Education or Indoctrination? [Mis. Hum]

I am not a teacher. Ooops, my bad, I mean educator. My direct personal experience with secondary education recently has been limited. I did attend the graduation ceremony of my two youngest daughters in May of 2015. They graduated from a University of Wisconsin system school. The only thing I remember from that ceremony is that they received diplomas and portions of the address given by the chancellor.

The address went something like this, "These students have faced adversity as our school has had significant budget cuts." Now, he did not come out and say Scott Walker was to blame. You could read that between the lines. Mrs. MH elbowed me in the ribs when I let out an audible groan. So as the one year anniversary of this address approaches I've been thinking about his speech and other exemplary actions of colleges and universities in the news. Basically, the thoughts have been, WTF is wrong with our education system?

Hillary Clinton once famously said it takes a village to raise a child. Does the village teach manners and courtesy? It's quite obvious the the village, her parents and schooling from K-12 failed. Budget cuts in MA or any other state have nothing to do with this behavior. The President once chimed in about the private sector not building their business. OK, with that philosophy and Hillary's village beliefs, then the Public Education System is 100% responsible for this creature. Not too mention her parents who obviously taught her eating was fine but manners/courtesy were no-nos.

Now you might say, give her a break, she's an immature adult who needs further guidance. (OK play along here) This poor misguided soul will encounter educators who will teach her the value of open thought, differing ideas and free expression/discussion of topics. Not only will she be exposed to critical and independent thinking she will be exposed to how to play well with others. And finally she and other students will learn the lesson of accepting the truth, no matter if it is different than their original belief yes immature adult, a secondary education will give you all of these life lessons. You will graduate and be a well rounded person. (In her case in more ways than one)

The left preaches diversity. They shout it from the roof tops. But, it appears the only diversity they want is color, unless you are white gender, gender identity and sexual preference. Diversity of thought and political beliefs are not welcomed. When do they add Re-education to their name? For example, The Re-education University of fill-in-the-blank-state.

These kids don't come to a college or a university blank slates. The K-12 public school systems are failing miserably as well. Don't believe me if this comes out of a teacher who represents teachers what are we to expect in the classroom? In 2011 thousands of protesters marched on Madison, WI in response to Scott Walker's Act 10 legislation. This legislation addressed public unions, school teachers hardest hit. Teachers taught their students valuable lessons by "striking" although school strikes in WI are illegal. We won't get into the fake "Sick Excuse Notes" written by UW Doctors for the striking teachers.

So the public school system is corrupted, what do we do? There are no simple answers. Pushing for school vouchers is one step. Pushing for charter schools free of the teacher union's grip is another. Better vetting of school board candidates at local election time. Supporting governors such as Scott Walker who reigned in the WI teachers union. These are all steps in the right direction. These institutions didn't change for the worse overnight and will not change for the better overnight either. It will require work, diligence and exposure of their corrupt ways and means.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 03:47 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Oh good, a non-Trump/Cruz thread #safespace.

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 03:44 PM (HgMAr)

2 I have long called for elimination of all public funding of universities. Make them all "private schools". And sense SCTUS says student loans and public scholarships are "funding" end that too.

I think it will go a long way to eliminating the liberal domination of colleges and the crappy useless courses taught to SJW.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 03:46 PM (vvmPQ)

3 WTF is wrong with our education system?

===

Bang a teacher and you'll have your answer.

Posted by: Bigby's Talking Finger at April 29, 2016 03:46 PM (3ZtZW)

4 3 WTF is wrong with our education system?
-----------------------

They stopped giving diplomas and switched to giving participation trophies.

Posted by: Roy at April 29, 2016 03:48 PM (VndSC)

5 Home. School.

Posted by: Lauren at April 29, 2016 03:49 PM (x4WCI)

6 But you can poop in whatever bathroom you like so there's that.

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 03:50 PM (HgMAr)

7 If you think the educational "system" has anything to do with education, that's your first mistake.

Posted by: tu3031 at April 29, 2016 03:52 PM (YFFpo)

8 We said screw the system, pulled the kids out of school, and now homeschool them. It's a lot of work, but I really enjoy seeing the young men these guys are becoming.

In California, if you want to make money, develop something and sell it to homeschool families. You will NOT go broke.

Posted by: dwinnorcal at April 29, 2016 03:53 PM (3OTR8)

9 If they really wanted to fix the education system, they would end tenure and the teachers union. Then, at the end of the school year a month from now, fire all of the teachers, and let them reapply for their jobs.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 03:54 PM (Qvgg/)

10 Oh good, a non-Trump/Cruz thread #safespace.
Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 03:44 PM (HgMAr)

Oh, just wait a little while.

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 03:55 PM (s5o+q)

11 You have to kill the teachers unions, the top funder of Democrat candidates, IIRC (yes, much more than those eeevil Koch brothers). These organizations are very political and their leadership pushes indoctrination of SJW issues through its members.

Universities will not straighten out until they lose a lot of public funding and government backed student loans. They would not be teaching those crap classes if it wasn't so easy for students to pay for it. They've got a nice scam going with offering useless degrees to people who couldn't handle a rigorous course AND have been indoctrinated to think that it's eeevil Wall Street and other cartoonish villains to blame for them owing $150K for a degree that qualifies them to serve Starbucks.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 03:55 PM (NOIQH)

12 Hey, I learned all that stuff in kindergarten.

Posted by: The Guy who learned everything in kindergarten at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (LxP4S)

13 Vouchers will fix everything. That's what I've heard, anyway.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (Qvgg/)

14 also keep the education triangle in mind: teachers' union(s), teacher colleges and education bureaucrats. The colleges produce studies that show that you can never have enough teachers (eg, you should have no more than 16 kids in a class, a class should have a teacher and a teaching assistant, etc), the bureaucrats try to make rules based on the studies, and the unions reward the politicians (D) who keep the ed bureaucrats in power.

Posted by: Satan of Cloggenstein Vt at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (qSIlh)

15 Conservatives allowed this to happen over a span of two full generations. The idea that it can be fixed in less time is probably a fantasy.

Posted by: James Felix at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (x7byD)

16 Also, when did the concept of a 4 year degree go away?
I don't understand why it now takes 5, 6+ years to graduate.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 03:57 PM (NOIQH)

17 Nood up.

-
Dude, I'm already there.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at April 29, 2016 03:57 PM (Nwg0u)

18 Conservatives allowed this to happen over a span of two full generations. The idea that it can be fixed in less time is probably a fantasy.
Posted by: James Felix at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (x7byD)

"She was just asking for it, wearing that dress."

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 03:57 PM (s5o+q)

19 I'm a public school teacher.

I'd like to know what exactly increased spending is for. What are we buying that is going to make education more effective at churning our well-mannered, intelligent adults?

None of the many problems at my school have anything to do with a lack of money.

