I live in Nashville, a city with a rich, disturbing history of private schools (many of which sprung up during the civil rights era and it's no secret why). I also taught in public schools for five years.

I think both sides of the debate would benefit from talking to the other side. In Nashville, where you send your kids becomes a political point, on line with wearing a pro-choice or pro-life button and then asking those who disagree to please not mention it in polite company. Many offer a "not in my backyard" approach. As in, "I support the public schools, but I'll be sending my children to the magnet/private school." My choice to send my own children (who have yet to exist, so take that as you will) to public school was met with gasps and accusations of "child sacrifice." Nevermind that these same people know I work in the school system.

My decision to be a public school teacher has been met with everything from shock to derision to applause. I deserve none of those. The nadir came from a visit to the emergency room at midnight, when the nurse, shocked when I told her the name of the school I taught at, asked me, "How do you do it?" while serving a room full of gunshot victims and virus carriers. Well, I suppose I do it the same way you do it; the same way anyone does it. If you have the heart for service, you do it. Some say it's a "calling," and it is, somewhat. But we all choose where to spend our capital of time. Do we trade it in for money or fancy things?

One comment, so far (I assume there will be more), referred to the lack of intelligence of graduates of education colleges. She/he insinuates that private schools are better because they can higher teachers with advance degrees. But since the "smart" people go into the lucrative careers, doesn't this mean that smarter teachers take the higher paying positions? Those are almost always with public schools. In my area, public schools pay an average of 15% more.

What also gets lost in the debate over education, particulary when it comes to test scores and graduation rates, is that we're talking about people. Children. And it doesn't really matter how knowledgable you are on a subject, to be able to teach you have to be able to love. All children, no matter what. That goes for volunteers, as well. And parents. That's a tall order for most people, and part of why so many leave the teaching profession.

Americans don't have to choose between the two, that's my point. Your words:

"Many, many people go through schools of education because they had trouble in schools themselves and want to "pay back" somehow, or because they couldn't cut it in other, more difficult courses of study."

How many people do you know to whom this actually applies? I would hope that it is very few, if any, regardless of occupation. Can you imagine a doctor going through medical school to "pay back" the doctors who messed him or her up? I certainly don't know anyone who lasted longer than a year as a teacher who was not both knowledgable about subject matter and loving. But those who were only knowledgable quit in the first week. Knowledge alone can get you very far in fields where you don't interact with people, but in teaching people skills are an absolute must, and to insist on knowledge and advanced degrees (if there are teachers out there who can afford them before they start working) as a measure of teaching ability is to do yourself (as an administrator) a deep disservice.

And cliches exist for a reason.

I didn't know whether to post this here or in response to Moser, so I decided to go contrary. I live in Nashville, Tennessee and have taken a few drives through some backcountry this year, including back highways in North Georgia. I have seen a total of three--that is a TOTAL of three--stickers, yard signs, etc. supporting McCain. Three. Count it.

I have seen an overwhelming amount of stickers, yard signs, plaques, window signs, marquees, posters (including a hand painted one down the street) for Obama.

Granted, I have seen my share of signage for the defunct Ron Paul and some people still have their W stickers out (Lord knows I still have my "No W"). But, I see it as a small step towards victory.

Here's to hope!

Well, I wasn't necessarily speaking to the "two sides" in the comments, but to my own experience, where "two sides" are very much a part of daily life. If only there was a gray middle ground, I would be the first to move there.

But then, just as I was agreeing with you, you go and use the phrase "sacrifice to the public school alter" and it just reminds me that there really are "two sides" after all.

Most people don't realize that if a student has a severe disability and his or her zoned school cannot provide the appropriate learning environment, the school system has to pay for that child to attend a private, specialized school. Some private schools know and play this game well.

Amen to everyone above me, plus:

I know I won't be able to go out as much as I'd like anymore, and that I'll have to spend a few Friday nights watching the house while my boyfriend sees his friends.

Seriously? Listen to yourself. Sounds like he's using you as free babysitting. Cary's right about him being a lawyer. Don't let him charm you into this. Stand for something. Stand for yourself.