jeremiahbfrog

My wife and I are synergistic muscles: we pull in opposite directions and that is our strength. She is, well, liberal in a way, but thoughtful and not fanatic. I am more angry than any label can pinpoint as to politics. We moved recently and the public school our daughters would have to attend is in what I would phrase as a marginally safe neighborhood; to her, it is ethnically diverse and thus integral to what she sees as part of their education. But before our usual duel got started over such things, she asked me, "What if America allowed for no private schools?" My mouth opened and closed several times: I saw instinctively where she was going. No elite 40k a year high schools that pamper the rich and create a rift between haves and have nots. Mostly all or all white students.

I was still thinking and trying to find something to refute the idea when she said, "Our schools need to re-integrate." And she explained that if the children of the rich were forced into public education, public education would improve almost instantly ten-fold. Charter schools would be a thing of the past. Money would pour in to insure the best for students.

All I could finally say out of frustration is, "They ain't going to that damn school, period!" So lame. But what are your thoughts on this debate? (I need them.)

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

I can only speak to my area. The private schools in this area have a diverse student body and many have scholarship programs to assist less financially affluent families.

As a volunteer tutor, I can tell you it is less about diversity. The public schools, due to liberal dogma, have little to no discipline. Teachers spend 40% of their time attempting to manage student behavior rather then teaching. Parents rarely take the time, in public schools, to participate in any way. It speaks volumes when you see the numbers of public school teachers who send their children to private schools. Such would seem a clear message to any thinking, rational, responsible parent.

jeremiahbfrog

My girls are going private until something majestic and holy is done.

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

An excellent decision, inasmuch as there will be angels ice skating in hades before the "until something majestic and holy is done"... happens in public education. Children are nothing more then experimental subjects for every new fly by night educational theory that comes along.

jeremiahbfrog

That is way too sad to contemplate, but I agree and mourn for our nation--and will win this argument with my wife thanks to you. Hooray, one in the plus column! (I hope.)

AuntiE Loc: 45th Least Free State

The question for her is she willing to risk her daughters' future for her political stances?

She Wolf Loc: Currently Georgia

My children and grandchildren have always attended private schools. It is not just a matter of the lack of safety in public schools. Our public schools fail miserably in academics.

As the world gets smaller, I want the children in my family to be capable of competing in a world market. I chose, as did my daughter a school which would prepare them for university.

I understand this is not financially possible for all parents. We had to drive older cars, forget vacation homes, and cut back some expenses. When my daughter's husband passed away, I am sure she did not wish to live with her grumpy old Mom. Maintaining two households would have made it impossible to pay for school. No matter the sacrifice, children are the future.

It was well worth it. One grandchild is in medical school and the other will graduate high school at the ripe old age of 16. They will be prepared for this world not only academically but morally as well. They understand respect for their fellow man as well as the advantages they have been blessed with. I am one proud Grandmother.

navnek

In the first place, sending kids to public schools-make that government indoctrination centers- almost anywhere is child abuse.

They are more about teaching WHAT to think than HOW to think. And with the advent of COmmon Core, they are getting worse. Our federal government, in the interests of uniformity will degrade education even more than it already is.

While I can appreciate the motivation for your wife saying hers is the wrong approach because as the fedgov exerts more control, there will be fewer exceptional students, not more.

Want diverstity? About 30 yrs ago, a study revealed that there was greater ethnic and even income diversity in Catholic schools in CHicago than in the public schools there. AND achievement levels were significantly higher. Not that I want all to attend Catholic schools, but school choice (not necessarily to mean vouchers) gives at least some the opportunity to do better.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

I don't have children so perhaps I am not qualified to offer an opinion, but then, the little image below makes me think I just might be allowed.

I think both you and your wife are correct.

You have what I assume is a legitimate concern for your daughters' safety and education - something that happens in the present.

Your wife has a concern for education in what is, at present, an abstract ideal. She is correct that outlawing private schools and requiring everyone to attend public schools would raise the quality for everyone. But that would happen only over time, and perhaps the benefit would only be seen long after your children left school.

I think the best course would be to send your daughters to private school, while at the same time working diligently through other paths to improve public education. Get on your local school board. Get involved in being certain ALL schools in your district elevate their standards and are properly funded.

A lot of work, but probably worth it for the community and the future.

Obama

I don't think your child's development should be watered down deliberately in the beginning particularly if you have questions as to the caliber of students in this public school. End of story


PS: if it were pretty much equal like a toss of the coin situation that would be different. Then I suppose there could be some enrichment.
Definitely not when you have doubts as to the value system of the other children and their parents.

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

no propaganda please Loc: moon orbiting the third rock from the sun

In socialist countries where it is mandatory that all children attend state schools, the quality of education goes down to the lowest common denominator. In some cases the results are not as bad as in others, because the children are raised with some rules of behavior at home and most come from like minded families. Where diversity of color g****r orientation are more important, chaos is the norm, particularly when the teachers are not permitted to do any form of punishment for bad behavior, not even send the child to the principal's office.

PaulPisces Loc: San Francisco

NPP - I may be reading it incorrectly, but I see more than a bit of r****m in your statement above. Can you clarify what you are saying about diversity of color and chaos?