Did my parents not care at all about their kids?

[So the Heroes Fall]

Well it appears all the conservatives here think parents who send their kids to private schools are just lazy selfish bastards who couldn't care less about their kids. I guess mine are since me and my brother all went to public schools, and my youngest brother is still going to a public school and will definately go to a public high school as well. My parents were not fond of private schools at all. One of my mom's friends sent her kids to a private school, and I sometimes heard my mom talking about how stupid she thought that was, and how stupid it was to pay so much for something you could easily get for free. So were my parents just heartless bastards who didn't care if their kids failed? If so that's rather odd considering all they sacrificed for us (moving off the reservation to a place that was a much better environment for us even though it meant commuting an hour to work and back every day, buying both me and my brother our cars and paying for our college education now, and paying off that huge credit card debt I incurred my freshman year...but hey, no parent who sends their kids to a public school can care about their kids!)

[Richard]

Well it appears all the conservatives here think parents who send their kids to private schools are just lazy selfish bastards who couldn't care less about their kids.

Huh?  I don't think that.  Honestly.  Where did I ever say that?

I guess mine are since me and my brother all went to public schools, and my youngest brother is still going to a public school and will definately go to a public high school as well. My parents were not fond of private schools at all. One of my mom's friends sent her kids to a private school, and I sometimes heard my mom talking about how stupid she thought that was, and how stupid it was to pay so much for something you could easily get for free. So were my parents just heartless bastards who didn't care if their kids failed?

Most likely just dumb and uneducated.

If so that's rather odd considering all they sacrificed for us (moving off the reservation to a place that was a much better environment for us even though it meant commuting an hour to work and back every day, buying both me and my brother our cars and paying for our college education now, and paying off that huge credit card debt I incurred my freshman year...but hey, no parent who sends their kids to a public school can care about their kids!)

Buying you a car is NOT "doing something for you."  It hurts you in the long run.  Paying for your college education is also NOT "doing something for you."  It hurts you in the long run.  (Unless it is an interest free loan, which is how I will pay for my kids' tertiary education.)  And worst of all, paying off that huge credit card debt is NOT GOOD FOR YOU AT ALL.

I'm sorry, but from what I read your parents made a lot of mistakes.  Maybe they were all heart and had the best intentions, but the way to hell is paved with good intentions and this is certainly not the best way to teach one's kids responsiblity and accountablility.

My parents, after I turned 18, helps me out, but I do not get any freebies (except accomodation and food).  I pay for my own education.  I pay for my own accomodation and living costs while living at school.  They would never in a million years pay off my credit card debt, unless it is through selling my stuff (such as my computer, etc.).  They would never buy me a car, unless it is like an interest free loan that they expect me to pay back.

[David S]

Well it appears all the conservatives here think parents who send their kids to private schools are just lazy selfish bastards who couldn't care less about their kids. I guess mine are since me and my brother all went to public schools, and my youngest brother is still going to a public school and will definately go to a public high school as well. My parents were not fond of private schools at all. One of my mom's friends sent her kids to a private school, and I sometimes heard my mom talking about how stupid she thought that was, and how stupid it was to pay so much for something you could easily get for free. So were my parents just heartless bastards who didn't care if their kids failed? If so that's rather odd considering all they sacrificed for us (moving off the reservation to a place that was a much better environment for us even though it meant commuting an hour to work and back every day, buying both me and my brother our cars and paying for our college education now, and paying off that huge credit card debt I incurred my freshman year...but hey, no parent who sends their kids to a public school can care about their kids!)

Your mother makes the point; why pay for something when you can get it for free. If there was a voucher system where she could send you wherever she wanted, would she still have have chosen the same way? Maybe, maybe not. But at least she would have had a choice. With the present government run  monopoly on education she had essentially no choice.

[Jake]

No, your parents are quite stupid for paying off your debt and buying you and your brother a car. Seems that's where you get your attitude from. How about working for a car instead of having it handed to you?

[So the Heroes Fall]

If I didn't have a car, I couldn't have a job anyway.

Your mother makes the point; why pay for something when you can get it for free. If there was a voucher system where she could send you wherever she wanted, would she still have have chosen the same way? Maybe, maybe not. But at least she would have had a choice. With the present government run  monopoly on education she had essentially no choice.

We did have school choice. There was 2 public high schools in my city. I lived in the district of one, but they were both about equal distance from our house. Most of my friends were going to the other one, so I transfered.

If we did have vouchers, I know that my parents would've never sent me to a private school unless I wanted to. They let me and my brothers pick what school we wanted to go to for middle and high school.

[Jake]

Buy a car yourself then.

