Re: Theological Attack On Public Schools

[Greg Burton <gburton@sltrib.com>]

  I'll try to respond to Dale and Doug in this post.

  First of all, Dale cites Webster's definition of pagan as "one who has
little or no religion." What Dale fails to disclose is that he is citing
Webster's second, and lesser, definition. Webster's first definition for
pagan is "a follower of a polytheistic religion," which of course doesn't
fit his funny little dig quite as well.

  Secondly, and most important. Both Dale and Doug have this notion of kids
fleeing public schools for private schools. Not so. They are either
extremely myopic or are perpetuating a fallacy to better their own cause.
Moscow may have its own foibles, and its public schools may be losing kids
today ( I don't have the figures at hand), but trends come and go. For a
more accurate picture of what is happening vis-a-vis public and private
education, you'll need to think bigger. Just off the cuff I would guess
enrollments are cyclical in nature, based on population, world events, and
economics. In the 1990s, when riches flowed, I'm guessing more people used
their extra cash to send their kids to private school. You know the
routine, bigger SUV, house in the suburbs, kids in a private, prestigious
school that gets the neighbors talking. As the economy sours, I'm guessing
the reverse will be true.
  Let's examine the national statistics.

  According to the federal Office of Education public school enrollment for
grades 9-12 (in thousands) was:


                   all schools        public        private
Fall 1966 ....   13,294         11,894          1,400
Fall 1976 ....   15,656         14,314          1,342
Fall 1986 ....   13,669         12,333          1,336
Fall 1996 ....   14,060         12,847          1,213
Fall 2000        14,803         13,537          1,266

(((((Check it out for yourselves.
nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/digest2001/tables/dt056.asp)))))))))

  To sum, private secondary schools lost enrollment over 40 years, public
secondary schools gained enrollment.
  But here's what Doug says: "the actual problem is that the government
schools are chasing people away."
  Here's what Dale says: "Greg: You tell me why parents are fleeing the
government school?"

  Well Dale, they aren't. Public schools aren't discombobulating. Kids
might be fleeing, but they aren't all running toward private education.
It's a lie to say they are. Somebody might be trying to dismantle public
schools, but I'm guessing it's not, as Doug suggests, the teachers, most of
whom I remember from my school days as caring, compassionate, smart, and
committed to quality education. Is Doug really so narrow-minded? I'll even
name one of the public school teachers whom I remember as caring, smart,
compassionate and committed to quality education — Roy Atwood, who last I
heard now teachers at Wilson's New Saint Andrews private school. Somewhere
deep in Roy I know there is a fine, Christian soul and great educator who I
can't believe is stomaching much of the vitriol spewed hereabouts.
  Why do I sense time and time again that Doug has some of the most
hurtful, snide and prideful things to say. Pride cometh before...

  I was in a rush so I didn't find a neat graphic for K-8. However, there
was this from the Office of Education:

       Enrollment, by Control of School

        Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools increased
from 39.8 million in 1986 to 46.9 million in 1999, an
        increase of 18 percent. Enrollment in public schools is projected
to rise slightly over the next 6 years, then decrease
        slightly over most of the following 6 years. In 2011, public school
enrollment is projected to be 47.2 million.

        Since the mid-1980s, enrollment in private elementary and secondary
schools has fluctuated between 5.2 million and 6.0
        million. In fall 2000, an estimated 5.9 million students will be
enrolled in private elementary and secondary schools.
        Enrollment in private schools is projected to remain around that
level between 2000 and 2011.


  Again, in all pubic elementary and secondary schools, from mid-1980s to
1999, enrollment grew by 18 percent.
  In all private elementary and secondary schools, from mid-1980s to 1999,
enrollment grew by, at most, 13 percent.

  So, Doug, nobody is throwing kids out the window, but they are pushing
them through the front doors of public schools at a higher rate than they
are pushing them through the doors of private schools. Perhaps we should
debate the many reasons why private schools are failing to attract more
students, or at least not to the degree as those divinely-inspired public
schools.


  cheers, greg burton



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