Re: creationism wars

[Vern Lindberg <vwlsps@RITVAX.ISC.RIT.EDU>]

> Hugh Haskell wrote:
>  >
>
> First comparing public to private schools is inherently comparing
> apples and oranges. ...

Likewise lumping all public schools together, or all private schools
together is like combining truffles and straw mushrooms.

> They don't have state or federally mandated curricula that
> they have to conform to, or end-of-course testing that they have to
> submit to, and which can affect their funding for the following year.

This is **NOT** universally true. In New York State the private
schools **DO** fall under the Board of Regents. Their courses must
cover the state mandated curriculum, they do take the same
"competency" tests that the public schools take.


> In other words, private schools can do what they want, and only need
> to satisfy the parents who are wealthy enough to be able to send
> their children there. Would that public schools had the same
> freedom--but then they wouldn't be public schools any more, would they.

And most of the private schools in Rochester are parochial schools.
They do not have school buildings built for them, or gyms or swimming
pools. They get some textbooks (often the left-overs), and get
bussing. The schools typically operate with a cost-per-student of
about 60% of the cost-per-student in public schools.

In New York State a very large percentage (20-30% ??) of students are
educated in private schools, and if all private schools were to close
for next year, then there would be a major shock to public funding of
schools.