<p>TranquilMind,</p>
<p>I’ve worked at state schools in three states and received my master’s from a state school (non-flagship) in a 4th state. I have been asked to apply to good private universities and opted to stay with public education because I have commitments to American democracy that are best met in public universities. That said, I don’t think public higher education is healthy.</p>
<p>In the past state schools were more than decent. They reflected a commitment from the state to providing an education equivalent to a private college, they arose from or emulated the land grant colleges formed by states without colleges in the late 19th century, and they were a great source of pride. Without getting into the politics, which do vary state to state, government has decided to withdraw from funding state schools. This effects curriculum, faculty support, libraries, physical plant, etc. Here is a quick and dirty list: (1) I just came from a luncheon where faculty were frustrated by the lack of support for their teaching. Professors teach classes of 450 without a TA, for example. This means they can’t assign writing and can only give multiple choice tests that don’t prepare students for writing or speaking on the job or in graduate school. This would not be a problem if there were a bunch of 25 student classes to take up the slack, but there aren’t. (2) We are overcrowded with limited gathering places for undergraduates to converse and develop intellectual companions. Classes are sprinkled all around campus so that majors often don’t have places to meet. Classrooms are over-enrolled (30 students in a classroom built for 24). (3) Majors and enrollments are not balanced. This means we might accept 8 pharmacy students for 2 slots or have a backup on important classes/labs so that students can’t get into required classes and take longer to graduate. </p>
<p>I don’t think most state schools are bad. I don’t think most high schools are bad. I do think that state higher education is on a downward trajectory, becoming an extension of public high school and not a leap into excellence. Private colleges are not without problems, but there are clear differences between good private schools and even good state schools. I suggest that parents do a lot of checking on 4 and 6 year graduation rates at any school they consider with their children.</p>