Private, Public, Parochial

An Observation:

Driving a school bus and dealing with students every day, it's impossible not to notice the differences between public school students and those from private or parochial schools. Yes, that's a broad-brush statement and, sure, we could find many exceptions. However, if the goal of all schools is to educate children so that they will have the best possible chance of living full and productive lives, observing what schools are actually producing should be of interest. 

Recently, I spent a day transporting about two hundred high school girls from an Omaha parochial school. They were polite and cheerful and seemed very focused. More impressive, still, was the camaraderie between them and the fact that they seemed to really enjoy going to school. It was encouraging to see, and I have felt the same way when driving other private or parochial school students.  

Why do these kids seem so much happier, focused, and ready to deal with life than public school students? Is it because their parents are more involved in their education? I'd guess that's a big part of it. After all, they are paying for it and, when buying anything, nothing makes you more aware of getting your money's worth, or not, than paying for it yourself. 

Or could it be that public schools are involved in too many things other than education? Is the potential of the early years never realized, for many kids, because public schools have to deal with too many kids who have little structure or discipline in their lives?

CONCLUSION

If I had a child in school, today, I'd want a voucher program through which all schools were paid for the education they dispensed. The state would figure out what a year of education costs and give that sum to all parents. The parents would then be in charge of, and financially responsible for, their own child's education, buying it from the school of their choice. Worth a try, don't you think?