Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!rice!uw-beaver!mit-eddie!media-lab.media.mit.edu!tetsuo
From: tetsuo@media-lab.media.mit.edu.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Tetsuo TeX Naraha)
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Education industry in USA (correct version)
Keywords: business, industry, education
Message-ID: <5837@media-lab.media.mit.edu.MEDIA.MIT.EDU>
Date: 13 May 91 20:46:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 30

This may not be the right place to post, but I need your knowledge.
I am interested in comparative study of education business and
industry in USA and Japan. As you might know, in Japan (where
I am from) there are lots of educational services other than
school are available. The industry is so big that there is always 
debate over the negative effects of such industry. 
Since I came to Bostonin 1989, however, I have seldom seen or heard
education "business" here other than collages and universities. 
Could anyone give some suggestion and information as to the following
questions:

1. Are there "education industries (businesses)" at all in the US? If yes,
what are they?  How large are they? (I'm especially interested in education
for young children up to high school.)

2. How much money do parents pay for child education? This includes buying
of books, summer school, educational toys, etc. whatever they think 
"educational". I know this country is highly diversified and cannot be
generalized. So tell me your experience.

3. Why is educational business uncommon here in the USA? 

4. What kind of reaction would you expect to the argument
"we should introduce more market mechanism into child education.
Government regulation is, like in any industry, only making 
the system ineffective. By encouraging private sectors, we could
have better and cheaper education."

- Tetsuo "Tex" Naraha
  MIT Sloan School of Management