Last debate

[Foster_mama]

Go back about 7 posts....that's where you edited in...not a big deal in the slightest

Honestly, no, I'm not saying no one should be allowed to leave their district or that no one should go to private schools. But by the same token, move to where you want your kids to go, be a present and participatory parent....something many are not. Schools like Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, Mass (I was a residence counselor there my first job out of college). It's a school for learning disabled students. Most of their student body does not pay the tuition for the school, their current school district do because they can't accommodate the special needs of the kids. That's sad. Good that the district knows their limitations but sad and pathetic that the district can't accommodate special needs. Private and parochial schools thrive because people would rather throw money at a school to take care of their kids instead of doing the job themselves (by far, not all but there are quite a few who do). We moved to our little city because I did my homework before buying my house and wanted this school district.

Teachers in our district are among the highest paid in the county and most cannot afford to live here....not starting out and definitely not without a working spouse. People are priced out of the better schools. More has to be done to help the poorer schools. No, I don't mean by throwing money on the schools. I mean by people getting their hands dirty and making a difference. As it stands, my hand picked school gives us lists that equal about $200 in school supplies every fall for each of our children to buy to attend. It used to be that kids showed up with a pencil and a notebook, now we supply zip loc baggies, tissues, protractors and so many other things, that should be available. Those of us who pay school and property tax are paying out the wazoo.

But, if everyone who doesn't like a school, leaves the school, then what? All the bad schools close and poor kids are bussed to better schools but their stats will go down and will be overcrowed thus bring their stats down, no?

I'm all over the place in my answer and am becoming very bleery eyed. Suffice it to say that I'm not taking the hard stance that you got from my post. But what are we to do with the bad schools? Just close them and pretend the kids who went to them won't bring down the better schools? I would think trying to improve the teachers, facilities and curriculum is really a better idea. Teaching to the test won't do it, but retaining kids who fail instead of passing them on to the next grade because they age out would be a start.

I have to go to sleep....really. I'll come back to this tomorrow.

[Foster_mama]

One other point, yes we spend the most per child in this country but, we also don't kick the bad students out. I'm not going to start things I can't finish so I'm out. g'night

[mamaginger]

Well I'm completely worthless today since I stayed up until 1:30 and then laid in bed with my mind racing for at least another hour. Ugh...

Anyway, *sigh* I guess we just have different views. You think parents are throwing money at private schools to "take care of their kids".....how are private schools taking care of kids any more than public? We're talking about compulsory school age kids. They all go to school somewhere from K-12. ?? I would agree with that argument if we're talking about infants and toddlers but not school-age. And anyway, it's parents job to take care of kids, not government.

It's got nothing to do with dollars and everything to do with families. Parents "throw money" at private....government "throws money" at public. Public fails...private prevails. It's not the money....we'll just have to disagree!

And as far as the failing schools....yes...it has been and will continue to be a cycle over and over. The good families will move away....the low achieving kids will get "bussed" and the high achieving kids will either move again, home school or scrape by to pay for private.

I know what you mean about parents though. I taught kids with LD at the richest, most high-achieving school in the area. But THOSE students were not the same demographic as the rest of the school. They are not necessarily in their zoned area.

When we had open house I would have ZERO parents show up. EVERY YEAR. The only parent I had interaction with was my one kid with Aspergers. But that goes into another whole topic of how and why kids are classified with each disability. I believe the "trouble makers" are MUCH more quickly referred, tested and identified as LD than the quiet kids. And those trouble makers don't come from the good families....as seen on my empty open house days.

[tara]

I think McCain did better in this debate then the others. He came out strong, but then hung himself. He needed to change some peoples minds in the debate, and I don't think he did it.

The education topic bothered me when McCain said

We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which -- or have the certification that some are required in some states.

To me that's a bit frightening knowing that some of the guys from my dh's old unit could walk into a school and teach!

The "Joe the plumber" act didn't fly with me. Mentioning him once was fine, but to keep bringing the man up. Almost makes me want to ask how much they (McCain camp) paid this "Joe the Plumber".

I think Obama missed an opportunity when it came to Sarah Palin's experience. Obama certainly played it calm and cool as always and didn't appear angry or grumpy like McCain.

And when McCain said, trying to distance himself from GW,

"Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago. I'm going to give a new direction to this economy in this country."

doesn't take away the fact that he sided with Bush over 90% of the time, hense more of the same.

[mamaginger]

Oh geez....so now Joe is part of a conspiracy and being paid by the McCain campaign??

[Foster_mama]

Originally Posted by mamaginger

Oh geez....so now Joe is part of a conspiracy and being paid by the McCain campaign??

Pretty much. Go see my new thread

[Zelan]

Even Rush Limbaugh has said Joe the Plumber was a plant for the GOP. I heard it straight from his very loud mouth on his own radio show LOL!!!