Education at the Crossroads:
We are going to have a Fight, I will meet you on the crossroads between public school, private school,  your child and Education………………. One does not have to be despondent in choosing a private school or a public school. With the quantitative heavy curriculum that most students face in the schools, parents often find that the job oriented curriculum in these is generally selectable. It is more about understanding academic tasks and concepts, which is something some parents find difficult to select. The two most important attributes for students graduating today are the ability to be open minded and a commitment to analyzing problems based on fact. Hence, parents give importance to this and search for the schools which have curriculum to impart students those abilities. A serious problem, among the parents of young children is to know about, the high-tech programs of the world and the job oriented curriculum. They have to go in search of schools where the curriculum is structured and activities are designed which fit to their children. Here, they are forced to make the best decisions for them and for their future, when it comes to schooling. They have to make a decision whether their children should attend a public school or a private school. They also should know the shortcomings of the education system available on both. They have to ensure that all the programs imparted in the schools are aimed at making their children’s life better and they are implemented with efficiency on time and within budgeted cost. Also, unscrupulous education imparting schools will be identified by these searches. Parents’ ultimate and top goal is that their children should not toil and moil for jobs after finishing their studies. Presenting the different factors that bear upon decisions regarding private and public schools, has become our main target and hence we are delivering them in this article. Some National Statistics about those two types of schools will also help the parents to know about the differences in them.

Private and public schools and their impressing factors for decisions
It is crystal clear that the Public Schools are run by State and the Federal Fund. Hence, 90% of the children attend public school. Private Schools are run by funds arranged by private groups. So, two types of schools, parochial and non-parochial, are included in private schools. In US alone, there are 27,000 private schools. They form 24% of all the schools available in US.
While making decision to which school they must send their children, parents give importance to the following:
The reputation and preparation of the Institution
The size of the students in each class and the total in the school
Reputation of the school for having given safety to the students
Imparting of special programs to the students
Monthly and annual budget necessary, if admitted in that particular school
Education given on Religious and Moral instruction
Location of the school which needs to be calm and serene &
Finally the Ideology

Among the above, academic reputation is given the major importance for the selection. It is because academic reputation is the center of the school on college preparation. Here, parents search what kind of academic reputation does a public/private school is having.
Private schools usually give more stringent academic reputation and Public One does not have such reputation. This academic reputation is related to the sizes of each class and the entire school. Hence, parents give consideration to the size when deciding whether to admit their children in a private or public school. Student to teacher ratio is also seen at the time of decision making. Parents expect the class size to be small so that the teacher will give more attention to the individual.
Special programs conducted in the schools are also playing a key factor in decision making for the parents at the time of schooling their children. There are special programs that specialize in the arts, military, boarding and single-sex which are available only in Private Schools. These will be the special need, whether academically or mentally, for the students and this type of special care can not seen given at the Public Schools. When making decision about private versus public schooling, the special programs bear upon parents in two different ways. They know that the public schools have a responsibility to teach all students. But, private schools have special programs for gifted students only. The management of Private Schools can quickly shift over to the immediate need of the students because it is managed by Private people. On the other hand, the Public School needs to go thru cumbersome procedures for such changes because of its control by the Federal State. Hence, this is also a reason why parents opt for private school instead of a Public. Cost also plays an important role in the selection of private versus public schools. Private schools charge tuition fees, on the other hand, public schools are free of charge. For the most, this is the hardest factor with which to come to terms. Parents also keen to see that the religious and/or moral instruction is included in the curriculum of school’s academic setting. Majority of the public schools will not have these programs. Location of schools is also the main considerations. Usually parents will select schools in their residence area itself, to avoid unnecessary relocation. If you select a private school and your residence do not fall in that area, you will have problem of transporting your children. Generally, public schools offer transportation to and back from schools.
In public schools curriculum will be generally designed for all. Math, English, reading, writing, science, history and physical education will be provided by them. Many offer programs in music and art also. Hence, here the State decides what the student should learn. In addition, some public schools give the chartered school movement. There are around 3,400 public charter schools in US as of 2005 statistics. If the students do not show their academic progress, these chartered schools will be closed. As to a report by the http://www.hoover.org/publications/ednext, there were 3,100 magnet schools in America as of 2001/2002. Flexibility to create specialized programs is available in private schools. Art or science in all classes either may be used by them or the children will be taken on outdoor trips. Many parents are attracted to the curriculum offered by the private schools. General statistics also reveal that the students studying in private schools perform higher than their public school similitude on the standardized achievement tests. The average scores were higher up than those of public school students on the 4th-grade reading test and on the 4th-, 8th-, and 12th-grade science and mathematics proficiency tests. Private schools in a typical manner have more demanding graduation requirements than the public schools. Compared with public schools, private schools commanded more coursework (in 4-year high school programs) in 1999–2000 in social studies, mathematics, science, foreign language, and computer science. To be still precise, private schools necessitated on average 3.1 years of mathematics, while public schools required 2.7 years. The figures for foreign language study also dissented: 1.5 years at private schools but 0.5 at public schools. Those complete a bachelor’s or advanced degree by their mid 20s is more likely from private schools. Public school students do not vie this statistics.
Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, gives the following: “Fourth Follow-up” (NELS: 1988/2000) depict that students who had attended private school in 8th grade were twice as likely as those who had attended public school to have completed a bachelor’s or higher degree by their mid-20s (52 versus 26 percent). Public school students have not even completed a post-secondary education.

