Continuing to Dumb Down America: Failing Schools Except from Testing

[mawilson 2,133]

How did folks ever get a good education before the Department of Education came along?

Better education, in fact.

[slim 1,525]

Better education, in fact.

That's impossible. They never could've without big brother's benevolent assistance.

[Zero Sum 305]

Right on.

Also, the people making up laws about education should be people who are actively involved in classrooms. NCLB was and is a joke. Every single dedicated and qualified teacher knows this to be fact. You cannot rate a school/classroom/pod/team/teacher based on standardized test scores. Well, you CAN, but it's ridiculous.

For everyone who complains about public education and who blame the teachers -- would you do their jobs? Best case scenario: you have 35 to 150 students a day (depending on whether you are primary or secondary), you have text books, and ample supplies (but you bought most of the supplies yourself), you have actively involved parents, and you have students who want to learn.

Normal scenario: same numbers, you are still providing your own supplies and sometimes you have to figure out how to get textbooks, the percentage of involved parents is very limited, students are either not interested, can't stay awake (for whatever reason), are interested but need additional help they can't get and you can't provide, you have administrators breathing down your neck to fall into line on matters that take up far too much of your teaching time and have no benefit for the classroom, you rarely have time for a bathroom break, much less a lunch break, you bring your work home with you in the evenings and work late into the night, you arrive early to prepare before school, you have -- on average in the nation -- a Master's degree in your subject area and/or M.Ed or MAT, you get little to no respect and you are paid ####### wages. AND people think you don't do a good enough job and you get paid too much (or, if you're in Wisconsin -- they just take away all your collective bargaining rights).

Is it any wonder that public schools are in dire shape? Is it any wonder that many excellent, qualified, dedicated teachers either leave the profession or leave public education?

Instead of having a 100% passing rate on a BS standardized test that does nothing to adequately monitor or measure our students' knowledge and does nothing to prepare them for college or life after high school -- how about let parents and teachers work together to find solutions to these issues? How about letting people who are in the classroom have a say in what the Dept of Education does?

/rant over

Right on again. Details... details...

this is why you need to vote for me for president. i'll abolish nclb, reduce DOE to a small staff that sets national standards, and then leave it up to the states to follow those standards.

I don't think I'd have a problem voting for you if that were your platform.

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

I don't think I'd have a problem voting for you if that were your platform.

well there's also my interest in reducing our foreign commitments overseas in regards to troops, along with reviewing many of our treaties and determining if they are necessary anymore.

and i'd also like to see more tim horton's in the usa.

[Zero Sum 305]

well there's also my interest in reducing our foreign commitments overseas in regards to troops, along with reviewing many of our treaties and determining if they are necessary anymore.

and i'd also like to see more tim horton's in the usa.

Do you have a campaign site I can make a donation to?

[slim 1,525]

well there's also my interest in reducing our foreign commitments overseas in regards to troops, along with reviewing many of our treaties and determining if they are necessary anymore.

and i'd also like to see more tim horton's in the usa.

If you added a public option rifle... I'm all in!

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

If you added a public option rifle... I'm all in!

i support the 2nd amendment and don't support any public option, be it rifle or health care.

i do, however, support health care reform - limiting tort, believe there should be a low interest loan by the feds to support those pursuing a health care diploma (i.e. nurses and doctors), and would like to eliminate the lack of portability in health care across state lines - why shouldn't blue cross of florida be an effective insurance for residents of colorado?

[slim 1,525]

i support the 2nd amendment and don't support any public option, be it rifle or health care.

i do, however, support health care reform - limiting tort, believe there should be a low interest loan by the feds to support those pursuing a health care diploma (i.e. nurses and doctors), and would like to eliminate the lack of portability in health care across state lines - why shouldn't blue cross of florida be an effective insurance for residents of colorado?

By that justification, you could offer a public option rifle.

[Ban Hammer 13,355]

By that justification, you could offer a public option rifle.

if you can't afford a rifle, you probably can't afford the ammo for one.

[slim 1,525]

if you can't afford a rifle, you probably can't afford the ammo for one.

Then you need to subsidize ammo as well.

They did it back in the revolutionary times, why not today?

[Zero Sum 305]

i support the 2nd amendment and don't support any public option, be it rifle or health care.

i do, however, support health care reform - limiting tort, believe there should be a low interest loan by the feds to support those pursuing a health care diploma (i.e. nurses and doctors), and would like to eliminate the lack of portability in health care across state lines - why shouldn't blue cross of florida be an effective insurance for residents of colorado?

Making tort subjective to a test of frivolity, sure. A public option that competes (not overpowers) private enterprise? I would lobby you to make the distinction in your campaign in a town hall. Would you stand or would you sit?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Making tort subjective to a test of frivolity, sure. A public option that competes (not overpowers) private enterprise? I would lobby you to make the distinction in your campaign in a town hall. Would you stand or would you sit?

My medical reform is less highfalutin. Cut down on all that expensive medical schooling and fancy machines. Put all the future doctors through a two year technical program, just like dentists and auto mechanics. Then, if they want to practice in rural America, they can have a place on the edge of town, at no cost. In exchange, they provide care for whatever the community members can afford, be it fried chicken, or apple pies.