[Beagle8U]

I know there are good teachers, I just don't think a teachers union is needed.

If tax money is to be used for public schools there should be a voucher system, and the schools should be run by education managers with the power to hire/fire as they see fit to manage the schools.

The taxpayers should be much like stockholders, who in turn can fire the manager if he/she doesn't do their job.

Privatize the schools and run them like a business.

[moog]

I won't get into that debate though I think there are different elements to consider rather than just running them that way. I am in favor of strong communities working together to have strong schools (as they do where my sister lives--it's really a model school), and moving the schools away from bereaucratic control (as they are very much here) and down on a community level and one in which teachers, parents, and children all play important roles as they should. I'm not necessarily in support of having a full-time teachers' union either. BUT I do see a need for having strong teachers and for there to be some measure of protection for ALL parties. Too many times it's too easy to pass the buck to the teachers (or the parents) when really, many factors play a part.

I think private sector vouchers might be okay, but I'm not in favor of another welfare program,nor of the "purse strings," and I favor keeping private entities private .

Actually, I'm in favor of getting politics out of education altogether--on all sides--from those who place a lot of blame, promote the negative, bash teachers, encourage disrespect, and such AND from those who may use it to promote certain dogmas which have no place in the school. At least here, a little change in attitude would help and a little bit more time spent would be a giant first step. Other areas require more drastic measures.