Why private school?

This week, I assisted with the first of 2 H1N1 immunization clinics at my son's grade school and the nearby middle/high school. I'm writing this because, I am continually amazed at the disposition of these schools, and these kids. We sent over 300 kids at the grade school and probably 150 through the middle and high school. The kids at these schools were polite, calm, disciplined, and courteous. So different than what I often see at the public school. I work at a public high school by choice. I see what is happening there, and it's not all bad, but it's not all good either. There are the proverbial diamonds in the rough at the high school, but you've really gotta look. Way too high a percentage of these kids are lazy, bored, just don't care, and couldn't care that you care! I often wonder what there parents are like. Why do they tolerate this. I don't tolerate it in my home. My kids know if I ever get a call from a principal that they acted out in school, used profanity, or whatever, their life as they know it is over. Don't get me wrong, there are issues at the private schools, but there seems to be more consistent discipline from home. Parents who choose to invest in private school in general tend to do so because they want their children to care and be successful. When I organized the annual student and staff "Thanksgiving" dinner last month, I was tasked with recruited 40 total volunteers to assist for this event. The time commitment ranged from 1 hours to 6 hours. Not a single parent I called turned me down. They all willingly and happily took time out of their work and busy schedules to come in and feed a meal to the students, staff, and guest clergy for the only meal of the year they eat together. This is the first time in my life I've not had trouble recruiting volunteers for an event, and I've organized a lot of events! I know folks tire of me bragging on my son's private school, but I have a lot to brag on!