What is better.....public schools or private schools?

[manifold]

I've been to both. By and large my experience is that public schools are better. Having said that, I didn't go to any inner city public schools, nor did I go to any 'elite' private schools. But given the realistic choices available to middle class parents such as myself, I say go with public. The teacher requirements are much more rigid than private schools and they typically pay more with better benefits, therefore they attract the better teachers.

 

[Swagger]

I went to an option that I don't think has ever been available in the US (though correct me if I'm wrong). I went to a grammar school. It was funded by the state but acceptance depended on whether you passed a nation-wide test sat when you're 11-years-old called the Eleven Plus (which is now largely redundant). If you passed the test you were accepted to the local grammar school. If you failed you went to the local secondary modern - which was noticably poorer in terms of teaching talent and resources. Grammar schools are basically a state-funded version of private education, in that they only accept those who're deemed capable of shouldering the greater workload as opposed to what's expected in a secondary modern.

One noticable difference between today's institutions (state-funded or private) in Britain is that discipline (compared to America, amongst others) was incredibly fierce. Disruptive behaviour was often punished by a severe beating i.e - the cane or an open fist.

 

[old navy]

I've been to both. By and large my experience is that public schools are better. Having said that, I didn't go to any inner city public schools, nor did I go to any 'elite' private schools. But given the realistic choices available to middle class parents such as myself, I say go with public. The teacher requirements are much more rigid than private schools and they typically pay more with better benefits, therefore they attract the better teachers.

Very true. Private school teachers make less and do not always have the pleasure of teaching the best students. Well, on paper they may be the best, but throw in their spoiled little attitude, parents who thinks their poop don't stink, and you get the idea. That's what I hear at least. The public school system in which I teach boasts the first or second highest graduation rate in the country, depending on which study you read. We have kids of congressmen and governors but no presidents. We also have kids from the hood. Some of them are the most well behaved and hardest working. Being poor is no excuse for being rude, and being wealthy is no excuse for being a brat. Depends on the parents, how much the teacher puts up with, and the support from administrators. I think a lot of people would be surprised at the huge amount of learning going on in schools today. There are lots of dedicated teachers and very bright students who are busting their ass to get where they want to go.

 

[Big Fitz]

I went to an option that I don't think has ever been available in the US (though correct me if I'm wrong). I went to a grammar school. It was funded by the state but acceptance depended on whether you passed a nation-wide test sat when you're 11-years-old called the Eleven Plus (which is now largely redundant). If you passed the test you were accepted to the local grammar school. If you failed you went to the local secondary modern - which was noticably poorer in terms of teaching talent and resources. Grammar schools are basically a state-funded version of private education, in that they only accept those who're deemed capable of shouldering the greater workload as opposed to what's expected in a secondary modern.

One noticable difference between today's institutions (state-funded or private) in Britain is that discipline (compared to America, amongst others) was incredibly fierce. Disruptive behaviour was often punished by a severe beating i.e - the cane or an open fist.

One noticable difference between today's institutions (state-funded or private) in Britain is that discipline (compared to America, amongst others) was incredibly fierce. Disruptive behaviour was often punished by a severe beating i.e - the cane or an open fist.

The sad part is that all too many public school kids should have gotten these a long time before they hit 11. May have saved us from a generation of hoodlums and babby-mommas.

 

[aplcr0331]

Here are some data, showing the scores of public high school graduates vs. private school (home school too) graduates and their scores on the ACT from the state of Kentucky.

I'm more interested in actual numbers and data like this than the stories from either side. I'll accept whatever answer the data show.

 

[aplcr0331]

More Data, interesting study and it's short so all you political douches who only communicate in sound bites and poached headlines from other people might be able to understand it.

Does High School Quality Matter? Evidence from Admissions Data

Conclusion:
In summary, our study yields two important findings. First, we find evidence of a statistically significant effect of attending a highly selective private high school relative to other top public and private schools on the selectivity of the college subsequently attended. In addition, we find that this effect is largely driven by gains for girls and students from lowerincome families.

Not conculsive, but shows some aspect of private school to be superior to some public schools.

 

[chanel]

I graduated from an excellent public school and now teach in a pretty good one. But my children attended Catholic school for a number of reasons. I think they would have gotten a better ACADEMIC education at my school, but SOCIALLY they would have been eaten alive. Kid #1 was overweight when he was young and would have been tortured relentlessly. His school didn't allow that. Kid #2 was a Boy Scout, and would have been tortured relentlessly. His school was proud of that.

It depends on what people want for their children. For us, being around respectful peers and their families was a far more important consideration. They have both been accepted to excellent colleges.

 

[psikeyhackr]

Here are some data, showing the scores of public high school graduates vs. private school (home school too) graduates and their scores on the ACT from the state of Kentucky.

I'm more interested in actual numbers and data like this than the stories from either side. I'll accept whatever answer the data show.

There are lies, damn lies, statistics and computer simulations.

There could be 3 times as many kids in the public schools as private and 1/3rd of the public school kids could be doing as well or better than those in private schools. But a large number could be dragging the average down. I am not saying that is the case it is just that those numbers don't supply enough detail.

psik

 

[Big Fitz]

Here are some data, showing the scores of public high school graduates vs. private school (home school too) graduates and their scores on the ACT from the state of Kentucky.

I'm more interested in actual numbers and data like this than the stories from either side. I'll accept whatever answer the data show.

There are lies, damn lies, statistics and computer simulations.

There could be 3 times as many kids in the public schools as private and 1/3rd of the public school kids could be doing as well or better than those in private schools. But a large number could be dragging the average down. I am not saying that is the case it is just that those numbers don't supply enough detail.

psik

There are lies, damn lies, statistics and computer simulations.

That's my line, you owe me a quarter and an apology to Mark Twain.

you forgot about Opinion polls though. So we'll let you get away with it this time.

