[Rhodes22-list] Mo Gubmint - Politics & Educatio

[elle]

Brad,

Yes. 

To everything you've said.


elle



--- Brad Haslett <flybrad at gmail.com> wrote:

> Elle,
> 
> You make a lot of valid points.  Your observations
> about "rats leaving a
> sinking ship" is spot on but the "rats" have been
> leaving long before the
> concept of charter schools started.  This is one of
> the few countries where
> people are free to move and do so frequently.  Those
> with the resources to
> move to a better school district do so.  Charter
> schools attempt to
> accomplish the same thing without the physical
> relocation. Those with the
> financial means enroll their children in private
> schools and remain in place
> geographically.  Its become socially unacceptable to
> discuss reality in
> "polite company" but since I'm neither a racist or a
> bigot, I don't feel the
> need to back down from the argument. The separate
> but equal doctrine was
> struck down a long time ago as well it should have
> been, but in our zeal to
> overcome the guilt that many have chosen to
> self-impose, we have created a
> treatment worse than the disease.  Equal but failing
> is hardly an acceptable
> solution.  When any system isn't working, be it a
> business, a car or a
> computer, it is helpful to "rewind" the clock to a
> point in time when it was
> working and ask "what has changed?" since it last
> functioned correctly. All
> black schools in Washington, DC had higher
> graduation rates under 'separate
> but equal' than they do now.  What has changed?  We
> have watered down our
> curriculum, lowered our expectations, and
> politicized the school systems via
> victimization and race-baiting politics.  The
> solution offered by the
> politicians across the country have mirrored what we
> have seen here in
> Memphis.  If we can't "fix" the inner city schools,
> let's drag the county
> schools that are working into the system so the
> average of the whole is
> improved. That's hardly a formula for success.  The
> primary function of any
> school is to educate.  The ability to read, write,
> and perform math does far
> more for any child's self-esteem than any
> sensitivity training or
> multiculturalism awareness program. Both of the
> private schools my son's
> attended were "rainbow" schools with the emphasis on
> performance.  We're
> asking too much of our schools if we demand that
> they fix all of society's
> ills.  It isn't fair to blame teachers for the
> current state of our
> educational system but it is fair to take on the
> various schools of
> education and their failed theories and doctrines. 
> Language and science is
> race and gender neutral and we shouldn't use our
> schools as sociological
> experiments. Again, perhaps it is time to move back
> to a point in history
> where things were working and ask, what changed?  We
> should look to the
> private sector and ask, what do they do differently
> that seems to work?  If
> we stay stuck on the issues of equality, social
> justice, and economic
> inequities, we'll never make progress. If you want a
> working model for
> equality, social justice, and economic fairness,
> study the US military.
> Sorry for discussing the uncomfortable realities
> amongst polite company.
> 
> Brad
> 
> On Sun, Mar 9, 2008 at 10:02 AM, elle
> <watermusic38 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> > Herb,
> >
> > I agree...we are in agreement on many
> > points...but.....
> >
> > > With the ills you describe, no matter their
> cause,
> > > can you BLAME parents  who want alternatives?
> >
> > Absolutely not; that is a parent's first duty. But
> I
> > STRONGLY disagree with the methods.
> >
> > Again, an educated populace benefits and
> strengthens
> > the country...parents should fight (and it is a
> > fight....I've sparred w/enough sch bd members
> > separately & at public meetings)... to improve the
> > school that their children attend. Vouchers are
> just
> > another way of making 'separate but  sorta equal.'
> All
> > schools have parents who are able to become
> > invvolved...along with thoose who let others do
> > it....vouchers don't solve anything...they just
> move
> > the game pieces (kids) and parents are happy.
> (Sounds
> > like segregation to me...but using $$ rather than
> skin
> > color...)
> >
> > What about the kids left behind in the
> > 'non-performing' schools? And the teachers...They
> know
> > that they are not improtant.....Believe me we WILL
> pay
> > the price if we encourage the vouchers instead of
> > concentrating the resources.  The costs will just
> come
> > later. The price we pay will be for more prisons,
> > police, higher ins costs b/c of vandalism...all
> those
> > things kids do when they are not valued...and when
> > they go toschool in a crappy bldg when the admin
> bldg
> > had the latest & greatest they get the picture.
> When
> > no one else cares, why should they? Bailing
> > out....(vouchers)... just allows the rats to leave
> the
> > sinking ship. If the parents had no other option,
> you
> > can bet your boots that they fight for their
> school.
> >
> > I'm not saying this is right...but that is human
> > nature.....
> >
> > And please don't blame the teachers...yes, they
> are
> > part of the system...and there ARE crappy ones out
> > there! Just as in any profession...but they can
> only
> > do what they are allowed to do...the majority of
> > teachers really want to help kids....but the
> > administrative a**coverers soon squelch that.
> >
> > Teaching is not a noble profession
> anymore...everyone
> > is looking for someone to blame, and why not the
> > teacher? Why not these parents (
> >
> >
>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030703511.html
> > )
> > Give me a break...
> >
> >
> > Sorry for the soapbox...
> >
> >
> > elle
> >
> >
> > --- Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com> wrote:
> >
> > > This paragraph pretty well sums it all up, and
> we're
> > > much coser to
> > > AGREEING on the topic than we are DISAGREEING.
> > >
> > > With the ills you describe, no matter their
> cause,
> > > can you BLAME parents
> > > who want alternatives? In spite of the non-sense
> > > rhetoric spewed on this
> > > forum, those that seek something different,
> whether
> > > it be home-school or
> > > private education, are not doing it because
> they're
> > > a buch of wide-eyed
> > > fantatics trying to protect their children from
> the
> > > evils of a godless
> > > world. They're, for the most part, concerned
> parents
> > > trying to break
> > > their children out of a broken system.
> > >
> > > As far as "blaming the teachers", that's where
> you
> > > and I have to part
> > > ways a bit. I blame the system, and the teachers
> are
> > > part of that
> > > system. Every workable iniative, wether it be
> > > voucher systems or higher
> > > standards for educators, is opposed by the
> teachers
> > > unions and their
> > > lobbies.
> > >
> > > Personally, I'd love to see a voucher system.
> Then
> > > those to whom
> > > education is the most important, the parents of
> the
> > > students, would
> > > dictate where the money goes for their
> educations.
> > >
> > > elle wrote:
> > > > ...
> > > >   CYA was the mantra of the senior
> teachers..the
> > > principal was only interested in being popular
> with
> > > parents & kiddies...if there was a problem
> yoou'd
> > > better get to him FIRST & tell him...'cause as
> sure
> > > as I am not 10' tall if the parent came in the
> > > teacher'd be up s***s creek. (And this was the
> story
> > > in the majority of schools...ever wonder why the
> the
> > > 1st grades gets suspended for hugging his
> friend???
> > > A**hole principals who are afraid to stand
> up...b/c
> > > the superintendents don't want flack. The
> teacher is
> > > at the bottom of the pecking order...so don't
> blame
> > > the teacher fornot enforcing discipline or
> > > whatever....you step out of line & you're
> OUT...go
> > > to the superintendent & school bd who make the
> > > rules.....)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > --
> > > Herb Parsons
> > > S/V O'Jure - O'Day 25
> > > S/V Reve de Pappa - Coronado 35
> > >
> > >
> > >
> __________________________________________________
> > > Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help?
> > > www.rhodes22.org/list
> > >
> >
> >
> > We can't change the angle of the wind....but we
> can adjust our sails.
> >
> >  1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady
> in Red)
> >
> >
> >
> > 
>
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> >
> __________________________________________________
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> 


We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.

 1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)


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