American schools receive negative news reports every day. From reports of bullying that resulted in children being hospitalized, to drugs, gang violence, and sexual assaults, education is changing. Is a private school a viable alternative?
When deciding between public and private schools, multiple factors that contribute to education must be considered. In the present times, one has to consider the physical security issues more. The advantages of a private education can far outweigh the disadvantages. The main reason is that private schools do not accept public funds and therefore are not required to provide the federally mandated components of IDEA, more commonly known as the No Child Left Behind Act. Under the law, public institutions must provide a free and appropriate education for all children. That sounds great. To some extent, for some children, it is. For other children, it can be a nightmare.
If a student is bullied, notify the administration. Unfortunately, if the student perpetrating the bullying behavior is wearing a special needs tag, depending on the tag in question; he or she may not be subject to disciplinary action for bullying. The federal IDEA law mandates a Manifestation of Disability Review meeting. A school committee decides whether the behavior in question could in any way have been a direct result of the disability. This, too often, results in the bullying behavior having no negative consequences that serve to increase the likelihood of repetition of the behavior.
In private settings, discipline issues are addressed based on the merits of the behavior, allowing for the protection of the entire student body. Any student determined to be a danger may be expelled from school. Public schools may not expel a student labeled with special needs if the behavior is determined to be the direct result of a disability.
Private schools have smaller class sizes, allowing students more one-on-one instruction time. With cuts to federal funding, class sizes in public schools will continue to grow. In any setting, the teacher is the primary component in determining the quality of a child’s education. While public schools are required by law to employ certified teachers, private schools are not. That’s not to say that private school teachers are less qualified, just that they may not be certified. Unions ensure that public school teachers stay in the classroom. Performance determines that in private schools.
Finally, private schools process material faster because they teach at the level of all students. Public schools revolve around state tests, so classes are taught at the lower levels. For the most gifted students, it means constant repetition of mastered skills. Private schools are in a better position to keep more gifted students participating. If one only looks at the elected leaders, one sees the children of that group favorably enrolled in private institutions. The vast majority of those students go on to college. If the very people who design and enforce public education laws decided to put their little friends in private schools, it says a lot about our leader’s faith, or lack thereof, in public schools.