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It is a debate that many families face. Should you send your kids to a private institution or have them attend public schools? In my case things worked out. However, it is not always so simple. My sister Allie attended an all-girls religious institution. My parents believed in the mission of the church, but became disenchanted on a few different levels. First, during the application period, parents were told that it was an inclusive place of learning. Second, mom and dad were led to believe that the values being taught were an important part of the school's mission. And finally, it was assumed that since they were paying, and a less expensive alternative was located just a few blocks down the street, that they were getting something that the alternative option could not or would not provide. After a few months Allie came home one afternoon and used a slur. My mom was surprised, disappointed, and set on finding out where she had learned such an offensive phrase. Allie said that her friend Megan used it. Mom called Megan's parents who found out that she had overheard the office personnel use the word when she had visited the nurses' office and needed to call home to be picked up because she had a fever. If that was strike one, strike two was the academic scandal. The all-girls campus was adjacent to a similar all boys campus. The same people ran the two schools and occasionally they hosted dances where members of both institutions were present. Allie and her classmates frequently went to sporting event to root the boys on. Most of the faculty worked exclusively at one school, but the board of directors, including the higher education chairman, sat above both schools. When the star quarterback was caught cheating on test and was allowed to continue playing football, many thought that the board was bending its standards so that the school could excel in football. The chairman made the ultimate decision that the football player's eligibility and enrollment would remain intact despite the fact that a year earlier two girls on the debate team were expelled for plagiarism. Finally, and this is ultimately the reason I attended public schools, the test scores and percentage of students admitted to the best colleges were no better where Allie went than at any of the less expensive options. While there was certainly a sense of community at the campus, there was no tangible proof that the education was any better. I attended public schools and had a great experience. I got into my dream college, where I met many of my best friends. While this experience might not be the same for everyone, it is worth considering exactly what you are getting if you spend extra money on education. Interested in Kalamazoo public schools? To learn more about your options, visit: http://www.oneamazingclass.org/evergreen-academy/.
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