be could it go through Congress.

I disagree. I live in one of the richest areas in Florida and th public schools are crap. I went to a Private school(military type) and recieved a better education. Just b/c money goes to a school doesn't make kids learn more efficiently.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, the school system (public and private) is more complicated than that, in my opinion. For one, many parents would love to send their kids to good private schools, but lack money and transportation. I think the key is make sure whatever options are available, that they are somehow available to all. Your thinking about "supply and demand" is interesting... Rather than completely eradicating public schooling (and eliminating a ton of good jobs and some good practice) in order to create another system brings up some questions - for one, what would be the difference in creating a new system? You'll still have the same people running it (and potentially screwing it up).
I am not against public schooling, but feel overwhelmed in figuring out how I can help change it.
Private schools are still largely elitist.
Charter Schools are interesting and are a good way to explore different ways to teach and learn.
I really think that if school districts were smart they would listen to their teachers and allow the creation of 'district charters' as a way for schools to demonstrate their ideas and how they can effectively teach best.
Of course this is an over simplification of an incredibly complicated situation...

Answer 2

Just spending more money, instead of paying for quality, is what got us in this situation. More money won't solve anything, if the system doesn't reward excellence.

Bad Public Schools will never go away in this country, because there will always be some people who don't care whether their children get an above average education, or just an education.

But not all public schools are bad. There are some communities with really good public schools.

And the free market is already working. There are parochial schools, charter schools, private schools, voucher programs...

Check your local public school districts. You may be surprised at the quality. And if the quality is low, pray for a local voucher program.

Answer 3

I have taught in public schools and private schools both. Your analysis is not only wrong and right-wing, it's flawed. There are three major things wrong with our schools today. They are:
1) Families
2) Families
3) Families

Lookit, kiddo, the answer is not pulling the plug on our schools. The answer is also not abandoning them so the white, upper middle class kids can attend private schools and screw everybody else. The answer is also NOT throwing money at the schools with reckless abandon.

Here are part of the answers.......
1) Quit listening to the damned lawyers, for starters.
2) Let the teachers teach, the principals administrate, and let all school personnel start handing out structure and discipline, starting with YOUR kid.
3) Let the people who are actually in the trenches doing the teaching have more of a hand in driving policy, rather than a president that cannot do math and can barely function as a public speaker.

Answer 4

The only way you can have supply and demand with public and private schools is if you have equal types of students. Private schools seem to perform better because they usually accept only the top percent of kids--those that would perform fantastically in almost any situation. Public school support ALL students--the disabled, the homeless, the non-English speakers, the ones who don't get breakfast.

Having a strong public school system is a great idea, because it gives EVERY child a chance to learn. Good public schools improve property value. Good public schools are a great societal investment. Most public schools are still really good. Teachers still love to teach. Students love their teachers and their schools. I think it is important that we make sure we have good public schools so that everyone gets an opportunity to learn, not just the kids whose parents can afford to take them to private school, buy them lunch, afford uniforms, etc.

Answer 5

Don't ask Bush..he has almost nothing to do with it. Public schools and thier lack of quality or overabundance of quality are usually controlled on much more local level, whether it be state, county, city etc. Schools are funded from tax money. If you live in a poor area where no one pays much in taxes, the school isn't going to be great. If you live in a wealthy area with lots of wealthy people paying a whole lot of taxes, the schools will typically be excellent and well supplied. More than anything I think people should be greatful that public schools even exist. In many countries they do not. Your kid is more likely to learn more and be safer in a public school situation. No GANGSTA(s) can afford a fat tuition and if they can they probably won't because its typically not a priority.

Answer 6

Speaking of Florida public schools only...They stink, they don't spend money on necessary education, they teach the FCAT test and not anything else. Everything is done to pass the test so that they can get federal funding. Need an "A" school.

We have our son in private school. He gets more attention, more understanding when he's having a hard time, safer environment, Christian education, more innocent kids to spend time with.

Answer 7

Here in Australia the richest schools get the most funding....Like I care I went to Geelong Grammar!
*Private schools*
Smaller class sizes
Better facilities
Better staff
More choices within courses
Stricter rules
Less Bullying
Better Class association

*Public Schools*
Massive classes
Crubling facilities
Teachers who don't care as much
Large number of students carry weapons
Forced to associate with the decay of society
Less choice in course work.


You choose what you think is better!

Answer 8

For me, the private schools and some of the rural schools beat the pants off of the large city schools. I have lived in small towns and in large cities. The schools in our large cities do not usually have enough teachers who care, parents who care, and a school system who cares about the students. In most private schools and smaller tighter knit communities you have the involvement. In other parts of the world, they do have competing semi-private schools. We need to take our schools back from the Unions.

Answer 9

I'm not sure of that, but the public schools are public so they aren't really competing. Kids go where their boundries allow them to, unless there is a special reason for them to go else where. The public schools are what's competing and those are for those kids with parents with money. It's frusturating.

Answer 10

Not all people can afford an education.

Schools will go up in performance but more students will be left behind.

You need to look at the big picture.