[daepp]

The tuition at the private school my children attend is just under $3,600 per year. In the So. Cal public school district we are in the cost to "educate" on child is $7,600.

Contrary to popular belief, we do accept just about anyone who can pay (and some who don't) at any normal range of academic abilities. We have rich snops and poor folks, super high achievers and strugglers. We cannot offer everything a public school has to offer, but we try to accomodate the most amount of children the best we can. And our children become better studnets and better citizens than their public school counterparts.

The common denominator for these kids' success is parents who care and look after them attentivley. The children who succeed have parents that want the best for their children, and this cuts accross all socio-economic levels. Having to write that check every month makes for a real reality check when your kid says they don't want to study etc.

Conversley, taking the responsibilty for educating children away from the parents and putting it on the government has had horrible results. California at one time had the highest test results in the nation - now the public schools can't seem to spend enough money, our protperty taxes ar $7,500 per year, and the lids can't read.

Meanwhile, the CTA and the NEA just lobby for more money - or for stem cell research - or fighting Walmart - or sticking up for the Retail Clerks Union.

Public schools and the unions that support them MAKE ME SICK!