death penalty

[Rhiannon]

Diroga:
I would like to address your post, not necesary a criticism, more like an extension of what you have said. As a person deeply immersed in pedagogy, surrounded by teachers and living with one, and coming from a long time of teachers, I would like to offer the following insights.

We have all heard the argument that private schools are better than public schools and how their scores on standarized tests are higher, etc. Ok. One thing that should be made clear is that you cannot compare public and private schools because of these (and other) factors:

Private schools are free to accept or reject any student. Students deciding to enter a private school usually need to take a proficency test, participate in an interview, or any other method that will weed out any "bad" students. Hence, they can have the cream of the crop in their classrooms. Public schools dont have this luxury. They are required under law to accept any and every student that comes to their door. Also, private schools can decide not to accept students with learning or physical disabilities (unless it is a school specifically for disabled children, like schools for the blind and deaf). Public schools must accept these students and provide for them, providing them with the same quality education as a "regular" student gets. Hence, which private schools can take their money and dedicate it to teaching their students and paying teachers good salaries, while providing them with materials, equipment, and small classes, public school teachers must settle for less, with a lower salary, huge classes (sometimes 40 or more students) and little support from parents. Parents with children in private schools will care about their children's education becuz they are paying for it. Many times in public schools, teachers have to double as babysitters, substitute parents, disciplinarians etc., which leaves less time for teaching. Private schools can simply expell any problematic student, public schools must do everything possible to correct the problem.

So, after weeding out "dumb" and "problem" students, and any other student that would take too much resources, private schools can freely dedicate themselves to teaching and imparting a quality education. Public schools are left with everything else.

Now, dont think that just becuz private schools give a "better" education, that the teachers are somehow better. Studies have shown that US public school teachers are equally or more qualified than private school teachers. Many public school teachers have at least one to two BAs, some with MAs, and a few with PhDs. This is no small potatoes. A PhD isnt exactly something you order from a catalog. I know of private schools that have teachers without certifications or a BA.

So Diroga, in a way you are correct. Money wont make a better teacher. However, if there is a better environment somwhere else, where you have a better chance of keeping your sanity and reaching retirement, i'm sure you'd go, which is what is happening to US public school teachers.

As for standarized tests, they prove nothing more than the ability to answer (or guess) a multiple choice test, and how well you memorize shyt. They dont prove what you learned, or how you apply that knowledge, which is part of what the real purpose of education is.