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Public Schools Eat Too Much At Gov't Trough
IBD Editorials ^ | September 23, 2011 | NEIL MCCLUSKY

Posted on 09/23/2011 4:18:27 PM PDT by Kaslin

Soon after his boss introduced the American Jobs Act, Vice President Joe Biden held a conference call to get teachers' unions behind it.

It was an easy task, with American Federation of Teachers honcho Randi Weingarten promising to "do whatever we can" to get the legislation passed. And why not? It's teachers and other politically potent interests, not kids or the economy, that the Act is really about.

That teachers' unions are gung-ho about the proposal — which would furnish $30 billion for education jobs and another $25 billion for school buildings — doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing. Kids need teachers and classrooms, right?

Sure. But we all need food, too, yet we can eat too much, or scarf down the wrong things, and end up sick as dogs. And for the last several decades public schools have been throwin' down Twinkies like they're going out of style.

Look at staffing. According to the federal Digest of Education Statistics, between 1969 and 2008 (the latest year with available data) public schools went from 22.6 students per teacher to 15.3. District administrative staff went from 697.7 students per employee to just 363.3. In total, students per employee dropped from 13.6 to 7.8.

And what happened to achievement? Scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress — the "nation's report card" — flatlined for 17-year-olds, our schools' "final products."

But those employment figures are just through 2008. Haven't the last few years truly devastated education employment? We don't have perfect numbers, but what we do have says no.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: antisocial; overpaid; socialists; teachers

1 posted on 09/23/2011 4:18:32 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

..the facts... enough food gets thrown out to feed another school. It’s government waste X 5...


2 posted on 09/23/2011 4:22:00 PM PDT by Doogle ((USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand..never store a threat you should have eliminated))
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To: Kaslin

Stop turning schools into community centers, day care centers, cafeterias, sexual indoctrination centers and builders of false self esteem and get back to the business of teaching those who want to be taught.


3 posted on 09/23/2011 4:45:08 PM PDT by Iron Munro (Muslims who advocate, support, or carry out Jihad give the other 1% a bad name)
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To: Kaslin

School should be strait-forward: The teacher lectures you on the material, you take notes and read chapters in a textbook, study, and then you are tested on it. Get rid of all the fluff.


4 posted on 09/23/2011 5:49:48 PM PDT by SteelToe
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To: Kaslin

Schools worked before the feds got involved..
Few in Washington D.C. even know that...

The 1st thing the new President should do is get rid of the Federal Department of Education..
and the dept. of Energy, Agriculture, and return all federally owned land to the States...

The next day should begin with much more slicing and dicing.. of federal power..

The first week of the new presidents executive power could enhance freedom in the U.S. greatly..
by eliminating much his/HER Executive Branch Foot print..


5 posted on 09/23/2011 6:03:45 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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To: Kaslin
Have some of you out there ever had a conversation with a fat, middle aged, Democrat voting, liberal, arrogant teacher?

If you haven't had the pleasure of the experience, you should try it.

6 posted on 09/23/2011 6:04:20 PM PDT by SkyPilot
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To: SkyPilot

“If you haven’t had the pleasure of the experience, you should try it.”

Having written teacher ed curriculum, and taught said courses, I think I’ll pass on talks with members of the Teacher’s Goonion.

Having said that, I’d suggest that, if ever one had to shake the hand of that thing in the top hat in full bray mode, that an arm length rubber glovebe worn.

Just mentionin’.

;-)


7 posted on 09/23/2011 6:37:32 PM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is necessary to examine principles.)
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To: Kaslin
The one thing that would change schools for the better right now would be to abolish mandatory attendance.

The ones who wanted to learn or whose parents wanted them to learn would be your only classmates. The pain in the asses would be gone.

Teachers would be a hell of a lot more motivated when facing a class of real students instead of thugs and clowns.

Saying, "Well, then the other kids would be wandering the streets causing trouble" is admitting that that's all they do when placed in a classroom. Which proves my point.

8 posted on 09/23/2011 6:38:35 PM PDT by Lizavetta (You get what you tolerate)
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To: SkyPilot
Have some of you out there ever had a conversation with a fat, middle aged, Democrat voting, liberal, arrogant teacher?

Yeah, K-4th Grade.

I love my parents!

9 posted on 09/23/2011 6:44:49 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass
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