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I think its hilarious that an article about education is being written by someone who admits she has a horrible education and didn't learn much along the way. I initially thought it was a parody but apparently she is serious.
I attended both public and private growing up and got a much better education at the private school. I learned stuff in 4th grade that the public high school I attended didn't keep up with even in 11th and 12th.
I've also attended non-profit, public universities as well as private, for-profit universities, and found the for-profit education to be far superior, instructed by folks successful outside academia in the discipline being taught, whereas the professors in public universities were mostly life-time college go'ers who had never worked for a reasonable amount of time in the real world.
That being said, my experience may not be typical of everyone's. I do know that private school is crazy-expensive these days, and if I had kids I probably wouldn't be able to justify the cost. Even public universities have been increasing tuition at a rate much faster than inflation for many decades, so I don't blame anyone for sticking with public schools.
What I do have a problem with are the hypocrites that utilize the socialist public school system that's funded by all of us, even those without kids, then complain liberal-this/socialist that, without realizing they have subscribed to the largest socialist model available in the USA.
There are many reasons people send their kids to private schools, not always just about the educational component.
And let's be honest, public schools count on a certain percentage of the populace going to private schools. Imagine the pickle we'd be in if we suddenly had to make room for all those kids. It has always been thus. Back in the day, Catholic people almost ALWAYS sent their kids to parochial school, for instance. Around here there are a good number of secular private schools.
"I got a mediocre education and it didn't hurt me none. Your kids will do just fine, plus things will improve in several generations if everyone goes to public school because rich parents will have a fit or at least raise money for more computers."
In Zimbabwe our public schools are schools that are government schools, with cheaper controlled rates per term, with lower paid teachers and classrooms with 30 plus students in them. Our private schools are owned by a trust, run by a board of trustees, with higher fees per term, higher paid teachers, better fascilities, and a higher volume of pass rates due to the above and less students per class, approximately 22 students.
I don't think I agree with this thread, because I went to a public (government) junior school and was absolutely happy being at that school. I was then given the opertunity to go to a private school (privately owned school with supposedly better education due to better paid teachers). This school was also very good.
However, I am sure there are not many parents that would not want the best education for their children, and if they could afford the better school and still sent their children to the public, government school, then and only then, I would agree with your thread. However I think the choice is primarily down to income, and being able to afford the private more expensive school.
One cannot say it is bad parenting to send your child to the cheaper government school if you simply cannot afford the more expensive option.
On the other hand if you were unable to send your child to a school at all, would be a better reason to be called a bad parent! As some form of education is better than none!
@tompope: Because we're considering moving to the area to be close to family, we just had a baby, I've heard the Triangle area has some interesting education issues going on, and I'm trying to get the feelers out about how other parents in the area feel. So, I'm curious specifically about Triangle area residents take on the issue.
This is just yet another piece of sensational, divisive crap that comes about in a world where all you need to be a 'reporter' is a laptop and a web template. Is some of it true? Of course. If more money and active, energetic parents started flowing into the public schools, of course they would improve. Are you a bad person for wanting the best for your child? I certainly don't think so.
I do think education should be a 'socialist' style program that everyone pays into. Why? Because it benefits everyone. If you don't believe that is true, you must not be bothered by stupid and/or ignorant people.
Also, having been to both a public and a top ranked private university, I can't see the benefits of going private. The caliber of the education, professors, department resources, etc. were on par between the two. The biggest difference is that 6 years in the public school left me with 15k of debt, whereas 2 years at the private school added an additional 85k. I know the same isn't true for non-college education.
The point is, do what you believe is best for your children in both the long and short term. If that is trying to encourage a world that has a better public education, then do it! If that means sending your kids to the best damn school you can afford, then do it!
@tompope: Because we're considering moving to the area to be close to family, we just had a baby, I've heard the Triangle area has some interesting education issues going on, and I'm trying to get the feelers out about how other parents in the area feel. So, I'm curious specifically about Triangle area residents take on the issue.
The issues aren't about the education itself. Education is what you make of it. Some kids want it, some kids have to be force fed, and some kids will never learn. Plenty of kids get a great education at public schools. The biggest issue here is trying to make the 49% who don't like the way things are currently done, to either do something about it, or stop complaining.
I had several cousins who went to private schools, and none of them got much of an education in my opinion. Myself and my sister went to a very poor, rural school district, and went much farther than any of our cousins regarding college, etc.
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