Author Topic: Mellencamp (Read 1639 times)

lukster · « **Reply #15 on:** October 04, 2006, 09:31:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sixpence
That won't solve the problem. You will create elite schools in rich areas, and bad ones in poor areas. Won't be any better than it is now

I must disagree. When the poor have vouchers they are no longer poor in the eyes of an enterprising private school. If necessary I'm sure there would be many willing to bus those kids in a "poor" area to a school in a "rich" area. Strict standards will hopefully be maintained regardless and kids that can't or won't conform are just sol which is the way it should be.

lazs2 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2006, 09:00:33 AM »

all kids would get the same voucher amount and it should be less than what the public school wastes but more than enough for a myriad of private schools.

lazs

lukster · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2006, 09:05:17 AM »

There really is no valid argument opposing vouchers. Teachers have come up with some lame arguments but their opposition is really nothing more than them trying to protect their job security. I can empathize with this but since our public schools have done and are doing such a lousy job I have no sympathy.

lazs2 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2006, 09:25:53 AM »

I think that public schools and teachers have proven that they, like anyone else, are not capable of governing a monopoly... that, like all monopolies that are so powerfull.. they are harmfull to the host.

lazs

Sixpence · « **Reply #19 on:** October 05, 2006, 11:42:55 AM »

Well, who pays the voucher, the feds, the state, or the city or town? Will all the private schools be required to do criminal background checks for hires? Will their salaries pay enough to hire good teachers, and if they can't, then what? I know local private schools are 4-5k a year just to get in(that was a few years ago)

Now, I have nothing against a voucher system if it works. Before we scrap the system and throw ourselves from the frying pan into the fire, it would be good to see it work first, or at least know how it works. I can't make judgement if I don't know.

I have no complaints yet where I am at. My two young ones are in a pretty good school, they are in small classes and the teachers are good. They look forward to going every day. So you would have to show me how better it would be before I pull the school out from under their feet.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 05, 2006, 01:57:04 PM »

Vouchers? You mean like food stamps for education? Socialists...

lukster · « **Reply #21 on:** October 05, 2006, 02:02:02 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Vouchers? You mean like food stamps for education? Socialists...

I know you're joking but I feel compelled to point out the discrepancy in your statement. Public education is already like food stamps to the poor. We just want somewhere to spend them other than the government commissary which offers only moldy cheese and stale bread.

lazs2 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 05, 2006, 02:26:09 PM »

luckster hit it but I would add that education is considered something that most people in the U.S. feel is worth funding.

While that in no way makes it less socialist... it is tolerated (like the military) for the good of the country... Now, public schools and the monopoly they have had control of since the beggining are doing such a poor job that to get the best deal we can for the people... we need to look around and break their stranglehold....

It is like having only one contractor for all government building projects.... eventually they will become so corrupt and arrogant that we would have to get rid of them and install some sort of bid process.

The whole education system is just at that point... they need some competition for results and methods. Parents need more say in what kind of school they will send their children to and... we simply need a lot better results for the buck.

lazs

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 05, 2006, 05:19:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by lukster
I know you're joking but I feel compelled to point out the discrepancy in your statement. Public education is already like food stamps to the poor. We just want somewhere to spend them other than the government commissary which offers only moldy cheese and stale bread.

Sounds like a half assed solution to me. Just privatize it, Librules.

lukster · « **Reply #24 on:** October 05, 2006, 05:31:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
Sounds like a half assed solution to me. Just privatize it, Librules.

Of course we already have private schools and even allow for home schooling. I'm not sure about private schools but I am certain that home schooled kids average much higher scholastically than do publicly schooled kids. Would I grant vouchers to pay parents of home schooled kids? Not unless the kids are regularaly tested and meet required standards.

While I don't know for sure how private schools compare to public schools I'm betting it's favorable. Who would deny kids a chance for a better education? That's not a rhetorical question.

Billy Joe Bob · « **Reply #25 on:** October 05, 2006, 06:43:44 PM »

i just saw the commercial and all I could say was wow....

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 05, 2006, 07:22:03 PM »

By privatize it I mean get the government out of it completely. No vouchers or any other form of handouts.

Toad · « **Reply #27 on:** October 05, 2006, 08:04:32 PM »

But the schools, of course, would still get government tax-derived funding?

So what you'd have is schools still getting the same money but no federal oversight at all?

Oh, yeah...that'd work.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #28 on:** October 05, 2006, 08:05:16 PM »

What part of "get the government out of it completely" did you misunderstand?

Toad · « **Reply #29 on:** October 05, 2006, 08:08:04 PM »

No tax dollars whatsoever to schools?

How's THAT work? You going to donate your time?

How many lower class kids will attend?