This is a really tough question.  Just because you pay for a private school does not mean you necessarily get better teachers.  There are good and bad teachers at any school.  What would steer me in the private school direction would be the extras that a public school can't afford... things like art and music and show choir and certain sports.  That said, I think ALL kids should be able to participate in ALL activities and it is a damn shame our country doesn't understand that and strive for it.

yes, i would send my child to private school. private day school that is. not sure how i feel about boarding school, although i know its the norm for the brits. 

i'd like to think that the kids get a bit of a better (more intense, well rounded, more intellectual) education than what they hafta provide in public schools. but i could be misinformed. its mostly my own thoughts. 

I'd do exactly what we're doing now.  Public Charter school.  I wanted to find an alternative method that would help my children flourish and I have done that.  There isn't enough money in the world for having found such a wonderful place for my children.

Having said that I live in one of the worst school districts in the nation.  If we hadn't gotten into the Charter we would've been in deep doo doo b/c we don't have enough for private school. 

Before we got into the Charter we were trying to get into a public school (we did succeed) outside of our area that had better scores and a better fit for our oldest.

Long story longer, if money was no object public school would have to be bad to send my kids to private school.  I see private as a last resort.  I hope that doesn't offend.  BTW, I was in private school through 6th grade.

I prefer public school because I think that environment is closer to every day life than private schools.  Being from Mississippi, I met people who never really came in daily contact with more than one or two black people until they were college age.  Back in the 80's in my area, there weren't too many black kids attending private schools. Things are different now, but I do think there's a good that can come from going to school with a wider range of cultures, incomes and personalities.

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Stefanie said ...
Or? Do you think the public school system is the way to go? If so, why?

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I went to public school and I didn't turn out so bad. Having said that with everything going on these days...budget cuts, bullying...my kids will be going to private school because we think it's the best option for what we need. I have no objections to them going to a good public school, in fact we live in a great school district so it's still an option. I think it depends on the child too and their individual needs. Tough question to answer!

Excellent point.

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Quincy said ...
I prefer public school because I think that environment is closer to every day life than private schools.  Being from Mississippi, I met people who never really came in daily contact with more than one or two black people until they were college age.  Back in the 80's in my area, there weren't too many black kids attending private schools. Things are different now, but I do think there's a good that can come from going to school with a wider range of cultures, incomes and personalities.

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The one thing that most appeals to me is the smaller class size. But to your point. No matter how small the class, if the teacher isn't excellent, it doesn't matter.

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Carolyn said ...
This is a really tough question.  Just because you pay for a private school does not mean you necessarily get better teachers.  There are good and bad teachers at any school.  What would steer me in the private school direction would be the extras that a public school can't afford... things like art and music and show choir and certain sports.  That said, I think ALL kids should be able to participate in ALL activities and it is a damn shame our country doesn't understand that and strive for it.

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I am a fan of the public school system. I think in good districts the education can be just as good, if not better, than some private educations. However, I just think with the budget cuts, class sizes increasing and the extras being cut, that if money was no option I, like you, would be opting for private.

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PammyPam said ...
yes, i would send my child to private school. private day school that is. not sure how i feel about boarding school, although i know its the norm for the brits. 

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I agree with you on that point. It really depends on the kid.

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Christine said ...
I went to public school and I didn't turn out so bad. Having said that with everything going on these days...budget cuts, bullying...my kids will be going to private school because we think it's the best option for what we need. I have no objections to them going to a good public school, in fact we live in a great school district so it's still an option. I think it depends on the child too and their individual needs. Tough question to answer!

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The school district in which you live makes a HUGE difference in this question. Enormous.

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Candice said ...
I'd do exactly what we're doing now.  Public Charter school.  I wanted to find an alternative method that would help my children flourish and I have done that.  There isn't enough money in the world for having found such a wonderful place for my children.

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