Indian Joe, you continue to display your ignorance concerning public schools. Not one high school in Cobb has metal detectors and my daughters 5th grade classroom has a whopping 20 students. Teachers differentiate instruction in all subjects so no child gets "lost in the shuffle" as you put it. I did visit private and public schools during the pre-school years and chose public. The many students I have witnessed leaving public for private have been overly fearful by their surroundings along with the parents. I see it year after year. Some just think the grass is greener.

Of course there are exceptions-

Indian Joe, where are these schools with metal detectors at the doors? I think that's an urban myth.

Cobb Resident - since you asked the question - have you ever visited a private school? If not, why do you assume that these students are overprotected by parents who are scared of their own shadows? It seems everyone wants to bash private schools (apparently all private schools, but have no real knowledge of them, their staff, their successes, and success stories. I for one would much rather have my child (although he is now 36) in a private school with a few bad eggs possibly, than a public school where they have metal detectors at the entrances. How many events of guns or other weapons have you heard about in private schools? And you better believe if there were any it would be front page coverage.

Some parents may be overprotective, but some just want to protect their children as best they can. So don't attempt to lump every parent and every child into your small basket. Some would prefer to have their child in a class of 15 rather than in a class of 30 plus especially if that child is one who would be lost in the shuffle. Just a thought on your obvious bias against Walker and all private schools.

I will be the first to admit that I don't have a dog in this fight. I don't have children of my own, so far be it from me to enter the "public vs. private school" debate. However, this letter to the editor makes me laugh. Why? Because here is a father that pays huge money for his child(ren) to attend private school. Yet, his grammar and syntax are horrible (at least at certain points). Obviously money CAN'T buy you an education. Maybe he should have tried public school.

Your not helping, Bob. Please don't write more letters on behalf of The Walker School. Parents like you will only add to the flight from Walker.

Letter writer, Bob Kompar, makes the same error many have during the current Busch-Wiles-Middleton scandal, and that is attacking the messenger. Your assertions, Bob, lack substance. You offer no substance to the discussion, except to express your disdain for Mr Yarbrough and his opinion. Yarbrough is but one opinion. Moreover, the MDJ has provided a platform for many varying opinions of this controversy, to include a generous amount of opinions from the Busch-Wiles-Middleton fan club. Your letter got printed, didn't it? And Bob, the kids who illegally consumed alchol WERE Walker students. Like it or not, by extension, they brought disgrace to the name of the school they attend, by the very fact they are students there. We are smart enough, Bob, to know their actions do not represent an overal condemnation of Walker school. Bob, if you want to pay twice for education, that's your business but don't trash the public schools because YOU pay twice, and because you pay twice has absolutely nothing to do with Yarbrough and his opinions. Bob, your calling Yarbrough childish names like "angry and stupid," does nothing to promote your opiniion. Next time, try to compose a letter that does not personally attack someone by calling them childish names.

Or maybe the really smart parents make sure to live an a piblic school district that has the academics to blow all the local privates out of the water. These parents also get very invovled in their childs school. That way they maximize their fsmily funds. Most private school parents really have no idea about their local school because they rely so heavily on what their peers say. Many privates have never stepped foot in a public school building.

Oh please Bob- Most know why "some" parents feel they need to pay twice for schooling their children. It has nothing to do with public school performance if you live in Marietta or most of Cobb- Have you visited your public school lately or does Neil Boortz have you running scared? Students have the same opportunities in both private schools and most public schools. Sure their are some bad public schools as well as bad private schools, but please don't kid yourself that anyone is envious of a private school education. I actually feel sorry for many of the young private school kids who've got such overprotective parents, scared of their own shadow.

PW

Marieta, Ga