FIRST and most importantly, it is not the responsibility of a government to educate the citizens...unless of course your a descendant of Lenin or have an agenda you would want to push on others then the public education vehicle is obviously the best route to take.
Secondly, attendance laws and state controll of homeschooling defeats the entire purpose. I don't have to prove to you that I can spell. I don't have to prove to the president that I can spell. My education is mine alone.
Third, a public school 70K salary does not mean the education is good, you seem to be concerned about teacher salaries, teachers know what they are getting into when they start their job. If they don't like it then they had better choose another field. Could it be some don't MIND working for "peanuts". In continuation, private schools are not likely to force a potential teacher to go to college for an education degree(as the feel good types in the NEA were the pioneers of the "education" degree). Instead, they can pursue a degree in Math, Science or Government. Imagine, a teacher teaching in a subject they know well and enjoy! What a thought!!
Remember, not everyone is going to make an awesome living and just because working for peanuts is an unappealling idea to you (and me) that it does not mean that there are not people out there willing to do it.
better?
Many State constitutions explicitly claim the right to provide for the education of its citizens. These are not socialist documents but often predated Marx. They came from the recognition that the private system failed because it left the poor unable to afford an education with disastrous results for them and the rest of the citizenry. You may not be aware of the fact but ignorance has a very high cost particularly when the ignorant can vote.
I never mentioned homeschooling and don't consider it a viable alternative for most people because of the extremely high opportunity cost of indulging in it and its inability to tackle the deepest subjects.
I never said that a 70K salary ensures good instruction. However, why would you believe education is immune from the laws of economics or the maxim that you get what you pay for? Lower salaries means lower ability in the teacher pool and poor educational opportunity.
I never mentioned requiring education degrees or even courses though private schools do as well as public. So that is a straw man unrelated to my concerns.
No, but working for peanuts while very young or inexperienced soon becomes the reason to leave the teaching field when responsibilities and needs increase. This drains away many of the best and most experienced teachers and worsens the educational difficulties. My hat is off to most teachers for putting up with what they do and trying to do their best.
Not only do they bust their asses for little reward but generally bear the brunt of attacks by the ignorant criticizing when they best be silent. Normally, those least educated think themselves the greatest experts on the subject.