Comment by dpoochieni
5 years ago
Knowing closely two countries: USA and Mexico, I just know that people in the know and with the means to do so (top %1+) just avoid public education like the plague. (Up to high school, then it's just a matter of going to a top college.)
At some point you have to consider the history of public education and it was just a tool for controlling and repressing individual thought, give busy work to lower class kids so they stay out of trouble, don't grow up to question the system. What is usually taught there? Obey authority at all cost, getting status symbols from authority is most important (not actually learning), do not interact with people different from you (why the grade separation? shouldn't people learn at their own pace?), learn not what interests you, just follow the damn syllabus choosen by someone else, don't stand out, just memorize stuff, don't read actual primary sources, just the predigested/rehashed summary. I mean, sure there might be exceptions but it's pretty much the same everywhere
What countries you think are doing a great job and why?
Depends a lot on where you are. I went to public school and it was a solid education. Most of the kids in my extended family are getting a public education and they're doing fine, too.
I agree it could be better, and it some places it could be a lot better. But when compared with the alternative -- no public education at all -- you'll see why it's a necessary foundation to democracy.