Public schools no place for teachers’ kids

[jamesrage]

Public schools no place for teachers' kids - Washington Times
More than 25 percent of public school teachers in Washington and Baltimore send their children to private schools, a new study reports.

Nationwide, public school teachers are almost twice as likely as other parents to choose private schools for their own children, the study by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute found. More than 1 in 5 public school teachers said their children attend private schools.

In Washington (28 percent), Baltimore (35 percent) and 16 other major cities, the figure is more than 1 in 4. In some cities, nearly half of the children of public school teachers have abandoned public schools.

In Philadelphia, 44 percent of the teachers put their children in private schools; in Cincinnati, 41 percent; Chicago, 39 percent; Rochester, N.Y., 38 percent. The same trends showed up in the San Francisco-Oakland area, where 34 percent of public school teachers chose private schools for their children; 33 percent in New York City and New Jersey suburbs; and 29 percent in Milwaukee and New Orleans.

Michael Pons, spokesman for the National Education Association, the 2.7-million-member public school union, declined a request for comment on the study’s findings. The American Federation of Teachers also declined to comment.

 

[Slartibartfast]

The average household income for the US is below 50,000 while the average US teacher pay is about 42,000. Because of that, they have more money than the average person and can afford to send their children to a private school.

This report does not surprise me at all.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

The public schools are a program for parents who are otherwise unwilling or incapable of providing an education for their children; anyone who is capable of providing their own childrens' education should do so. And, since they are teachers themselves, they understand the value of a good education and are determined to provide one for their children.

I do not see the problem here.

 

[nonpareil]

The average household income for the US is below 50,000 while the average US teacher pay is about 42,000. Because of that, they have more money than the average person and can afford to send their children to a private school.

This report does not surprise me at all.

42000 is below 50000.

While it's not that surprising, I still think it's hypocritical of the teachers.

 

[Barbbtx]

:shock:
teacher's know they and they co-workers are lousy teachers so they opt for private schools?

 

[Barbbtx]

42000 is below 50000.

While it's not that surprising, I still think it's hypocritical of the teachers.

I agree, however, I heard somewhere that with all the benefits, teachers actually make an equivalent of 100,000 a yr.

 

[Slartibartfast]

42000 is below 50000.

While it's not that surprising, I still think it's hypocritical of the teachers.

Its not below, but its only one income vs a household income.

 

[Real Korimyr #9]

42000 is below 50000.

It's above $25,000. Most households are dual income these days.

While it's not that surprising, I still think it's hypocritical of the teachers.

Should the administrators of welfare programs be paid in food stamps?

 

[nonpareil]

It's above $25,000. Most households are dual income these days.

Okay.

Should the administrators of welfare programs be paid in food stamps?

No. Neither do I propose that we pay teachers by giving them coupons for public school.

If you want to compare, it would be hypocritical of the administrator of state welfare benefits to condemn a family member for recieving state welfare benefits.

 

[TheBook]

*shrug*

I went to private or semi-private schools up until high school.

They are not really any better or any worse from what I've seen (though I am in no way an expert) typically just more specialized in certain ways.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Okay.




No. Neither do I propose that we pay teachers by giving them coupons for public school.

If you want to compare, it would be hypocritical of the administrator of state welfare benefits to condemn a family member for recieving state welfare benefits.

I don't think teachers are condemning those who go to public school. At least thats not what I got out of the OP.

 

[nonpareil]

I don't think teachers are condemning those who go to public school. At least thats not what I got out of the OP.

No, I do not mean that the teachers are condemning those who to public school, but they obviously feel it's not good enough for their children so they express that by not having their children go there. A welfare administrator might express the same felling, that welfare is not good enough for their family member, by condemning it or forbidding them from recieving it (just an example).

 

[Slartibartfast]

No, I do not mean that the teachers are condemning those who to public school, but they obviously feel it's not good enough for their children so they express that by not having their children go there. A welfare administrator might express the same felling, that welfare is not good enough for their family member, by condemning it or forbidding them from recieving it (just an example).

