SimplyPut":14ctxc1v said:
You still fight the fight, but it will take decades to reverse the rot, which does not help your kids now. If I was in a position where I could not afford a private/parochial school, I'd homeschool.
Last word on rainmans "Gods schools"
- Thread starter Donkgrind
- Start date
You still fight the fight, but it will take decades to reverse the rot, which does not help your kids now. If I was in a position where I could not afford a private/parochial school, I'd homeschool.
freeagent
Six-man pro
Old Bearkat":24xcm8xd said:
OBK ... the number I've heard is that non-Catholics make up as much as 30% of the enrollment in Catholic schools.
besides that, I think I'll sit this fight out ...
rainjacktx
Six-man fan
I think the 6-man public schools are about as close as you can get to a private christian school and still be a public school.
This has nothing to do with the discussion, but I think the exodus to private schools happen at a much higher rate in larger public schools where the teachers and admin have a lot less invested in the students.
This has nothing to do with the discussion, but I think the exodus to private schools happen at a much higher rate in larger public schools where the teachers and admin have a lot less invested in the students.
Shane
11-man fan
justobserving hit the nail on the head, SimplyPut.
I couldn't fix all those things in the public schools by sending my kids there. I could fight the fight, but it wouldn't put God back in the schools RIGHT NOW for my kids. If that ever happens again, my kids will be parents or grandparents themselves. Just like you, I do the best I can when I vote, but I can't change the system simply by sending my kids to public schools. I have a ton of friends who are teachers, coaches and administrators in public schools, including 2 brothers-in-law. The public schools are full of wonderful Christian people who truly make a difference in kids' lives. But their hands are tied in a lot of ways. Believe me, I AM fighting the fight as much as anybody in the political arena. Sending my kids to private school doesn't mean that I couldn't care less about public schools. Societal issues are hugely important, no matter where your kids go to school.
Private schools are far from perfect too, though. They come with their own set of problems and limitations. It just boils down to a choice between which set of pros and cons you want for your own kids. I care a lot about the quality of the public schools. The kids coming out of school, whether my kids attend there or not, are going to be my neighbors. I want nothing but the best for them all. The fact remains that I can't control their environment, but I can control (to a greater extent) my own kids' environment. Naturally, my own kids are my #1 priority, so I'm going to try to do whatever I think is best for them.
The public schools here in Abilene aren't bad at all. Like I said, lots of my friends work there. I know they are doing good things. In fact, that is what makes it hard for our private school to grow. There isn't a "mass exodus" leaving the public schools.
We just wanted our kids to grow up in an environment that was more similar to what we grew up in. I grew up in Tulia, and I graduated high school in '84. All the years I was in school we had a prayer over the loudspeaker every morning. We said the pledge. The Ten Commandments were posted on the walls. God was welcome there. Teachers were respected by the kids. We were disciplined when it was called for, and crude/rude behavior wasn't tolerated. We learned useful knowledge rather than some of the politically correct BS that public school teachers are forced to teach these days.
That is the kind of education and environment that is only available to us today in the private school setting, so we chose that. We were blessed by scholarship money that made it possible early on, but it was still a huge sacrifice for us. I don't know the actual numbers, but I'd estimate that 75% or more of the students at our school either receive scholarship help or get discounted tuition (like we do now) because of a parent that works for ACU or ACHS (my wife now works at ACU). Ours is not a school only for rich families. We're all just regular folks that want our kids to be in a good old fashioned Christian environment at school.
But, rest assured, the public schools don't have any better political allies anywhere than they have in the families with kids in private schools. I pay property tax PLUS tuition, so I'm funding both.
