Are public schools everywhere in the US getting bad post-pandemic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, time for school choice in all 50 states.

Oh sure honey. Take your 10k and apply it to our private school.
Of course our private will just raise tuition another 10k…

I’m sure private schools would love it if families who might apply for financial aid already had 10k covered by an alternate source. While $10,000 in vouchers wouldn’t allow everyone to apply, it would certainly increase the pool of qualified applicants, including qualified applicants who are diverse in various ways. I don’t see why they would raise tuition, especially if voucher money replaced some of their financial aid budget.

You still aren’t getting vouchers. You want private, you pay for it. Simple,

I do pay for it- full pay- at one of the most expensive schools in the area. I would love it if more families could have the choice to apply to that school or other schools. And the schools would love it too. Many schools genuinely want to provide more opportunities (within their budget) for other students. As much as people complain, they aren’t just out there raising tuition for no reason. I have to wonder why people would send their kids to these schools if that’s what they think of the Board and budget process.

Private schools aren't magic. In fact their teachers are often less qualified (and paid less). They will get larger class sizes if they let more kids in and will have to cater to parents less as there will always be others with vouchers in hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, time for school choice in all 50 states.

Oh sure honey. Take your 10k and apply it to our private school.
Of course our private will just raise tuition another 10k…

I’m sure private schools would love it if families who might apply for financial aid already had 10k covered by an alternate source. While $10,000 in vouchers wouldn’t allow everyone to apply, it would certainly increase the pool of qualified applicants, including qualified applicants who are diverse in various ways. I don’t see why they would raise tuition, especially if voucher money replaced some of their financial aid budget.

You still aren’t getting vouchers. You want private, you pay for it. Simple,

I do pay for it- full pay- at one of the most expensive schools in the area. I would love it if more families could have the choice to apply to that school or other schools. And the schools would love it too. Many schools genuinely want to provide more opportunities (within their budget) for other students. As much as people complain, they aren’t just out there raising tuition for no reason. I have to wonder why people would send their kids to these schools if that’s what they think of the Board and budget process.

Private schools aren't magic. In fact their teachers are often less qualified (and paid less). They will get larger class sizes if they let more kids in and will have to cater to parents less as there will always be others with vouchers in hand.

This is correct and I've seen it first hand. Also, because they don't have to follow any set curricula, they can just skip or skim over whole topics if they life, and there is no oversight or standardized test to catch it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, time for school choice in all 50 states.

Oh sure honey. Take your 10k and apply it to our private school.
Of course our private will just raise tuition another 10k…

I’m sure private schools would love it if families who might apply for financial aid already had 10k covered by an alternate source. While $10,000 in vouchers wouldn’t allow everyone to apply, it would certainly increase the pool of qualified applicants, including qualified applicants who are diverse in various ways. I don’t see why they would raise tuition, especially if voucher money replaced some of their financial aid budget.

You still aren’t getting vouchers. You want private, you pay for it. Simple,

I do pay for it- full pay- at one of the most expensive schools in the area. I would love it if more families could have the choice to apply to that school or other schools. And the schools would love it too. Many schools genuinely want to provide more opportunities (within their budget) for other students. As much as people complain, they aren’t just out there raising tuition for no reason. I have to wonder why people would send their kids to these schools if that’s what they think of the Board and budget process.

Private schools aren't magic. In fact their teachers are often less qualified (and paid less). They will get larger class sizes if they let more kids in and will have to cater to parents less as there will always be others with vouchers in hand.

This is correct and I've seen it first hand. Also, because they don't have to follow any set curricula, they can just skip or skim over whole topics if they life, and there is no oversight or standardized test to catch it.

Depends on the school. Doesn't matter public or private. Ours in private and it's wonderful. No, private is not magic but it offers a better shot of solid education as public sucks. You can have a kid in public do well but that's besides the point. Public's curriculum sucks - it's testing only. You can even get into a great college from a specific public because of demographics. But again the actual curriculum is what we are debating. I would always look at private but you still have to research and select the right one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NOVA and the school situation is depressing. The biggest problem I see is that teachers can't control the behavioral problems of kids (not blaming teachers btw) so not a lot of learning is happening and the whole school environment is just really stressful for kids. I was honestly thinking about moving but I hear complaints about this from people in many different places. Are there any places in the US where this isn't the trend?

