I won't be popular with my more conservative brethren for saying this, but I think that a lot of the contention that private schools provide better quality teaching/curriculum/results is a lot of perception, and not necessarily reality. I happen to be in a position to know what the standardized test score averages are for a lot of private schools, and they aren't all that much better than the public schools in general. Across the whole spectrum, private school student performance may be stronger, and that is a reflection of the flexibility that they have when not bound by state regulation. I think that is where the strong point lies, along with the ability to teach from a Christian perspective if they so choose.

 

I can also tell you from first hand experience that, per capita, I see just as many juvenile offenders from the private schools as I do from the publics, so I think the "behavior" benefits is at least slightly exaggerated as well.

 

 

I don't think that private schools have better behaved students, in as much as they have the ability to effectively punish ill-behaved students, and ability to place limits on what they have to put up with. Again, legislation has removed that power from schools, and required them to educate as student regardless of how ill-behaved they are.

 

For the record, formal education in America did not begin as a "right". It began as privilege, and it began with Churches. Predominantly, schools in America were established by different denominations to educate the children of their faith, to ensure that they weren't being influenced by those of other faiths.

 

It wasn't altruistic by any means.

I think this is a great thread that has several really good posts so far. I think it definitely has to deal with all the changes that has been put on the public school system. They way they can't really discipline now, no child left behind, God being completely stricken...I believe all of those things play into affect.

 

I have known to German students who came over here (one in high school and now a good friend who goes to college with me...he went back over the summer). But from hearing how it works over there, I am a little intrigued and think it may be a good idea as others have stated. It would need a few small changes to work here. The sad thing is, I just dont' see it ever happening here.

I won't be popular with my more conservative brethren for saying this, but I think that a lot of the contention that private schools provide better quality teaching/curriculum/results is a lot of perception, and not necessarily reality. I happen to be in a position to know what the standardized test score averages are for a lot of private schools, and they aren't all that much better than the public schools in general. Across the whole spectrum, private school student performance may be stronger, and that is a reflection of the flexibility that they have when not bound by state regulation. I think that is where the strong point lies, along with the ability to teach from a Christian perspective if they so choose.

 

I can also tell you from first hand experience that, per capita, I see just as many juvenile offenders from the private schools as I do from the publics, so I think the "behavior" benefits is at least slightly exaggerated as well.

 

 

This conservative brother does not disagree with you at all. A benefit of the German system in my mind would be to remove to a less intensive track those kids that are disruptive and don't want to learn. While I think a college education is becoming a necessity for more kids than ever, unfortunately not every kid realizes it. And face it, somebody has to be a welder, a automechanic etc. So college may not be the route needed for everyone. Lets identify those that can and want to attend college and put them on that track. And lets separate them from those that can't or won't or are discipline problems. Who knows, some of the discipline problems may be caused by kids in classes or in an environment that they don't want to be in.

I think part of the problem is, as I understand it KY public schools no longer allow you to put kids in classes according to their abilities. When I went to school in the 70's we went to homeroom where all levels would be together, but when you split up for math, english, and science you were grouped with kids at the same level and the teacher could move along pretty fast if you were in the upper levels. Now they seem to think grouping everyone together the smarter kids will pull the slower ones along. From what I've seen it is causing just the opposite, the slower kids are slowing down the whole process.

Edited June 11, 200818 yr by pigman
mispelling in an education thread

Here's a question from another angle:

 

If, as leatherneck asserts, more and more families are choosing private education, shouldn't we be expecting more from th public schools in return for monies being collected in taxes that are not being utilized by families within that community that aren't taking advantage of the free education?

Here's a question from another angle:

 

If, as leatherneck asserts, more and more families are choosing private education, shouldn't we be expecting more from th public schools in return for monies being collected in taxes that are not being utilized by families within that community that aren't taking advantage of the free education?

 

The public schools will get less money from the state because the schools funding is based heavily on daily attendance. Fewer students attending a school means fewer dollars coming from the state to the school. The state is the entity that will receive the windfall. Now admittedly, I guess the state could agree to send more dollars per student to the public schools, but depending on the state's financial condition, that may not happen.

