Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games

Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by themitigating on Friday July 07, 2023 @08:55AM (#36630981)

What makes a private school more likely to expell children?

Since they are a for profit enterprise, unlike public schools, wouldn't there be a financial incentive to have as many customers as possible?

In one particular area what is the reason a charter school would be better than a public school. Since the entry factor for most (excluding schools for smart kids) is money why wouldn't the same problems occur at a charter school? Finally, why can't we just fix public schools?

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Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by mhb on Friday July 07, 2023 @08:59AM (#36631040)

What makes a private school more likely to expell children?

Uh, because more customers will leave if the private school is no better than a public school.

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Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by conception on Friday July 07, 2023 @09:00AM (#36631048)

It’s a business where all the customers interact with one another. If it costs more in complaints, then you drop the bad apple.

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Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by monero-xmr on Friday July 07, 2023 @09:00AM (#36631056)

Because the paying customers will go elsewhere if they allow another paying customer to ruin it. They want 20 to stay even if they have to lose the 21st payer.

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Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by giantg2 on Friday July 07, 2023 @10:01AM (#36631918)

The private schools are seeking and selling quality. Plus, the majority of private schools are non-profits. Many are religiously affiliated and would like a large population as as a potential source of new religious members, but they also need some way to fund that. If a family is already paying $5k/yr in property taxes it is less likely they can afford another $10/yr for 2 kids to go to private school. The funding is the biggest blocker to increased private and charter school attendance. That's why there's so much talk about things like vouchers, 529s, etc.

"Finally, why can't we just fix public schools?"

That's a good question without a good answer. Perhaps the best answer is the meta that people don't agree on the course of action that would "fix" the schools since there are numerous opinions on what that is, resulting in no action or half measures.

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Re:Charter schools, social norming and zero-sum games by light_hue_1 on Friday July 07, 2023 @11:28AM (#36633208)

Many public schools simply cannot expel problem students.

The school district must educate everyone. When a school expels or excludes a student that student is still a live human that must somehow be educated. They may need to be bussed somewhere. Or to be sent to another school in another district. All of this is very expensive. Never mind that someone needs to administer this.

So in a public school expelling a student increases costs significantly, several fold. In a private school, it decreases costs. The private school just tells you to hit the road.

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