This is not happening in states (or countries abroad) where schools were mostly open in 2021-2022.

[Anonymous]

Half the day should be babysitting and the kids that can behave and earn the privileged should get to go to school half the day while the rest stay in the babysitting area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NOVA and the school situation is depressing. The biggest problem I see is that teachers can't control the behavioral problems of kids (not blaming teachers btw) so not a lot of learning is happening and the whole school environment is just really stressful for kids. I was honestly thinking about moving but I hear complaints about this from people in many different places. Are there any places in the US where this isn't the trend?

This is not happening in states (or countries abroad) where schools were mostly open in 2021-2022.

Yes it is.

Look at the new changes that Houston ISD is making. The reason is because discipline non-existent and kids are running wild.

[Anonymous]

My kids went to a public school and seem to be having an easier time of college than a lot of their peers that went to private (mostly Catholic) schools. Mileage varies a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NOVA and the school situation is depressing. The biggest problem I see is that teachers can't control the behavioral problems of kids (not blaming teachers btw) so not a lot of learning is happening and the whole school environment is just really stressful for kids. I was honestly thinking about moving but I hear complaints about this from people in many different places. Are there any places in the US where this isn't the trend?

This is not happening in states (or countries abroad) where schools were mostly open in 2021-2022.

Yes it is.

Look at the new changes that Houston ISD is making. The reason is because discipline non-existent and kids are running wild.

Black kids amirite?

[Anonymous]

Behavioral issues are a problem and affect learning. The teachers I spoke to says that their hands are tied because admin won’t back them up. There are no consequences for bad behavior, skipping class, etc. Also cell phone usage in schools is out of control and causes constant disruptions in the classroom. To curb behavioral issues I would start with banning cellphone usage during school hours.

Curriculum is another issue. Gen Z has horrendous writing skills and I cannot imagine what the younger kids writing skills will be like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NOVA and the school situation is depressing. The biggest problem I see is that teachers can't control the behavioral problems of kids (not blaming teachers btw) so not a lot of learning is happening and the whole school environment is just really stressful for kids. I was honestly thinking about moving but I hear complaints about this from people in many different places. Are there any places in the US where this isn't the trend?

Ban cell phones in school (not just in class) and behavior will improve considerably.

This. There was a school system that did this and grades and behavior improved. I'll look for the article later.

Allow them flip phones for emergency use only. Cheaper to own so doesn't favor rich kids and way harder to use for bullying and nefarious things.

I also think parents should get together (though the PTA) and sign social media pledges. Kids and their parents would pledge for the kids not to be on social media. Schools can’t force kids off social media but if kids pledge to be off themselves and stick to these pledges bullying will decrease. Wait until 8th has suggestions on how to so this.

[Anonymous]

My Canadian cousin is an art teacher and is on disability at the moment thanks to a middle schooler. The kid has also put three other staff members on disability.

Western countries seem to be taking the brunt of classroom problems thanks to bad parenting/home situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My Canadian cousin is an art teacher and is on disability at the moment thanks to a middle schooler. The kid has also put three other staff members on disability.

Western countries seem to be taking the brunt of classroom problems thanks to bad parenting/home situations.

I have a girlfriend in Canada. Maybe it's your cousin!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, time for school choice in all 50 states.

Oh sure honey. Take your 10k and apply it to our private school.
Of course our private will just raise tuition another 10k…

I’m sure private schools would love it if families who might apply for financial aid already had 10k covered by an alternate source. While $10,000 in vouchers wouldn’t allow everyone to apply, it would certainly increase the pool of qualified applicants, including qualified applicants who are diverse in various ways. I don’t see why they would raise tuition, especially if voucher money replaced some of their financial aid budget.

You still aren’t getting vouchers. You want private, you pay for it. Simple,

I do pay for it- full pay- at one of the most expensive schools in the area. I would love it if more families could have the choice to apply to that school or other schools. And the schools would love it too. Many schools genuinely want to provide more opportunities (within their budget) for other students. As much as people complain, they aren’t just out there raising tuition for no reason. I have to wonder why people would send their kids to these schools if that’s what they think of the Board and budget process.

