Do you plan on sending your children to public or pivate schools? Do you think that the government should have public education or should it be privatized? Should parents have a choice between public/private schooling with government vouchers?

WHat are the pros and cons of both?

Public schools, unless they're absolutely horrid, in terms of my kids.

I oppose vouchers because they increase the likeliness of my kids' public schools being horrid.

Public schools offer more job security for teachers, pay benefits and have retirement plans, allow teachers to join a union, and don't force a teacher's curriculum to bow to the weight of the rich parents.

In a public school, there's a state-wide curriculum that teachers have to cover at least most of, ensuring (theoretically) a wide knowledge base for all students who complete the class. In a private school, the government has no say as to what is taught and what isn't, but the rich parents who donate lots of money tend to have a say. And on this I speak from vicarious experience. I've had a number of friends graduate from Harvard Westlake High School, and they all had horror stories from the bull**** that they had to go through simply because some parent didn't like what a teacher had to say. I don't want my children (if I ever have any) in that kind of a place.

Additionally, the social interactions between kids at a private school is competitive, harsh, oftentimes backstabbing and just plain snobby. There are kids that get into private school because mommy and/or daddy are rich and the school wants the donations, and there are kids who get in because their parents are just able to afford tuition, and some students are even there on scholarships. The economic differences form cliques within the school. Back in my younger days when I didn't know any better, I went to religious school at Stephen S. Wise temple. Most of the kids there were from rich snobby families and their parents where jackasses. Some of the kids were there because their folks could afford it, but not much beyond just the classes. These kids tended to be less snobby but not altogether compassionate to those less fortunate than they, and they almost exclusively went to various private schools.

Private schools breed children who think they're better than other people because their parents have money. I'd much rather have my children experience the real world, where people have to work for a living and you only get what you earn.

On the subject of school vouchers, the government should not subsidize religious institutions with vouchers. Government support or lack thereof of a religious school (one not necessarily accredited, I might add) should not be legal.

i would be in favour of sending kids to public school. i don't like the idea of paying for an education.

some public schools in Ireland have really good teachers especially the secondary school that i went to.

Both of my kids go to public school.

The one private school here costs over $5000 a year per child, and I just don't have that kind of cash floating around.

I might put them in the Edison schools next year. It's a longer school day, shorter summer vacation & student test scores have been higher on tests. But they just switched schools this year, so I'm not sure if I want them to switch again.

Meh, i went to a private school a looooong time ago pretty much up to the 3rd grade when i moved to california. I went through the montessouri program. Having done both i have to say that there are pros and cons to both.
For example, private schools tend to be insanely expensive and like several of you have mentioned, at the beck and call of the rich parents. But, some of the smartest and best educated people i have ever met have come from private schools. Also i found that you got more individual attention at Montessouri.
Public schools like the highschool i go to produce many more middle of the road students and there is little to no individual attention in classes. However they are funded by the state and are therefore free. Much better oprrortunities for kids whos families cant afford the expensive private schools. Last, public schools have a standardized lesson plan so it cant be manipulated by parents.

It does depend on area, but public schools for me, more than likely. I, along with almost all of my friends, are products of public schools, and just like the rest of life, our education seems to be indictaive of how hard we work/how smart we are. For the most part, I feel what I learned in school was a joke, and the real learning what at home with my parents (reading, math, etc) or on my own, by reading a textbook.

I am, in principle, against our school system as a whole. So, one big dose of public school and a big dose of me and my wife in my kids education.

And just say no to goverment vouchers. Why should they fund a private institution?