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A '''school''' is an educational institution. Schools can be either publicly- or privately-owned, funded by public or private sources or a combination of both, and may have a secular or a religious mandate.   

A '''school''' is an educational institution. Schools can be either publicly- or privately-owned, funded by public or private sources or a combination of both, and may have a secular or a religious mandate.   

As of 1995 in the [[United States of America]], 89% of children attend taxpayer-funded [[atheistic]] schools that censor classroom [[prayer]].<ref>http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/1995/psroct95.html</ref> But the "percentage of white children enrolled in America's public schools -- 60 percent in 2001-2002 -- is 7 percentage points less than a decade before, according to the National Center for Education Statistics."<ref>Kevin Drew, "Today's battle in classrooms: Resegregation," CNN.com (May 15, 2004).</ref>  Public school teachers decide against sending their own children to public schools in higher percentages than the general population.<ref>"An analysis of 2000 Census data by the Fordham Institute showed that 21.5% of public school teachers nationwide choose private schooling for their children vs. 17.5% for other families." "Class Warfare," Investor's Business Daily A16 (July 7, 2005).</ref>  "Of the eight million youngsters in grades K-12 who come from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or more, 80 percent (6.4 million) attend public schools and 20 percent (1.6 million) attend private schools."<ref>Council for American Private Education[http://www.capenet.org/facts.html]</ref>  $489.4 billion in taxpayer dollars<ref>http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372</ref>, or about $10,000 per student<ref>Using numbers referenced elsewhere in this article, $489.4 billion dollars divided by 49.6 million public school students = $9867 per student.</ref>, will be spent on [[American]] elementary and secondary [[public schools]] for the 2007-2008 school year, and that figure may not include costly pensions.  In comparison, the average non-sectarian private school costs $10,992 per year.  <ref>Council for American Private Education[http://www.capenet.org/facts.html]</ref>

As of 1995 in the [[United States of America]], 89% of children attend taxpayer-funded [[atheistic]] schools that censor [[classroom prayer]].<ref>http://www.eagleforum.org/psr/1995/psroct95.html</ref> But the "percentage of white children enrolled in America's [[public schools]] -- 60 percent in 2001-2002 -- is 7 percentage points less than a decade before, according to the National Center for Education Statistics."<ref>Kevin Drew, "Today's battle in classrooms: Resegregation," CNN.com (May 15, 2004).</ref>  Public school teachers decide against sending their own children to public schools in higher percentages than the general population.<ref>"An analysis of 2000 Census data by the Fordham Institute showed that 21.5% of public school teachers nationwide choose private schooling for their children vs. 17.5% for other families." "Class Warfare," Investor's Business Daily A16 (July 7, 2005).</ref>  "Of the eight million youngsters in grades K-12 who come from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or more, 80 percent (6.4 million) attend public schools and 20 percent (1.6 million) attend private schools."<ref>Council for American Private Education[http://www.capenet.org/facts.html]</ref>  $489.4 billion in taxpayer dollars<ref>http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=372</ref>, or about $10,000 per student<ref>Using numbers referenced elsewhere in this article, $489.4 billion dollars divided by 49.6 million public school students = $9867 per student.</ref>, will be spent on [[American]] elementary and secondary [[public schools]] for the 2007-2008 school year, and that figure may not include costly pensions.  In comparison, the average non-sectarian private school costs $10,992 per year.  <ref>Council for American Private Education[http://www.capenet.org/facts.html]</ref>

An increasingly popular alternative to school is [[homeschooling]].<ref>[http://nces.ed.gov/nhes/homeschool/ 1.1 Million Home-schooled Students in the United States in 2003], Nation Institute for Education Statistics</ref>

An increasingly popular alternative to school is [[homeschooling]].<ref>[http://nces.ed.gov/nhes/homeschool/ 1.1 Million Home-schooled Students in the United States in 2003], Nation Institute for Education Statistics</ref>

In the United States, government-controlled schools are supported by taxpayers, often in the form of a school tax on property.  Prior to the 20th century, school attendance was only part-time, consuming only about half or less of the year.

In the United States, government-controlled schools are supported by taxpayers, often in the form of a school tax on property.  Prior to the 20th century, school attendance was only part-time, consuming only about half or less of the year.

In some states of [[Australia]], although the curriculum is secular, religious education by volunteers associated with the Council for Christian Education is permitted.  This takes place in class time, but parents can choose that their children not attend this class.

In some states of [[Australia]], although the [[curriculum]] is [[secular]], religious education by volunteers associated with the Council for Christian Education is permitted.  This takes place in class time, but parents can choose that their children not attend this class.

