Subj : Re: FAILURE
To   : richardw
From : Sam Alexander
Date : Wed Sep 28 2005 06:57 pm

  Re: Re: FAILURE
  By: richardw to Sam Alexander on Wed Sep 28 2005 04:35 pm

 >  >  > In 1870, only 2% of 17-year-olds graduated from high school.
 >  >  >
 >  >  > In 1900 only 31 states required 8 to 14 year olds to attend school.
 >  >  >
 >  >  > In 1910 only 72% of american children attended school, and half the
 >  >  > nation's children attended one-room schools.
 >  >  >
 >  >  > Considering the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, I don'
 >  >  > see how public education was one of their first concerns.
 >  >  >
 >  >
 >  > What does this have to do with educating our kids?  I personally don't wa
 >  > to see kids graduating high school who can't read, write, or who've never
 >  > read a book or can't do basic math.  I don't expect every high school
 >  > graduate to be a grammmer or math expert, but there's a certain level of
 >  > skill that's generally required to get a job.  If the education system
 >  > doesn't have the funding to make this happen then WTF?  I want my taxes
 >  > paying to educate our youth, not to kill folks in another country.
 > 
 > Pouring more money into a failing system is not the answer.  Some of the
 > highest funded schools continually rate at the bottom of the scale.  The
 > problem is the schools are not being held accountable for the results they
 > produce.  If, however, it became a private enterprise, they would either
 > produce, or go out of business and someone else would fill their shoes.
 > 
 > 
I couldn't agree with you more..  I do think the schools need to be held 
somewhat accountable.  If a sports team fails the coach is fired.  If a 
government official sucks he's voted outta office.  If a school sucks, 
nothing.  I also think parents who opt to send their kids to a private 
school should get a cut on their taxes so their money is going to the school 
of their choice over the public schools.  This'll make schools work harder 
for what they get.

Sam

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