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Beginning the last day of a very long week - (Monday 7:30 - 6:00, Tuesday 7:30 - 6:00, Wednesday, 8:00 - 10:30, Thursday, 8:00 - 8:00, today I am definitely leaving the building at 4:00) and looking at another full weekend of grading ahead, reading this post this morning made me feel good. Ditto on all of it! By the way, I am in desperate need of History Day judges! March 4th all day, anytime you can volunteer would be appreciated. Any takers?
Happy Friday all!
Brionna Harder Ward One
From: "Dave Thune" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [StPaul] schools Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2004 22:59:20 -0600
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>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
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