Stories about parents upset with CRT, vaccine mandates, virtual teaching, and, well, you name it, just about anything you can think of in our public schools have brought home the essential difference between public schools and private schools. Of course, most public schools have to cater to a large, in some cases, a vast constituency of parents, teachers, administrators, taxpayers, unions, and politicians. But, on the other hand, private schools only have to satisfy the families that opt to send their children to them.
As much as possible, let's compare apples to apples as we look at how public schools and private schools cope with the incredible number of pressure points involved in running a school in the second decade of the 21st-century.
This video from PBS explains critical race theory.
A public school district's mission
Constituency
Generally, a public school district serves the municipality in which it is located. The exception occurs when several towns band together to create a regional school district. Thus, public schools have to be responsive to the community's needs. They also have to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations that pertain to their operation.
Funding
Most of a public school district's funding comes from real estate taxes levied by the municipality. Most school district budgets are presented, discussed, and voted on in the first four months of the calendar year. If the taxpayers disapprove of the school district's budget for the next fiscal year, they can and will often vote it down. That results in budget cuts, including cuts to programs and staff.
Who decides policies
The elected board of a school district sets policy. The paid administration and staff carry out those policies.
Management
A professional, usually highly-credentialled, educator called a superintendent oversees the day-to-day management of a school district. National and regional organizations, including The School Superintendents Association and the National Association of School Superintendents, support these professionals.
Accountability
Ultimately a school district is accountable to the residents and taxpayers in the community. Regular school board meetings are usually open to the public. The National Association of School Boards has a wealth of information about how school boards operate. State associations of school boards offer information specific to your state.
Responsiveness
Along with accountability is the responsiveness of a school board to situations, both long-term and short-term. Social media virtually guarantees that a school board must act decisively and credibly to deal with matters before getting out of control. Bad actors and purveyors of misinformation will trash a school board's credibility faster than you can say "nano-second." For example, the Washington Examiner's article Yes, critical race theory is being taught in public schools claims that Critical Race Theory is being taught in our public schools. Contrast that point of view with
EXPLAINED: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and How It Shows Up in Your Child's Classroom in EducationPost. This article posits that Critical Race Theory influences curricula but is not taught per se. And so it goes. When a school board proactively puts out information about sensitive issues, its voice will stand a much better chance of being heard.
Curriculum
Each district determines its curriculum in compliance with state standards published by the state board of education. So, the idea that a local primary or middle school can teach a subject or other material that the district has not approved is inaccurate.
Philosophy
The local school district sets its approach or philosophy of education according to the wishes of its constituents.
This video looks at the role of a school board member.
Private schools' mission
Generally, private K-12 schools aim to educate the whole child. They follow the ancient adage "A healthy mind in a healthy body." That is why a typical private school's curriculum fully integrates academics and sports. Sports programs are not optional extras. Moreover, they generally are funded adequately and not subject to budget cuts.
Constituency
Families comprise the central portion of a private school's constituency. Because private day schools recruit their students from the local community, they rely on word-of-mouth endorsements from satisfied parents and students to attract new families. Graduates also form an essential part of a private school community. They appreciate the foundation the school gave them and promote it in many ways.
Who decides policies
The governing board of a private school determines how that school operates. Private schools are stand-alone corporate entities. They are not part of a public school district.
Management
A head of school or principal manages the day-to-day operations of a private school following the policy and directives of the board of trustees.
Accountability
A private school has to be accountable to its families. Without the support of its families, a private school will go out of business.
Responsiveness
Because private schools are small communities that operate legally and practically as stand-alone corporate entities, they can quickly respond to situations and issues. Whether they do so or not depends on the efficiency of the board and the administrators.
Curriculum
Each private school determines what it teaches and how it teaches its curriculum. That's the reason why some schools choose a curriculum centered on a particular religion, for example. If parents want their children raised in their Jewish faith, they have the option of sending them to a private school where Hebrew and the Torah take center stage. If you prefer to send your child to a school that doesn't give grades, you can select a school that follows the Montessori, Waldorf, or Reggio Emilia approach.
This video explains how a Montessori school operates.
Conclusion
Requiring a public school to conform to your way of thinking and educational preferences requires convincing a majority of your community's voters to go along with you. Then you would have to vote in a slate of school board members who agree with your point of view. This is happening in communities nationwide. But unfortunately, it polarizes the community.
When you send your child to a private school expecting your child to benefit from its college-prep curriculum, only to discover that it doesn't measure up to your requirements, you can find another private school that will suit your needs and requirements. Your grievance and its solution are a private matter.
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