Not all public school teachers and professors are hurting students. But, too many are. The 1983 issue of A Nation At Risk provided startling evidence that the American education system was (and still is) seriously flawed, in spite of the fact that taxpayers shell out more money per public school student than in most countries. Yet, too many graduates from American high schools and colleges are basically ill-equipped for employment or fulfillment of meaningful domestic responsibilities. This begs the question, “Are Private Educational Sources More Economical in the long-term?”
A college professor at a major state university told his education students, “Your responsibility as teachers is to reverse all the political and religious training the child received at home.” A school principal attended a state-wide conference for public school administrators, and was greeted at the hotel door by a seductively-dressed female escort who offered an alcoholic drink and assurance that his “stay at the hotel would be enjoyable.” In fact, almost every professional educators’ conference includes “happy hours” and ample opportunities for attendees to “co-mingle” to get to know each other better “after hours.” The recent surge of sexual abuses of teenage boys by female teachers is alarming! At no time in history have public schools experienced so many tragic incidents of violence, abuse, low academic performance scores, and high student and staff absentee rates. Some inner-city schools record student drop-out levels in the high 90 percentile range, and teacher absences in excess of 40 percent!
Fortunately, legislators are challenging the predominate belief that only state funded schools can educate youth adequately for assumption of adult responsibilities. Growing evidence supports educational choice among private providers at the secondary school level, as well as at universities. The cost of educating high school and college students at home is actually more economical than sending teenagers to public institutions. Attendance at a private college or university is initially more expensive than sending teenagers to public universities. However, when the long-term liabilities and benefits are considered, parents and graduates save money by utilizing private educational sources.
Statistics confirm that many graduates of state-funded universities in May are still unemployed in their major academic field in September. Moreover, many college graduates move back home within six months, because they cannot secure self-sustainable employment. They possess “sheep skins” that theoretically make them employable; but, during job interviews, prospective employers realize that many job candidates are ill-prepared for productive employment. Businesses must make a profit to be sustainable; and, entry-level employees with inadequate character and job skills cripple businesses.
In the process of earning college degrees, many students accumulate in excess of $100,000 of debt. Two university students wanted a June wedding following graduation from college. On their wedding night, they confessed to one another that each owed more than $40,000 in student-loan debt. Tragically, on their first day of marriage, they owed $80,000! They had no choice but to move in with parents who provided a washing machine, refrigerator, and stove. And, the college graduates accepted employment at wages far lower than anticipated for university graduates.
So, before you send your student to a state-funded school or university, count the immediate and long-term character and economic costs.
