Why Are There Private Schools?

In any given society there are social norms. These are standards and expectations held by the majority of the citizens. They can be influenced by cultural traditions, economic conditions, and community values. Some of the current norms might be that all children go to school during the daylight hours from Monday through Friday, September through June. Another might be that the purpose of public education is to allow the graduating students to get a job in their community or to go on to college or university. Another economic norm is that education is free. Our laws, because we are a democracy, reflect these norms. Therefore we have the public school system, which meets the needs of the majority of students and their families.

But what about those students and families who either want or need something outside the norm? That is where private schools come into play. Private schools will always provide those services not offered by the public school system. Consequently they will always exist and they will be driven by the unfulfilled needs of the families. Because they are outside of the public system, they receive no public funding and must be paid for by the families or other governing institutions, such as a church.

In today's society most private schools offer smaller classes, more individual teaching, stronger academics, more diverse curriculum, and sometimes a religious foundation. Mississippi School for the Arts provides many of these with classes capped at 15 students, a strong university preparatory academic program, and an opportunity for students to explore and express themselves through the arts.

Whereas the public system reflects the standards of the majority, private schools offer choice to those wanting something different. Therefore, there will always be such schools. We are not all the same and sometimes we need a different education for our children than that which is offered within the system.

Some people believe that private schools undermine the public school system. This would seem absurd if one considers the millions of children educated in the system and the few thousands educated within the private system. Public education will always be the main avenue for the education of a society's children. Through government and the will of the people, it will always reflect the norms of the society. Private schools are, and always have been, a minor fringe which enables parents, with the means, to educate their children in a different manner. Each private school has its own niche - its own values and offerings. We will never get to a point where any school system, public or private, can offer all things to all people. There is no such thing as a system which will meet the needs of all children. So private schools exist to fill some of the small gaps left by the public system. They offer choice and opportunities which cannot be found within the system.

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