Posted by: Randy Weaver 's Revenge at April 29, 2016 03:57 PM (pdk6E)

20 Private.School. Where we live there are a lot of them, all price ranges. However, some of them resemble public school government indoctrination centers.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 03:58 PM (FsuaD)

21 Trump University will fix all this. It'll be yooge.

Posted by: NoSafeSpaceLeftBehind at April 29, 2016 03:58 PM (2bryz)

22 The NEA is a group of thugs. My kind of people.

Posted by: Hillary 2016 at April 29, 2016 03:58 PM (FXW24)

23 1. End guaranteed lifetime employment for public education workers.

2. End pension and lifetime health care payments. They can save like all the rest of America.

3. Vouchers. Charter schools.

4. Make public employee unions illegal.

Posted by: MTF at April 29, 2016 03:58 PM (/m8T6)

24 One result of this educational system is that no one knows the airspeed of a swallow anymore.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at April 29, 2016 03:59 PM (OF/aZ)

25 But you can poop in whatever bathroom you like so there's that.

-
Check the latest Project Veritas undercover video if you have not yet met your minimum daily requirements of outrage. See WZ.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at April 29, 2016 03:59 PM (Nwg0u)

26 We had TENURED elementary school teachers at my son's public school in IL. Tenured. And there were some really lazy, crappy "educators."

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 04:00 PM (FsuaD)

27 Grandson #1, age 4, is in public school Pre-K. Lost in the woods is he. Can't focus for three hours sitting on a mat watching the "teacher" write letters on her computer (think head down in a computer screen)
that show up on a video screen. She never even makes eye contact. Grandson #1 couldn't tell you the letter C from a hole in the ground. He does enjoy looking for bugs on the floor though.

Next year he is going to a charter school. Supposed to be more hands-on, more male-to-female ratio. I hope he comes home dirty every day.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 29, 2016 04:00 PM (dFi94)

28 Say it with me.

Force universities to cosign for student loans.

If you're going to the university, you expect that they're going to give you a marketable skill (or should, anyway). If they don't do that? Well then they should be on the hook for a percentage of the debt you incurred.

This has the happy additional effect of drastically reducing the percentage of Bullshit Grievance Studies degrees universities are putting out. There aren't enough jobs in LGBTBBQWTFOMGSPQR studies for a single state university's worth of graduates, not to mention all them in the country.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 29, 2016 04:00 PM (KUaJL)

29 WTF is wrong with our education system?

Leftists run it.

Posted by: Skip at April 29, 2016 04:01 PM (PFZvJ)

30 Well, at least Buffy can use the boys' restroom if she identifies as a little boy. So there's that.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 04:02 PM (FsuaD)

31 The metric system is the answer.

Posted by: Lincoln Chafee at April 29, 2016 04:03 PM (HgMAr)

32 A little mood music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU-U

Posted by: Teh Edukashunal Hatt at April 29, 2016 04:04 PM (vBeA5)

33 Public schools are an 18th Century solution to the question of "how do we best educate people." (Universities are a medieval solution to much the same question, by the way.)

There are other solutions.

Those solution have roadblocks, most or all of which are in public schools, their tributary constituencies such as unions, and political demagogues who buy votes by "spending more on education FOR THE CHILDREN!!!"

Remove the roadblocks.

This will require extraordinary effort.

One first step would be to ban schools from supporting any athletics except intramural physical-education-oriented activities. Those serve in large part to bolster the tribalist instinct in all humans, so that people basically mindlessly rally to "protect our schools".

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:04 PM (s5o+q)

34 @31 You mean ten grades, like in Yerp?

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:04 PM (xq1UY)

35 ...we're doomed...DOOMED!!!

Posted by: Dr. Zachary Smith at April 29, 2016 04:04 PM (INxoa)

36 The metric system is the answer.

Posted by: Lincoln Chafee at April 29, 2016 04:03 PM (HgMAr)

All according to plan...

Posted by: The Jacobins at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (vBeA5)

37 >>I'd like to know what exactly increased spending is for. What are we
buying that is going to make education more effective at churning our
well-mannered, intelligent adults?

In the early 2000's the Washington Times did a huge, 3 day investigative report on fraud in the DC public schools. It was ah-maz-ing how it was being done at every level, both petty and blatant.

One of the worst facilitators of this was the issuing of credit cards to administrators - these are a vehicle to bypass purchase orders/approvals. If the charge was under $500 (IIRC), no approval was required. So you can imagine that every charge was just under that amount, and often willingly broken out by the "vendor" to assist in hiding all sorts of personal expenses on those cards.

Then there were numerous scams like this: one guy is in charge of tech/office equipment for several schools. He has a trail of invoices for the purchase and repair of 6 fax machines at one school - we're talking thousands of dollars to maintain those suckers every year. Except....there is only *one* fax machine onsite, it retails for $100 instead of the invoiced $500, and it has never broken. Turns out the guy's friend was the seller/repairer of these machines, and he has an imaginary business created just to generate the invoices/payments that they split between them.

That's where a lot of the money goes, I would imagine...

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (NOIQH)

38 All according to plan...
Posted by: The Jacobins at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (vBeA5)

Next comes re-naming the months of the year, right?

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (s5o+q)

39 By the way I looked it up. Trump has self funded over 60% of his campaign. Now these are "loans" , so he could pay himself back. And it should be mentioned since Trump is running such a different campaign for many reasons, he gets a lot of FREE coverage which no other Candidate can generate. But he fact remains, depending on how you define "self finance" that's still a pretty penny.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (Ozsfq)

40 The metric system is the answer.

Posted by: Lincoln Chafee at April 29, 2016 04:03 PM (HgMAr)

The Metric System is the tool of the Devil!

Posted by: Abraham Simpson at April 29, 2016 04:07 PM (vBeA5)

41 "The left preaches diversity. They shout it from the roof tops. But, it appears the only diversity they want is color"

Once they get that they will want something else, there will never be a end to it.

Posted by: Skip at April 29, 2016 04:07 PM (PFZvJ)

42 I have my kids in Catholic school. I'd like to be able to pull the tax money I contribute to send someone else's kid to school out of the system. That would be great. Vouchers to starve the beast, I'm all for it.

Posted by: no good deed at April 29, 2016 04:07 PM (GgxVX)

43 Yeah Scott Walker froze their shit because it was discovered they had a $Billion slush fund.

Posted by: Roland THTG at April 29, 2016 04:07 PM (QM5S2)

44 I am glad my "Kids" are thru with school

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (Ozsfq)

45 Remember when lefty hack historian Michael Beschloss was on the Don Imus radio program, and was in full-throated rhapsodization regarding Barack Obama, stating that Obama was "a guy whose IQ is off the charts"?

And how Imus then quietly but persistently drilled Beschloss on that, asking over and over, "What is his IQ?"

