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I prefer public as well. Maybe that's because I grew up that way.... we also wouldn't be able to afford private school, etc. since I want to be a SAHM!

I live in a blue collar town surrounded by white collar, "higher class" towns. I'd prefer my children get their public school education and appreciate what rec sports, public pools, etc. have to offer them!

I'm all for public. I think private is fine, but it's just not for us.

@mrbee: Do you prefer public universities over private too?

I am a private school kid but I think there are plenty of places that have wonderful public school programs. So to me it just depends on where you are. I said earlier on another thread I prefer a private pool. I just feel like if usage is limited to a smaller group the pool is more likely to be clean. The employees are also probably paid better and therefore try a little harder to keep the pool in good shape. For tennis and golf I prefer private as well just because again it tends to be a nicer environment, but I'm also totally fine using public facilities.

In my experience, private pool/beach clubs have been nicer/cleaner/have had more amenities than public ones...so in terms of enjoyment, I prefer private. Same thing for schools--more amenities/activities/opportunities for children. However, I'm perfectly content with public for both if that's what's easier/if the cost is prohibitive for private. I don't golf or play tennis so can't weigh in on those.

public for me...

My sister and I have always gone to public schools prior to college so I have no problems sending our kids to public as well. But we've decided on private school now for their language immersion program. I've only played on public tennis courts, except when we used to have tennis courts in our apartment building. I've only played on private golf courses so don't know what the public ones are like. I don't swim very much but LO one will be taking swim lessons this summer at a nearby public pool.

I went to a private pool and public schools as a kid, private university for undergrad and grad school, worked at a public (listed) company and don't play golf or tennis, so no opinion on public courses or courts.

Public Pools-I've been to private ones way worse than public.
Both Public/Private schools-It depends on the kid and the school. We have pockets of awesome public schools. You can flourish or drown in either.
Tennis courts-only been to public; doesn't matter---i think
Both public/private golf courses- membership has its perks but public is very affordable

I'm public for everything. The whole point is to make a society that works for all. Having said that, we are going to try for public school here, but honestly this state is the 49th in the nation for public school funding (50th is Mississippi, I think), so if it's not working for us, I'm not going to sacrifice my daughters' futures for the sake of going public. I went to private schools until university, so I probably have the opposite experience as Mr. Bee in that regard. I guess you could say that I'm a huge fan of the state University system, since it took me from a family that hadn't ever had someone go to college to a couple of graduate degrees. I don't think I would have been able to afford the opportunity otherwise... seeing as I'm still paying it off!

I grew up with private everything (including schools through grad school), but I think we'll have a much more even public/private facilities split with LO, in large part because the public facilities (including schools) in the counties where we're likely to spend LO's childhood are much more abundant and much nicer than where I grew up.