What’s Better Public or Private Schools?

What’s Better Public or Private Schools?

            Which schools are better, public or private? When it comes to choosing a school for your children which would you prefer? If parents could afford it, they would probably prefer a private school. “In fact, according to a 2009 Great Schools and Harris Interactive poll, nearly one in four parents are currently considering switching their child's school either from private to public or public to private as a result of the economy.”(Great Schools) “It's an age-old debate. Nobody doubts that private schools tend to outperform public ones on average. The statistics prove it. Public schools have traditionally educated a wider array of student population – less affluent and more ethnically diverse.”(Great Debate)

            The biggest difference between public and private schools comes down to cash. Private schools generate their own funding, which comes from a variety of sources: tuition, private grants, fund raisers, alumni and community members. Public schools can’t charge tuition. Public schools are funded through state and local taxes. They function as a part of government and must follow rules and regulations set by politicians. Private schools do not receive tax payers’ money, so they don’t have to follow the same rules and regulations that the public schools do. Private schools have a different curriculum and programs geared towards religious beliefs.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                                 

Public schools have to accept any child that enrolls at the school as long as they live in that district. Private schools because they are not state funded have certain criteria that a student must qualify to be able to attend that school. Children applying to get into a private school may have to go through in depth applications, multiple interviews, essays and possible testing. Most private schools try and keep their classroom sizes fairly small with low student to teacher ratios. Many states are realizing that small student to teacher ratios in the public school system is better for the children.

            Discipline action between public and private schools is totally different. When you sign a contract to attend a private school, the rules are clearly laid out for you. The students have to abide by the contract which includes consequences for infraction of the discipline code. The code of conduct is enforced. There is no room for disrespecting teachers or classmates, bullying a classmate, fighting, or having disruptive behavior in a classroom. In public schools you have constitutional rights which should be respected. The process of disciplinary action takes time and is a complicated process. During the lengthy process, students figure out how to beat the system or play the games. There is also a code of conduct in public schools, but it doesn’t seem to be enforced as well in our school systems today. You are always hearing of the guns and knives that are being brought to schools. Bullying is becoming more and more popular.

            With discipline issues in public school, violence is a top priority for administrators and teachers. With the public hearing about the shootings and other acts of violence in schools today, security measures such as metal detectors and placing more stringent rules are in effect. Public school teachers see that crime and threats are more common.                                                   

                                                                                                                                             

They also see certain negative attitudes and behavior problems from some of their students. Lack of parental involvement is more likely to be seen as a serious problem in public schools. “Ninety percent of children in the US attend a public school.”(School Debate) Having a common public education is one of the things that unite Americans regardless of race, color, ethnic background, or religious beliefs.

            When I was younger I attended public schools, so I can’t really compare my education to a private school. I had several teachers that were awesome and I really enjoyed their classes. In elementary school I was involved in safety patrol, the newspaper and kings guard. I also attended the first after school program in Jacksonville. I feel my mother took her time to find good schools for me. I have two children that are in the public schools now. It was a very big decision when placing them into a school. I feel that a child’s learning experience early on makes for a big impression later in life.   If parents became more involved in their children and their schools, some children wouldn’t turn out so bad. “Finally, an individual student's academic success depends not so much on whether he or she attends a private or public school but rather on a complex interaction of abilities, attitudes, and strengths or problems brought to school; the skills and knowledge of teachers; and the quality of the learning environment.”(Education World)