Public schools at work... - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mikemover · #46 12-03-2002, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by G-Benz
"

How did we get so far off topic?

Blackmercedes didn't like my insensitive "generalizations", ignoring the fact that some of them might be TRUE.

I'm not in this discussion to "candy-coat" anything or to cater to the "over-sensitive" folks who are chronically offended. They need to grow up and not get their feelings hurt every time someone says something that they disagree with. If someone's esteem is so low that they can't discuss controversial topics without getting tears in their eyes, then maybe they should go talk about oil filters or something. I'm in this open discussion to talk about FACTS and SOLUTIONS. I step on toes. I don't mean it personally, so on the "personal" side, I'm sorry, but on the "debating, factual, taking care of business" side, I'm not.

Mike

Gil · #47 12-03-2002, 10:21 PM

TKD M119:

I think he meant National Education Association, not the National Endowment for the Arts.

That having been said, I think most of what's produced at the hands of governemt tends to be inferior to what's offered by the private sector, no matter what the product (including the arts).

Just look what's come out of the private sector as far as television programming is concerned: The History Channel, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, A&E, the list goes on. While governement television (PBS) has to depend on frequent and constant federal grants to stay afloat, all the while catering to an elite upper crust audience, while failing miserably at appealing to the lower classes (the original goal of it's "arts for the masses" mission).

But I digress...

My mother was a history teacher back in the late 1960s, and a full fledged member of the NEA. She tells me that back then, they were all about being a professional society dedicated to educational approaches and methods and what was best for the students.

These days, the NEA is basically a teamsters union for teachers. Their main issues and concers deal with tenure, pension, benefits, pay, etc. "What's in it for me?" It's all turned into a government gravy train at the expense of education, it seems.

Private schools pay much less and still attract the top teachers, while turning out the best and brightest. What's wrong with this picture?

Gil

mikemover · #48 12-04-2002, 10:52 AM

Gil,

If only everyone was as aware of the obvious as you are.

Mike

Robert Davis · #49 12-18-2002, 03:45 PM

Take it from a pubic school mired in the trenches. The problem with public school is lack of discipline and behavior problems. To clarify that better, lack of real punishment for kids being kids. When we were in school a threat of being sent to the office inspired sheer terror, now kids don't care. Part of this problem is falls anywhere from fear of parents to lawsuits and accusation of racism. Our nation is going to hell in a handbasket. I was an army drill sergeant and left because privates got timeouts, and stress "breaks". Tell the enemy you need a stress break ! Our mediocrity has sunk even to the military.

Gil · #50 12-18-2002, 07:35 PM

You got it, right, Robert.

Where were you a drill? I'm still in the national guard, but I had enough of active duty, partly because of what you're talking about as well as the "federal jobs program" mentality of today's soldiers and leaders. The warrior ethic is dead with a capital D for many soldiers these days.

I could rant on about this, but I already do that in other places often enough.

"hooah"

Gil

hill · #51 12-19-2002, 01:12 AM

Since public schools are so bad, we should abolish them. An extra ten to twenty million bored poor kids wandering around the streets wouldn't cause any problems.

Gil · #52 12-19-2002, 11:03 PM

I know you weren't serious about that last post, but if you think about it, we already have ten or twenty million functionally illiterate kids moving through our schools every year.

Debating the effectiveness of the public school system does not make one an advocate of ignorance or poverty.

Gil

mikemover · #53 12-21-2002, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gil

Debating the effectiveness of the public school system does not make one an advocate of ignorance or poverty.
Gil

I'm glad somebody gets it!

Mike