I still don't see it as hypocracy. Teaching is about education and if they were preventing their kid from getting an education in the first place, you would have an excellent point. However where their kids learn doesn't factor into it, at least for me.

 

[Fiddytree]

This also tells me what I already know. Some of them are so rabid about a particular education philosophy that if you subscribe to another one, Jesus, you best not be friends or else you could lose one.

 

[Cold Highway]

No, I do not mean that the teachers are condemning those who to public school, but they obviously feel it's not good enough for their children so they express that by not having their children go there. A welfare administrator might express the same felling, that welfare is not good enough for their family member, by condemning it or forbidding them from recieving it (just an example).

In addition, Teachers dont want their kids harassed by other kids that they teach. A teacher's kid is a huge potential target for douchebag bullies.

 

[Barbbtx]

I just think it would be like...say, I worked at a dog boarding facility. Yet, when I go on vacation, I board my dog some place else. I think that says to people, that maybe where I work isn't where they want to board their dog either.

 

[Barbbtx]

In addition, Teachers dont want their kids harassed by other kids that they teach. A teacher's kid is a huge potential target for douchebag bullies.

I went to school with kids whose mom was a teacher. They were never harassed. We were just glad our mom's weren't teachers who could keep an eye on us.

 

[Fiddytree]

I could see it being awkward for the student themselves being in the same building as their parents. I went to school with a student whose father was a high school science teacher. Well, he was a popular guy and seemed to get along with dad well, and vice versa. But, you never know.

 

[Layla_Z]

42000 is below 50000.

While it's not that surprising, I still think it's hypocritical of the teachers.

Doesn't it really depend on where the teacher lives and teaches? If I were teaching in a rough inner city school I might send my child to a private school. However I gladly send my child to an excellent public school. I am surprised by this report.

There are many reasons a teacher might send their child elsewhere. It doesn't mean teachers don't support public education.

 

[spud_meister]

If they can afford it, why shouldn't they? I don't see anything hypocritical about it at all, a persons job is completely separate from their parenting.

 

[Kal'Stang]

Not really that surprising. Nor do I think its hypocritical. The teachers value education and know that more often than not private schools turn out better educated kids than public schools. If I could afford it I would be sending my own kids to private school. As it stands though I send my kids to public school and try to suplement thier education at home.

 

[nonpareil]

I still don't see it as hypocracy. Teaching is about education and if they were preventing their kid from getting an education in the first place, you would have an excellent point. However where their kids learn doesn't factor into it, at least for me.

But we are not talking about all teachers. We are talking about public school teachers who don't send their children to public school.

The problem, and hypocrisy, is with the public school part, not the teaching part.

 

[nonpareil]

In addition, Teachers dont want their kids harassed by other kids that they teach. A teacher's kid is a huge potential target for douchebag bullies.

This is pure conjecture. They don't have to send the children to the school they teach, some of those cities must have other schools nearby.

 

[nonpareil]

Doesn't it really depend on where the teacher lives and teaches? If I were teaching in a rough inner city school I might send my child to a private school. However I gladly send my child to an excellent public school. I am surprised by this report.

There are many reasons a teacher might send their child elsewhere. It doesn't mean teachers don't support public education.

They may support public education...just not for their children.


Of course that's only some of them. I do wonder what the comparison is between public school teachers and the general population. If 25-50% of the population send their children to private school, then this is not very remarkable, though I still think it's hypocritical of some of them.

 

[nonpareil]

If they can afford it, why shouldn't they? I don't see anything hypocritical about it at all, a persons job is completely separate from their parenting.

We wouldn't say that of politicians though. How many people ridicule Sarah Palin for her political stance on abstinence only education because of her daughter?

When I sell something, I'm pretty confident about using it myself. If the teachers feel that public schools are not good enough for their children, then why do they not do something more about it? If 1/4 of all the teachers try to change the system so that it will be good enough for their children, that movement would have been more visible.