The Civil Rights Issue of Our Time
The incredible John Stossel follows up here, with more harrowing details about the complacency and ineptitude of our public schools.
Seems to me that the right to a decent education -- especially when one is paying tax money for it -- is the number one civil rights issue of our time. The Democrats, beholden to the teachers' unions, are standing in the schoolhouse doors, blocking students who would prefer to leave and find a place that will actually teach them. Shame.
Seems to me that the right to a decent education -- especially when one is paying tax money for it -- is the number one civil rights issue of our time. The Democrats, beholden to the teachers' unions, are standing in the schoolhouse doors, blocking students who would prefer to leave and find a place that will actually teach them. Shame.
posted by LadybugUSA at 1:29 PM
5 Comments:
Drastic change in our nation's educational system is inevitable. The process has already begun. It just hasn't reached critical mass yet. But it will.
The home schooling movement has been underway and growing for years now. And some states are beginning to experiment with alternate educational methods. Once the general public is first aware then convinced that there is a better way, they will demand change.
John Stossel and Carol are right. The main obstacle is the Teacher's Union. It is a formidable obstacle. But it will be overcome eventually by public demand.
And yet again, the Democratic Party will find themselves on the wrong side of history.
I agree that the condition of our public schools is a real tragedy, but I’m not sure vouchers will work. Where will minority students take their vouchers? It’s unfortunate but true that existing private schools are not going to take large numbers of minority students, especially those from the inner city. New private schools may spring up for those kids, but how do we insure they are staffed by caring and qualified teachers, and not just con artists out for a easy buck?
The free market will provide the schools and the teachers. As to making sure the teachers are "qualified," if they aren't teaching and students aren't learning, parents will be able to explore alternatives.
Right now, too often, teachers aren't teaching and students aren't learning . . . and the parents have no recourse.
Half the students didn't show, but half did. That tells me there are many children and parents who are concerned about the state of education but don't know what to do about it.
There are many of us who would be more than willing to home school our children or pay for private school if our circumstances allowed us. However, for the thousands (hundreds of thousands? millions?) of parents who are frustrated with public schools and have no alternative, something has to be done. This is not a problem just in poor communities or the inner city. This is a nationwide epidemic. Even "good schools" cannot provide an appropriate education for every student. Personal experience has taught me that.
Something must be done.
>>Even "good schools" cannot provide an appropriate education for every student. Personal experience has taught me that. >>
Very wise. But at the present, public schools are _expected_ to provide an appropriate education for every student. I agree that this is probably unrealistic, but that's what is presently expected. Maybe we should re-examine what we expect schools to do as well as what we expect students and teachers to do?
What is the goal of education? for starters...!
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