Why is it that schools do not make a profit . Yet defense contractors do .?

Question

Both are paid for with tax dollars ,both offer health care to all workers and retirement benefits .
Both have cost over runs and in general fail to meet the standards we expect of them .
If we where to make all schools like defense contractors then they could make a profit and this would fix everything .

Answer 1

Bombs sell better than Proms. Sad but true. It would be nice if just once our schools had all the money they needed to help our children learn and grow and the military had to go out and sell boxes of cookies to to buy a new hi-tech bomber.

Answer 2

Schools do not make a profit because they are not intended to make a profit. And they are also a bureaucratic money-pit, run by the government. Privatizing public education might not result in a profit, but it would result in lower costs over-all, as well as more money getting to the class-room.

Defense contractors are for-profit entities which bid against each other for government jobs and subsequent government funding.

Apples and oranges.

Answer 3

The difference is, that the U.S. Government doesn't own the defense contractors. Contractors also have additional income from public sold goods. Therefore they can offset any loss from government work. But realize too that by breaking even with government contracts, they get to keep the patents and use them on different products that they sell. Public schools get caught between a bunch of exterior forces that all have hidden and not so hidden agendas. Examples of that are the people wanting them to pay for a distribute condoms, or hire additional teachers for non-English speaking kids without changing the budgets.

Answer 4

The only profit that should come out of a school is the wealth of knowledge that its graduates have acquired. They have failed miserably at this. It's a like a business, you don't keep throwing good money after bad. You fix the problems and then move on. Money is not the cure. Contractors are on a contract basis and can be limited by contract duration and conditions.

Answer 5

Because defense contractors are private contractors. Schools are not. As a former school teacher all I can say is if you really feel this way then let's just get rid of free public education.

And Garrett, you've obviously never been a teacher. It is not a job for people who are underqualified to languish in. It is the hardest job I've ever had for the least pay.

Answer 6

Well, just for starters, schools - like all government-subsidized programs - are not there to 'make a profit'.
They are there to spend more then they are given, thus ensuring they can steal MORE money from the taxpayers in the next budget cycle.
Liberal 'thinkers' never seem to understand that.
That is why their answer to ALL problems is...more money (ie more taxes).
Here's an idea...take the billions of $$ we hand over to schools, test ALL teachers for proficiency, eliminate the non-productive and the under-qualified, give theremaining,qualified teachers the same healythcare package the average American lives with, slash top-heavy administration staffs and USE THE MONEY TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN IN A SAFE, CLEAN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FOCUS IS ON MATH AND SCIENCE INSTEAD OF SEX,BRITNEY SPEARS AND FASHION.
I know...I'm a lunatic extremist for thinking such crazy thoughts,right?

Answer 7

A government funded school is a service being provided, it is not a business. Private schools (business) either make a profit, or go down the tubes.

Private schools do tend to meet the standards, but most cannot afford to use them. Most funding for public system is from property taxes and most of these taxes are from citizens without children in school.

Answer 8

Actually, you should be asking why are schools not held accountable for their shotty work? Bad teachers are almost impossible to fire. And where are we in the world on education. Not towards the top. But that is another issue.

But defense contractors are held accountable. Therefore, they have a reason to make a profit. Capitalism

Answer 9

My Friend the PROFIT is shown in the minds of our CHILDREN.

What other profit do we need? The future of this world lies within the minds of those innocent little people and I for one know that the family unit is of the utmost importance when it comes to utilizing the knowledge gained in school.

We should remember that there is NO COMPARISON when it comes to the a question you posed.

Why compare apples to oranges. Our children are the most important things in our lives and we should take a step back and remember that we are the ones who will help them become thriving happy adults in the future.

.............think about it...............

Answer 10

Schools are public institutions and are not intended to be for profit. Defense contractors are private and are intended to make a profit.