Educating Our Children, Private Schools Doing More With Less

[IceHogsFan]

Earlier this month, President Obama challenged high schools across the county to compete against each other in the second annual "Race to the Top” educational success program for the chance to have him give the commencement address at their graduation. Not included in the contest, though, are the more than 2 million students in America’s Catholic schools.



If they could participate, the nation’s parochial schools would be fearsome competitors.

A 2009 comparison between public and Catholic school SAT scores show that public school students had an overall average of 496 points on the critical reading portion of the test while Catholic school students scored 533 points on the same portion. Catholic school students outscored their public school counterparts by an average of 23 points.



What makes the numbers more impressive is that Catholic high schools spend more than $2,000 less per pupil than public schools.



Despite the economic woes of the past couple of years, the cost of Catholic schools has not diminished. The average cost of tuition per pupil in a catholic elementary school is $3,383 while secondary education costs $8,182. Parents who choose to send their children to Catholic school still pay for a public school education with their state and local taxes. In 2010, the public education system spent approximately $10,614 per pupil.



Read The Entire Story Here

 

[jakobeast]

And they also get brainwashed!



In seriousness, I don't doubt that Catholic school kids have a better education. More focused teaching, smaller classes, and, let's be honest, chances are if the parents care to spend the money on that education, they are more then likely to be involved in the education as well. They want to make sure, proof positive, that the cash they are throwing out there is doing it's job.



I haven't done the research into it, but is the whole idea of the school voucher system to let the taxpayer say where their kids go to school? Like, I pay taxes, have a kid and such, so the taxes I put in for school I get back in voucher form so I can put my kid in whatever school I want? What's wrong with that?

 

[IceHogsFan]

And they also get brainwashed!



In seriousness, I don't doubt that Catholic school kids have a better education. More focused teaching, smaller classes, and, let's be honest, chances are if the parents care to spend the money on that education, they are more then likely to be involved in the education as well. They want to make sure, proof positive, that the cash they are throwing out there is doing it's job.



I haven't done the research into it, but is the whole idea of the school voucher system to let the taxpayer say where their kids go to school? Like, I pay taxes, have a kid and such, so the taxes I put in for school I get back in voucher form so I can put my kid in whatever school I want? What's wrong with that?

Our daughter has been in the Catholic school system since kindergarten and she is now a freshman in high school. I did not post the story for the religious aspect but more from a cost standpoint. When you look at the average cost per student in public versus private it is staggering. In the greater scheme of things it proves that more money does not solve the issues at hand and what is wrong with the school voucher system and chartered schools?



It is time that we have this debate on a state and national level.

 

[Tater]

And they also get brainwashed!



In seriousness, I don't doubt that Catholic school kids have a better education. More focused teaching, smaller classes, and, let's be honest, chances are if the parents care to spend the money on that education, they are more then likely to be involved in the education as well. They want to make sure, proof positive, that the cash they are throwing out there is doing it's job.



I haven't done the research into it, but is the whole idea of the school voucher system to let the taxpayer say where their kids go to school? Like, I pay taxes, have a kid and such, so the taxes I put in for school I get back in voucher form so I can put my kid in whatever school I want? What's wrong with that?

Shouldn't all parents want to make sure of the same, seeing as technically they're paying for their public schools through taxes.

 

[chasman]

I went through 13 years of Catholic school, don't believe I was brain washed. One of the main things that is different is that there is more discipline

In the schools. You were also taught to respect others. I think that is two of the major things that public education lacks.

 

[IceHogsFan]

I went through 13 years of Catholic school, don't believe I was brain washed. One of the main things that is different is that there is more discipline

In the schools. You were also taught to respect others. I think that is two of the major things that public education lacks.

Good point. My daughter is also required to provide community service hours for each semester. So giving back and helping others without being paid teaches them of thinking outside of their "me" world. An example, she helped me for two hours after the storm shovel homes in our neighborhood which she can count for her hours.

 

[R K]

I went through 13 years of Catholic school, don't believe I was brain washed. One of the main things that is different is that there is more discipline

In the schools. You were also taught to respect others. I think that is two of the major things that public education lacks.

I disagree. That comes from the parents. I suppose if you don't want to be a parent then you must rely on someone else to teach your children those traits. No thanks.

 

[supraman]

This is sorta off topic but the one thing any educational system needs to teach is critical thinking. Too many people fail to know how to critically think and i remember going through school in Chicago and in Florida, none of them taught me to think critically, I got lucky and just knew how to do it.