Of course, Beschloss had no idea what Obama's IQ was, and retreated into a humiliated flurry of hand-waving, eye-darting, and non sequiturs.

I have found it's equally productive, when the subject of education comes up, to start asking people "How much are we spending on education?"

I offer them a couple of choices. How many billions are spent nationally upon education? How much of our GDP does that make up? What percentage of that total goes to K-12, and what goes to universities? What's the national average spending per pupil per capita on K-12? What is it in this state? How about in this school district?

Holy crap, does this ever drive liberals into batty back-footed defensive panic. They're completely unaccustomed to such lines of questioning. They have no idea how to answer.

Almost always, the response is something along the lines of "Well, I don't know for sure, but to judge by results, it's obviously not enough!" In a vocally butthurt tone.

Which is great, because that then leaves the door open for follow-up comments noting how there's no correlation between spending and academic attainment either domestically, or internationally. Countries that kick our asses routinely in the international intellectual league tables turn out to spend a fraction of what we do.

And since they've just already previously admitted that they're arguing from a position of quantitative ignorance, it's damn near impossible for them to even attempt to refute these new points. Cue indignant spluttering.

Posted by: torquewrench at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (noWW6)

46 No, they don't teach manners of any kind now. They teach "express yourself" and "do what you believe in" no matter what, even if you are an uneducated young idiot.

Posted by: PJ at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (cHuNI)

47 28 Say it with me.
Force universities to cosign for student loans.
If you're going to the university, you expect that they're going to give you a marketable skill (or should, anyway). If they don't do that? Well then they should be on the hook for a percentage of the debt you incurred.

This has the happy additional effect of drastically reducing the percentage of Bullshit Grievance Studies degrees universities are putting out. There aren't enough jobs in LGBTBBQWTFOMGSPQR studies for a single state university's worth of graduates, not to mention all them in the country.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 29, 2016 04:00 PM (KUaJL)

This.

GM has GMAC to help prospective customers finance their purchase of GM vehicles. GE has GE Capital. Why can't universities do exactly the same thing?

I know. Much too sensible. But it would mean that universities would have some skin in the game, which is what is sorely needed.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (oKE6c)

48 Public schools are an 18th Century solution
Right-ho. And it took until the last quarter of the 19th to make it universal, and federalized. What we're up against is the momentum of a century and a half of this socialist creature being "American as apple pie." It never was. But, we have it.

Anytime you begin a discussion of "Our National System of ___," you've lost the argument. There shouldn't be a national system of anything here. Maybe -- just maybe -- not even the military. But systems of education yield systems of people, and you can see the result of that, right here, every day. It's a perversion.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:10 PM (xq1UY)

49 Donald Trump is the first of the presidential candidates to speak

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks Friday evening

Saturday belongs to Sen. Ted Cruz , who will speak at lunch. Carly Fiorina , the former HP executive Cruz has selected as a potential running mate, speaks in the evening

Trump is walking the street into the convention now.
YYUge crowds are there to cheer and protest.

We'll get to see if Californian have any manners.

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:10 PM (e8kgV)

50 BC and I discussed in our podcast TO WHICH YOU SHOULD TOTALLY LISTEN EVEN THOUGH I'M TOO LAZY TO RELINK WHATEVER that wtf is wrong with Kids These Days.

I have no answers to this. I will say that the lovely lady who interrupted Crowder, et al., appears to be seriously mentally ill and not just an intolerant, entitled loser.

I can never tell if I'm not in any position to discuss schooling since I have no personal stake in anything pre-college or if I'm in the best position since I have no stake.

Here's the thing. I was raised in an entirely parallel educational structure. The first non-religious school I attended other than half day kindergarten was law school. I know first hand what it's like to be raised in an incredibly insular world. You know what? That world knew it was insular and it was a constant struggle making sure that kids were exposed to contrary ideas and people who didn't think like them. It was considered a terrible thing if you didn't know anyone who didn't go to church or to a Christian school. It was a point of shame, not a point of pride, to have a circle that small except for those who were More Holy Than Thou that they only attended church functions and had no tv and only patronized Christian businesses.

Well guess what. The Left has become far more insular than the Evangelical world which it mocks so intensely.

I have no solutions to this. I don't.

Posted by: alexthechick - Banderette at April 29, 2016 04:11 PM (mf5HN)

51 And since they've just already previously admitted that they're arguing from a position of quantitative ignorance, it's damn near impossible for them to even attempt to refute these new points. Cue indignant spluttering.
Posted by: torquewrench at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (noWW6)

Because CHILDREN, you revanchist neanderthal knuckledraging . . . MAN!!!

(or something like that, said appropriately huffily.)

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:11 PM (s5o+q)

52 WTF is wrong with our education system?

===

Bang a teacher and you'll have your answer.
Posted by: Bigby's Talking Finger

Do hot, kinky librarians count?

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:11 PM (vz4z/)

53 Home

School.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 29, 2016 04:12 PM (39g3+)

54 I can never tell if I'm not in any position to discuss schooling since I have no personal stake in anything pre-college or if I'm in the best position since I have no stake.

AtC, do you pay property taxes? If so, you have a stake in this.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:13 PM (vz4z/)

55 Well guess what. The Left has become far more insular than the Evangelical world which it mocks so intensely.

I have no solutions to this. I don't.
Posted by: alexthechick - Banderette at April 29, 2016 04:11 PM (mf5HN)

It solves itself, eventually.

The problem is a lot of people suffer and die first, usually.

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:13 PM (s5o+q)

56 I have found it's equally productive, when the subject of education
comes up, to start asking people "How much are we spending on
education?"

In CA, =>39%[//i] of the state budget MUST be spent on K-12 education, by a constitutional amendment enacted by voter initiative (thanks, teachers' unions!).

Since CA's annual budget is ca. $100 billion, that means that CA ~~wastes~~ spends ca. $40 billion annually on K-12 education, on which the state's results now rank ... 49th.

They recently passed a bond issue to pay for the construction and maintenance of school buildings. But once the money was in hand, the state gave it to the fucking teachers, saying that that they hadn't had a raise in two weeks. Now they're proposing ANOTHER bond issue for ... say it with me ... construction and maintenance of school buildings.

I'm not making this up.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:13 PM (oKE6c)

57
In ten years people will sign credit card receipts with block letters.
The waiting in line will be horrible.

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 04:13 PM (HgMAr)

58 The problem with public education is that it is public.

Just like any other program run on a socialized basis. Property taxes and income taxes are raised, and redistributed. The person receiving the service doesn't pay for the service.

You want good education? It needs to be for-profit. If schools were paid based on success rather than receiving funds 'according to their needs' you would see a rapid change in education.

