General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: CA Gov Brown trusts the teachers in the classrooms, calls for local control. Blasts [View all]Blanks
(4,835 posts)The words I use stem from the frustration of dealing with people that don't want to listen when they are told that the system is broken.
The fact that 'reformers' are using the same terminology is purely coincidental. I'm just a parent (and former student) who sees a system failing the taxpayer. I'm a civil engineer; I have no stake in reforming education other than the fact that I want it to be better.
If the word 'oversight' is a term that reformers use; then good for them. It's what is missing from the system.
If reformers are complaining about inconsistencies between the material taught between school districts; then I guess that just demonstrates that they are paying attention. Perhaps they too, went to school in more than one place in their youth.
Local control allows really lousy teachers to thrive in an environment where they aren't performing. Until local control is a thing of the past; we'll never catch up with the countries that are getting their money's worth from their education dollars.
We aren't really arguing anyway. You're just telling me how great the system is, in vague terms, and I'm telling you specifically what's wrong with it.
The bankers abused the banking system without enough oversight; it's human nature. Teachers may have a calling, but they're still human.
Locally the school district spent $80,000,000 building a new school for a community of about 15,000. Surely, you can see how people might be screaming for some kind of reform with crap like that going on. In that instance the state stepped in (took over the school district). After the first year of operation they fired all of the school leadership. I expect that they'll fire the leadership that they replaced them with at the end of this school year.
A federal department of education that requires state departments of educations to make certain that school districts are teaching the material that children need to learn to grow up and be productive citizens is where this thing needs to end up.
Do I expect that we are going to accomplish such a bold initiative on the first try (with a huge majority of teachers opposing it); no, it's going to take a lot of work. I am aware that there are corrupt capitalists out there that see huge piles of money and want to scoop up a bunch of it for themselves. That's a separate issue; I just want it to be modeled after so many other programs (DOT, EPA etc) where we have a strong federal government presence. I am after all, a tax and spend liberal, and I disagree with Reagan; the government is the solution; particularly, in this instance.