Private schools have a very thin layer of administration as a rule. Public schools mean well, but don't succeed at doing a superior job because bloated administration costs consume so much of their budgets.
For example, look at the continuing debate on school vouchers and background checks for private school teachers. Courts around the nation have upheld voucher plans. Many states now require private schools to do background checks including an FBI check on new teachers. Let's look at the
Vouchers
The school voucher issue is complex. The idea here is to give parents of children in failing public schools tuition vouchers which will help them pay for education at independent schools. You would think school choice for parents would be logical and necessary. It is another service just like food stamps or social security. Just give them the money and let them spend it where they will. Naturally politicians who seek to protect the bloated, entrenched interests of the public education system are trying to attach all sorts of strings to the voucher proposal. The Same argument as before applies. If government gives an institution money, it has a right to know how the money has been spent. Therefore there will be more compliance reports and more paperwork.
Background Checks
Public school teachers have for many years been required to submit to a thorough background check. But in most cases private school teachers were exempt. Any government requirement raises immediate questions of compliance and cost of compliance. No doubt about it, doing a background check on somebody who is going to be entrusted with our children makes good sense. Problem is, somebody has to pay for it. If the government pays for the cost, then you can bet there will be a mountain of forms to fill out by somebody who knows how to fill them out. That somebody is either an overburdened member of staff or a new hire who is taken on to fill the requirements of the government subsidy. Pre employment compliance, post hiring compliance, quarterly and annual reports will inevitably be part of the required monitoring.
Historically education deteriorates when government gets involved. We know this but refuse to accept the lessons which history teaches us. All of this brings me back to the answer to my first question: a bloated public school administration prevents public schools from doing a good job of educating our children. The lean, efficient private school administration allocates a larger share of its dollars to the classroom. This directly benefits the students. So does competition. And the use of vouchers will definitely encourage competition.
Conclusion
These are exciting times for American education, both private and public. Let's keep tightly focused on the real aim as we debate and legislate: the compelling need to create future generations of highly trained and well educated citizens who can cope with demands of a dynamic, fast changing society.