Our new socialized medicine is based on the public education model, which explains why it is working so well. Although, based on the primaries so far, maybe this is what Americans actually want.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:14 PM (Qvgg/)

59 Oops

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:14 PM (oKE6c)

60 I'm in a grad program at OU (the Oklahoma one), and--no matter what class--SJWism is always pushed.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 29, 2016 04:14 PM (VAsIq)

61 I have a solution, and it doesn't involve appeasement, coddling, or throwing more money at the problem.

Protip: don't invest in thatched roof cottages.

THATCHED ROOF COTTAGES

Posted by: Trogdor the Burninator at April 29, 2016 04:14 PM (u0s1P)

62 @54 Yup, and since the old argument in public education's favor was that we all profited by its success, the opposite argument must now apply. We all are bearing the costs and dangers of their failures.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:15 PM (xq1UY)

63 49 Donald Trump is the first of the presidential candidates to speak

Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks Friday evening

Saturday belongs to Sen. Ted Cruz , who will speak at lunch. Carly Fiorina , the former HP executive Cruz has selected as a potential running mate, speaks in the evening

Trump is walking the street into the convention now.
YYUge crowds are there to cheer and protest.

We'll get to see if Californian have any manners.
Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:10 PM (e8kgV)

See, wth!

I told you so!

I TOLD YOU SO!!!

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:15 PM (s5o+q)

64 And the Trogdor comes in the NIGHT!!!

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 29, 2016 04:15 PM (VAsIq)

65 Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London who was suspended from the Labor Party on Thursday for claiming that Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler was a Zionist, refused to back down for telling the truth.

No doubt a product of a Public School Education

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (Ozsfq)

66 Next comes re-naming the months of the year, right?

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (s5o+q)
No, not until the third of Thermidor.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (oKE6c)

67 33
Public schools are an 18th Century solution to the question of "how do
we best educate people." (Universities are a medieval solution to much
the same question, by the way.)

... they often will have a Baccalaureate ceremony in conjunction with graduation.

It wasn't that long ago, that the Baccalaureate ceremony required each graduate to profess his knowledge of his specialty ... in Latin.

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (e8kgV)

68 No doubt a product of a Public School Education

Posted by: Nevergiveup

Ha! Leading Lefties are always from prominent families and sent to the best private schools.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (VAsIq)

69 I can never tell if I'm not in any position to discuss schooling since I have no personal stake in anything pre-college or if I'm in the best position since I have no stake.

----

Do not cede this ground. People who have a personal stake are often the worst judges of what should be done in a situation. Besides, the left would never accept for one second that because they don't have a personal stake in a given issue that they should just shut up.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (KUaJL)

70 >>Since CA's annual budget is ca. $100 billion, that means that CA spends ca. $40 billion annually on K-12 education, on which the state's results now rank ... 49th.

Brings to mind the fancy new LAUSD building, and also the story about the ginormous purchase of iPads for students that sat in a closet. Well, probably not all of them - I bet a lot of "educators" took one home.

Also, did they switch from teacher to "educator" so that people who don't teach, such as administrators, can't be identified as easily. For example, is the Dean of Diversity and Gender Equality considered an "educator"?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (NOIQH)

71 Saturday belongs to Sen. Ted Cruz

And the night belongs to Michelob and/or lovers. And you belong to the city.

We belong, we belong.

Posted by: Trogdor the Ruminator at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (u0s1P)

72 The bulk of the money slushed into the public school system goes into administration. I know. My dad was a school superintendent. The money that is funded into the top offices is obscene,

"For the children" my aunt fanny.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 29, 2016 04:17 PM (dFi94)

73 It wasn't that long ago, that the Baccalaureate ceremony required each graduate to profess his knowledge of his specialty ... in Latin.

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs

Followed by a bacchanal.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 29, 2016 04:17 PM (VAsIq)

74
GM has GMAC to help prospective customers finance their purchase of GM vehicles. GE has GE Capital. Why can't universities do exactly the same thing?

I know. Much too sensible. But it would mean that universities would have some skin in the game, which is what is sorely needed.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:08 PM (oKE6c)

If universities started getting into the business of loaning students money to attend their schools, it would quickly put to lie the notion that they were not-for-profit.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at April 29, 2016 04:17 PM (LUG6K)

75 Non fuit quod non olim, ut quisque amet Bacchalaureatum caerimonia oportet ad eius notitiam profitemur, et in genere ... Latin.

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (e8kgV)

76 For example, is the Dean of Diversity and Gender Equality considered an "educator"?

Posted by: Lizzy

Really, I consider myself a pansexual with phosphate tendencies.

Posted by: Dean of Diversity and Gender Equality at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (VAsIq)

77 Semper ubi sub ubi.

Posted by: Trogdor the Latinator at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (u0s1P)

78 15
Conservatives allowed this to happen over a span of two full
generations. The idea that it can be fixed in less time is probably a
fantasy.

Posted by: James Felix at April 29, 2016 03:56 PM (x7byD)

"Conservatives" have never "allowed" a damn thing because "conservatives" have never been in charge of Washington and Washington, thanks to "liberal" courts, has illegally taken over education and schools.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (vvmPQ)

79 Things are getting nasty in the thread below.

And by nasty, someone called ace a "cunt."

*heads to pantry to get popcorn*

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (FsuaD)

80
If universities started getting into the business of loaning
students money to attend their schools, it would quickly put to lie the
notion that they were concerned about each student graduating.

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:19 PM (e8kgV)

81 They taught Latin in my high school. Little Winger majored in Greek/Hebrew/Latin in college. So there are still Latin - o's out there.

Posted by: grammie winger, watching the fig tree at April 29, 2016 04:19 PM (dFi94)

82 >>AtC, do you pay property taxes? If so, you have a stake in this.

THIS

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:19 PM (NOIQH)

83 The Metric System is the tool of the Devil!
Posted by: Abraham Simpson at April 29, 2016 04:07 PM

Preach it, brother! If G*d had intended for man to use the metric system, Jesus would only have had 10 disciples.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at April 29, 2016 04:19 PM (OF/aZ)

84 Brings to mind the fancy new LAUSD building, and
also the story about the ginormous purchase of iPads for students that
sat in a closet. Well, probably not all of them - I bet a lot of
"educators" took one home.

Also, did they switch from teacher
to "educator" so that people who don't teach, such as administrators,
can't be identified as easily. For example, is the Dean of Diversity and
Gender Equality considered an "educator"?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (NOIQH)
Don't get me started on the iPads. The leftists acted as though the only thing keeping ghetto denizens from soaring intellectual achievements was the absence of iPads. Well, they got 'em - for a while - and we're still waiting for those Nobel Prizes to come rolling in. Meanwhile, a lot of the money mysteriously disappeared, along with many of the iPads, IIRC.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:20 PM (oKE6c)

85 Ten months? Piffle. They also had a ten-hour clock and a ten-day week.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:20 PM (xq1UY)

86 Next comes re-naming the months of the year, right?

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:06 PM (s5o+q)
No, not until the third of Thermidor.

