I trust you mean to say, "some" public schools. While many do what you are saying, not all do, and if more parents would participate in the education of their children far less would be doing so.
Keeping track of what the publik screwls are doing to your kids is far more costly and time-consuming than many would believe, IMHO.
I'm extremely interested in why you hold that opinion - in all seriousness and no sarcasm being used.
See post #9.
The example cited there is a story I have heard ad nauseam; from friends, relatives, and even some publik skrewl teachers. I am a product of the government education system. I graduated just as the NEA really started to push their liberal agenda in the curriculum (the early 1980's). I believe I received a quality education, but I have seen what has become of the pseudo-educational system in this Nation.
I will say this: I live in a semi-rural county, and I truly believe that the local elementary school would be at least adequate for our needs; but the middle and high schools are an entirely different story. You are correct: If more parents would participate in their child(ren)'s education, the skrewls wouldn't get away with the things that they do. Most parents just don't have that option. Some schools are downright hostile to parental involvement, others will LIE to your face about what goes on in the classroom. Many parents do all they can just geeting the kids on the bus in the morning.
Parent/teacher conferences just don't cut it; looking at your child's textbooks is not enough. Quizing your child daily about what he/she learned is school does not render even semi-accurate answers. I don't want my kids indoctrinated with liberal pap, homosexual propoganda, and distorted history. I don't want to have to deal with the worry that my child is being "mentally evaluated" by persons with a disguised agenda. If I have to spend 3 hours a day assisting with homework, another hour a day perusing their texts and asking "What did Teacher say today?", and several hours a week volunteering at my child's school, then I would be better off homeschooling from the start.
I am positive that I can educate my child better than a system that teaches down to the least common denominator, and spends more time on "social issues education" (homosexual tolerance, multiculturalism, radical environmentalism, etc.) than they do on reading, math, science, and history.
I want my child(ren) to have the best possible education: publik skrewls don't even come close. Like I said, if I have to expend that much effort monitoring the school, I'd rather expend the effort to give my child a better, individualized, education at home.