8th Grade Education Test in 1895

[Pathfinder]

Too bad it's fake. http://www.snopes.com/language/document/1895exam.asp And 10 years old.

Oh, go flex your avatar's pecs!

[runstowin]

In general the more spent on public education the dumber the victims, I mean students get.

[fightingquaker13]

In general the more spent on public education the dumber the victims, I mean students get.

Which is why they're better educated than those at expensive private schools? Bottom line is that talent follows money, accountabiliy keeps talent honest, and that money spent on a good education system is about as wasted as the money you spend on retirement or paying your mortgage. Bottom line you get what you pay for. Look I do this for a living. I think Rob and Haz are both right. I wish I'd been given more of a classical education at university. More Shakespeare, and the greeks and less non-cannon lit. I wish I'd gotten more western civ and less current politcs critical of western civ. But without those things I would just be mouthing old truisms and not understand that there's more to the world than just dead white guys and that the US was not always on the side of the angels in places like Latin america. Its a trade off. Its easy to write off our public schools. Its a duty to fix them.
fightingquaker13

[TAB]

In general the more spent on public education the dumber the victims, I mean students get.

not entirly true.   The rub is, money wasted.  many school districts have more adminstartors then they do teachers.

[Solus]

Give me a critical thinker and I'll put him up against an encyclopedia any day of the week when it comes to survival and progress. The truth is that we should have BOTH.... not one or the other, but without the questions and an environment that encourages them, you may never get real answers... you just accept what you're told!

-RJP

Gosh...Rob is more than just a pretty face.

Great observations, Sir.

,

[Sponsor]

[runstowin]

Which is why they're better educated than those at expensive private schools? Bottom line is that talent follows money,
fightingquaker13

That sounds like real nice theoretical stuff. The reality for me is that my son does go to a private school, totally unsubsidized, and the cost of tuition is about half what is being spent per student in the Jefferson County, CO. school district [the county where my son's school is located]. While the public school students average in the 50th percentile, at my son's school, the students average in the 80th percentile. Please don't bring up the tired old argument about the public schools having to take everyone, because they do not test the special needs children.

[Solus]

That sounds like real nice theoretical stuff. The reality for me is that my son does go to a private school, totally unsubsidized, and the cost of tuition is about half what is being spent per student in the Jefferson County, CO. school district [the county where my son's school is located]. While the public school students average in the 50th percentile, at my son's school, the students average in the 80th percentile. Please don't bring up the tired old argument about the public schools having to take everyone, because they do not test the special needs children.

I worked in the Information Systems department of a 50,000 student district for several year.

The the average achievement for students was dismal.

However, in what were called "Magnet" schools, schools where some type of specialized education was provided, the records of the students equaled those of students in private schools.

In this district, entry into a magnet school was "first come, first served".

Parents who wished to have their children enrolled in one of these schools would spend a day or two camped in like to apply.

The common element here is parental involvement.  A parent who will sit in line or choose to pay the extra expense of private school tuition has a commitment to their child's education.  This, I believe is what makes the difference.

However, it is not fair to try to compare the per student cost of the public school system to that of a private school.

This district was responsible for providing transportation for all students, not just ones attending the systems schools. This was by state law.

They were also required to maintain the health records of all students in the district.

Also, they were required to provide seating and teachers at minimum state levels within days of the opening of school or lose a portion of their state funds.  They might have a good idea of attendance, based on past history, but they had to be sure to over staff because of the time it would take to get any needed extra staff online.

These are just a few of the "added" costs I remember off hand.

The major difference here is that the public school answers to state and federal regulators where the private school answers to the parents who will pay the tuition.

Parents, it seems, make the difference.

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Give me a critical thinker and I'll put him up against an encyclopedia any day of the week when it comes to survival and progress. The truth is that we should have BOTH.... not one or the other, but without the questions and an environment that encourages them, you may never get real answers... you just accept what you're told!

Isn't both where common sense comes from?  I would have failed that test today, but I pride myself in being a good balance between a bookworm and thinker

[runstowin]

However, it is not fair to try to compare the per student cost of the public school system to that of a private school.

Sure it is, private school systems on the whole are far more efficient in their use of money, it only makes sense, they are directly accountable to parents, not insulated like the public schools. Another benefit is that my son is not being subjected to government brainwashing, disguised as teaching The public school system has churned out a huge mass of Obama zombies.

[tombogan03884]

Sure it is, private school systems on the whole are far more efficient in their use of money, it only makes sense, they are directly accountable to parents, not insulated like the public schools. Another benefit is that my son is not being subjected to government brainwashing, disguised as teaching The public school system has churned out a huge mass of Obama zombies.

I think you just hit the nail on the head.