I'm holding out for the Lobster of Thermidor!

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:20 PM (vz4z/)

87 >>I'm in a grad program at OU (the Oklahoma one), and--no matter what class--SJWism is always pushed.
Posted by: Turd Ferguson

Well, President Boren is a roaring liberal democrat.

Posted by: Aviator at April 29, 2016 04:20 PM (c7vUv)

88 When I hear "educator", I always think of that old broad that John Candy threw a quarter at to have a rat chew that thing off her face in "Uncle Buck".

Posted by: tu3031 at April 29, 2016 04:21 PM (YFFpo)

89
63
See, wth!

I told you so!

I TOLD YOU SO!!!
Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:15 PM (s5o+q)
..................

I lose.
It was just a dream I had. And I was just starting to enjoy reading all the comments.

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (HgMAr)

90 Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (Ozsfq)

91 I don't disagree with your overall diagnosis. However, here in Louisiana, teachers unions (and we have 2 + 1 alternative organization than leans... less left if not moderately conservative) are relatively powerless. We don't pay them dues unless we want to (and we do primarily for the promise of legal protection if parents come suing, which is a real threat if you're a public school teacher). My point is simple. We has problems, but it's not clear, at least not in this state, that it's the unions.

Posted by: Rick67 at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (stEzM)

92 Donald Trump coactus est post saepem salit cessoribus catena humana forma, clausus ad ostium, San Fran Hotel

Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (e8kgV)

93 90 Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.
Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (Ozsfq)

Those who can't do, teach. Leftists suck at doing anything.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (KUaJL)

94 @75 Sorry dude, that's Googlatin right there.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (xq1UY)

95 >>Meanwhile, a lot of the money mysteriously disappeared, along with many of the iPads, IIRC

Yeah, wanna bet that's because they were invoiced for more than actually received - with whatever "educator" who handled the purchase pocketing the difference?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (NOIQH)

96 Once, in my earlier ignorance, I told a Freedom Foundation rep at a conference that I had trouble reconciling the need for public education with privatization.

She replied, "Oh, we're all strongly in favor of public education. In fact, it's vital to a free republic. We just think that government schools should be abolished." This put the issue in proper perspective.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (laMCB)

97 AtC, do you pay property taxes? If so, you have a stake in this.
Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:13 PM (vz4z/)

Well, sure, as part of my rent.

I mean, because I know that hahahaha I rent so I don't pay property taxes is, what's the word, stupid.

I should clarify the stake in this. I don't have a kid that's directly affected so this is all theory to me.

That's along the lines of best position/worst position. Best since it's not personal for me. Worst since I have no practical experience at all. As in I hear people discussing stuff in their kids' schools and I'm all wait what the actual fuck, you do that? So, you know, there's that.

Posted by: alexthechick - Banderette at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (mf5HN)

98 LA USD is the prime example I used of diseconomy of scale.

Yes, they had the iPad bribery issue.

Yes, they had the Taj Mahal schools that cost $800 million.

Yes, they wanted an email system that auto-deleted emails after six months (see bribery scandal.)

Posted by: Harun at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (UBBWX)

99 Long March Through the Institutions.

Not gonna get that turned around with politeness and well-reasoned arguments.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (gUoN4)

100 "GM has GMAC to help prospective customers finance their purchase of GM vehicles."

Unfortunately, having their financing arm in house didn't imbue the likes of GM with any sense of competent, prudent financial responsibility. They ran amuck with ridiculous financing terms to customers with shitty credit, in the name of continuing to move metal off the dealer lots no matter what.

Then when it all blew up in their faces, they ran to the D.C. mandarinate for help, were quasi-nationalized, then spun back out to "private company" status, at a *floor* cost to the public of roughly fifty billion bucks, plus a ton of dubiously granted tax loss carryforwards that further burden the public finances.

I can't imagine that things would work any differently for universities, or consortia of same, who had their own financial arms that were on the hook for bad student loans. It would turn out to be only notional responsibility. They'd screw the pooch and then scream to be bailed out, and would get it.

Posted by: torquewrench at April 29, 2016 04:24 PM (noWW6)

101 Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.
Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (Ozsfq)

Those that go in have to stay in the closet, or they get driven out by the leftists in charge.

And then, the leftists in charge claim that conservatives "just don't want to go into education, maybe they're just not smart enough."

Perfect circle.

Posted by: filbert at April 29, 2016 04:24 PM (s5o+q)

102 Education IS indoctrination to the left.

And indoctrination is education.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified sidebar at April 29, 2016 04:24 PM (xuouz)

103 I know first hand what it's like to be raised in an incredibly insular world. You know what? That world knew it was insular and it was a constant struggle making sure that kids were exposed to contrary ideas and people who didn't think like them. It was considered a terrible thing if you didn't know anyone who didn't go to church or to a Christian school. It was a point of shame, not a point of pride, to have a circle that small except for those who were More Holy Than Thou that they only attended church functions and had no tv and only patronized Christian businesses.

Yeah, and that's the difference. The left wants everyone isolated from any dissenting opinion or questioning their absolute authority. Even the Amish give kids a chance to try out alternates before locking in.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 29, 2016 04:25 PM (39g3+)

104 Well, President Boren is a roaring liberal democrat.

Posted by: Aviator

More like...President Boring!

Posted by: JOKES! at April 29, 2016 04:25 PM (VAsIq)

105 Donald Trump coactus est post saepem salit cessoribus catena humana forma, clausus ad ostium, San Fran Hotel

Something about Trump shoving a cactus up someone's ass at a hotel and pouring on salt.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:25 PM (vz4z/)

106 Everything publicly funded becomes infested with leftists. They know that's where accountability is least, and they naturally gravitate to supporting the machine that keeps the trough flowing.

Posted by: Kasichs NeckWattle at April 29, 2016 04:25 PM (QX0Xt)

107 Yeah, wanna bet that's because they were
invoiced for more than actually received - with whatever "educator" who
handled the purchase pocketing the difference?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM (NOIQH)
And why iPads? Shoveling money to a leftist-infested company, perhaps? With a little baksheesh to the shovelers, perchance?
They refuse to deal with the reality: most people who do poorly in school do so because a) they're just not very bright, b) they didn't apply themselves at all, or c) both. Spiffy facilities and toys don't address a) or b), nor can they ever.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:26 PM (oKE6c)

108 The universities don't have to run their own financing arms, as long as the government isn't in the business of making student loans.

Note the common thread between public schools, universities, and health care: One organization is causing the primary problem - the federal government.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:26 PM (Qvgg/)

109 I can't imagine that things would work any differently for universities, or consortia of same, who had their own financial arms that were on the hook for bad student loans. It would turn out to be only notional responsibility. They'd screw the pooch and then scream to be bailed out, and would get it.