[PBrunsel]

I attend public schools, but if you honestly think you get a better education at a public school than a private school you are either an idiot or an ignorant fool, perhaps both.

[Cashcow]

My parents cared about me more than enough, thanks

[PBrunsel]

BTW, I am not one mto question others parenting, so I did not vote.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Buy a car yourself then.

I don't have the money. And I can't buy one unless I get the money which requires a job.

For the record this car is not a new one, it's basically a hand-me-down. Once my parents bought a new car they gave me this one.

[Jake]

Maybe my community is wierdly self responsible, but the majority of kids buy their own cars and don't get given cars. No matter how new or old they are.

[MHS2002]

We did have school choice. There was 2 public high schools in my city

You're from Bismarck, right? You go to BHS or Century?

[So the Heroes Fall]

Century.

[MHS2002]

Century.

Ah. They beat my school team (Minot) for state Science Bowl one year. Bastards.

[So the Heroes Fall]

well you beat us at our senior homecoming football game.

[The Duke]

I'm not even going to pretend to know if your parents love you.

[dazzleman]

Where has anybody ever said that parents are neglectful if they send their kids to public school?

Truthfully, it depends on the school system.  Parents should seek to put their kids into schools that at least meet some standard, and if the public schools do, then there's nothing wrong with sending your kids there.

As far as your own parents' relationship with you, and parenting techniques, what they do is their business.  The results speak for themselves, for better or worse, and only you know the truth.

[Richard]

Well it appears all the conservatives here think parents who send their kids to private schools are just lazy selfish bastards who couldn't care less about their kids. I guess mine are since me and my brother all went to public schools, and my youngest brother is still going to a public school and will definately go to a public high school as well. My parents were not fond of private schools at all. One of my mom's friends sent her kids to a private school, and I sometimes heard my mom talking about how stupid she thought that was, and how stupid it was to pay so much for something you could easily get for free. So were my parents just heartless bastards who didn't care if their kids failed? If so that's rather odd considering all they sacrificed for us (moving off the reservation to a place that was a much better environment for us even though it meant commuting an hour to work and back every day, buying both me and my brother our cars and paying for our college education now, and paying off that huge credit card debt I incurred my freshman year...but hey, no parent who sends their kids to a public school can care about their kids!)

Your mother makes the point; why pay for something when you can get it for free. If there was a voucher system where she could send you wherever she wanted, would she still have have chosen the same way? Maybe, maybe not. But at least she would have had a choice. With the present government run  monopoly on education she had essentially no choice.

Ser David, if you want to buy a wine, would you rather take one that you already paid for and tastes like vinegar, or spend a few extra dollars and get a quality French wine?

[Storebought]

In Louisiana, if you don't send your children to private school you are (virtually) committing child abuse. Not sure if that's true in Texas, though

[David S]

Well it appears all the conservatives here think parents who send their kids to private schools are just lazy selfish bastards who couldn't care less about their kids. I guess mine are since me and my brother all went to public schools, and my youngest brother is still going to a public school and will definately go to a public high school as well. My parents were not fond of private schools at all. One of my mom's friends sent her kids to a private school, and I sometimes heard my mom talking about how stupid she thought that was, and how stupid it was to pay so much for something you could easily get for free. So were my parents just heartless bastards who didn't care if their kids failed? If so that's rather odd considering all they sacrificed for us (moving off the reservation to a place that was a much better environment for us even though it meant commuting an hour to work and back every day, buying both me and my brother our cars and paying for our college education now, and paying off that huge credit card debt I incurred my freshman year...but hey, no parent who sends their kids to a public school can care about their kids!)

Your mother makes the point; why pay for something when you can get it for free. If there was a voucher system where she could send you wherever she wanted, would she still have have chosen the same way? Maybe, maybe not. But at least she would have had a choice. With the present government run  monopoly on education she had essentially no choice.

Ser David, if you want to buy a wine, would you rather take one that you already paid for and tastes like vinegar, or spend a few extra dollars and get a quality French wine?

Personally I'd rather buy beer. I would not argue with your assessment of public schools being like vinegar, although the public schools in our area are pretty good. My point to Born on the Floor  is that by funding the public schools with tax dollars and not allowing those dollars to be used for private schools the state gives a huge cost advantage to public schools. I haven't priced private schools, but in public schools the per student spending in our area is about $7000. If private schools cost as much then the parents would have to shell out $7000 per child each year for private school. Over grades 1 through 12 that would amount to $84,000 per child or $168,000 for two children. Thats a pretty stiff cost for most parents to absorb, which pretty much eliminates the private option for people of average means.