I get absolutely nothing from the public schools.

 

This is an overly simplistic viewpoint. Unless you're a hermit who has absolutely no interaction with the rest of society, you DO benefit from public education. From the food you eat, to the roads you drive on, to the house you live in, it's all been designed, produced, or transported substantially by products of the public school system. If there were no public education (free to all who attend, funded by taxes) what kind of standard of living would we have in this country? Whatever your source of employment/income is, I'm sure if you broke it down far enough you would be able to trace your own livelihood to economic transactions with countless people who were educated by the public school system. If public primary and secondary education did not exist and every student was left to obtain an education via the free market (or not, if their family could not afford it) what type of society would we have and how would you earn your living?

Although true the Public schools are not with out "sin" they have paid the price in the past for far less serious "transgressions"

Highlands Guy: You must still be feeling the sting of the whipping your boys took from LexCath. However, don't you think your remark about gifted athletes is like the pot calling the kettle black?

 

 

I was making fun of your silly post. I thought that was obvious.

And, of course, we will all be required to continue to endlessly pour our money into the public schools.

 

And they(we) thank you for that! Because without all that money, we(public) couldn't afford our new schools and programs. Oh, wait a minute, last I looked the school I support by sending my son to (HHS) hasn't seen any of that money for a new High School like many other "poor" areas have. Every time I go to a County High School for a game or event, I'm amazed and jealous by their facilities. Oh yeah, the $100,000 our Diocease of Covington Elementary School promised over the next 10 years to help build CovCath's new high school, I choose to donate to that mission. I think I did. Wait, no I didn't, they made us as members of the Parish. Kind of like taxes. What am I getting out of it "Nothing". Why? Because I choose to send my son to another school and it's public. You're not the only one pooring money into the coffers not by choice!

Highlands Guy: You must still be feeling the sting of the whipping your boys took from LexCath. However, don't you think your remark about gifted athletes is like the pot calling the kettle black?

 

Ladiesbballcoach: I congratulate Pendleton County on its Nobel winner. All schools should have some achievement of significance. I'm glad you have one.

 

Thunderstruck: You are quite correct. I did choose not to take "advantage" of the public school option. You are also correct in that LexCath is the sacrificial lamb. The Lexington area public schools have been crying over their inability to compete against LexCath for a long time. I suppose they were finally pacified. However, I hope you are not implying that it is the sacrificial lamb for only the private schools. While we are not without "sin" (so to speak), surely no one thinks that the public schools have hands that are any cleaner.

 

SilverShadow: I knew I would hear from you because you are the "chief counsel" for the public schools. I probably shouldn't have stated that I "chose better" because, rather than considering my real thesis, you and others took the "knee jerk" reaction of coming to the defense of your favorites. But, then, that is what "chief counsels" do, isn't it?

 

For All: Many of you public school people complain that we private school people pick and choose our students so as to avoid the natural problems faced by the public schools. Of course we do. We don't want your problems. Nonetheless, if we had the same "funding rights" as do you, we would bring in a goodly number of your needy students. After all, our misson statements, our private accrediting agencies, and our individual philosophies require that we reach out in this manner. However, we are handcuffed because, sin of sins, we just may assist a student who also happens to be an athlete.

If we could operate as do the public schools in this "funding of the needy", it would be of benefit to both camps. However, of more importance, it would benefit needy students. Of course, the cynical public school people will counter that we will only take athletes. History shows that that is not correct. Nonetheless, the level of distrust (in both directions) is so great that peace will never exist unless, of course, we agree to "adjust" so that the public schools can have their fantasy of a self-defined "level playing field". And, of course, we will all be required to continue to endlessly pour our money into the public schools.

 

It is easy to "knee jerk" in the total void of a valid point. You need to settle down. You are being pointed out by your words and default to character labeling and motive assumptions. Read your words - we do not want your problems. Just keep clicking your heels and saying "there is no place like home" and your dreams may be your reality (in a bubble, perhaps). Anyone can run a program of preselecting the people. That is not education. You have clearly pointed out what others who support private schools in this site have clearly pointed out that private schools DO NOT DO!

 

I am never ceased to be amazed by ignorance to say get rid of the trash and do it as well as us. You really have no clue what it takes for so many kids in the public education. Matter of fact, I bet you think it should be more responsibility on the parents for many issues, except you do not even understand there are many without and/or only one parent.