 

[JoeB131]

There are lies, damn lies, statistics and computer simulations.

That's my line, you owe me a quarter and an apology to Mark Twain.

you forgot about Opinion polls though. So we'll let you get away with it this time.

Actually, the line is -

"Mendacity comes in three forms. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics" - Mark Twain attributed it to Benjamin Disreali.

 

[editec]

I believe that the whole educational model is about to radically change, folks.

As we abandon our responsibility to educate our young in public settings, the internet has become the tool for autodidacts.

Anybody who wants one can get the education of a PhD online if they're willing to work on it. (I mean on their own, not in some ersatz online school)

Of course, as yet, society is mostly unwilling to accept the highly educated person who does not have a formal degree.

But that, I hope, WILL change over time.

FWIW, despite all the griping I do about the times we live in, this is the BEST TIME IN MANKIND'S HISTORY to be a scholar.

If the pursuit of knowledge is one's goal, no time in history is better than this one.

Of course, knowing stuff does not equate to making money. Making money is mostly about sticking to one's knitting. Being a scholar is like being in a permanent state of wonder from discovery and being somewhat indifferent to materialism.

But if the goal is knowing stuff just for the sake of the knowing, then this is the best of times, even if it sometimes it seems to be becoming the worst of times.

 

[syrenn]

I've never been to a private school only public. So i can only talk about my experience in public school. I had a great experience in public schools. All my friends from the neiborhood went there so it was very easy to have somebody come over and do homework together. My teachers were awesome. Except this one.....
I was able to join many different activities like play the violin, piano, choir, and of course girl scouts. Throughout my school years my teachers were very supportive and helped me whenever i needed some academic help. I had no problems in public school whatsoever as far as how i got treated. I guess just because i had less money than the person next to me the teacher didn't mind giving me the same education.

Private school is better. If for only one reason.... they can and do expel the troublemakers.

 

[manifold]

I believe that the whole educational model is about to radically change, folks.

As we abandon our responsibility to educate our young in public settings, the internet has become the tool for autodidacts.

Anybody who wants one can get the education of a PhD online if they're willing to work on it. (I mean on their own, not in some ersatz online school)

Of course, as yet, society is mostly unwilling to accept the highly educated person who does not have a formal degree.

But that, I hope, WILL change over time.

FWIW, despite all the griping I do about the times we live in, this is the BEST TIME IN MANKIND'S HISTORY to be a scholar.

If the pursuit of knowledge is one's goal, no time in history is better than this one.

Of course, knowing stuff does not equate to making money. Making money is mostly about sticking to one's knitting. Being a scholar is like being in a permanent state of wonder from discovery and being somewhat indifferent to materialism.

But if the goal is knowing stuff just for the sake of the knowing, then this is the best of times, even if it sometimes it seems to be becoming the worst of times.

this post is manifold approved

 

[Big Fitz]

That's my line, you owe me a quarter and an apology to Mark Twain.

you forgot about Opinion polls though. So we'll let you get away with it this time.

Actually, the line is -

"Mendacity comes in three forms. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics" - Mark Twain attributed it to Benjamin Disreali.

Now we're getting Benjamin Disrali involved??? DOH!

I like my version best.

"There are lies, damn lies, statistics, computer models, editorials and opinion polls."

 

[psikeyhackr]

That's my line, you owe me a quarter and an apology to Mark Twain.

you forgot about Opinion polls though. So we'll let you get away with it this time.

Actually, the line is -

"Mendacity comes in three forms. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics" - Mark Twain attributed it to Benjamin Disreali.

Computer simulations did not exist back then so Twain and Disraeli are obsolescent.

But the basic principles still apply. The liars need to keep the liees relatively ignorant and confused.

psik

 

[NGSamson]

I've never been to a private school only public. So i can only talk about my experience in public school. I had a great experience in public schools. All my friends from the neiborhood went there so it was very easy to have somebody come over and do homework together. My teachers were awesome. Except this one.....
I was able to join many different activities like play the violin, piano, choir, and of course girl scouts. Throughout my school years my teachers were very supportive and helped me whenever i needed some academic help. I had no problems in public school whatsoever as far as how i got treated. I guess just because i had less money than the person next to me the teacher didn't mind giving me the same education.

I had both my kids in private since 5th grade. This year, my Son is going to public because he wants to do JROTC and sports. He also likes public for the same reasons you mentioned. He is also driven and takes a long view on his future, so a lazy teacher really has no bearing on him what so ever. My Daughter it very artsy fartsey, and enjoys the private school. She has just about all the things public school has except for the organized activity's, and massive class sizes. The one thing they like about private school is they are both fully one grade ahead of the kids in public school.

 

[Big Fitz]

Actually, the line is -

"Mendacity comes in three forms. Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics" - Mark Twain attributed it to Benjamin Disreali.

Computer simulations did not exist back then so Twain and Disraeli are obsolescent.

But the basic principles still apply. The liars need to keep the liees relatively ignorant and confused.

psik

Today, we call that the public schools.

 

[saveliberty]

If your truly interested in education and have the choice, this really isn't a question.

 

[editec]

Public school taught me that Joe McCarthy was a bad man because he used his HUAC to create a "red Scare" and blacklisted innocent Hollywood actors; it also taught me that FDR saved America when Capitalism failed and even thought Tuskegee started when he came to power...well, er, LBJ was a civil right hero

You must have had a truly inferior public school education then.

At least as far as history goes, I mean.

Frankly that does not surprise me though.

History was one of the first acadmeic subjects this nation threw to the dogs.

 

[rightwinger]

Private school kids have to wear stupid looking uniforms
Private school kids surround themselves with dorks
Private school kids have too many stupid rules
Other kids mock private school kids