[nkrisc]

Why? The point of a public school is that they serve the public good, not shareholder value. The issue isn't that public schools are a money pit, the issue is whether they're educating students.

A business will seek a profit. That should not be a factor at all in public education. The costs of public education should certainly be considered, especially the question of how much is spent and the quality of the education. That should always be under careful review. However the purpose of public education is to spend our collective money educating the populace. It should be a cost, it shouldn't make money. It's not meant to, it's meant to educate.

[temp8964]

I understand you have a strong believe that public good is not for profit, but this simplistic view is patently wrong. Public good and profit are not two things contradictory to each other. It is just very common in the market that businesses serve both profit goal and public good. It is 90% about how the world improves in a market dominant system. There is something fundamentally wrong in your worldview of the society and the market. But hay, I don't think I can change your mind.

[nkrisc]

Profit is not a goal of public education. Education is the goal of public education. It should be the singular goal.

Yes, my belief is that public education is a cost borne collectively by a society. We take some of our profit and spend it on public education, it does not produce profit.

Yes, we should care how our money is spent in pursuit of public education. I'm not advocating waste. But the question we should ask is whether the money we spend results in a worthwhile education for students.

It is my experience that public good typically loses to profit when contradicts the other.

[lazide]

Many public schools are run as an administrative jobs program, not as a public good.

Well, they do if public good is as a daycare to let the parents work. Which is something.

[nkrisc]

That's a separate problem, one that is not solved by making public education private.