Well, that's a pretty pathetic answer - you are doing lots of complaining right here!
Yes, I knew you wouldn't understand my point. I do lots of defending against complaints and using teachers as scapegoats for all the ills of society. I know I'm not a bad person. I work many hours, just like many people do, at my job. Yet, some people here seem to think that teachers are lower than low. Blaming others is a liberal tactic. Look at the how some blame President Bush for all of the ills of society. And if they start blaming the troops--they have a bone to pick with me. That being said, I do tend to be sarcastic at times. Sorry.
You need a history lesson. We aren't talking separation - we're talking choice. We're talking about parents being able to afford the choice to send their kids wherever thay want to school. Would you rather pay for 12 years of your kids' schooling, or 60 years of everybody's schooling, in the form of taxes ? As a card-carrying member of a capitalist society, I prefer the former. All socialists/democrats prefer the latter.
Choice is an issue with the pro-abortionists too. They want someone to pay for their personal choice. Yes, we all have to get our way, like I said. You proved my point. Let's see...I would have to pay for everyone's schooling. While we're at it, I guess let's have our choice. I will pay only for my brother in the air force, not everyone else. I will only pay for how many times I use the highway each year, not everyone else--I need my choice. I will only pay federal taxes for projects in my own state, not anyone else's. I will only pay taxes for the 1 time I go to the zoo each year, not for everything else... We're talking welfare here, with a capital W.
You think the schools are not segregated now ? Get real, look at any public school around you. Schools draw their students from the local area. In my case, that's about 90% white, 2% hispanic, 4% asian, and 4% black. In Philadelphia ? About 80% black, 10% asian, and 10% hispanic. People are segregated by where they live.
My area is of a similar makeup. But it does seem to me (at least in my area and state) that we are seeing a "let's get away from those bad people thing." I could go on and on about this, but won't. I know where you'll go with this one, so I won't respond to it.
So what's your argument ? It's already here, or do you want to go back to forced bussing ?
Actually, we had forced bussing in my town. Nobody really gave it a second thought then. But no, nothing I say really has to do with that.
Are you a member of FR ? You think profit is bad ? You think public school administrators making 150k - 250K a year are not "making a profit" ? You need some economics lessons on the antics of non-profits. When profit is not permitted, excess money otherwise known in the free market as profits get paid out as salary and benefits. Yes, I am a profit...oops wrong spelling. Yes, I am a member of FR. I am a liberal teacher though that is pro-military, anti-abortion, active Christian, anti-gay agenda, pro-gun, etc. Yes, I know, I guess I will have to quit being so liberal.
Yes, I do think most public school administrators making that much is probably not good. They certainly don't make that much where I live. However, I don't think using CHILDREN for profit is. While I am pro-business too and think that we should be thankful to them for giving us jobs, I do worry sometimes about some of the ethics, especially in local terms of a couple of things that happened to my wife last year. HOWEVER, I don't use that as a catalyst to bad-mouth or find negativity with everything about business. I know that there are many good honest managers and workers out there too. I sure hope and pray we do not apply your ideas to the military. Actually, I cringe even losing a carrier in the budget. I sure do appreciate those guys and what they do for us.
My main point is that I see many miracles and things occur where I am at. It may be different for you, I guess I can't comment on that. But I don't blame others for all the problems in society either or apply it to everyone--the liberals do that enough already. I've got too much of a two-by-four in my own eye to do that.
I congratulate you for being a good parent. Like most teachers, I feel that we need more of them (I am thankful to be blessed with the parents of my students though). I am thankful that I had a good father and mother who raised me with good values. Yes, I have had to learn not to complain too much. I look at my student who died two years ago of brain cancer. He didn't complain at all. He was my greatest teacher. No doubt, you will think of this as hokey too and will probably rail about it as you did everything else precious to me, but he WAS very special to me. I think for me, more than anything, it comes down to appreciation for what those guys in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world are doing for us--to give up time with your family and all the other sacrifices. And guess what, at least some of them were publicly educated.
I would have to pay for everyone's schooling. While we're at it, I guess let's have our choice. I will pay only for my brother in the air force, not everyone else. I will only pay for how many times I use the highway each year, not everyone else--I need my choice. I will only pay federal taxes for projects in my own state, not anyone else's. I will only pay taxes for the 1 time I go to the zoo each year, not for everything else... We're talking welfare here, with a capital W.
I don't understand your point here. Yes, I think people should pay for their own. We did that in this country until about 1852. Same for roads. In fact even today in Texas a group is proposing a private highway to be paid for with tolls. The private sector is alive and well in all these areas. As for the military - no, defense, police, judiciary will always have to be paid for with taxes. I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with paying for other people. I'd rather pay for my expenses myself, as I'd rather you pay for yours yourself etc. We've spent trillions of dollars on the New Deal and Great Society, and the poor are still with us. Welfare is an incentive to use more of it - so we'll never be without the poor.
Yes, I know, I guess I will have to quit being so liberal.
I've met few teachers who aren't liberal. No offense intended, just an observation.
However, I don't think using CHILDREN for profit is.
This I think is where your liberal views lead you logically astray. We all make money (create value, even if non-monitarily) off interactons with each other. Doctors of all kinds make money off kids. So do drugstores, social workers (their paychecks), teachers of all types, babysitters, car companies (kids ride in cars, and buy cars when they turn 16) and on and on and on. What is the problem with that ? If you provide someone a good or a service, someone is making money whether as a direct payment or in a paycheck. As long as it's a voluntary transaction there should be no objection. Where I object is when you have no choice - such as, having to pay for 12 years of public teaching service if I don't want it. I'd have the same reaction if I had to pay for 12 years of medical services whether I wanted it or not - in this I have a choice, I can choose to be without medical insurance if I wish.
The idea of not profiting from children is just a gut reaction to the perceived non-voluntary nature of the transaction - really thinking this thru shows the fallacy of this argument. As long as the child receives a value - a good or service - there can be no problem.
I don't make fun of your story - I've met kids who were very brave in less-than-ideal circumstances not of their own making. What counts is that we all try to do the best we can and most importantly, be responsible for lessening the mess we see around us.