In [[Norway]] there are virtually no schools other than government schools.<ref>[http://www.rhpeo.org/ijhp-articles/1998/15/1.htm Case Studies On Health Promotion Initiatives From The Nordic Countries]</ref>

In [[Norway]] there are virtually no schools other than government schools.<ref>[http://www.rhpeo.org/ijhp-articles/1998/15/1.htm Case Studies On Health Promotion Initiatives From The Nordic Countries]</ref>

In America, a '''public school''' is a ''state school''.  In some [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, a '''public school''' is a church-run (i.e. run by a church denomination) school that is open to the general public. In the [[United Kingdom]] a public school is a private school (as opposed to a 'state school', funded by the government through Local Education Authorities and free of charge to pupils) whose head teacher is a member of the Headmasters' Conference.

In America, a '''public school''' is a ''state school''.  In some [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] countries, a '''public school''' is a church-run (i.e. run by a church denomination) school that is open to the general public. In the [[United Kingdom]] a public school is a private school (as opposed to a 'state school', funded by the government through Local Education Authorities and free of charge to pupils) whose head teacher is a member of the Headmasters' Conference.

In America, the curriculum in public schools is dictated by state governments and increasingly by the federal government under the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. Federal courts generally prohibit any type of prayer led by school officials, and even forbid the display and teaching of the [[Ten Commandments]].

In America, the curriculum in [[public schools]] is dictated by state governments and increasingly by the federal government under the "[[No Child Left Behind]]" legislation. [[Federal court]]s generally prohibit any type of [[prayer]] led by school officials, and even forbid the display and teaching of the [[Ten Commandments]].

In America, there are an estimated 49.6 million students enrolled in 97,000 public elementary and secondary schools. <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12, by grade level and region, with projections: Various years, fall 1965–2016 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2007/section1/table.asp?tableID=663]</ref> <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Number of operating public elementary and secondary schools, by school type, charter, magnet, Title I and Title I school wide status, and state or jurisdiction: School year 2005–06 [http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/pesschools06/tables/table_2.asp]</ref>  In addition, 6.1 million students are enrolled in about 28,000 private schools, and 1.1 million are homeschooled. <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Enrollment in educational institutions, by level and control of institution: Selected years, 1869–70 through fall 2015 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d06/tables/dt06_003.asp?referrer=list]</ref> <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Number of educational institutions, by level and control of institution: Selected years, 1980–81 through 2004–05 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d06/tables/dt06_005.asp?referrer=list]</ref>   

In America, there are an estimated 49.6 million students enrolled in 97,000 public [[Elementary school|elementary]] and secondary schools. <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Public school enrollment in prekindergarten through grade 12, by grade level and region, with projections: Various years, fall 1965–2016 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2007/section1/table.asp?tableID=663]</ref> <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Number of operating public elementary and secondary schools, by school type, charter, magnet, Title I and Title I school wide status, and state or jurisdiction: School year 2005–06 [http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2007/pesschools06/tables/table_2.asp]</ref>  In addition, 6.1 million students are enrolled in about 28,000 private schools, and 1.1 million are homeschooled. <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Enrollment in educational institutions, by level and control of institution: Selected years, 1869–70 through fall 2015 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d06/tables/dt06_003.asp?referrer=list]</ref> <ref>U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Number of educational institutions, by level and control of institution: Selected years, 1980–81 through 2004–05 [http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d06/tables/dt06_005.asp?referrer=list]</ref>   

Compulsory 5-days a week, nearly 8-hours a day attendance at public school only began nationwide in the [[United States]] during the 20th century.  Compulsory schooling laws were not universal throughout the [[United States]] until 1917, and even then the school year was often less than a half year.<ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kellmeyer/050428</ref>  There have been few, if any, long-term studies on the effects of the modern approach of full-time attendance at school from age 6 and younger to age 21 and older.

Compulsory 5-days a week, nearly 8-hours a day attendance at public school only began nationwide in the [[United States]] during the 20th century.  Compulsory schooling laws were not universal throughout the [[United States]] until 1917, and even then the school year was often less than a half year.<ref>http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/kellmeyer/050428</ref>  There have been few, if any, long-term studies on the effects of the modern approach of full-time attendance at school from age 6 and younger to age 21 and older.

== Alternatives ==

== Alternatives ==

For most parents, [[homeschooling]] is the primary alternative education to schools<!-- I would have thought that non-government schools are the main alternative, with homeschooling being the next alternative after that -->.  Increasing numbers of parents choose homeschooling due to a declining quality and culture in traditional schools and the perceived hostility of established schools to religion and morality.<ref>Mankins, Dave, [http://park.org/Guests/Educate/HTALK/faq.htm Home Education Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)]</ref>

For most parents, [[homeschooling]] is the primary alternative education to schools<!-- I would have thought that non-government schools are the main alternative, with homeschooling being the next alternative after that -->.  Increasing numbers of parents choose homeschooling due to a declining quality and [[Public school culture|culture]] in traditional schools and the perceived hostility of established schools to religion and morality.<ref>Mankins, Dave, [http://park.org/Guests/Educate/HTALK/faq.htm Home Education Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)]</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Homeschooling]]

*[[Homeschooling]]

[[Category:Schools]]

[[Category:Schools]]