Private schools aren't magic. In fact their teachers are often less qualified (and paid less). They will get larger class sizes if they let more kids in and will have to cater to parents less as there will always be others with vouchers in hand.

This is correct and I've seen it first hand. Also, because they don't have to follow any set curricula, they can just skip or skim over whole topics if they life, and there is no oversight or standardized test to catch it.

Depends on the school. Doesn't matter public or private. Ours in private and it's wonderful. No, private is not magic but it offers a better shot of solid education as public sucks. You can have a kid in public do well but that's besides the point. Public's curriculum sucks - it's testing only. You can even get into a great college from a specific public because of demographics. But again the actual curriculum is what we are debating. I would always look at private but you still have to research and select the right one.

There are good private schools and there are good public schools. Not all public schools are centered around testing--that's just a minimum bar to pass for some. And testing only occurs in a few subjects and in a few years so it's not that critical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in NOVA and the school situation is depressing. The biggest problem I see is that teachers can't control the behavioral problems of kids (not blaming teachers btw) so not a lot of learning is happening and the whole school environment is just really stressful for kids. I was honestly thinking about moving but I hear complaints about this from people in many different places. Are there any places in the US where this isn't the trend?

This is not happening in states (or countries abroad) where schools were mostly open in 2021-2022.

Not accurate at all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, time for school choice in all 50 states.

Oh sure honey. Take your 10k and apply it to our private school.
Of course our private will just raise tuition another 10k…

I’m sure private schools would love it if families who might apply for financial aid already had 10k covered by an alternate source. While $10,000 in vouchers wouldn’t allow everyone to apply, it would certainly increase the pool of qualified applicants, including qualified applicants who are diverse in various ways. I don’t see why they would raise tuition, especially if voucher money replaced some of their financial aid budget.

You still aren’t getting vouchers. You want private, you pay for it. Simple,

I do pay for it- full pay- at one of the most expensive schools in the area. I would love it if more families could have the choice to apply to that school or other schools. And the schools would love it too. Many schools genuinely want to provide more opportunities (within their budget) for other students. As much as people complain, they aren’t just out there raising tuition for no reason. I have to wonder why people would send their kids to these schools if that’s what they think of the Board and budget process.

Private schools aren't magic. In fact their teachers are often less qualified (and paid less). They will get larger class sizes if they let more kids in and will have to cater to parents less as there will always be others with vouchers in hand.

This is correct and I've seen it first hand. Also, because they don't have to follow any set curricula, they can just skip or skim over whole topics if they life, and there is no oversight or standardized test to catch it.

Depends on the school. Doesn't matter public or private. Ours in private and it's wonderful. No, private is not magic but it offers a better shot of solid education as public sucks. You can have a kid in public do well but that's besides the point. Public's curriculum sucks - it's testing only. You can even get into a great college from a specific public because of demographics. But again the actual curriculum is what we are debating. I would always look at private but you still have to research and select the right one.

One thing to be wary of is that the primary aim of private schools is to make parents--and to a lesser extent kids--think they are wonderful. They have to keep parents paying for a good they could get for free elsewhere. Make sure to get evidence beyond reputation and keep paying attention past the selection process. Private schools will do lovely things like make the curriculum sound amazing, give you narrative feedback on your child's learning etc. But there can be considerable gaps that can go unnoticed even in very good schools--and gaps between the curriculum on paper and the enacted curriculum. Due to our work which has required frequent domestic and international moves, I've had my kids in both public and private in a variety of settings (our agency has set relationships with schools so we often get access to very good privates). These moves have made me more aware of some of the gaps and more attentive to curriculum. In addition, my sister is a long-term teacher (now a dean) at one of the top privates in another state and she agrees the quality of teaching varies extremely widely-with some teachers basically acting like students' friends but not really holding them to any standards. She often advocates to hire former public school teachers as they are often more effective in her opinion.

So my advice is, even if you love your private school, trust but verify. And make sure you compare to the curriculum/setting your child will actually have at their local public school (e.g., don't compare your kid to averages if they are going to be in AP/IB in high school or GT in ES). Private schools no longer give the college advantage they once did, so they need to be justified by their actual impact on your child's learning.