Private Vs. Public School

It is late, I haven't posted here in a while, and there are lots of things I can talk about (like last month's Conservative Party majority victory), but maybe another time. I thought I'd write a quick blurb about a dilemma with which I have been wrestling.

When I started in public school, oh so many eons ago, it was at the tail end of the 1970s and the start of the 1980s. Schools (at least where I grew up) still had corporal punishment (the strap) as a disciplinary alternative. I remember my buddy Shane in grade 2, who was subject to a strap session after school due to some apparent misbehaviour on his part. I was only threatened with it once after some not so chivalrous behaviour with the other grade 2 girls at the time. But the fear of God was put into me when the vice-principal simply pulled out his desk drawer and showed me the strap. I must have crapped my pants tenfold upon seeing the potential instrument of punishment, which served as a sufficient deterrent.

I now have my own little kid in grade two, and man, how the educational system has changed over the years in the public school system. In Ontario, aside from having some politically correct elements placed into the curriculum, apparently I found out that they don't fail kids anymore, and morever, the school administration at times has their hands tied when a parent disagrees with the level of discipline (which in most cases is pretty mild anyway).

My son is doing well in school, getting As and Bs on his report card, so academically, I have no concern. Last year he was bullied but through working with the principal, they managed to somehow isolate the bully, especially after I hinted tot he principal that if their methods don't work, I will give my son both permission and encouragement to defend himself, regardless of the outcome to the bully. The principal knew what I was getting at and said that if that happens, he would understand (look the other way). Though the thought of imagining my kid beat the crap out of his aggressor bully would give me much satisfaction, cooler heads prevailed and we decided to do it the principal's way.

This year, my son has had some peer pressure problems, from a set of twins in his class who have been verifiably classified as troublemakers since kindergarten. These twin boys are disruptive, feed off each other, and seem to corral the other boys into misbehaving. Their use bad language, sexual terms (for a grade two, that is so sad) - apparently all picked up from their older brother in grade six. The sad thing about that family is that their father is some Greek orthodox priest. He must be spending all his time at his church/parish and neglecting his kids, since honestly, why else would they turn out like this? If it was my son, I'd beat on his butt with a stick, a long time ago and he'd learn his lesson.

In talking with the teacher, she says that these twins are in the office several times a week since September (it's May, for crying out loud!) My first reaction - why can't the school split up the twins, since they obviously are trouble when together. Her response - the parents won't allow it. So when did the parents override the school's principal and teachers, who essentially are watching out for the welfare of the students as a whole. I also found out that the school system (at least in Ontario) does not allow for kids to fail a grade, unless...you guessed it...the parents agree (and what parents would want to admit that their child did not make the grade). So they are passing many kids which I am sure that 30 years ago they would have failed. Add to that the ridiculous leftist propaganda in being "tolerant" to stuff like Muslim holidays and crap like that. Yet, Christians can't openly pray in school or bring Bible stuff for show and tell.

It is in light of all this that I am seriously considering putting my son in a Christian private school next year. There are several problems with this at this juncture of time: 1. I have another baby on the way, our third, and as a result my wife will not be working for the next year (employment wise, she won't be working but she will definitely be working for sure). 2. I am losing my job at the end of this calendar year. So money's tight for us. I also don't believe in getting myself in debt to fund my son's education. But as I am pondering all these things, several questions have come to mind.

1. Will having him in a private school make that much of a difference? Remember, he's good academically, it's just the bad influences coupled with the public school's inability to take a stand against the parents or enforce serious discipline, are starting to irk me. I talked with my brother today and he believes that the yahoos and the bad kids' behaviour may either be lessened or better controlled in private school, but make no bones about it, kids will be kids and some of the behaviour may just go underground.

2. Should I leave him in public school so that he can learn with some pracical, real-life scenarios, how to make smart decisions? Otherwise, am I just shielding him from learning life lessons the hard way, since obviously he will encounter problem people throughout his life in school, at work, etc.

3. Should I leave him in public school and I take up the cause to change how things are done there. I suspect this may be futile since the school takes its orders and policies from the board, who take it from the provincial government.

It just burns me that my kid can't just go to school to learn academics. I understand there is no perfect school, but have we really slid down the slope so badly in 30 years that now we are letting the inmates run the asylum, so to speak?

Do you have kids in public or private school? Did you ever wrestle with this decision? If so, I'd be interested in hearing your perspective, whatever it is.