Public schools are funded by government (local, state, and federal) and rarely on funds from corporations and organizations.
According to US Department of Education Data, public schools are on average, at least twice the size of private schools. In 1999–2000, the average private school had 193 students. The public school had 535 students in the same area. 80percent of private schools have less than 300 students enrolled while only 29percent of public schools have less than 300 students as enrolling. This smaller size is correlated to control academic setting. But these schools may not be able to offer advanced courses because they have too few students, a shortage of qualified teachers, or both.

The student/teacher ratio is given importance by the parents while selections. In private schools 1 teacher is appointed for every 13 student’s strength. In public schools, 1 teacher is posted for every 16 students. 36% of private schools have student/teacher ratio lower than 10:1.   In public schools, only 10% have this ratio.

In public school, only qualified teachers with degrees and teacher’s training are appointed. They can not be terminated suddenly. After completing their probationary period, they are granted permanent position by law. In private schools, such conditions are looked flexibly. They need not be certified; but importance is given for their specialization. They have the risk of termination from their appointing authorities.

In elementary, 61% are private and 71% are public. Among secondary, 10% private and 25% are public. Combined education levels, usually grades K–12 or 1–12, are seen at 30% of private schools. In public, 4% only are seen.
Much importance is given to special need attention in public schools. Hence, most of them have special programs and teachers for these students.
Private schools are not bound like these. However, there exceptions in the private schools which have special programs.
Public schools are destined to educate all students. They register students regardless of sex, race, religion, economic status or physical or mental handicap. Public schools can dismiss children, if their behavior is too troubled; and at the same time, the public school system will usually have in place an alternative school.
Private schools are not governed by such laws. This led them competitive when compared to the public schools. Private schools are not obligatory to provide educational programs for children with special needs. Enrolling also has no obligations. Graduation requirements are decided by them and not subject to any state requirements.

The statistics released by the National Association of Independent Schools depict the following:
The median tuition fee for private day schools in the US is close to $12,000 for grades 1 to 3, $13,000 for grades 6 to 8 and $15,000 for grades 9 to 12.
For boarding schools, they are $12,000 for grades 1 to 3, $27,000 for grades 6 to 9, and $28,000 for grades 9 to 12.
In parochial schools, fees are $4,200 a year, while other private schools charge $8,500 per student. Some parents find that although public school is free, they have to pay more out of pocket to live in a specific school zone.

Public schools provide academic and health-related services under Federal and state laws. More furnish extended-day programs. Free and reduced-price meals are provided to all qualified low-income students. These things may or may not be found in private schools.
In 1999-2000, 79% of all private schools were found to have a religious affiliation. 30% were affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and 49 % with the other religious groups. The remaining 22% were nonsectarian. Catholic schools, among the 30% of the total number of private schools, enrolled 48% of all private school students. .
Among private schools, 42% were located in the central cities, 40% in urban fringe or large towns and only 18% were found in rural areas. In counterpoint, 24 percent of all public schools were in central city, 45 percent in the urban fringe or large towns and 31 percent in rural areas.

Conclusion

There are many advantages and disadvantages to both public and private schools.
Public schools often have larger subjects available, especially when it comes to electives. Private schools, on the other hand, whether parochial or non- parochial have much more freedom of choice in curriculum and can choose to make their own assessments.
Public schools are larger and the class sizes are also more.
The biggest difference between public and private schools probably is that they are required to educate all students. On the other hand, private schools have complete control about which they accept and can kick students out much more easily.

Speaking of advantages and disadvantages, a friend of mine told me he  knew of someone who had a kid enrolled in an upper class private school. Dig this…………. every single room had it’s own computer, even the homeroom. There were about 15 to 17 students per class and each class had 2 count them……2 as in 1 + 1 = 2  teachers. ect… well, although there may not be much in the way of trying to equalize the the imbalance of advantages, Here are some websites that may be of help to public school children below. Also hopefully coming soon, I’ll have a chat room on http://healthygoodfood.com/forum in which I’ll try to have people to help tutor children with their homework and also provide on the website healthy snack alternatives to put in their lunch boxes. More to come soon, God willing……….

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