 

Also, your assumption to have private schools take public schools reeks of sounding like you are doing a student a favor. It is really sad.

 

Oh, by the way, all your supposed property holdings - is it driven in a large part by its location and the quality of the public schools or not?

And, of course, we will all be required to continue to endlessly pour our money into the public schools.

 

As mandated by every constitution in every state of the union. Your point?

I am a supporter of private schools. I own several parcels of real estate and pay an extremely material amount of taxes to the public schools. I also pay, in my opinion, a disproportionate amount of income taxes to both the federal and state governments- much of which goes to public education. Clearly, I pay several times as much in taxes to the public schools each year as I formerly paid in tuition to a private school.

There are a lot of "needy" students in the public schools- many athletes. They obviously benefit greatly, directly and indirectly, from my tax dollars. Therefore, I am, in reality, providing tuition, books, transportation, food, clothing, health care (including, I'm sure, "care" that I find morally corrupt), etc. to many students, many athletes, in the public schools. I get absolutely nothing from the public schools.

On the other hand, according to KHSAA, I cannot do the same for students in the schools that I do support- the private schools.

I find the term "level playing field" insulting.

 

The above sentence is an absolute slap in the face to any parent, teacher, administrator or student that's come through any and every public school in the country, ever. Myself included. You have no idea what it takes some of these kids to manage to just get to school, much less be successful in the classroom.

 

It's not their problem you decided to buy property, knowing that you'd have to pay taxes on it. Knowing those taxes would go towards public schools. I have ZERO sympathy for someone who goes into something saying yes, than complains about the situation later. You obviously are an intelligent individual, if you have problems with the system, don't invest in it.

 

BTW, I'm against the public/private split more than some private school advocates. I also know that not all schools, public or private, are squeaky clean. However, you'll never, ever hear me lay an insult on a bunch of hard-working people like that, amazing.

Well, this is great- and as expected. You guys (or girls) overreact and offer your usual passionate defenses of the public schools as if they are either "sacred cows" or your own flesh and blood. Nonetheless, your arguments are suspect at best because they are strictly from the heart and not from the head- much too emotional and factless. However, none of you have addressed the proposal presented in regard to providing for the "needy". I'll take a different approach. Why don't you allow private schools to assist needy students to come to these schools if the private schools agree to have the same ratio of student athletes receiving financial aid to athletes receiving financial aid as the public schools? That should "level" that playing field some and also be of benefit to needy families who, for whatever reason, want to send their children to a private school. Better yet, since we all know the public school "definition" of "level", we could set the student athlete to student ratio (for financial assistance) at twice what it is for the public schools. Again, the result would be that some of the "load" would be taken off of the public schools and the private schools would be better able to fulfill their missions. Of the most importance would be the fact that more educational opportunities would be available to needy students and surely we all want to see that. It is sad that many needy Catholic families cannot send their children to Catholic schools simply because those children are athletes and, thus, "persona non grata" with KHSAA. Of course, they can attend public schools and receive that financial support and immediately play for the Bluebirds, the Cardinals, the Generals, the Tomcats, or whomever.

Well, this is great- and as expected. You guys (or girls) overreact and offer your usual passionate defenses of the public schools as if they are either "sacred cows" or your own flesh and blood. Nonetheless, your arguments are suspect at best because they are strictly from the heart and not from the head- much too emotional and factless. However, none of you have addressed the proposal presented in regard to providing for the "needy". I'll take a different approach. Why don't you allow private schools to assist needy students to come to these schools if the private schools agree to have the same ratio of student athletes receiving financial aid to athletes receiving financial aid as the public schools? That should "level" that playing field some and also be of benefit to needy families who, for whatever reason, want to send their children to a private school. Better yet, since we all know the public school "definition" of "level", we could set the student athlete to student ratio (for financial assistance) at half what it is for the public schools. Again, the result would be that some of the "load" would be taken off of the public schools and the private schools would be better able to fulfill their missions. Of the most importance would be the fact that more educational opportunities would be available to needy students and surely we all want to see that. It is sad that many needy Catholic families cannot send their children to Catholic schools simply because those children are athletes and, thus, "persona non grata" with KHSAA. Of course, they can attend public schools and receive that financial support and immediately play for the Bluebirds, the Cardinals, the Generals, the Tomcats, or whomever.

