HW 46

To further investigate the idea of school and what is all really behind it, i wanted to explore the differences (pros and cons) of public school education vs. private school education in America (more specifically New York City) At first i began to browse through a book about teenagers and there rights, i can not recall the exact name of the book but didn't find it very insightful or helpful for what research i needed. A friend of mind was doing a similar topic and recommended a book called "Academy X" written by Andrew Trees. The book was based (a true story) around a private school teacher and his experiences while working, to my surprise it was more about his traumatizing experience working than what he enjoyed about teaching at an elite academy. In the book he discussed what he though of students and his colleagues. My first impression was that he would be a successful teacher who went far, he thought it was important to always be fair and showed everyone equal amounts of respect. Like the movies we have seen clips on in class it became apparent that teaching was not an easy of a job despite what everyone else might think. While reading it became apparent that public schools where nothing like private schools and have me some outlook and perspective on what to look for while researching schools in the city.
Private schools seemed to hype up there reputation but was the enormous about of tuition really worth it. It seemed to me that schools made it there number one priority to market the school to who they know would be willing to pay for their children to attend. Parents who grew up thinking status and class was the number one thing, shopped for schools like they would the newest designer brand handbag. They thought if their child attend a renowned school with the name they might be more likely to help their children land a spot in a top ivy league for college. The way the school system was described in the book seemed almost like a scene form gossip girl. If the children misbehaved or got in some sort of trouble there million and billionaire family could essentially buy them selves out of the mess they created. I was shocked to see that the according to the author of the book his boss (the principal) saw the students parents customers, they were just what was gonna make him richer and his business up and running.
Teachers seemed to also get away with much more than they should have been allowed to, in some cases teacher students relationships became controversial. I wonder if this is really any different in public schools... i doubt it. One of the student Andrew talked about had claimed to have been raped because of a copied paper. this resulted in the separation of students vs. kids sides where being taken and it became almost impossible to prove. For some reason is not schocking that teacher will get away with crimes like this. I think this could be a topic on its own for why teacher students flings are appealing. School was at one point in time a place for childeren to learn but how much do we actually retain if any... I wonder if there is a more effective way to get into teenagers minds, there does not seem to be a earge to learn maybe that is because as americans we are too lazy and spoiled... standards are not high enough, we get away with too much so we continue to push limits.