Private Schools vs. Public Schools

The first position of chapter three is supportive of private schools.

This position feels that private schools prevent the public schools from having

a total monopoly over education by offering the community an alternative choice.

This choice also produces competition with public schools for student enrollment.

This position views public schools as something a student must accept as the

only option if his or her parents can not afford a private school education.

This is an obvious short coming to private schools, since they do not operate on

the taxpayers' funds. However, some private schools do provide scholarships to

poorer families. However, one distinct advantage of private schools is their

abilities to satisfy their students' special needs. A military academy, for

example, provides the strict discipline that some students need. Basically, a

private school works for the students' desires, while a public school demands

that its students work for their designated needs. The intellectual climate at

a private school is more academically oriented than public schools. Private

education provides students with a broader education that accepts diversity.

Public education, however, does not have as much diversity due to strict public

control that tries to avoid offending others. Private schools are considered to

be more experimental because they try and accept new ideas faster. The American

public generally seems to support private education, according to this position.

The second position of chapter three favors public schools. This

position feels that private schools are an unnecessary burden and expense to the

public. Private schools have the tendency to tarnish the image and reputations

of good public schools. Magnet, or theme-oriented, schools are public schools

that provide various, specific programs of study for their students to choose

from. An example of a magnet school is the dance school on the television

program Fame. Despite some criticism, public schools are still a strong force

in America. This is in part because public schools bring together different

races into one school building. Private schools are intended for the wealthy,

according to this position. The isolation created by a wealthy-only atmosphere

prevents students from being exposed to reality. A controversial topic

regarding private schools is that parents can obtain vouchers to send their

children there. This is another free ride for the wealthy, the very people who

do not need governmental assistance. Overall, this position views private

schools as privilege available and dedicated to the wealthy.

My personal opinion of chapter three favors private education. Despite

the fact that I attended a public school, I feel that private schools have as

much right to exist and operate as do public schools.