Public vs.

Private Schools

Public vs. Private Schools Tracy L Hopf July 27, 2011 COM/220 Linda Evers

Public vs. Private Schools

I have learned a great deal recently about instructional practices and how students learn. However, the controversial issue of class size and result on educational practices and student outcomes continues to be baffling and often conflicting. Public Schools, like here in Indiana that have shown effective research and have extended their research program by focusing on an expanded number of variables that are supposed to be related to student achievement. Smaller classes result in increased student-teacher contracts. There would be reductions in class sizes to less than 20 students without changes in instructional methods. This cannot guarantee improved academic achievement. No single class size is optimal of all grade levels and subjects. Wherever you live, you have to send your child to the closest school. There is no choice on what public school you can send your child to, whereas for private schools you can pick to send your child there. It is not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many factors point toward a guarantee that a good education would be achieved, which is most important. Parochial/Private schools in our are more focused and dedicated to the education of children. Teachers in Parochial/Private schools often earn less and can be more dedicated when working with parents who are as equally dedicated to their children. In public schools, students are inclined to misbehave because they feel that teachers don't care about them anyway so they go in thinking that they can do whatever they want and get away with it. Parochial/Private schools have their own curriculum and if it is not being followed, they do not have to keep you in their school. With this curriculum come certain rules one must follow while being there. For teachers, some rules that apply are that they set their own standards. Teachers here do not have a guideline that they all must follow. Each teacher is different and has his/her own way of teaching that does not have to follow the other teachers way of teaching. In Public Schools, teachers have to follow standards that have been developed by the School Superintendent of the Indiana Department of Education and are mandatory to follow. In addition, let us just face facts people. The government runs Public Schools and, look how poorly our government is running.

Public vs. Private Schools

Its time to wake up, public schools are in crisis, and not because of any shortages of public funds (more money is spent on public education than ever before, but were reducing and cutting cost). Many people like to think the problem with our schools is precisely that they are public: "Government schools" are like the rest of the government, poorly and inefficiently. Teachers are not primarily to blame, because they are also victims of bad conditions of schools and their profession. Seriously, last month I took in applications for 144 General Elementary teachers, and there were only two positions! In Indiana, Schools follow The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, President George W. Bush's education reform bill, which signed into law on Jan. 8, 2002. The No Child Left Behind Act says that states will develop and apply challenging academic standards in reading and math. In addition, the Act also says that children will be tested annually in grades 3 through 8, in reading and math to measure their progress. The test results will be made public in annual report cards on how schools and states are progressing toward their objectives. This review is made public each year on who makes AYP and who does not. Parochial/Private schools in my area are Holy Family, Precious Blood, John Paul the Great and Jasper Christian Academy. One of the great things I love is the children wear uniforms this year. The student bodies of each school voted and surprising enough the kids wanted to wear khaki pants, polo shirts. To me, I think it is wonderful, because even in Public schools, some kids cannot afford clothes and shoes, and this way everyone is the same. No name brands, no holes in their clothes, and I am a happy parent. I guess you can also see that the Parochial/Private schools are Catholic and one is Non-Demonical. Our community is strong Catholic and my own children go to the Catholic Schools. The one false statement I always hate is that, Financially stable or Rich kids go to Parochial/Private Schools. Which is simply not a true statement? For our family it is about belief and religions education in the classroom. Our children attend Mass three times a week and participate different times throughout the school year. Our Catholic Schools offer Math Bowl, Spell Bowl, Destination Imagination and Extra-Curricular Sports, whereas some Parochial/Private schools do not. Non-everyone who attends the Parochial School or even my childrens Catholic School are Catholic. However, they still agree that God being present in the school, just in a way of teaching the right way to live, makes the school a better atmosphere.

Public vs. Private Schools

The discipline at Precious Blood, I think more can be done of what the Principal wants to do in his realm. The population of the school is a lot different also. Technically, they do not have to keep the kids they do not want to keep (unlike public schools). You send your kid to a Catholic school and there is a very good chance that he/she will fit into a group of friends with very high moral character. My favorite is the tradition at the Catholic schools, which you get a feel of instantly. Parents have more of a say in a Catholic school because we pay to send our kids there. Oh, and my other favorite is the class size which in my entire boys classs is between 13-15 kids in each (I have four boys). This is typical for Catholic school to have smaller class sizes. The level of classes tends to be more difficult as well. The bar is raised for everyone and the curve is set higher than at the public school level. A Catholic Education is not just academics, but building my kids, your kids as a responsible, disciplined, respectful child to excel into the world. As a Catholic parent, I know that not every Catholic school fulfills the high expectations I have for them to show all the things I admire about them. However, they all have the capacity to do so. If Christ is the reason for our Catholic schools, as signs in many Catholic school buildings proclaim parents and parishioners whose money supports these schools need to hold our Catholic schools accountable for living out their missions. In conclusion, every year nearly 200,000 families throughout Indiana choose one of 50 Catholic schools for the education of their children. For many, this choice entails real sacrifice: less disposable income, driving a used or older car, and perhaps fewer vacations. For all of us, the choice refuses the road of least resistance a tuition-free public school. So why do we choose a Catholic school? Notwithstanding the required sacrifices and difficulties noted above, there are many good reasons, including a superb education, committed staff, discipline, safety, dissatisfaction with local public schools, sports or extracurricular activities, and exposure to religion. One or any combination of these reasons may be yours. Yet to fully appreciate and embolden our choice, we must embrace within it the identity and purpose of a Catholic school.

Public vs. Private Schools For us, the choice of a Catholic school emanates from recognizing that the substance of our belief craves action. We believe in the power of Truth: that God exists, His Son died for our sins, the Holy Spirit lives among us and, until our last breath, salvation remains attainable. Attainable only by our cooperation with Gods will. To this end the promise of everlasting life we strive together to teach our children and raise them within a Catholic culture. Why do we choose a Catholic school? As the old saying goes, the game is worth the candle.

Public vs. Private Schools

Reference:

Nieer. (2011). National Institute For Early Education. Retrieved from http://nieer.org/ Religion, Education. (2011). Office of Cathoic Education. Retrieved from https://www.archindy.org/oce/index.asp Catholic Schools. (2011). Catholic Schools Indiana. Retrieved from http://www.catholiclinks.org/schoolsindiana.htm

Public vs. Private Schools

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Public vs. Private Schools