Well, this is great- and as expected. You guys (or girls) overreact and offer your usual passionate defenses of the public schools as if they are either "sacred cows" or your own flesh and blood. Nonetheless, your arguments are suspect at best because they are strictly from the heart and not from the head- much too emotional and factless. However, none of you have addressed the proposal presented in regard to providing for the "needy". I'll take a different approach. Why don't you allow private schools to assist needy students to come to these schools if the private schools agree to have the same ratio of student athletes receiving financial aid to athletes receiving financial aid as the public schools? That should "level" that playing field some and also be of benefit to needy families who, for whatever reason, want to send their children to a private school. Better yet, since we all know the public school "definition" of "level", we could set the student athlete to student ratio (for financial assistance) at twice what it is for the public schools. Again, the result would be that some of the "load" would be taken off of the public schools and the private schools would be better able to fulfill their missions. Of the most importance would be the fact that more educational opportunities would be available to needy students and surely we all want to see that. It is sad that many needy Catholic families cannot send their children to Catholic schools simply because those children are athletes and, thus, "persona non grata" with KHSAA. Of course, they can attend public schools and receive that financial support and immediately play for the Bluebirds, the Cardinals, the Generals, the Tomcats, or whomever.

 

Likewise, you have not addressed the issue of offending every public school teacher that's ever given an assignment. Explain this, public schools give aid to all students (according to you). However, the private schools can choose to accept which students they want. Shouldn't the kids that aren't worthy of your higher education be able to receive this aid that you're giving kids who's overall situation isn't even in the same ballpark? What some of these kids that go to public schools go through just to get to school every morning, would send some adults to the nuthouse. They should be commended for battling through adversity instead of ridiculed and insulted by the likes of someone who can afford to pay for their child's education, while they have trouble paying to see their schools team play games.

On a side note, CCH has been knocked out of the playoffs two years in a row by schools who have "issues" with the KHSAA. Interesting(yet irrelevant).

stthomasmore - private schools would not be able to do a better job than public schools. Let me ask you a question. If a student is disruptive can the private school simply elect to expel? End of arguement.

Well, this is great- and as expected. You guys (or girls) overreact and offer your usual passionate defenses of the public schools as if they are either "sacred cows" or your own flesh and blood. Nonetheless, your arguments are suspect at best because they are strictly from the heart and not from the head- much too emotional and factless. However, none of you have addressed the proposal presented in regard to providing for the "needy". I'll take a different approach. Why don't you allow private schools to assist needy students to come to these schools if the private schools agree to have the same ratio of student athletes receiving financial aid to athletes receiving financial aid as the public schools? That should "level" that playing field some and also be of benefit to needy families who, for whatever reason, want to send their children to a private school. Better yet, since we all know the public school "definition" of "level", we could set the student athlete to student ratio (for financial assistance) at half what it is for the public schools. Again, the result would be that some of the "load" would be taken off of the public schools and the private schools would be better able to fulfill their missions. Of the most importance would be the fact that more educational opportunities would be available to needy students and surely we all want to see that. It is sad that many needy Catholic families cannot send their children to Catholic schools simply because those children are athletes and, thus, "persona non grata" with KHSAA. Of course, they can attend public schools and receive that financial support and immediately play for the Bluebirds, the Cardinals, the Generals, the Tomcats, or whomever.

 

I would say if the needy Catholic families felt that strong about their faith then playing athletics is not an issue on attending a private school. Jesus tells us that we will have to give up things to follow his walk. It seems you want your cake and get to eat it to in what you are presenting.

 

Let me also say, I am FOR a voucher system that would allow parents to CHOOSE where to spend the tax $$$ that the state is providing for their children. I also think that any WELFARE $$$ that the parent receives should be tied to attendance/grades of their students. I deal with a lot of parents that are being supported by the government and they DO NOT CARE whether their kids are in school or what is happening with their kids at school.

stthomasmore - private schools would not be able to do a better job than public schools. Let me ask you a question. If a student is disruptive can the private school simply elect to expel? End of arguement.

Great point. I believe I teach a whole class that would no longer be enrolled in a private school.

Well, now that all of you have posted your predictable boilerplate defenses of the public school system, how about addressing my proposal which would allow some needy students, some athletes and some not, an opportunity to attend a private school?