Amen, amen and amen.

That is provided there is more than one adult in the household......not always the case

I know there is a world of difference between private schools in Florida and private schools in other states. Florida does not regulate the curriculum, testing requirements or teacher qualifications of private schools. But in Georgia there is a program that allows the students of private schools that meet certain qualifications to enroll in any public school in Georgia without any loss of grade standing or academic credits. This does not mean that Georgia’s public schools are good, but it does give some assurance that Georgia’s private schools are not any worse than the public ones are.

How does private education drain the system? Private schools don't recieve public funding, yet the children's parents that attend still pay taxes for public schools. So really private school parents don't even use the public system but still pay for it. This is America, not a communist state, so there will always be private education. Why should it be the governments job to dole out vouchers to those that cannot afford private education when the public system is already underfunded?

Private schools do receive public funding in Florida in the form of vouchers and the McKay Scholarship. Vouchers go to students who have attended public schools whose students have done badly on the state’s FCAT exam (at least 2 years in a row, I think). McKay Scholarships go to any student that has failed a year in public school and who has been labeled as being learning disabled. In my part of Florida few private schools take the vouchers (because the students still have to take the FCAT and the private schools have to closely parallel the public school curriculum). I think every local private school takes the McKay money because that money comes with no strings attached. The McKay Scholarship is tailored to each individual student- either whatever the private school’s tuition is or whatever the public schools would pay to enroll that student (amount based on the student’s “disability”).

Having worked as a private school teacher, and having dealt with McKay brats, I think keeping them out of public school is a bargain at any cost.

Well, private schools are not funded at all in Washington. I'm fine with Florida choosing to fund private schools but, I don't want the federal government to begin providing vouchers.

The biggest problem I see in education in america....is simple...lack of authority.
First the local board has their hands tired by government mandated rules of punishment for infraction of school policy....Our children are pampered spoiled brats and this reflects in our eduacational standards of achievements. Second...the teachers have to many rights of employment status...all rights should be based on production and the rights of termination should be at the discretion of the board....not some union....if any fail in the duty of teaching our children...why should the bad be rewarded with the good....This is a very responsible position in our country and should be given as much attention as.... even our military...for the very futrue of our society rests upon the results of the education of the next generation....it is time for all of us to realize just how important it actually is....some pass off teaching as merely a job....I am of the opinion that it carries more responsiblity than that of physicans or lawyers....and the pay should reflect this...if we are to get serious...and stop paying lip service to the problems. Perhaps we could get more dedicated professionals....I know there are plenty out there right now...but with current standards...they are merely lost in the shuffle...as we push our children from K thru 12....many not even able to read upon graduation. BD

I completely agree with your comments on pay standards for teachers. However, I think our gap in educational achievment compared with other developed nations stems from something entirely different. Often, I see an attitude in students and people in general in this country that regard learning as unimportant, nerdy w/e. That is simply not the case in other nations, especially Asian. In those nations, the students know they are going to school to learn first with everything else being secondary.

Like in the attitude of being pampered...spoiled and bratey....thinking that..the governments job is to take care of them....and never realizing that they are the future "GOVERNMENT"? BD

Well, I don't that label can apply to all private school kids. But, I am absolutely sure that the public education system is broken in this country, especially in inner-cities.