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Answers to Readers' Questions on Education

As a Business

The following 2 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.

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I say that Education is NOT a business
Funding private schools

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I say that Education is NOT a business

Question

December 9, 2008

Education is NOT a business. Running a business involves making choices according to what materials will be used, what products will be produced, etc. Educators do NOT get to pick and choose who they will teach. They do not get to weed out the "bad eggs" or send back any kids who do NOT want to learn. Teachers may not tell their students to come back when they know English. Teachers may not tell their mentally challenged kids to go somewhere else or stay home until they figure it out. Businesses find the best materials, weed out the "bad eggs", and turn out products the public will buy. Educators are NOT businessmen and never will be. Education is NOT a business, and it never will be.

- USA

16924

Answer

It is difficult for a public school to be run as a business, since the schools must take in all members of society and try to do the best they can. A private school can be more selective and has a better chance to be run as a business.

In either case, teachers are employees of the school and often have little to say about what they think is the right way to teach. On the other hand, in some well-run companies, the employees have an input on what they see works best at their level. Those companies are usually successful. If the schools were run as such businesses, the teachers could give more input and the schools would usually operate more effectively in achieving their mission.

Many businesses also seek to provide excellent service to their customers, otherwise the customers will go elsewhere. Parents and taxpayers are the customers to the schools. Some school districts are looking at schools as businesses in competition for students. If the school is poorly run, parents can take their children to a different school. This seems to have worked well to improve the schools in those communities.

I agree that the education system is not all that simple, because schools must contend with the many ills of society. However, I still feel that the education systems would gain in considering themselves as businesses where they must meet the desires of the paying customers and provide the best education possible to their children.

Funding private schools

Question

December 4, 2003

I like the thought of a private, non-profit educational system funded initially (construction) by private investment, and operationally by by our tax dollars. Frankly, I thought a private education could not be funded by tax dollars. Yet, I've thought for the past couple years that there should be some way to do this from a business investment perspective, but I never motivated myself to pursue this. Now I'm glad you came along to propose and push this concept.

However, I do have a question regarding one of your comments, and that is you would propose taking care of the $10.6M debt to Manchester as part of the overall financials of the Bedford Academy proposal. I'm assuming by this that the upfront investment portion of this package would include this $10.6M cost, along with the capital cost of the facilities. And, that payment for this "total" cost would be amortized over a 30 year period, and paid by the annual tuition revenue. Is this "grossly" correct? Do you have any more information on the financing concept that I could use to help me "debate" the issue with my neighbors?

Thanks for any informative response you can provide.

Al -

1474

Answer

The problem that happens when schools are funded by tax dollars is that the government becomes the customer to be satisfied and not the parents who are paying the taxes. This can result in schools not being responsive to the wishes of the parents.

Although funding must come from taxes to be able to allow all children to get an education, the attitude toward being responsive to parents should be changed.

There are some school systems where public funds have gone to private schools, provided they do not exclude students on unfair grounds.

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