Index of SPPS Budget Discussion http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/spps-posts.html _________________________________________ >How many people are satisfied with the > education that is being provided? Have any surveys > been conducted to determine the incidence of students > fleeing St. Paul schools in the last few years?
I would be interested in the numbers but my gut tells me that even with homeschooling becoming trendy it hasn't replaced the numbers of kids no longer attending parochial schools. At any rate, I doubt there's any "fleeing" in great numbers. >>>Out for Equity"? ...Was this program not instituted to push a system of > values? What does the research say about the impact of these programs > on our children? Don't the health teachers who instruct these forums > have a financial interest in stating that what they are doing is useful? I'd say there's value in children finding relationships and friends in a generally unfriendly world. Way back when I was in school we had two high school suicides - both tormented gay adolescents. Might out for equity save a life? I think so. Is this a good thing? Yes. The financial interest argument is silly. I suppose you could say the same thing about requiring vaccinations to prevent smallpox. >>> perhaps we need to look at the reasons why they (costs) are rising. Health care for the teachers should not have that immense an impact when we have falling enrollment. How much money do you think is needed to facilitate a productive, engaged learning experience for students? The biggest knock on the public schools always seems to be centered around money. Come on folks, fixing my car costs more now too... unless you can figure a way to "outsource" schooling to china we'd better get used to it. Teachers have a tougher job than any CEO I've had the privilege of meeting. They don't make six figure incomes - they are charged with schooling our precious children and some people don't think they have health care needs, energy bills, etc??? I'll bet if you checked out attendance in the box seats at a WILD game you won't find one teacher being treated by the promo staff of some chamber of commerce member. We tolerate paying private sector prices driven up by these perks right and left but we are incensed that a school budget has to paint the walls every ten years and provide health insurance for teachers? (oh, I forgot, teachers are women and should receive medical care thru hubby's insurance). > >> There is a body of evidence that indicates that the level of instruction that children get in school today does not compare well with the level of instruction that they got some 50 years ago cite it. I know that I was learning to print 45 years ago - kids the same age today today are being taught computer skills. Given the deplorable values bombarding kids every day in the popular print media, television and marketing... (sex and violence sell product)... is it any wonder kids today need a trifle more help than in my days of ozzie and harriet? (slight ranting digrression follows:) Now here is something that really pisses me off! How can anyone criticize teaching tolerance; blame "out for equity" for declining moral values; and think that gay marriage threatens families while we extol a capitalist system that markets shampoo, cars, and shoes with celebrities who marry and divorce on whims, show nipple at the superbowl, and prattle on the late night shows about bizzare lifestyles and choices. Is it any wonder the public schools are hindered by pre-teen obsessions with sex, and would rather look at glossy magazine pictures than read compelling literature? Okay so my bottom line is - public schools aren't the problem. Our own selfishness, lack of self control and indifference to consequences have created a society that leaves our kids in a heap of trouble. Quit obscessing about teacher salaries and creationism and help our future generations learn from properly paid educators who are trying their hardest despite the brickbats and baiting they face when they leave the classroom. whew! I feel much better now... dave thune - st. paul obviously much smarter than most since I was raised in the fifties and sixties _____________________________________________ SPPS Budget Reduction Forum - Feb. 23-27 Co-Sponsored By NEAT: http://www.stpaulneat.org/ _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
