Do Public Schools Turn Out Stupid Students? (choice, attend, America)

[Smoke]

I just want to know which nine people voted that they were stupid.

[Ratiocinative]

I would say that many public schools are lacking, I know my High School didn't have any type of programming or computer classes other than very basic stuff like typing and Microsoft Word. Would have given me a head start for college if they had. However, the main factor is one's education is effort. I had many classes where kids defiantly protested any attempt by the teacher to make them do work, so I wouldn't be surprised if they're flipping hamburgers now. Private school students may have a slight advantage over public school students, but if you make the effort you'll do fine regardless of where you goto school.

[nutshell]

I think we should remember that geography likely plays a role in all this as does our definition of "ignorance/stupidity."

[wednesday]

Different areas have different students in my opinion. I went to a good high school, there were idiots who thought they were Gods gift to the world but no school can straighten those kids out. Private schools are for kids who want a "better"education. Sure it looks good on your resume but common sense is always lacking. In my university degree the private school students are sweating because the physics is so hands on and problems are taught, not given if you get what i mean. I do agree however, that the dropkicks are mainly found in public schools because any parent with common sense would stop persisting with a lost cause lol.

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

Why do private schools have to be religious? People are asking about how successful vouchers are when we have not even gave any yet. People are talking about ignorance, everyone that starts school is ignorant, otherwise education would be unnecessary.

I truly believe that deep down everyone thinks they attended a fine school in America.

The only person who was critical of their school was penguino. I believe he is the only one intelligent enough to realize that he is getting the shaft on his education.

When I was in elementary school, I started out in one public school, switched to a private school for a year, then we moved and I went to a new public school. Here are my general impressions as a student:

- the private school had smaller class sizes, but much less in the way of facilities. There was no gym, so we got bussed to the local YMCA once a week.
- later on, my high school was fairly large (~2000 students). I got the most value out of courses and extra-curricular activities that would not have been available to me at anything but the largest private schools: tech (our school was crazy for some really advanced technology courses - Fluid Power and Control was a senior elective!), drama, film arts, etc.

Some students do well in a traditional classroom "book-learning" setting. Others, like me, tend to do better with physical, practical, and non-traditional things (or maybe we just get interested by shiny toys); these sorts of things need a certain scale to work properly: a quarter of a gym is just a classroom with hardwood floors, not an actual gym, and if you have enough money for half of a metal lathe or a drill press, then your machine shop won't have any equipment.

With free competition, we'd see a decrease in size of schools (since there would be more of them, all competing with each other for tuition money). Some students would suffer from this.

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

If we started private schools that set standards higher for teachers and students and these schools could afford to run with the money they recieved from vouchers, how could that possibly be a bad thing? Students would behave and learn more and teachers would get paid well. Thats a win-win in my book.

You're putting the cart before the horse. Why do you automatically assume that the private schools would set standards higher? Most of the exodus to private education under a voucher system would probably be students whose parents consider the school's religious affiliation more important than its quality, IMO.

Originally Posted by Reverend Rick

The private sector can always do a better job with less money than the government ever could. School administrators get all the extra money. The parents should be the administrators and empower the principle to hire and fire as he See's fit. If he abuses his power, the parents will give the principle the boot.

So then why have the government involved at all? Scrap the idea of vouchers, get the government out of education, and let each parent pay for their kid's schooling directly.

The free market's best, right?

Originally Posted by MidnightBlue

I just want to know which nine people voted that they were stupid.

Did they?

Options 1 & 3 (and options 2 & 4) are not mutually exclusive, IMO.

[Izdaari]

I went to public schools, and I can't really say very much good about them until I got to high school. I was very disappointed in 1st grade, when they insisted on trying to teach me to read even though I was already reading, and far, far ahead of my grade level. They had no plan at all for students like me who had already been taught to read by our parents. Somehow I muddled though, mostly undamaged by the experience, except for a lasting deficiency in math, which they didn't teach competently either. But as it turns out, my high school was truly outstanding, and I only half realized it at the time. I regret that I didn't take better advantage of it. I did to some extent, but not nearly as much as I could/should have.

[Izdaari]

Originally Posted by 9-10ths_Penguin

So then why have the government involved at all? Scrap the idea of vouchers, get the government out of education, and let each parent pay for their kid's schooling directly.

The free market's best, right?

Ideally, that would be my preference. I'm not sure how we get there from here. I think it would have to go hand in hand with a total libertarian reform of government, a radical downsizing of it.

[Father Heathen]

I went to a public school in a small rural community, and looking back the education could've been a lot better. They just half-assedly ushered everyone through.

[DallasApple]

Here again I agree...America sucks..Our children are stupid after being educated here..I know I am..so are my children. my parents.so is my brother and my sisters...and my husband..and my 3 boys..We are STUPID ...

Thank GOD at least they had enough sense to teach us to read..But Im sure thats so we can poke a hole in a voting card ..(those chads can get in the way ya know)...

I WISH I was born in a "better" country..

Blessings

Dallas

[DallasApple]

P.S...

Both my sons learned how to play Cello in public school..and my 18 year old speaks Chinese he learned in public school...

Blessings

Dallas