Posted on 04/13/2003 3:23:34 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
And they wonder why many law abiding, upright individuals have nothing but contempt for them.
Come on. This was a man bites dog story. This police department must be unique in arresting a 12 year olds for splashing. That's why the AP picked up the story.
I agree with many of the criticisms of the educational establishment, but the arrest doesn't have much to do with them. If the arrest is a symptom of anything, it is a symptom that the US is becoming an increasing legalistic place.
One aspect of legalism I am seeing in the district where our youngest goes to school is that they really expect the teachers to follow the curriculum, mightily annoying some of the best teachers.
We've been talking about doing that for how many decades now? We've been poring money on the public school system, trying all kinds of different things. If I recall correctly, about $10,000 a year is spent to "educate" a child in the D.C. school system.
This has all done no good. It has all been so much bullshit and waste. Thousands upon thousands of lives have been ruined.
I think the public schools can compete -- if they are made to. That is the one thing that has not yet been tried. Not in any serious way.
Vouchers would do that. That is why the NEA is so opposed to them. They would have to get off their butts and go to work. Like the rest of us.
If you had a kid in the public schools in D.C., you wouldn't want to wait another twenty years for the problem to get "worked out" by a bunch of bureaucrats who are mainly concerned with their health benefits and their vacation time.
You'd want it done tomorrow morning. Tuesday morning at the latest.
Zero intelligence.
Ridiculous. Kids should not be allowed to splash other kids in school, even with clean water. What was bizarre and wrong here was the punishment, not the rule. It is not being sissified to learn to be respectful of others.
LOL! Now that's an interesting spin to put on some moronic cop arresting 12 year olds for jumping in mud puddles.
You know, I can remember when you had to be smart and use good judgement if you wanted to be a cop.. Guess they lowered the bar since the last time I looked.
But I am saying vouchers are not going to fix it - vouchers will only ruin the private schools we have. It is not being suggested and would not be implemented for the good of all children - just 'qualified' children and that does not mean middle-income, working taxpaying people. It never has and never will.
I am not willing to pour more sand down the rathole by giving vouchers to people. People in failing school districts have the same voter clout and same voices as people in any other school district. You said it yourself, money is not the issue. Why don't these parents get in there and do something.
I just want the politicians to be honest and upfront about this. I truly believe big campaign contributors all over this country have the blueprints drawn up for their 'private' schools that will be getting this voucher money.
To me, the voucher issue is no different than the 'we need more money for the schools'. Just because it comes from the Republicans doesn't make it right or good -except for them.
When the government seems to offer money -be very wary - it is never, never to your advantage - unless of course you are one of the big guys.
I have been trying to say that for a long time and a lot of people are just refusing to consider the possibility. Of course, in doing that, they are totally not looking at the recent history of this country.
I fear for religious institutions with the 'faith-based initiative' issue. Just think of a small clinic that begins to get government funds, goes in to debt to expand to give more care to the needy and then ---- the government decides you must give abortions or loose your funding. They have already tried to attack Catholic hospitals on this basis.
I realize a lot of middle-income people have seen so much giveaway in their lifetime, they think, finally, someone is going to give me something. They need to look at what has happened to those people who took all the government 'help'. They are not better off for it.
Vouchers and faith-based initiative is just another way for the federal government to get its foot in the door and destroy the independence of religion.
These days, the schools obey the state Dept of Education, which is given orders by the Federal Dept of Ed, which is run by all sorts of touchy-feelie types.
Given a Principal with full and complete hire/fire/promote authority (something the teachers unions wouldn't stand for these days) and complete accountability for results (the kids can read, write, and do math, or we get another principal), would have things cleaning up real fast
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