As a teacher in a public school and a former student of a private school I'll say that if I am fortunate enough to ever have kids they will go to private school (if I can afford it).

Why?

The main reason is that in my short 7 years of teaching I am seeing more and more of the teacher's legs cut from under them. Wheter it is weak willed administration or out of touch parents or a combo of both, discipline is becoming tougher and tougher.

In addition to that, most public school teachers have less and less time to prepare for their students. Conference periods are a joke in that we are usually required to attend meetings for special ed students who aren't even in our classroom (Called ARDS or 504 meetings, I won't bore you with the details as to why many teachers attend meetings for students other than their own).

The TAKS test (in Texas) has teachers teaching to the test. Just last Thursday in our first meeting back from summer break, we were told to develop our tests, as a department of course (why try and push your students ahead if there is a class/teacher down the hall who just doesn't cut it?), then lesson plan for the test. In other words, come up with a test then figure out what needs to be taught to pass the test. Are we teaching students for success in life or success on tests? Don't misunderstand me, I understand that students have to be assessed, but teaching to a test is not the way to do it.

I could go on and on, but understand, if I had kids and could afford it I'd send them to private school without question. I'd also work at a private school, but the pay doesn't compare. I'm one teacher who won't bitch about his pay! In Texas it's pretty damn good.

Which brings me to another point...