I couldn't fix all those things in the public schools by sending my kids there. I could fight the fight, but it wouldn't put God back in the schools RIGHT NOW for my kids. If that ever happens again, my kids will be parents or grandparents themselves. Just like you, I do the best I can when I vote, but I can't change the system simply by sending my kids to public schools. I have a ton of friends who are teachers, coaches and administrators in public schools, including 2 brothers-in-law. The public schools are full of wonderful Christian people who truly make a difference in kids' lives. But their hands are tied in a lot of ways. Believe me, I AM fighting the fight as much as anybody in the political arena. Sending my kids to private school doesn't mean that I couldn't care less about public schools. Societal issues are hugely important, no matter where your kids go to school.
Private schools are far from perfect too, though. They come with their own set of problems and limitations. It just boils down to a choice between which set of pros and cons you want for your own kids. I care a lot about the quality of the public schools. The kids coming out of school, whether my kids attend there or not, are going to be my neighbors. I want nothing but the best for them all. The fact remains that I can't control their environment, but I can control (to a greater extent) my own kids' environment. Naturally, my own kids are my #1 priority, so I'm going to try to do whatever I think is best for them.
The public schools here in Abilene aren't bad at all. Like I said, lots of my friends work there. I know they are doing good things. In fact, that is what makes it hard for our private school to grow. There isn't a "mass exodus" leaving the public schools.
We just wanted our kids to grow up in an environment that was more similar to what we grew up in. I grew up in Tulia, and I graduated high school in '84. All the years I was in school we had a prayer over the loudspeaker every morning. We said the pledge. The Ten Commandments were posted on the walls. God was welcome there. Teachers were respected by the kids. We were disciplined when it was called for, and crude/rude behavior wasn't tolerated. We learned useful knowledge rather than some of the politically correct BS that public school teachers are forced to teach these days.
That is the kind of education and environment that is only available to us today in the private school setting, so we chose that. We were blessed by scholarship money that made it possible early on, but it was still a huge sacrifice for us. I don't know the actual numbers, but I'd estimate that 75% or more of the students at our school either receive scholarship help or get discounted tuition (like we do now) because of a parent that works for ACU or ACHS (my wife now works at ACU). Ours is not a school only for rich families. We're all just regular folks that want our kids to be in a good old fashioned Christian environment at school.
But, rest assured, the public schools don't have any better political allies anywhere than they have in the families with kids in private schools. I pay property tax PLUS tuition, so I'm funding both.
SimplyPut
Six-man pro
Decades? I agree OBK. Some parents aren't capable of homeschooling. I truly see all sides of this, and I do not fault or hold anything against those leave for a better system. First and foremost, do the best you can by your kids. There is not a good solution that would include all I suppose. I just have fear that one day public kids that have no other option will be the mistreated stepchild in every aspect of the educational/athletic process. That too could be decades. Hopefully better solutions can come in future generations.
Shane
11-man fan
I agree with you, SimplyPut, that there are no easy answers. It really sucks to see the state of public education these days, particularly in the bigger cities. Those poor kids already are the mistreated stepchildren in a lot of ways. I wish all schools everywhere could be more like the small 6-man schools we encounter in sports. There wouldn't be so many big city private schools if that were the case.
justobserving
11-man fan
The pseudo version of the private exodus is the move to 6 man schools via transfer from larger public schools.
Making the move for the same reasons. Only in this case the 6 man version of public education still seems to be rooted in more home town, down to earth values and motives.
There are a couple of 6 man and a small 11 man school around my area that are the preferred target of moves by parents of their children from larger public institutions to smaller ones. They are seeking better values and a better environment for their kids.
Making the move for the same reasons. Only in this case the 6 man version of public education still seems to be rooted in more home town, down to earth values and motives.
There are a couple of 6 man and a small 11 man school around my area that are the preferred target of moves by parents of their children from larger public institutions to smaller ones. They are seeking better values and a better environment for their kids.
rainjacktx
Six-man fan
justobserving":yphcmrw7 said:
You repeated what I said, just with a lot more words.
lifegatesports":lm6oxi3n said:
I know they were less than that at Joliet Catholic where my boys went to high school, but then again, that area is majority Catholic, and JCA has an outstanding football program that lures them in. But I do not doubt that number at the other ones closer to Chicago.
