[danans]

I'm sorry for your truly traumatizing experience, but you should know that not all public schools are like yours was.

There are a lot of public schools where students have great experiences on balance, but they tend to be in communities with resources, and importantly, involved parents, often via a PTA that is actively involved in keeping the school a safe place for children, usually with active anti-bullying programs and interventions.

Any school is ultimately an extension of the community it serves, and the problems and virtues of that community will manifest themselves in the school. For example, many wealthy private schools have severe problems with students who have access to high cost dangerous drugs. I personally know many people who have seen that phenomenon up close. Bullying can take place in these schools too, but be covered up by the fact that parents are paying very high tuition fees.