Youth / OPINION : Public Versus Private Schools: ‘Great Things Come Out of Both’ : JEFF THOMPSON; Junior, 16, Rancho Cucamonga High School

It’s obvious private school offers a better academic education. They are simply ahead of public school. I attended a private school for nine years and am now re-learning things in my junior year of high school that I learned in early (private) junior high school. There are fewer students per teacher at these schools and they have the financial means to supply a child with almost anything they may need.

Social growth is also important. Although private schools somewhat hinder that learning with fewer students, they make up for it by teaching courtesy, kindness and other social skills.

I’m not saying public schools are useless, far from it. After nine years of private school, I was glad to go to a public school. I am also glad, however, that my early education was as good as it was.