Wanna have a public vs. private school debate?

teacherjess

BrahimBride:

I think anyone who argues "public is best" or "private is best" is a fool..  You should do a school by school, opportunity by opportunity comparison for your child.

Identifiying the BEST education model, method, and placement for your child  should be your motivating factor, NOT whether the school is public or private.  When deciding what school to send a child to, the devil is in the details...

 

Exactly. 

harborview

I went to all the "best" schools in Montgomery County! That's funny. There are some good ones, I'll give you that. I just want better, and that is going to be different depending on who you ask.

 

Tinsleigh75:

IMO public school teachers are more qualified to teach and get paid more.  private school teachers are often paid much less and don't have to have degrees in education, be certified, or get master's degrees.  i have a friend who teaches at pretty prestigious private school in san francisco, ca and she is not certified.  she does have an undergrad degree in biology.  she teaches anatomy and biology to high schoolers.

as a public school teacher, i see the amazing opportunities that are available in public schools.  the drama and art departments at my school are fantastic and the productions that are put on are top-notch.  no way you are going to get that kind of opportunity at a private school.  

plus, there is limited curriculum at private schools.  for example, there are almost 20 different AP classes you can take at my high school.  at private school, they may offer AP Bio and AP Lang and Lit and that's it.  

i guess it does depend on the district. i work in montgomery county, md and i am increasingly impressed with the school district each year i'm in it.  i work with absolutely amazingly committed teachers and administration.  people who go above and beyond day after day.

i also HATE the idea of limiting the kind of people my DS is exposed to.  the last thing i want is for him growing up thinking the only people in the world are middle class white people. 

susanmosley

Tinsleigh75:

i also HATE the idea of limiting the kind of people my DS is exposed to. ?the last thing i want is for him growing up thinking the only people in the world are middle class white people.?

My graduating class from private school was made up of a lot more than this...?