Private Schools

Here is an article I got for you folks from the Liberator Online e-newsletter, a service provided by the Advocates for Self-Government.  You can read about it and sign up here: 
http://www.theadvocates.org/publications/liberator-online.html


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"Surprising Facts About Private Schools

Private schools are good for families, good for kids and good for America,
according to the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), an organization
that champions American private K-12 education.

But you may be surprised at just *how* beneficial and effective private schools
are. According to CAPE:

* One in four U.S. schools is a private school.

* One child in nine attends a private school.

* Private schools produce an annual savings to taxpayers estimated at more than
$48,000,000,000.

* Private school students perform better than their government school
counterparts on standardized achievement tests.

* Ninety percent of private high school graduates attend college, compared to
66 percent of government high school graduates.

* Private school students from low socio-economic backgrounds are more than
three times more likely than comparable government school students to attain a
bachelor's degree by their mid-20s, meaning that private schools contribute to
breaking the cycle of poverty for their students.

* Private schools are racially, ethnically, and economically diverse. Twenty-
three percent of private school students are students of color; twenty-eight
percent are from families with annual incomes under $50,000.

* Private secondary school students are nearly 50 percent more likely to take
AP or IB courses in science and math than government school students.

* The participation of private school students in community service projects is
significantly higher than their government school counterparts.

* Private school students feel safer in their schools, and *are* safer, than
students in government schools.

* A study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that more than
three-quarters of private school parents are "very satisfied" with their
child's school, compared with less than half of parents whose children were
assigned to a government school

.. and that's just the beginning, according to CAPE. (The statements above are
fully documented at the organization's Web site, at the URL just below.)

No wonder, then, that -- to cite another CAPE statistic -- a substantial
majority of adults believe private schools do a better job of providing a
quality education than government schools. And that belief, in turn, is fueling
increased demand among parents for alternatives to the government's education
monopoly.

(Source: CAPE report at: http://www.capenet.org/benefits4.html )"

>>19
"Possibly.. the other possibility is that the democrats will stop trying to stick their noses in our pocketbooks, and keep their hands off our guns."

They will not stop doing these things until they understand votes depend on it.  Voting for them while they continue to do this will make them think they are doing things right.  This is called enabling.

"Its a tough choice, and I live in a swing state."

As I do not live in a swing state, I suppose it is easier to denounce voting republicrat, but I still maintain that in the vast majority of cases this will accomplish little to nothing.  Sometimes it is better to vote for the strongest opposition candidate to avoid someone really nefarious, but I think this is rare.

"I doubt the main two parties will ever become irrelevant due to a tiny faction of libertarians, but with any luck, my voting libertarian would make the democrats more conservative, and the republicans less supportive of the patriot act and drug wars."

Yes, this is the true purpose of third parties that many people overlook.  It is not to become strong enough to replace one of the major parties, but to gain enough power and influence to make them stop and evaluate what's going on.  When the republicrats start realizing they are losing elections because third parties are getting votes, they will take on aspects of those thirds parties to draw these votes to them.

"Well, ordinarilly, I'd think that this is often the case, but I live in a swing state that happens to have been decided on a very slim margin this past election."

You have to think about this and how truly bad it would be if the other person were to be elected.  Recognize the difference between a gun grabber and someone who wants to place a few restrictions or taxes on buying.  Both are bad, but one is worse and one can be more easily remedied than the other.  If you think a candidate is not only a major threat to you, but has plenty of support, then it does make sense to vote against them.  But be intelligent about it.

Remember though, there are many people out there that think and hesitate to vote for third parties just like you.  You need to find these people so that you can vote en masse and send a strong message to the major parties.  Even if it might cost an election for your lesser evil, they need to get the message.

And I just remembered this thread is about private schools so: lol public schools r sux