New Jersey’s Education Battle: Public Schools vs. Private Education

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Twp. of Washington NJ, a new front has opened in New Jersey’s education wars, as left-leaning Boards of Education shift their focus from curriculum control and parental authority to discrediting private schools. The latest example comes from the Westwood and Township of Washington Board of Education (BOE), where recent comments by Board President Jason Garcia appear to take aim at private education and the growing number of parents opting out of public schools.

Ridgewood experienced the same sorts of attacks against residents who have a right to pay for  public education but no right to question the direction and costs of public education.

The Growing Exodus from Public Schools

On January 23rd, during a board meeting, President Jason Garcia indirectly criticized private education while attempting to reframe the struggling reputation of the district. Garcia’s comments positioned public schools as the gold standard, while portraying private institutions as selective and exclusive.

📌 Key Excerpts from Garcia’s Report:

👉 “In private education, the focus is tailored to specific values, beliefs, or approaches… Public Schools are built on the idea that every student deserves an excellent education, regardless of where they come from, where they’re headed, or what their family looks like.”

👉 “Sometimes this means making decisions that don’t align perfectly with what we might choose for our own families, but that’s the essence of public service.”

👉 “We’re not here to create a system that reflects individual preferences. We’re here to build one that reflects the best of who we are as a community, our diversity, shared values, and commitment to every child’s success.”

🔗 Watch the full report here (Report starts at 7:29).

Why Target Private Schools Now?

The timing of these remarks is no coincidence. Private schools are thriving in New Jersey, and the reasons are clear:

✅ A focus on academic excellence
✅ Higher standards in discipline and character development
✅ Rejection of political agendas in the classroom
✅ Parental control over education choices
✅ A safer and more structured learning environment

Meanwhile, many parents have observed that New Jersey’s public schools—including Westwood and Township of Washington—have struggled to meet their core educational responsibilities.

Concerns include:

📉 Declining academic performance despite lowered state proficiency standards
📚 Falling literacy and math skills
🧠 Lack of critical thinking and problem-solving focus
🚨 Persistent issues with bullying, harassment, and safety
📢 Increased emphasis on social and political agendas over academics

Instead of acknowledging these failings, Garcia’s report promotes a morally superior image of public schools, dismissing school choice as a misguided alternative.

Public Schools vs. Private Education: A Power Struggle

The attack on private schools is part of a broader power struggle between government-controlled education and parent-driven alternatives. As private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling gain momentum, they threaten the monopoly of public education—a system often influenced by teachers’ unions and political interests.

Rather than addressing why parents are leaving, public school leaders are shifting blame. Garcia’s speech reflects a growing effort to discourage families from seeking better alternatives, rather than improving the quality, safety, and academic rigor of public schools.

The Bottom Line: Education Should Be About Choice, Not Control

The exodus from public schools is not the problem—it is a symptom of a failing system. Instead of discrediting private education, public schools should focus on regaining trust by:

🔹 Raising academic standards
🔹 Prioritizing literacy, math, and critical thinking skills
🔹 Ensuring safe, disciplined learning environments
🔹 Restoring parental influence in education
🔹 Eliminating political indoctrination from the classroom

If New Jersey’s Boards of Education continue to ignore parents’ concerns, the shift to private education will only accelerate. The question isn’t why parents are leaving—it’s why public schools refuse to change.

📢 What do you think? Should public schools focus on improving themselves instead of criticizing private education? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

 

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