[StBernard] Insulting

[Westley Annis]

When government starts stepping in the parents role for some children, they
eventually start stepping in the parents role for all children.

You are right, there are no easy answers, but I also think the majority of
parents do care about their kids and have better knowledge of what is right
for their kids. Government should not be allowed to dictate what these
parents do for their children.

There will always be someone who slipped thru the cracks, so to speak. We
cannot punish the majority to save the few, so matter how good it makes us
feel.

"The poor you will always have with you" Matthew 26:11

If the government must spend money on education then let that money follow
the child and not the neighborhood where the child lives. There will be
turmoil in the public education system for a few years as they adjust, but
adjust they will and everyone will come out ahead.

I'm sure if you did a survey of all parents, you will find there are those
who find the money to send their kids to private schools AND there are those
who move, regardless of where their job is, to a better school district so
they don't have to pay the extra tuition.

Joe Davies is a prime example. St. Mark School watched its enrollment drop
big time when Joe Davies opened because it was perceived as a good public
school and parents wanted to save the money. Public schools can compete with
private schools, but they HAVE to compete. It all depends on the teachers
and administration. If they care, the school will do good. If they don't,
the school won't.

Westley

-----Original Message-----

Actually sounds like the governor is playing politics as usual. Says one
thing to the union leaders who are trying to protect teachers and in this
post he says  "They attack me for trying to reward good teachers"   the
comments he made is his speech were contradicitoy. Not too long ago the news
was filled with parents unhappy about the fact that charter schools are
allowed to refuse to service students considered to be behavior problems or
those with Special Education Individualized Education Plans (IEP's), even
when those parents knew which school they wanted their children to attend.
This practice is already the standard operating norm of most private
schools.  Meanwhile the public schools have to accept, and educated ALL
students. Public school policies ARE NOT made by the people interacting with
the students. At the school level hands are tied about how subject matter is
presented or evaluated and in all discipline matters. Vouchers will not help
if the schools receiving the voucher students are not required accept all
students whose parents want them placed in a school of their choice.
"Union leaders think government knows best about how to educate our kids"
that's not what the union reps said at all.  It is unfortunate but some
parents don't care or know what their kids do, much less what school they
should go to. Who speaks for these children?  There is no easy, one size
fits all answer.
DB