Is there a correlation between religion and education?

[Marina]

Great column and I agree with everything in it except that it would satisfy "both sides" in the US. Right now, for example, there are districts in NJ that have been court ordered to pay as much as $20k per student to public schools. I don't see a school getting that kind of money ever letting go of it.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

Masha wrote: "Great column and I agree with everything in it except that it would satisfy "both sides" in the US. Right now, for example, there are districts in NJ that have been court ordered to pay as much as ..."

That's the thing, though. Teachers Unions will not be a fan of this idea, ever. BUT if it becomes rule/law in the US the schools will not have the option to stop a parent from moving their child (thus the money). It's like a pipe dream though... the status quo is almost never changed.

[Mach]

Here in Norway most kids go puplic schools that are completle free of charge no tuition whatsoever, even the kids of millionaires go to public school. Education is completely free even the books until tenth grade. In high school and the university/or as you call it in the US college, the books are the only thing the students have to pay for. But the books don't cost much it's around 15 dollars each. We have very few private schools, most of them are Waldorf schools but they are not any better then public schools only more exentric. Higher education is free for everyone the only thing that matters if you want to get in, is your previuos grades.

[Marina]

Can people pick schools or are they assigned by district? I think this would determine quality somewhat instead of having captive audience.

[Mach]

Parents can choose the Kindergarten. But the children in middle school from grade 1-7 and 8-10, are assigned to the closest school, unless there is a special reason, like if a family moves but the student still want's to go to the previuos school, he don't need to change. In High school and University/College the student can choose. The quality is pretty much the same all over the country though. We also have national tests where the students are tested to see whether they are getting good education. Sometimes these test will find that a student that gets bad grades actually is more intellegent and should therefore have grades accordingly.

[Shelley]

Sorry, I dont know what a charter school is but in the UK we were promised to be allowed to send our children to the school of our choice. In reality, the good schools are so over booked that children are having to go to their second or third choice, if they are lucky. I'm not sure if religious schools are the answer anymore either, because there are rumours, admittedly spread by the media, that some religions are using the schools to encourage segregation and intolerance of other religions. It's all a bit of a mess really isnt it!