The public schools will get less money from the state because the schools funding is based heavily on daily attendance. Fewer students attending a school means fewer dollars coming from the state to the school. The state is the entity that will receive the windfall. Now admittedly, I guess the state could agree to send more dollars per student to the public schools, but depending on the state's financial condition, that may not happen.

 

 

Maybe change the way schools are funded?

Maybe change the way schools are funded?

 

Possible I guess, but I doubt it. If the state can pocket some money, particularly in lean budget times, they'll do so.

Possible I guess, but I doubt it. If the state can pocket some money, particularly in lean budget times, they'll do so.

 

Heck, they will definitely do anything they can to increase the money that they have. The cut that they gave higher education was ridiculous. There is almost no way they are gonna dish out more money right now if they don't have too. It's kills that were already rather under budgeted the way it was, like Northern Kentucky University.

 

I know this is mostly about high school or younger, but I thought it could fit a little when talking about the state pocketing some money.

I find the German system to be extremely interesting. A teacher that I work with spent a few weeks in Germany last fall and was excited about what she saw. I would be supportive, though I would want a stipulation for moving up (or down) based on changing abilities/interest.

The public schools will get less money from the state because the schools funding is based heavily on daily attendance. Fewer students attending a school means fewer dollars coming from the state to the school. The state is the entity that will receive the windfall. Now admittedly, I guess the state could agree to send more dollars per student to the public schools, but depending on the state's financial condition, that may not happen.

 

Your earlier comment w/re to Sears got me thinking you may be onto something as to an ulterior motive. Somerset has the rapidly-growing Somerset Christian School and Victory Christian School, and when I was living there, there was also a Saleen Christian Academy, but I can't really tell for sure if it still exists. None were KHSAA-affiliated, but I had heard that Somerset Christian was moving toward that goal.

You forgot the MAJOR reason: God has been "kicked out" of the government schools (Thank you, ACLU).

 

Bingo, this is the beginning and the end for me. There are many other reasons too, but until you get past this one.....

I find the German system to be extremely interesting. A teacher that I work with spent a few weeks in Germany last fall and was excited about what she saw. I would be supportive, though I would want a stipulation for moving up (or down) based on changing abilities/interest.[/QUOTE]

 

totally agree!:thumb:

I heard a speaker on the radio this spring, comparing us (unfavorably) with other countries, specifically China, Japan, India, etc. I was very intrigued.

 

He said by the time they finish what we call high school, they have had more class time than an American college graduate.

 

One point I took to heart, and I'm trying to apply, is re: tutoring. Over there, smart kids are heralded the way an athlete is here. Tutors are only used on the smarter kids, for life, while in america we only use tutors to get a passing grade. We put kids in club sports to make them better athletes (like I do) and don't ever get tutors to make them better students.

 

I am currently looking for a tutor that my daughter can use for the next 3 years, in the math field. Calculus, Algebra, Trig, Physics, all of it. It's hard looking for a tutor for such a general area, when the kid is already getting A's to begin with. But, at least I'll feel like I tried to do better for her, especially because I have been the club sport parent that the guy was speaking of.

As a Christian, posts on this thread make me more angry than many I have ever read.

 

1. God is not out of the public schools. Organized prayer and scripture reading are, but my son and daughter who has God in them attend every day - God does not leave them when they walk in the door.

 

2. How un-Christ like is it to remove Christian children from the very people that need to know Christian children? What ever happened to the salt of the earth, the light of the world, personal EVANGELISM???

 

3. I love the fact that my son and daughter go to school with rich kids (very few), poor kids, smart kids, not-so-smart kids, nice kids, mean kids, african-american, hispanic, white, special needs, Gifted and Talented. In this way they can be friends with all of them and understand that they are good people, but that many of them are fighting battles. My daughter's best friend in school has "selective muteness". She gets to hang out with her because they have made non=verbal connections with each other, and occasionally my daughter gets to hear her utter a word or two. The chances of her making this kind of connection in a private school are slim.

 

My son also gets to develop skills in dealing with tough people. He gets to make decisions about how to treat people that don't have the same kind of money he has, or the same values. He gets to learn to respect where they are coming from and to teach them where he is coming from.

 

What a great mission field public schools are, not for conversion, but for real mission work to help the "least of these." I will never pull my son and daughter out for that simple reason.

 

Plus, public school teachers are so much better.:thumb: