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Blanks

(4,835 posts)
28. Whatever.
Fri Jan 25, 2013, 11:26 PM
Jan 2013

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.

Thanks from one not yet retired. rateyes Jan 2013 #1
Those still teaching need to take care. madfloridian Jan 2013 #3
k&r Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #2
What is CA's "reform" movement like Recursion Jan 2013 #4
Yes, Parent Trigger laws got voted in here. Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #5
Community Colleges xxqqqzme Jan 2013 #7
No California republicans Bigbluebrush Jan 2013 #6
K&R JDPriestly Jan 2013 #8
We need to get.... ReRe Jan 2013 #9
Amen to that. madfloridian Jan 2013 #20
Indeed, ReRe Oilwellian Jan 2013 #34
as jerry brown was an early proponent of charters as mayor of oakland, not sure what this HiPointDem Jan 2013 #10
Tried it and it didn't work, he was checking it out. Turns out charters don't do as well as regular diane in sf Jan 2013 #12
when did he have this revelation? because he went to a charter school rally in 2012. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #13
You might want to read Joy Resmovits at Huffpost. Interesting. madfloridian Jan 2013 #22
K&R Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #11
I'm all for standing up for the teachers... Blanks Jan 2013 #14
"and it needs to come from somewhere." madfloridian Jan 2013 #17
Nobody likes to have oversight. Blanks Jan 2013 #24
The words you use are key words from the "reformers". madfloridian Jan 2013 #25
Whatever. Blanks Jan 2013 #28
The public schools DO have oversight. Teachers ARE evaluated constantly, have always been. madfloridian Jan 2013 #29
I appreciate your response. Blanks Jan 2013 #30
What the students show on a test is only a small portion of what learning is about. madfloridian Jan 2013 #31
You've hit the nail on the head. Blanks Jan 2013 #32
When I get to a real computer (I'm on a Nook right now), tblue37 Jan 2013 #15
Kudos to Governor Brown. LWolf Jan 2013 #16
It's finally happening madfloridian liberal_at_heart Jan 2013 #18
It really matters that the parents are speaking out now. madfloridian Jan 2013 #27
Good for him... ljm2002 Jan 2013 #19
wow--too bad he's too old to run for president again. Maybe he should be the new Sec of Ed yurbud Jan 2013 #21
"a stark, single number to encapsulate the precise achievement level of every child." madfloridian Jan 2013 #23
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! Squinch Jan 2013 #26
Oh my Oilwellian Jan 2013 #33
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