With the latest Wisconsin developments, and our own governor releasing his preliminary education budget plan yesterday, I would like to hear from everyone in here (since most are not in the profession) what your ideal public education system would be from the top down. Some things to consider: -At what level do major educational policy decisions fall (Federal, State, Local)? -What types of accountability (both student and teacher) should be in place? -Does the current NCLB and state standardized test system need to stay? Should it be revised? If so, how? -What are your thoughts on school choice/vouchers? Why? What happens to (not saying it does happen) the underfunded schools affected by the shift in enrollment? Where does the funding for transportation of these students come from? -Do you believe merit pay would benefit the quality of education? If so, how do you "define" the success on which the merit pay is based? -Most here don't approve of Unions, so what are your thoughts on school districts being able to remove qualified teachers with years of experience and replacing them with lesser experienced teachers based on salary steps alone? -Do you approve of budgetary cuts that affect educational programs outside of the primary subject area (Music, Art, Foreign Language, Business, Career and Technology, etc)? Just some thoughts to consider instead of the, "Unions are the devil," "Unions are great," banter.
The above is one of the main issues IMO, one of them needs to be in the lead. All three of them with a porition of the pie is causing a mess. Should be Parent/Teacher/Student. They are all 100% accountable for kids edcucation. All the countries ahead of us test less, so to me testing is not working. Using public funds to send kids to private school is wrong, there are some big private muslim schools here in Dearborn MI, anyone want to fund those? No, I believe you just pay any field what they are worth. If a Dr saves X amount of lives or cures X amout of people does he get more money? If you want good teachers you have to pay for good teachers. That would never happen We are crazy to cut education programs IMO. Education should be our number one priorty in this country, but it is not.
Fair price? Bruce....that's just one subject that you can't debate. But, One of my teammates from college is a procurement exec. for the D.O.D.. I've heard some doozies. Carry on.
For the value we get out of our armed forces, I would say they are a "fair price" National Park System and State parks. NOAA USGS NASA(spent a ton, but look what we got) IRS(for every dollar spent, they bring in 10) Pretty good, but I say we get rid of them Police and Firemen are a good deal. Remember it was all the public workers running into the twin towers and all the private ones running out Privatize the system will turn it just like our healthcare system, the best in the world for those above a certain income. If we do privatize can a teacher hirer and fire students like a business can?
The schools I went to 20 years ago were nothing fancy like today but they got the job done just as good and then some. These days their asking for levy's to be approved every other year It seems. Why the need for such fancy looking schools? Our school here has threatened to cut all of the ag classes and the FFA program If we don't vote for the levy's. I think that's BS as this Is a farming community and kids should learn what feeds their mouths In this world. Hell, the agricultural department In this world provides more jobs then anything else If I recall. Just my 2 cents.
I agree with you Jeff, Standard Tea Bagger answers Privatize it Cut tax De-regulate it With no actually plan on how to do it, or what the outcome will be. Carry on
Typical liberal response........throw money at it....with no regards to productivity. Bruce...your argument is too easy to get hung up on emotion. I commend our armed services. Trust me. I have an enormous respect for what they do. But, to say they couldn't do it more efficiently.....would be a lie. Same thing with our public education system. We have too many things in this country being run with little to no regards for fiscal responsibility/accountability. Whatever happened to operating in the black? I just don't think we're getting our money's worth with the educational system we have, currently.
I'm all for open enrollment (parents/kids chosing what school they go to) but unfortunately they usually choose schools based on the extra-curricular activities that is offered to them, little is based on actual education. Now it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that most of these activities cost money to run. The smaller schools realize that to compete (and get funding) they better have those programs in place. There was a new school build in this area recently and on the news one parent described it as a huge athletic facility and she thought she saw a school in there somewhere..:p. My point is it may be time to get back the basics of education rather to keep expanding what it should be doing.
I believe the military is actually very efficient. The problems is with things the military needs, or doesn't need, that are being produced by companies with good lobbyists or that may be producing them in vote heavy districts. Read this and keep in mind that the problem is not party specific, it applies to dems and reps. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy.../AR2011030206041.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns An excerpt:
The number 1 game changer for better education is putting part of the focus back on the parents. Teachers can only do so much. We need public officials (IE the President) telling the truth about how our parents need to step up and stop being so darn passive, weak, and having the "oh poor me and my child" mindframe. Until the parents get back to being involved in educating our kids we will never operate at a high standard.
my brother did some consulting for DHS, IRS, and DOD... he was working on projects with 90yr time lines, particularly the Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) projects (they were doing clean up of mustard gas reserves and etc.)... the biggest problem was that there was absolutely ZERO accountability and the problem lies with the lifers... they would stall stall stall until the next round of appointees came in... the people doing the stalling had no incentive to produce and no repercussions for not producing results... they couldn't be fired... so all they had to do was stall, obstruct, etc so the can got kicked down the road to the next appointee... it is a perfect storm for govt waste...
I tend to think that we as a society put way too much emphasis on sports and athletics. I'm a firm believer that education takes a back seat to athletics in a lot of schools.
We sure do, but how are we ever going to get there when parents and media bash Teachers? Parents/Teachers and Schools use to be on the same team, not anymore. Funny I never mention anything about money
to many parents putting their needs/wants ahead of the kids... to many parents think school is a baby sitter... to many parents not being parents... fact ~40% of kids do not have a father at home... this does not account for all the fathers that are home and unengaged in their kids lives/education and are not leading their families properly... is it no wonder why our children are so ef'd up these days??