I'm gonna rant for a second but the rest of it is meaningless if a student cannot critically think. Does it really matter if he can recite the gettysburg address? Does that really matter? No it sure the **** doesn't, but knowing what was meant in that address sure is important.



I can't say if Catholic schools teach that or not. I can't say Catholic schools educate kids better or not. I sure the hell can see by the data that the cost per student is a lot less which tells me there is something drastically wrong with the public education system.

 

[jakobeast]

I was being a little factitious with the brainwashing comment.



And yes tater, parents should be involved in their kids education either way. But when you see it come out of your bank account as opposed to masked and covered in your taxes, it makes a difference. At least, that's the way I see it anyway.

 

[Tater]

I was being a little factitious with the brainwashing comment.



And yes tater, parents should be involved in their kids education either way. But when you see it come out of your bank account as opposed to masked and covered in your taxes, it makes a difference. At least, that's the way I see it anyway.

Very true, point taken.

 

[IceHogsFan]

I disagree. That comes from the parents. I suppose if you don't want to be a parent then you must rely on someone else to teach your children those traits. No thanks.

Their is a difference between the public system vs. private/ chartered schools. The latter of the two can provide discipline to a student on a level that the public system does not allow. An example would be my daughter who just got chosen for a blind drug screening as a freshman. Zero tolerance at the school. BTW, the days of nuns and brothers educating in the system is very rare. Even the old days of physical alercations with educators and students is over as well.



Getting back on topic which is the discussion about cost. Our public schools are failing and they continue to throw money at them. It is not the answer in todays world.

 

[R K]

Their is a difference between the public system vs. private/ chartered schools. The latter of the two can provide discipline to a student on a level that the public system does not allow. An example would be my daughter who just got chosen for a blind drug screening as a freshman. Zero tolerance at the school. BTW, the days of nuns and brothers educating in the system is very rare. Even the old days of physical alercations with educators and students is over as well.



Getting back on topic which is the discussion about cost. Our public schools are failing and they continue to throw money at them. It is not the answer in todays world.

If my son was chosen for a "blind drug screening" A CLEAR VIOLATION OF HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY, I'd sue the fucking school.



Your "URINE or PISS is your "PERSON".



Not to mention I don't need someone "checking up on him with Zero Tolerance". That's a bunch of fucking bullshit. I'd know if he were getting high, because we are good parents and have been down that path long before he was. I don't need that nor would condone it. It's over stepping their bounds and again a bunch of bullshit.



That said I'd put Stevenson HS or even Lake Zurich up against any of your "religeous" schools in a heart beat. Especially Stevenson.





It all depends on where you live I suppose. I'm not sure how the Rockford Public School System is, but growing up I was in a very affluential area. The Schools and districts were always rated in the top of the country as far as education goes. I didn't Need any "extra" discipline. Nor does my child. If I thought I was in an area where the public schools were NOT up to par, I'd move. Just as many people I know have done with the Mundelion School Districts.

 

[Shoots_he_scores]

I did 13 years of catholic schools, 9 at St. Linus in Oak Lawn, and 4 at Brother Rice. If I had the choice over again no way in hell do I waste time at a catholic school until high school, mostly because the public schools in Oak Lawn are great until about 8th grade, after that they start mixing in kids from Robbins at Richards.



I guess to me it depends on where you live. If your in an area with CPS schools stay the **** out. Most of the suburbs though have decent schools. But to me I wasn't really left a choice in high schools because a school like Richards was just not good IMO.



Wouldn't trade my 4 years at Brother Rice for anything, got a good enough education, had some of the most fun times of my life(just ask PSR or genefoley) and I met some really great people too.



I also don't think public high schools have the kind of alumni allegiance that catholic high schools have. Might not be a huge deal when your younger but as you get older looking for jobs and such, it's a great networking tool.

 

[R K]

See for me growing up in Glenview the Public School System was soo good I didn't need High School. Everything that was being taught in Highschool were things or concepts you had already been taught in 4th-8th grade. Which meant it was extremely easy to finish highschool at night and work during the day my JR, and SR, year.



It is all where you live. Totally agree about CPS, which is why the Magna schools exist. Although I'm not sure I'd want my child in that type of environment either. I'd consider moving out of the City. Especially if it was k-8 where again most of the concepts are really grasped.



But I also have a huge problem with drug testing in school. I guess if that's what you sign up for but it would not be for me. Especially random. If the Public School did that they had better have "reason", "consent" and my Lawyer sitting there.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I disagree. That comes from the parents. I suppose if you don't want to be a parent then you must rely on someone else to teach your children those traits. No thanks.

