American Education: Which Way to Go?
In a recent Zogby Interactive survey of adults nationwide, respondents were asked to choose a statement that comes closest to their personal beliefs on education. About half (49%) of the sample strongly or somewhat agrees that the only way to get better education in America is to invest in public education, while 35% of the respondents strongly or somewhat agree that the only way to get a better education in America is to pay for private education. About 16% of the respondents chose “none of the above” or “not sure.”
The respondents are divided on this issue along the ideological line. Eighty-six percent of the liberals are in favor of investing in public education, while only 18% of the conservatives and libertarians favor public education investment. On the other hand, 61% of the conservatives agree that the only way to get better education is to pay for private education, as opposed to 4% of the liberals who believe so. The moderates are more on the liberal side on this issue. About 66% of the moderates favor public education investment, compared to 20% who support paying for private education.
Where do you stand on this issue? Where would you like to see you children receive their education? Do you see a wide gap between the American public education system and its private counterpart? What do you think are the biggest problems American education system is facing today?
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The question asking if private education is “better” than public education is a loaded question. Public schools are responsible for teaching ALL children, including those with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, bad behavior, lack of parental involvement, and lack of motivation. The classroom environment is often over-crowded. Most private schools have the privilege of choosing their students, and are not restricted by the need to adhere to State Education curriculum, syllabi, or guidelines.
So I ask you, what is better. Giving an outstanding education to the top 10% of our students and leaving the others to fend for themselves, or providing funds, support, rules enforcement, security personnel, and more teachers in an effort to give an “equal” educational opportunity to ALL students?
@Nance
This is a very valid point. Our local private high school weeds out anyone they to not think will be admitted to college by the end of the sophomore year, and then has the audacity to boast that 100% of their students go on to higher education. And if your deportment is bad – you are toast. Those unruly students then go to public schools. So what is being measured??