Teaching at a public school vs teaching at a private school?

doxologize wrote:

They key to developing well-rounded, academically-inclined students is exposing them to diverse perspectives expressed in literature, philosophy, poetry, music and art (via all mediums). Also, provide them with a rigorous understanding of mathematics, logic and the physical/natural sciences.

The above can't happen in a public school- where they teach to tests and regurgitate mainstream views.

Yes! Send the children to a private Christian school where they can be indoctrinated into the ways of The Lord and where they won't be exposed to such evil as evolution theory and birth control.

So private school teachers make $10k-15k less per year than public school teachers AND they don't get a pension? Isn't that the difference of half a million dollars or so over one's career? That seems like a lot.

I grew up on a prep school campus and it is a great lifestyle. It's sort of like living on an all-inclusive resort but without the free booze and beaches.

First you need to distinguish between a regular private school and the elite prep schools. The elite prep schools pay a lot better - comparable to public schools or even a bit more. But you have to work hard. You have a full teaching load plus coaching sports plus dorm duty at night a couple days per week.

But on the bright side you can live on campus rent free while you buy and then rent your house. You get all the amazing facilities including a beautiful gym and private track. Most prep schools have a nice woods area where the cross country team runs and you can take your dog for walks there as well.

Classes are small and the kids are bright and highly motivated.

MIT, thanks for asking.

Steve Martin wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

In SOME parts of the country (mainly East Coast) you can ALMOST blanket say that private schools are better than public schools, but that's because the public schools there suck hard. That is NOT the case in all parts of the country.

You should have studied your geography lessons more, Flaggy. The last time I checked, Massachusetts was on the east coast.

What's your point? You saying the public schools in MA are pretty good? Ok. I didn't say ALL the states had poor public schools. NY and NJ are the worst. And the problem with that is that the prevailing opinion of public schools from those two states is that private is better, so that opinion spreads to surrounding states filled with people who believe that NY is the sh!t. This is somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy then as there end up being some really8 good private schools even in those East Coast states with decent public schools.

Here in Ohio and Indiana and Illinois and Pennsylvania and Michigan and a LOT of other states, there are great public schools...just have to move into the right district.

GrenaidThroer wrote:

First off, it's $50 an hour or less (admittedly there are 4 students in my offspring's Russian Math class).

Second: I would never allow my children to attend Colby or Bowdoin. Seriously.

Several of my friends pay $80+ an hour for tutoring services for their middle school/high school children.

This is a very good summary except for the pay part. Unless you are the headmaster, elite private schools do not pay as well as public schools. I am not including housing and meals, however.

You said that public schools on the east coast "suck hard". Now you've made things worse by suggesting people have a poor opinion of Massachusetts schools just because the state is next to NY. That's idiotic. Everybody knows that Massachusetts public schools are the best in the country.

By the way, you still need to study your geography. Apparently you don't realize that PA borders both NY and NJ.

I don't disagree with you that public schools in MA are great...BUT that is STILL not the overwhelming opinion of the people who live there...yes they will agree that the public schools are pretty good, but they are still under the impression that the private schools there are better. THAT'S my point. In my opinion, the only two states in the country where the private schools are better than at least SOME of the public schools is in New York and New Jersey.

Also, I didn't say that EVERY state that borders them has this issue. Dude, I've been in every state in the continental US...I know my geography.

Flagpole wrote:

NY and NJ are the worst. And the problem with that is that the prevailing opinion of public schools from those two states is that private is better, so that opinion spreads to surrounding states filled with people who believe that NY is the sh!t. This is somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy then as there end up being some really8 good private schools even in those East Coast states with decent public schools.

Flagpolian logic.

Flag,

You need to learn how to admit an error and move on. You appear to be a reasonably bright chap, but when you dig in your heals like this you come across as a dip.

Flagpole wrote:

I don't disagree with you that public schools in MA are great...BUT that is STILL not the overwhelming opinion of the people who live there...yes they will agree that the public schools are pretty good, but they are still under the impression that the private schools there are better.

Is this just your opinion, or do you have a survey or something to back this up?

genuine random a hole wrote:

Flagpole wrote:

NY and NJ are the worst. And the problem with that is that the prevailing opinion of public schools from those two states is that private is better, so that opinion spreads to surrounding states filled with people who believe that NY is the sh!t. This is somewhat of a self-fulfilling prophecy then as there end up being some really8 good private schools even in those East Coast states with decent public schools.

Flagpolian logic.

Flag,

You need to learn how to admit an error and move on. You appear to be a reasonably bright chap, but when you dig in your heals like this you come across as a dip.

Somehow you are misunderstanding something then, because this is all my opinion and therefore isn't something that I could admit to being "wrong"...it is an educated opinion too. I know a lot of people who live in MA, and all of them would say that private school is a better option than the public schools there. This, in my opinion, is a perception by them that private schools are generally better than public schools which I don't believe is the case in MOST states (NY and NJ have the much better private schools compared to the public schools).

Here's just a sample of the reading material required of my 8th grader in public school this year:

Things Fall Apart

A Separate Peace

Macbeth

Animal Farm

Farenheit 451

Lord of the Flies

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Warriors Don't Cry

In addition, all students are required to take art (music and applied art), and STEM. All students must take a foreign language each year of middle school. Next year, as a freshman, physics is required for all students. Freshman mathematics is Algebra I for the lowest performing students and Algebra II with Trig honors for the highest performing freshman (with geometry and geometry honors in between for the majority).

Flagpole wrote:

I know a lot of people who live in MA, and all of them would say that private school is a better option than the public schools there.

I, too, know a lot of people who live in MA. That's because I live in MA (just in case you couldn't figure that out from my handle). Some of these people would agree with your acquaintances, but most would not.