Private Schooling

Article: http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/private-schooling/

Detailed Reaction:
Do Private schools motivate students to academically achieve and go beyond? According to studies, yes, Private school students tend to achieve more academically and as a student when compared to public school students. I think that this statement can be proven, but it isn't exactly a fact that is set in stone. Students that go to private schools are usually from high-income families whereas public school students are mainly from average-income and low-income families. This is because private schools have their students' families pay for tuition. Tuition ranges from as low as $3,400 to as high as $10,000.

This tuition charge for private schools is the main reason most families aren't putting their children in such an institution. I agree that in a private school's learning atmosphere, a student can achieve much more than that of a student in a regular public school. Resources are abundant in a private school, especially when compared to the amount of resources in a regular public school. However, I disagree because magnet and charter schools are also excellent schools to send students to, even though they are public schools. That being said, it can be inferred that academics really do vary from school to school. I believe that families shouldn't try to spend money on an education if the student has no motivation to learn. For example, I didn't manage to stay in a magnet school simply because I did not want to go to school. Lack of motivation in the student is just a problem that is overlooked by parents.

Parents might end up disgruntled at the fact that their child is not doing any better in a private school. When it comes to academic achievements, the student obviously has to play his/her part. Morale and motivation to succeed and learn is imperative for a student to succeed in school. But, I think public schools should definitely imitate the system of private schools when it comes to academics. Students are actually pushed in private schools to finish with good grades and achieve a bachelor's degree from college. In my opinion, Public schools would be up to par with the achievement levels of private schools if they tried to follow the guidelines of a private school's curriculum. Therefore, Public schools and Private schools wouldn't be so different, besides tuition.