[monster]

Stuffing all private schools into one category is a bit.... sweeping

There are pushy, work-heavy, test-oriented private schools and there are laid back take-it-at-your-own-pace private schools and there is everything else in between.

State schools vary almost as much

As do home-schoolers.

And regarding stay-at-home parents, Euphoria, why do you assumes your friend isn't making a contribution to society because she "stays at home" with her kids? If she gets as much as you earn for your job, perhaps you should consider switching your job rather than bitching her up. I don't work. I don't claim benefits. I "stay at home" for no pay. It's not just about the money. Actually, i don't "stay at home" so much -I do a lot of stuff in the school and I have to say that it is my experience that the kids of parents who work a full-time job are either out-of-control and obnoxious or convinced that anything they do is an annoyance and hide quietly to the best of their ability. It's a little scary. I feel bad for families where both parents MUST work full time to make ends meet (and single-parent families in the same positon).