Unlike ONE GM, 500 bad uni's would trash the system quickly. There wouldn't be/couldn't be a big enough bail out.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:27 PM (vz4z/)

110
WTF is wrong with our education system?
..................

Obviously too much chalk just laying around.

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 04:28 PM (HgMAr)

111 I'm in a grad program at OU (the Oklahoma one), and--no matter what class--SJWism is always pushed.
Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 29, 2016 04:14 PM

The Eyes of Texas are upon you.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at April 29, 2016 04:29 PM (OF/aZ)

112 I can't imagine that things would work any
differently for universities, or consortia of same, who had their own
financial arms that were on the hook for bad student loans. It would
turn out to be only notional responsibility. They'd screw the pooch and
then scream to be bailed out, and would get it.

Posted by: torquewrench at April 29, 2016 04:24 PM (noWW6)
Yep, but that's an implementation problem, not a conceptual one. If the government would actually stick to the job of government - e.g., defending the nation against invasions, including slo-mo ones), and letting the market discipline miscreants, financing arms of businesses would work just fine.
As usual, the problems arise when the government sticks its snout into the tent.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:29 PM (oKE6c)

113 The socialists among us saw the great funding opportunity in public schools, so they pushed universities and hospitals into the same position - now, they get 5x the money, and instead of having no accountability through 12 grades, it extends to the populations' entire life.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (Qvgg/)

114 79
Things are getting nasty in the thread below.

And by nasty, someone called ace a "cunt."

*heads to pantry to get popcorn*

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (FsuaD)

Was that the post that got bandersnatch banned? I can find a post with somebody calling Ace a "c".

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (vvmPQ)

115 Both GM and GE divested their capital units. GM is creeping back in, but under an entirely new pretense. Of course I agree with the idea of university skin-in-game, but mayhap those two giddy giants aren't the best examples.

GE's unit wasn't really in time payments on refrigerators. They had huge insurance investments, which they're currently running away from as fast as they can.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (xq1UY)

116 "For example, is the Dean of Diversity and Gender Equality considered an 'educator'?"

In the Scum Scamfrisco unified school district, last I looked, every single individual school has its own "gender equity coordinator". The salary for that role starts in the low six figures and goes up sharply from there.

But "teachers are underpaid!"

Also, at the college level, there are colossal amounts of duplicative effort.

A typical CA public university campus will have a black issues office, a Hispanic issues office, a gender issues office, and increasingly now an LGBT-OMG-WTF office, and will *also* have a nonspecific office of "diversity" affairs.

Posted by: torquewrench at April 29, 2016 04:31 PM (noWW6)

117 I should clarify the stake in this. I don't have a kid that's directly affected so this is all theory to me.

I don't have, and never have had, a kid. I've paid close to $2k in just school taxes per year for my little two bedroom, 1 bath house for the last 25 years.

Yeah. I pay close attention to how they are wasting my tax dollars.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 29, 2016 04:31 PM (vz4z/)

118 From the sidebar: "John Kasich: My Wife Told Me I Should Continue Embarrassing Myself and Ruining America, Like I Always Have"

Got in trouble at work for laughing at this.

Just kidding half the people have left and everyone else is drinking.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified sidebar at April 29, 2016 04:31 PM (xuouz)

119 All school problem revolve around Student, parents and teachers/administrators.

The first problem is to remove the gark that parents are supposed to do.
Schools are now commissioned to be the guardians for too many of these children, taking up responsibilities that are the parents.

Then, the parents have to play their part as parents, not part-time parents.

Lastly, the teachers have to teach.

There should be no need to unions since our government is supposed to enforce the laws with fairness and justice, so a middleman union is "dead weight on the dragstrip."

Posted by: Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits at April 29, 2016 04:31 PM (e8kgV)

120
Students?

Hostages, more like.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (iwDrB)

121 >>Was that the post that got bandersnatch banned?

Whaaaaat?
Temporarily, right?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (NOIQH)

122 The socialists among us saw the great funding opportunity in public schools, so they pushed universities and hospitals into the same position - now, they get 5x the money, and instead of having no accountability through 12 grades, it extends to the populations' entire life.
Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (Qvgg/)

This is amazing, thanks for writing it.

Posted by: Ghost of kari - certified sidebar at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (xuouz)

123 FBI was involved with LAUSD iPad thing:

Not sure anything came of it.

Posted by: Harun at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (UBBWX)

124
It will require work, diligence and exposure of their corrupt ways and means.
----------------------

I think it's going to take way more than that. Can you imagine the revolt that the abolition of the DOE would bring on? It's going to take that level of remedy, that much noise and upheaval.

Posted by: iforgot at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (pC96u)

125 My point is simple. We has problems, but it's not clear, at least not in this state, that it's the unions.
Posted by: Rick67 at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (stEzM)

It sure, the fuck, is in the People's Soviet of Illinois.

See: Chicago.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Staring at the Lake in the rain at April 29, 2016 04:33 PM (rbPBV)

126 90
Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (Ozsfq)

My High School Physics teacher was a Major in the Army reserves. He was the best teacher I ever had. Our HS was the second highest rated HS in the State at the time too.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:33 PM (vvmPQ)

127 115 Both GM and GE divested their capital units. GM is creeping back in, but under an entirely new pretense. Of course I agree with the idea of university skin-in-game, but mayhap those two giddy giants aren't the best examples.

GE's unit wasn't really in time payments on refrigerators. They had huge insurance investments, which they're currently running away from as fast as they can.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (xq1UY)

I understand and agree, but in a way, they ARE good examples: the financing arm makes bad decisions, and market discipline raps them across the knuckles therefor. Market discipline is what is lacking in educational financing.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:33 PM (oKE6c)

128 Donald Trump coactus est post saepem salit cessoribus catena humana forma, clausus ad ostium, San Fran Hotel
Posted by: Waiting for UFOs at April 29, 2016 04:23 PM

Et erat magna. Optimus.

Posted by: Duncanthrax the Bellicose at April 29, 2016 04:33 PM (OF/aZ)

129 Nood.

Posted by: johnd01 at April 29, 2016 04:34 PM (ukNFU)

130 Was that the post that got bandersnatch banned? I can NOT find a post with somebody calling Ace a "c".

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:30 PM (vvmPQ)

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:35 PM (vvmPQ)

131
WTF is wrong with our education system?
..................

Obviously too much chalk just laying around.
Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 04:28 PM (HgMAr)
-----------------------

Do they even ALLOW chalk anymore? Isn't it a controlled substance at universities?

Posted by: iforgot at April 29, 2016 04:35 PM (pC96u)

132 Was that the post that got bandersnatch banned? I can find a post with somebody calling Ace a "c".
Posted by: Vic

Mr. Rourke called ace a cunt in the last thread.

