What makes Public Schools "bad"? (Kailua: 2014, homes)

[mxg67]

Looking to hear from former students, parents or teachers. What makes local public schools so "bad"? I've heard this line countless times through the years, often from parents who send their kids private school but who really seem to have little knowledge of the public schools besides anecdotal or overly exaggerated stories they hear from friends. I can't imagine the teachers are bad. I also don't buy into the statistics so easily. Is it just a handful of weak students that drag down the average? Are drugs, crime, violence, etc. that big an issue? Would the same student, placed in any school in the State (including private schools) likely come out the same academically in the end?

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by mxg67

I can't imagine the teachers are bad.

Why? You get what you pay for. One cannot expect quality teachers across the board that get paid $50,000/year.

Originally Posted by mxg67

I also don't buy into the statistics so easily. Is it just a handful of weak students that drag down the average?

Why? It is what it is. You either get into college or you don't. You either drop out or you don't. Your ACT or SAT score is what it is. A "handful" of weak students don't drag down the average - that isn't how math works. When you go to Kailua or Hawaii Kai, the "handful" of teardown quality homes aren't impacting the average home prices.

Originally Posted by mxg67

Would the same student, placed in any school in the State (including private schools) likely come out the same academically in the end?

Of course not. While the vast majority of students attend public schools they produce less than 10% of the State's National Merit Scholars. Would Barack Obama take the same path in life had he attended a Hawaii Public School - of course not.

Here is a thread for you to review.

https://www.city-data.com/forum/hawai...c-schools.html

[PamelaIamela]

There are no bad schools.
Only bad students.

P.S. Please refrain from poison-reps. It's tacky and it won't change my mind.

[Ian_Lee]

It is not only teachers and students. But parents too.

In the teacher parent conference held in public schools, many have less than half of the parents showed up.

But in those conferences held in private schools, some students even have four or five family members come. Grandma, granddad, uncle, auntie,....etc.

[blau808]

Originally Posted by PamelaIamela

There are no bad schools.
Only bad students.

P.S. Please refrain from poison-reps. It's tacky and it won't change my mind.

By that logic there are no good schools, only good students?

[stan4]

There are lots of fantastic public schools.
I don't think the mere quality of being public or private makes a school good or bad.

Plenty of garbage private schools.

[Ian_Lee]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Why? You get what you pay for. One cannot expect quality teachers across the board that get paid $50,000/year.
https://www.city-data.com/forum/hawai...c-schools.html

Actually teachers in private school make less than what teachers in public school do, not only in Hawaii but also nationally.

Private school teachers are not unionized and receive much less benefits than their counterparts do in public schools.

The only benefit is their kids receive discount on tuition or even free if they are admitted.

[Ian_Lee]

Originally Posted by stan4

There are lots of fantastic public schools.
I don't think the mere quality of being public or private makes a school good or bad.

Plenty of garbage private schools.

In other states some public schools are really good, i.e. New Jersey and southern California, but not Hawaii.

There is a reason why Hawaii has the highest percentage of students attending private schools.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Ian_Lee

Actually teachers in private school make less than what teachers in public school do, not only in Hawaii but also nationally.

Average Punahou teacher salary is $70,000. No Hawaii Public School teacher makes $70,000

[Ian_Lee]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

Average Punahou teacher salary is $70,000. No Hawaii Public School teacher makes $70,000

https://www.civilbeat.org/2014/04/21...ublic-schools/