And I'm sure that the parents paying that hefty tuition are well aware that this is what they're paying for.

My son went to a good public high school and my sense was that the teachers were as good -- and sometimes as bad - as the teachers in the pricey private schools.

The main difference difference was that when it came time to apply to college, the kids who went to private schools got terrific support from the school when it came to getting them into the best colleges.

My son had to make it into an excellent university with virtually no support from the high school he attended.

I'm proud of that fact that he did just that -- and that he didn't want me to help him with his admissions essay, even though -- perhaps because -- I'm a editor and writing coach.

He wrote that sucker 100% on his own.