From: "The Fool" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: The War on Schools Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 07:17:20 -0600
http://archive.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/opinion/06HERB.html
The War on Schools By BOB HERBERT
There's something surreal about the fact that the United States of America, the richest, most powerful nation in history, can't provide a basic public school education for all of its children.
<snip>
And now I find myself arguing the other side of the fence. Ironic, considering that I just posted an opposite opinion on a similar issue to JDG a few days ago and am awaiting his reply. :)
The points Mr. Herbert's making are all well and good, but he's sort of comparing apples and oranges. The US Federal Government does not provide for quality education of American Citizens. The Fed's not supposed to get involved in that as per Amendment X of the Constitution. Education is reserved for the states and state governors don't make the decision to go to war.
Mr. Herbert also seems woefully underinformed about the education system in this country: the divisions among federal, state and local government entities are _not_ mostly artificial when it comes to education. Anyone who went to college knows that the quality and cost of education varies widely from state to state and from region to region. Frex: NYU is much more expensive than SUNY Albany, which is more expensive than CUNY Baruch. New York State funds the SUNY schools. New York City funds the CUNY schools (something like only 10% of their funding comes from the state.) NYU is neither State nor City-funded, afaik. If we're talking about primary and secondary schools, the situation is slightly different, but the concept holds.
When it comes to education financing, the divisions among federal, state and local government entities are mostly artificial. It's everyone's obligation to educate the next generation of Americans.
Yet, as far as i can see. there isn't one constructive suggestion in this entire editorial.
Jon
_________________________________________________________________
STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
_______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
