Please read this if you're going to answer! Thank you.
I read an answer by someone I can only guess is an assumptive, uninformed individual stating that religious schools do not provide a good education. Sadly, this person received seven thumbs up from other uninformed people.
As someone who went to both private (religious) school and public schools, I remember quite well that those of us who attended the private religious school were more advanced than those who had begun their education in a public school. We all had to transfer from the private religious school after fourth grade to public schools due to the lack of funding.
However, I know every one of us who began our schooling in that private religious school went on to be in all the top classes in the public high school we attended in the town I grew up in. We are also the ones who were repeatedly on the honor roll and many of us received scholarships.
So, my curiosity got me looking up the stats for private religious education vs public education. Now, it should be noted that I am NOT religious - and have not been for most of my life. By most accounts I would be deemed an atheist (my beliefs are far too eclectic to be categorized properly, so I just go with atheist to make it easier).
So, I'm curious how many here actually KNOW the stats for private religious schools vs public schools here in the United States.
Do my fellow atheists really know what they're spouting, or agreeing, with?
Update:*** I Do Not Thumb Down ***
Update 3:NOTE - There is nothing in my post about "home schooling". This question has NOTHING to do with home schooling!!!
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Just did a quick search and found a page that looks interesting. I can't say that i completely understand after briefly reading but...
"Based on adjusted school means, the average for public schools was significantly higher than the average for private schools for grade 4 mathematics, while the average for private schools was significantly higher than the average for public schools for grade 8 reading. The average differences in adjusted school means for both grade 4 reading and grade 8 mathematics were not significantly different from zero."
The part I am not quite understanding is how they reached the "adjusted school means."
"The goal of the study was to examine differences in mean National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading and mathematics scores between public and private schools when selected characteristics of students and/or schools were taken into account. Among the student characteristics considered were gender, race/ethnicity, disability status, and identification as an English language learner."
With private schools often having smaller class sizes and criteria to meet before being accepted to the school, I suspect that the adjustment is to attempt to reach a more level playing field. Before the adjustments, most private schools performed significantly better than public schooling.
This shows just the two topics of reading and mathematics, so it's hard to state that one is certainly better than the other. We must also consider that each school will perform differently, and if we were to take the very best public school and the very best private school into comparison, I doubt we would see much of a difference. (Interestingly, whenever they showed statistics specifically for Conservative Christian private schools, they seemed to consistently be lower that the scores of public schools.)
Their summary seems to indicate that the private schools put a greater emphasis on reading, while public schools may hold a slight edge in math. This would make sense to me as I suspect many private schools would encourage reading of scripture. The additional reading in itself would aid anyone's reading skills, but also considering how different the wording is in the Bible and the discussions that would be necessary to help everyone understand the verses and consider what the context is.
I too am an atheist, but I would have to say that it seems the edge goes to private schooling. By the 8th grade it shows the math scores to be very similar and reading scores take a very large lead. I would still not choose to send my sons to a religious school... even if I could afford it.
I've got no stats, but 3 families I know use the private religious schools. They all report smaller class sizes & the ratio of students to services was much more favourable than they had found in public school.
Now, one of the 3, is having issues with English & the kids as it's not the primary language in their school, but apparently the school is adapting to solve this issue.
I don't know the stats (nor do I trust the websites that would provide such stats) but I have thought about that and it seems that the private (religious or not ) schools would in general have less students per teacher and would probably be stronger in Math, and literature and basic English compositions. (Plus said students would come from parents willing to pay the extra money - parents who encouraged their children to pay attention in school.( A broad generalization on my part)
However, the students of a public school might be stronger in science because of the public money available for more sophisticated science labs and such.
Actually, I feel it doesn't matter very much at all - because a student's incentive is what counts in regards to how much he or she learns in school.
North Dakota is in a strange situation nationally.
Our public schools have always and still do match or exceed any religious or private schools.
Most of the Catholic schools around when I was in high school 45 years ago have closed.
Edit - A large one near me, New England St. Mary's closed and became a womens prison about ten years ago.
RScott
While I disagree with indoctrinating kids as part of school curriculum, I do believe that a private education (even a christian school) is going to be better than public school. The reason why is because private schools tend to have smaller class sizes, so the teachers and students can have a better working relationship. I would go so far as to say that home schooling is an even better alternative. And tbh public schools are doing their own indoctrination of our kids. So yea, Christian private schools are inherently better education environments. It's not the "Christian" part that makes them better though.
My dad was a self taught mechanical chemical engineer, and he could have worked any where in the world he wanted. He ended up in Rio De Genaro. (something like that). I guess it's how much heart you put into things. Hi, hope we're feeling better today!
A part from my dad's heart, he was religious, and I was raised in a religious dysfunctional family. I went to a religious school, and the difference is being positively motivationaly directed toward goals. Public schools teach collective thought, unlike God inspired, and a child becomes lost and undirected without being able to focus on individual choices towards goals. You might try googling "social engineering" to bring you up to date on what's really going on in the world.
The home schooled have a greatly disproportionate percentage of high scores. Perhaps they are more likely to get an education rather than an indoctrination.
Private schools have been know to produce better educated students than public schools, though I don't have the statics to quote exactly. And to Terry W., thank you for showing us what is wrong with public schools. With teachers and counselors like you, who needs idiots?
http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pdf/studies/2...
I agree with OUR Scott
As a working counsellor and therapist I come across many, very many who have been educated in a religious school. To put it mildly, it f***s them up.