The P-word
The Pittsburgh, Pa., school district has decreed the term "public school" to be such bad PR that it's dropping the word "public" from its official name.
Officials hope to avoid "the negative attitudes and perceptions that some people have about public schools," the Associated Press reported.
Firmly stuck in contrarian mode, I was inspired by that to go looking online for an innocuous "We heart our public schools" bumper sticker. Eventually I found something along that line, but it was way outnumbered by anti-public-education stickers.
In any case, that level of hostility is dismaying. I ordered my little bumper sticker and a few extra to give away, but where do we even start beyond that?
Of course, private schools must also perceive a negative connotation, since they're trying to get everyone to call them "independent" instead. I looked around to see if there were correlating anti-private-school stickers and found only gentle messages like "Private school royalty." Of course I've mentally written my own slogans ("Private schools! Widening the gap between rich and poor for 400 years!"), but that's definitely the wrong tack to take.
— Caroline
Officials hope to avoid "the negative attitudes and perceptions that some people have about public schools," the Associated Press reported.
Firmly stuck in contrarian mode, I was inspired by that to go looking online for an innocuous "We heart our public schools" bumper sticker. Eventually I found something along that line, but it was way outnumbered by anti-public-education stickers.
Oh dear — now do I have to write a defense of public education, or can I assume that our visitors are sophisticated and grasp the fine points?
- Victim of public school education
- Public Schools: Because if there wasn't a place for Marxists, what would they do when it's not summer?
- I survived public school: That's why I homeschool
- America's public schools: Our students excel in mediocrity
- Govermint skool edukaydid (many variations on this oh-so-clever misspelled words theme)
- Bankrupt America: Support public schools
- Public school sucks nuts: Anarchy, apathy, atheism
- Public schools: tools for fools
In any case, that level of hostility is dismaying. I ordered my little bumper sticker and a few extra to give away, but where do we even start beyond that?
Of course, private schools must also perceive a negative connotation, since they're trying to get everyone to call them "independent" instead. I looked around to see if there were correlating anti-private-school stickers and found only gentle messages like "Private school royalty." Of course I've mentally written my own slogans ("Private schools! Widening the gap between rich and poor for 400 years!"), but that's definitely the wrong tack to take.
— Caroline
Labels: Charters
3 Comments:
luckily some districts give us a "choice " within the public school system!
parents throughout the country can choose from specialized PUBLIC schools for art, drama, music, academic studies, or waldorf- inspired. some are charter schools, and some not; but the vast majority of these public schools are doing a great job.. it is really fantastic that our public school system is offering choices for our students.
YES! I do agree with the above comment.
I have 3 children in 3 different schools ( in the same district) .
Our family is testing the waters in a charter school, an " art " based school, and our local middle school.
We were very fortunate to make the lottery for the charter school, as our other option within the district was grim.
All 3 "Public Schools" are working for us. The charter school has a huge wait list for the lottery, the art school is by audition ( which, I must admit does smack of elitism) and the middle school is the neighborhood school.
We are most happy with the charter school, and hope to have the other children transfer if they make the lottery.
My husband and I often feel so lucky that we have great schools in the public system and are not stressing over tuition for private schools.
Susan
The public school system has been so trashed over the years; it reminds me of the kaiser system... you hear the " stories" and they apply to EVERY public school.
But as Susan said; the tuition issue is big for most families, and there ARE options within the public system. Many of the alternative programs within a district offer "private " school curriculum in the public system; with a more diverse population.
Charter schools and other programs help level the playing field a bit.
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