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I think that article was written by someone who doesn't have children. I would be very surprised if she has school age children. It smacks of all the things you say you'll never let your children do before you actually have children.
That said, I do think public schools are very important. We are lucky to have some great ones in the Triangle. I do think private schools or charter schools can be a better fit for some kids, too. I don't think they're necessarily better, just a better fit for some kids.
She's made an argument on false pretenses, though — that people send their kids to private schools for a better education and to escape bad public schools — which is just not the case in many situations. Sometimes a really awesome public school is just not a good fit for any number of reasons and a private school or charter school could be a better fit. I have had my kids at all three — private, charter, and public — and I have been pleased with the quality of education offered at all of them, but some of them do some other things better than others. I have one child who does better in a smaller environment. There's not a way to do that in our public school system. It's not a reflection on the teachers at the public school, though, or the education received there.
News, If You Send Your Kid to Private School, You Are a Bad Person
By Allison Benedikt
You are a bad person if you send your children to private school. Not bad like murderer bad—but bad like ruining-one-of-our-nation’s-most-essential-institutions-in-order-to-get-what’s-best-for-your-kid bad. So, pretty bad.
I am not an education policy wonk: I’m just judgmental. But it seems to me that if every single parent sent every single child to public school, public schools would improve. This would not happen immediately. It could take generations.
You are a bad person if you send your children to private school. Not bad like murderer bad—but bad like ruining-one-of-our-nation’s-most-essential-institutions-in-order-to-get-what’s-best-for-your-kid bad. So, pretty bad.
I am not an education policy wonk: I’m just judgmental. But it seems to me that if every single parent sent every single child to public school, public schools would improve. This would not happen immediately. It could take generations.
No, you're a smart person if you do. Our children's peers are the biggest influence on how our kids turn out. If you can buy your kids better peers, go for it.
Not only that, who would take away choice from individuals? If parents want their children to have a different type of education than what is offered locally, they should have that freedom.
The author may be fine with sacrificing her children up to the common good but I am not ok with that. If I can give my kids a better education than what is offered in FL's public schools, I will do so. If someone else thinks I am a bad person because of that, I can live with the fallout.
"Your children and grandchildren might get mediocre educations in the meantime, but it will be worth it, for the eventual common good."
No, sorry, a MEDIOCRE education is not OK with me. I sent my kids to private school, would do it again in a heartbeat and don't regret it at all. If others perceive me as a bad person, that's OK with me as long as I'm a bad person with well educated kids.
I am not an education policy wonk: I’m just judgmental. But it seems to me that if every single parent sent every single child to public school, public schools would improve. This would not happen immediately. It could take generations.
LOL This is ridiculous but everyone is entitled to an opinion, however loopy.
There is another thread linked to this article on the parenting forum. I posted the following:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momma_bear
The author may be fine with sacrificing her children up to the common good but I am not ok with that. If I can give my kids a better education than what is offered in FL's public schools, I will do so. If someone else thinks I am a bad person because of that, I can live with the fallout.
If your public schools are low performing AND you have one or two kids, then maybe private schools are a good idea. If your public schools are higher performing AND you have many kids, then maybe private schools aren't worth it.
Realize the teachers in public schools are about the same in high performing schools and low performing schools - it's the students who determine the performance. Low income, ESL, single parent, not educated parents are usually associated with the low performing kids.
Now, if you have lots of kids it is probably wiser to buy into a (typically more expensive) neighborhood with higher performing schools. If you have one kid, then maybe buy into a cheaper neighborhood (with presumably lower performing schools) and go private.
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News, If You Send Your Kid to Private School, You Are a Bad Person