I still scamper about.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 29, 2016 04:36 PM (1xUj/)

133 You want good education? It needs to be for-profit.

I tell you what, the administrators sure do profit. I used to follow the saga of the Beaumont ISD in Texas. They had a bond election to build new schools. The first figure they wanted was $1 billion, but they settled for $389 million. The shenanigans that followed are mind boggling. The pinnacle is an education support center (a football stadium) with the superintendent's name, who shepherded the mess, on it. It was $15 million over budget. The electrician hired to do work for the district was unlicensed. He over billed the district for work and was popped for failure to report income. The district declined to recoup the money lost. The district spokeswoman was arrested for obstructing a public entrance and assault at a school board meeting. The same woman sold a book she wrote to the district for distribution to seniors in which was a chapter titled "Running Trains and Other Foolishness." A principal at one of the high schools hired her son's business to produce printed material without going through the contracting process. He charged three times the rate of the previous contractor. She also stole money from the booster club and other programs she oversaw. I could go on and on. The state ended up coming in and taking over.

Posted by: no good deed at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (GgxVX)

134
Yeah. I pay close attention to how they are wasting my tax dollars.
..........................

That's what my daughter says now that she has her first job making over 100K per year and bought a house. BINGO, instant conservative!

Posted by: wth at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (HgMAr)

135 If any of you are inclined, go get that credential or degree and teach.

God knows that the U.S. needs more conservative and liberty-minded teachers and professors.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (laMCB)

136 121 Whaaaaat?
Temporarily, right?

Posted by: Lizzy at April 29, 2016 04:32 PM (NOIQH)

"Temporary" was not mentioned when Ace banned him.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (vvmPQ)

137 79
Things are getting nasty in the thread below.

And by nasty, someone called ace a "cunt."

*heads to pantry to get popcorn*

Posted by: Jane D'oh at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (FsuaD)

*Grabs beer*
Step away for a couple of hours to work on facade of productivity at work, and I miss a great discourse. DAMMIT

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 29, 2016 04:38 PM (jxbfJ)

138
My point is simple. We has problems, but it's not clear, at least not in this state, that it's the unions.
Posted by: Rick67 at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (stEzM)
----------------------

California's schools' first-to-worst plunge correlates with the Dem takeover; I'm too lazy to look now, but I'm sure the influence of the teacher's union tracks right along.

Posted by: iforgot at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (pC96u)

139 "Temporary" was not mentioned when Ace banned him.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (vvmPQ)

That would be because ace did not ban Bander, Vic.

I have no idea why you think he did.

Posted by: alexthechick - Banderette at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (mf5HN)

140 Posted by: no good deed at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (GgxVX)

Wow, sounds like SOP in Hawaii. "What do you mean I wasn't supposed to award to my brother-in-law this contract?"

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (laMCB)

141 135
If any of you are inclined, go get that credential or degree and teach.

God knows that the U.S. needs more conservative and liberty-minded teachers and professors.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:37 PM (laMCB)

With the shenanigans of our local schools, I am hoping to run for a school board position in 2017.
I probably could teach, but would have a problem keeping my hands off some SJW's neck.

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (jxbfJ)

142 132 Mr. Rourke called ace a cunt in the last thread.

I still scamper about.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 29, 2016 04:36 PM (1xUj/)

Couldn't find it so Ace must have deleted the post.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:42 PM (vvmPQ)

143
Cunt was not an acceptable word in American society and here on AoShq. But then Ace started using it. I blame the Brits. He was obviously reading their shit where they call every body a cunt all the time.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at April 29, 2016 04:42 PM (iQIUe)

144 My point is simple. We has problems, but it's not clear, at least not in this state, that it's the unions.

Posted by: Rick67

--

The problem with the unions is that they protect bad teachers. The problem with the schools is that they are publicly funded. In any system of commerce, when the recipient of the service is not the one paying for the service, it becomes distorted, and usually wasteful. So, in a socialized system, you get poor education, and in poor educational systems, you get poor teachers who are not punished for being poor teachers. Blame the union for the poor teachers who remain in their jobs.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:43 PM (Qvgg/)

145 California's schools' first-to-worst plunge
correlates with the Dem takeover; I'm too lazy to look now, but I'm sure
the influence of the teacher's union tracks right along.

Posted by: iforgot at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (pC96u)

Que?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 04:43 PM (oKE6c)

146 143 Bruce with a wang,

Calling Preznit Susan B Anthony Rodham anything but "majesty" is a banning.

Posted by: Sven10077 at April 29, 2016 04:44 PM (D4SfS)

147 Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:22 PM (Ozsfq)

Don't know but I'd guess that it might have something to do with conservatives
1) understanding that business is not a dishonorable profession, even as the culture tries to demonize it.
2) understanding their value in the marketplace and eschewing teaching for more lucrative profession.
3) having a low tolerance for the product of modern parenting.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:44 PM (laMCB)

148 139 That would be because ace did not ban Bander, Vic.

I have no idea why you think he did.

Posted by: alexthechick - Banderette at April 29, 2016 04:39 PM (mf5HN)

My mistake, it was "flashoveride" that was banned.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 29, 2016 04:45 PM (vvmPQ)

149 Cunt is a fairly vulgar word on this continent, less so on the ancestral isle.

Whatever its merits, when the boss man is in a righteous and pissy banning mood it's bad form to call him that.

There is nuance that some people can't seem to grasp between "those SJWs are cunts" and "you are a cunt".

That's why those people get banned.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 29, 2016 04:46 PM (1xUj/)

150 My wife bans me for using the "c" word.

TMI?

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:46 PM (laMCB)

151 65 Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London who was suspended from the Labor Party on Thursday for claiming that Nazi ruler Adolf Hitler was a Zionist, refused to back down for telling the truth.

No doubt a product of a Public School Education

Posted by: Nevergiveup at April 29, 2016 04:16 PM (Ozsfq)

The obvious rejoiner: if Adolf was a Zionist, why didn't he send all the Jews to Palestine instead of killing them?

And why was there a Muzzie SS unit?

Posted by: Donna and V. (sans ampersands at the present time) at April 29, 2016 04:48 PM (u0lmX)

152 Conservator tend NOT to go into Education. I am not sure why, but it has tremendously hurt us.

Posted by: Nevergiveup

--

I imagine the primary reasons are that excellence is not rewarded, and that the curriculum is set by the entrenched leftist bureaucracy. If you were to deviate from the liberal script and taught traditionally, I doubt the administration or the union would back you up. The system is based on automatons repeating the mantras of the left. I know many teachers who tried to teach based on reality, and they are all out of the system now - pushed out for not toeing the line.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:49 PM (Qvgg/)

153 Posted by: Bandersnatch at April 29, 2016 04:46 PM (1xUj/)

Exactly. Calling someone a name for the opinion he/she holds is outside the ROE. That's the SJW's trick.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:49 PM (laMCB)

154 Everything publicly funded becomes infested with leftists. They know that's where accountability is least, and they naturally gravitate to supporting the machine that keeps the trough flowing.

