Public Schools Dying - Too Much Politics - Switch to Private Ed Imperative
B1ackwater
Education must evolve in response to the
realities of our times - - -
The whole public system has become much too
politicized ... various political, financial
and ideological interest groups waging all-out
war against each other. Each is determined to
brainwash the kiddies THEIR way with THEIR
'truths' to serve THEIR purposes and agendas.
"Education" ? Lost concept. Can't get there
from here anymore.
It wasn't always like this, but now it is - so
we just have to accept this new reality and act
accordingly before the Great Toilet finishes
its flush cycle.
If politics is screwing-up public education and
no sane compromises can be reached (and, after
decades of trying, they haven't been) the only
remaining option is to largely abandon the public
system and switch to private education plans.
This is no panacea however. Every private school,
tutor and parent serving to educate will bring
their OWN ideologies to the chalkboard, brainwash
the kiddies THEIR way even if they imagine they're
being 'neutral'.
There will be Jesus schools, Satanist schools,
athiest schools, fascist, commie, socialist,
militarist, pacifist, passivist, Darwininan,
anti-Darwinian, 'liberal', 'conservative',
Libertarian free-market, communitarian no-market,
self-esteem, screw-esteem, whack-the-slackers-
with-a-stick-and-let-'em-get-esteem-through-
success, pro-tech, luddite, artsy-fartsy ...
you name it and there will be private schools
pushing those perspectives and ignoring or
denegrating rival philosophies. Sometimes the
bias will be intended and overt, sometimes subtle,
sometimes unrealized.
Such a lack of uniformity has good sides and bad.
It allows for much greater depth along any given
course, but it also creates an uneven workforce
that will hurt our international competitiveness
and can promote far deeper divisions amongst the
citizenry.
Again, no panaceas ... just a way to do somewhat
better in the current environment. Natural selection
in action.
But what real choice do we HAVE if we want
tomorrows citizens to posess the depth and
breadth and critical thinking skills needed
to make democracy work and keep us afloat
in a sea of competitors ? The current mess
of confused, bowlderized, politicized PAP
(or is that "CRAP") passing for "education"
just isn't anywhere close to meeting the need.
SOMEDAY, we may be able to return to a largely
public system. This can only happen after the
existing system has been eliminated and the
assorted vultures stop circling its mummified
corpse. THEN perhaps we can, as objectively
as possible, re-assemble a fairly 'neutral'
high-quality education system.
Bob LeChevalier
> If politics is screwing-up public education and
> no sane compromises can be reached (and, after
> decades of trying, they haven't been) the only
> remaining option is to largely abandon the public
> system and switch to private education plans.
You can do that now, if you can afford it, and if you can find a
private school who will take your kids.
> Such a lack of uniformity has good sides and bad.
> It allows for much greater depth along any given
> course, but it also creates an uneven workforce
> that will hurt our international competitiveness
> and can promote far deeper divisions amongst the
> citizenry.
That sounds like good reasons not to do it then.
> Again, no panaceas ... just a way to do somewhat
> better in the current environment.
How is
<uneven workforce
<> that will hurt our international competitiveness
<> and can promote far deeper divisions amongst the
<> citizenry.
somewhat better?
It sounds a lot worse in the specific areas where most of the people
want to see improvement.
>Natural selection in action.
Natural selection applies only to biological reproduction of species.
"Social darwinism" isn't scientific.
> But what real choice do we HAVE if we want
> tomorrows citizens to posess the depth and
> breadth and critical thinking skills needed
> to make democracy work and keep us afloat
> in a sea of competitors ?
Not to make a change that you admit will hurt our international
competitiveness.
> The current mess
> of confused, bowlderized, politicized PAP
> (or is that "CRAP") passing for "education"
> just isn't anywhere close to meeting the need.
In your opinion.
> SOMEDAY, we may be able to return to a largely
> public system. This can only happen after the
> existing system has been eliminated and the
> assorted vultures stop circling its mummified
> corpse. THEN perhaps we can, as objectively
> as possible, re-assemble a fairly 'neutral'
> high-quality education system.
If it could be done, it would already have happened. If government
money is involved there will be politics (and maybe even if there is
no government money involved). If no government money is involved,
most people won't be able to afford to educate their kids.
lojbab
spudnuts: his balls, his brains and his crew.
The whole idea that privatization would accomplish something the
public institutions can't is nonsense.
Look at Iraq, where rumsfeld the ko0k, and stupid, contracted out
almost every vital army function -- food, equipment and arms, even
drills, have been lacking horrifically, and MORE money has been
spent, and squandered.
So, some things are better run by the government, as opposed to greedy
mindless men, incompetent to run the country, or win a war.