The Private Choice

The Private Choice

Think of all the notable people you may consider as highly educated. If you look deep enough, chances are you can find out about their education, which is often private. Why do some people prefer a private education? What even classifies as a private school? One definition given by the Encyclopedia of American Education is “in modern American education, any school not operated or directly funded by a governmental agency” (793); these include religious, non-sectarian, military, postgraduate, and special education schools. Private Education is beneficial because it provides specialized programs, presents higher standards, includes more involvement of the parents or guardians, and may soon be available to more people through government vouchers.

Private institutions are wonderful for those pursuing a specific field of education. A child who has a goal of becoming a scientist will learn more about that career choice at a school that emphasizes science than if they were to only take the classes offered through their local high school. There is only so much that can be taught in the public setting that still maintains the attention of the majority of the students in the class. In his book Choosing Equality, Joseph H. Viteritti states that “private school curricula offer students a narrower range of educational options and are more focused on academic, as opposed to vocational, subjects” (81). With the help of the more concentrated learning in a specific area, the students may even get through school faster and on to better things. I think that it is a great option for those who do not want to waste their time doing things in school that they deem meaningless. In addition, some privat...

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...eir autonomy…[and] are unlikely to participate in a voucher program that would require them to meet accountability standards in [certain] areas” (Liberator 2). These opposing views are primarily why the issue is still in debate.

Whether you were privately educated or attended a public school, you still were able to obtain an education. Private schools often offer opportunities that you may not be able to find in every public school. Some individuals are quite satisfied with their local public school and find nothing wrong with their child being taught there. For those who can afford it (unless the voucher option ever passes), they choose to take advantage of everything private institutions have to offer, from a better quality staff and atmosphere to more in-depth studies to more satisfaction on the parents’ part. It is all a matter of personal choice.