Posted by: Kasichs NeckWattle at April 29, 2016 04:25 PM (QX0Xt)

This^^^^. And extra points for the exquisite sock.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:52 PM (laMCB)

155 This may sound counterintuitive, but the more 'consolidation' of taxing districts, sold to naive taxpayers as overhead cost-saving, ends up costing at least twice as much, with less accountability. The more administrators, the less oversight, and more of the financial frauds all the time. Grandkid in 5th grade was issued a school Ipad -- BUT THEY DID NOT PUT ANY BLOCKS ON IT. Just handed kids the uncensored internet. Of course, it makes the pedos orgasmic and whatever administrator's cousin got the contract, but the schools always need more money. Bleah

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 29, 2016 04:55 PM (MIKMs)

156 One easy solution...

Force community colleges to offer a one year teaching degree to combat veterans in the spirit of Heinlein's moral educators...

Mandate that high schools have at least 10% combat veteran teachers.

You address the political and gender imbalances in teach immediately...

Posted by: 18-1 at April 29, 2016 04:56 PM (X7E8f)

157
Really, I consider myself a pansexual with phosphate tendencies.

Posted by: Dean of Diversity and Gender Equality at April 29, 2016 04:18 PM (VAsIq)
that's hawt

Posted by: Dean of Acidic and Reactive Studies at April 29, 2016 04:57 PM (dpnZC)

158 I've been getting an education, as it were, as to how the whole education system works since I've met Mrs Hades (a K-5 teacher).

The two biggest problems she faces are parents who don't give a fuck and administrators who won't enforce the rules for fear of upsetting the special snowflakes. In other words, yes there are a few bad apples in the classrooms but the biggest problem is in the administration...kind of like every other public sector job (firefighters, police, etc).

NC is a right to work state so there isn't a big union presence, but in the states where unions are prevalent there is the added problem of worthless teachers being covered by the unions. And keep in mind the public education system is based on the Prussian model of making the students good little cogs in the machine instead of thinking adults, so yes there are a whole lot of leftists (I think I got one of the only ones who did not vote for Obama, but then again she worked in DC as a teacher and as a park ranger leading the White House tours during the Clinton years so she got pretty burned out on seeing how the political sausage is made).

I can see the problems, but I don't know what the solutions are. I do know now that the teachers aren't nearly as big of a problem as I thought they were.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 29, 2016 05:00 PM (vbvxt)

159 I imagine the primary reasons are that excellence is
not rewarded, and that the curriculum is set by the entrenched leftist
bureaucracy. If you were to deviate from the liberal script and taught
traditionally, I doubt the administration or the union would back you
up. The system is based on automatons repeating the mantras of the left.
I know many teachers who tried to teach based on reality, and they are
all out of the system now - pushed out for not toeing the line.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 29, 2016 04:49 PM (Qvgg/)

From experience, I can say one reason is that there is very little freedom of action. You can't just make a decision and then implement it. Every proposal has to wend its tortuous way through the bowels of the administration, only to be excreted later (generally in an unrecognizable and invariably totally unworkable form). I've actually seen a university institute a "Committee on committees."

It's maddening.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 29, 2016 05:02 PM (oKE6c)

160 Force community colleges to offer a one year teaching degree to combat veterans in the spirit of Heinlein's moral educators...

Mandate that high schools have at least 10% combat veteran teachers.

You address the political and gender imbalances in teach immediately...

Posted by: 18-1 at April 29, 2016 04:56 PM (X7E8f)

Combat veterans may not do very well as teachers...

3) having a low tolerance for the product of modern parenting.

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at April 29, 2016 04:44 PM (laMCB)

because of this.

Posted by: GGE Hades of the Moron Horde, NC Chapter at April 29, 2016 05:08 PM (vbvxt)

161 Shall issue charter schools!! Free the money from the incompetent school districts.

Posted by: Steve Adams at April 29, 2016 05:42 PM (2TMQv)

162 I've had some ideas to fix Universities for a long time. Rather than ending the US Dept of Ed, the next Repub president should leverage it. Just as Obama uses it to push the GBLT agenda, a Repub could leverage all that taxpayer money to eliminate admin and useless majors, like womyn's studies.

Further, since the entire University school loan program is now federalized, we should limit the money going to non-STEM majors. We want more STEM graduates in the US right? Why not use the student loans to support that? No loans for black feminist gay studies majors (or stet-aside some token percentage of the budget for worthless majors).

While we're at it, pass a law similar to that in England that prohibits propaganda and anti-Americanism. Reintroduce patriotism. As Reagan said, patriotism isn't handed down through the bloodstream.

Posted by: Great Reagan's Ghost at April 29, 2016 06:31 PM (kfoLf)

163 The problem is that women as a class don't think like men as a class, and the system was designed by and for men.

Women (in general) "think" in defense of whatever group they belong to. Belonging comes first. Under no circumstances does a woman "think" herself into opposition from her group. She may look for another group when the present one seems unviable. Then she becomes a staunch advocate of the new group. Some call this "leftism", but it's just women coming to dominate public discussion, starting in the mid 1960s when they got equal wage and independence from husbands.

Posted by: bruce at April 29, 2016 06:34 PM (Z2x1G)

164 As a conservative who taught for a few years in a jr. college setting, I can certainly affirm that conservatives don't teach because there is no reward, monetary or otherwise, for excellence in teaching. You must remain lock-step with your department and do nothing to spotlight the laziness of other instructors. I left and returned to the private sector where my hard work and excellence is rewarded, mostly in monetary endrosements...happy customers = mo money!

Posted by: txleggs at April 29, 2016 09:53 PM (K8WOy)

165 The problem with education is it's become a crony cess pool that is largely, but not totally, focused towards a centralized socialized marketplace designs. This sort of structure is self designed to promote more of the same BS on most every level.

Public education should be called what it really is -- socialized education.

In many ways, Socialism is and Islam are siblings of a sort. Islam is a faith based upon focusing everything, including education and politics, towards a model of governing (shari law) -- Socialism is based on faith on focusing everything, including education and politics, towards a socialized model of governing.. Only the rules of the centralized governing model differ, not the centralized focus...

Posted by: Seipherd at April 29, 2016 11:14 PM (IxPil)

166 "So the public school system is corrupted, what do we do?"

It's not really bad teachers so much as bad students, and teachers being forced to put out Good Numbers on the Bad Students, because to consider any students fundamentally Bad is Racist.

Oh, wait, you thought you were safe from the Trump Thread Threat? The answer to your question is simple!

BUILD THE WALL.
DEPORT THEM ALL.

You'll find that honestly educating what's left and actually getting good returns from them will come SO much easier.

All future requests for input should go to the Education Realist:

https://educationrealist.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Dystopia Max at April 30, 2016 12:18 AM (61Gds)

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