[only1percent]

The problem isn't schools being public or private, the problem is irresponsible and/or powerless parents. Public schools where most of the parents are responsible, and where the parents effectively control the schools by way of a locally-elected school board more afraid of parents than of the teachers union, do just fine.

The public schools in my neighborhood outperform the local Catholic and independent schools by almost any measure. (In a 180-degree twist from the urban model, the expensive local independent school is regarded as a place where parents send lazy or discipline-problem kids who can't cut it in the demanding public school environment...)

[Cathryn Crawford]

the problem is irresponsible and/or powerless parents.

I agree. What's your solution to this problem?

[Leatherneck_MT]

"Public schools where most of the parents are responsible, and where the parents effectively control the schools by way of a locally-elected school board more afraid of parents than of the teachers union, do just fine."

Therein lies the crux of the situation. The School Boards SHOULD be more afraid of the parents than they are of the Teachers Union.

I know my boys teachers run and hide everytime they see me on the street lol.