I have to agree with this.

Environment and social status play a huge role in education.

We do not have children yet, but we have ears and listen to what people say about our school district, and those that neighbor it.

I went through the Catholic system. The education is there, and there are some amazing educators that dedicate their time. The same can be said for the educators in many public schools.

The difficult thing is to separate the indoctrination classes from the normal curriculum. I'm not saying to remove them, but to offer them as electives just like an art class.



A quote from one of the commenters:

[font=helvetica,]As a former Catholic school teacher and now public school administrator, the difference are the parents. When you are not only paying taxes but also tuition...you take a more vested interest in your child's education. I recall having 100% participation in parent teacher conferences for a high school of 550 students. Reform in public education starts with parent accountability.







[font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif]I pulled this comment from the site because it alarms me. I think what the person said is valid, but at the same time it still comes down to basic economics. Those that have will succeed, and those that don't will struggle I'm talking parental support plus economics). I have many friends that went through the public school system and are educators in both public/private-- and in Indiana no less which has some serious problems with their schools.[/font][/font]

 

[MassHavoc]

GASP.... Private schools afford kids a better education than public schools? No, how could that be? Take the catholic part out of that and you still have the same result. Your cost per child is bullshit because their are built in programs that we are paying for that the catholic system does on a national level. Free lunches, ESL, and all sort of other welfare programs that they don't really have to content with. The teachers are better paid, the classes are smaller and the sample size is much less. Not the mention that the scores are skewed because in public school you have a good chuck percentage of students who don't even want to be there. If a kid is in catholic school it's because he is being sent there and it's being paid for. Which means his education is being focused on and is a priority. You don't think if every kid had that their scores would go up? To call out the catholic school system as this revolutionary education extravaganza is a just unrealistic. Fact is ALL PRIVATE SCHOOLS SCORE HIGHER THAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS when you generalize the findings across the nation. If they didn't what the **** would you send your kids to them. The fact is there are some very good public schools and very good private schools. You drop the bottom half of the public and private schools out of your scores and i bet you see a much closer result.

 

[MassHavoc]

I have to agree with this.

Environment and social status play a huge role in education.

We do not have children yet, but we have ears and listen to what people say about our school district, and those that neighbor it.

I went through the Catholic system. The education is there, and there are some amazing educators that dedicate their time. The same can be said for the educators in many public schools.

The difficult thing is to separate the indoctrination classes from the normal curriculum. I'm not saying to remove them, but to offer them as electives just like an art class.



A quote from one of the commenters:

[font="helvetica,"]As a former Catholic school teacher and now public school administrator, the difference are the parents. When you are not only paying taxes but also tuition...you take a more vested interest in your child's education. I recall having 100% participation in parent teacher conferences for a high school of 550 students. Reform in public education starts with parent accountability.



[font="arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif"]I pulled this comment from the site because it alarms me. I think what the person said is valid, but at the same time it still comes down to basic economics. Those that have will succeed, and those that don't will struggle I'm talking parental support plus economics). I have many friends that went through the public school system and are educators in both public/private-- and in Indiana no less which has some serious problems with their schools.[/font][/font]

I agree it comes down to Parent accountability 100%, when you have kids having kids, it's gotta be hard to focus on your childs education when you probably haven't finished yours.

 

[MassHavoc]

See for me growing up in Glenview the Public School System was soo good I didn't need High School. Everything that was being taught in Highschool were things or concepts you had already been taught in 4th-8th grade. Which meant it was extremely easy to finish highschool at night and work during the day my JR, and SR, year.



It is all where you live. Totally agree about CPS, which is why the Magna schools exist. Although I'm not sure I'd want my child in that type of environment either. I'd consider moving out of the City. Especially if it was k-8 where again most of the concepts are really grasped.



But I also have a huge problem with drug testing in school. I guess if that's what you sign up for but it would not be for me. Especially random. If the Public School did that they had better have "reason", "consent" and my Lawyer sitting there.

I have no problems with drug testing in public schools as long as the parents have given consent. It goes back to the same topic of people receiving welfare and federal benefits without any drug testing.

 

[R K]

I have no problems with drug testing in public schools as long as the parents have given consent. It goes back to the same topic of people receiving welfare and federal benefits without any drug testing.

I do. It's against a fundamental right granted in the Constitution. I would not give my consent without very valid reasoning and again my consent.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

I do. It's against a fundamental right granted in the Constitution. I would not give my consent without very valid reasoning and again my consent.

Edit.