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You're still misquoting him. It's the "implementation" (which the Republicans are sabotaging) which will be a trainwreck.
OK, so I'm misquoting. Regardless, do you get the warm and fuzzies when one of the architects of Obamacare mentions "Train Wreck and Obamacare" in the same sentence? The Rebublicans are sabotaging it, because they are trying to stop this, and know this legislature is pure, 100% shit. The unions who lined up in support of this, are screaming bloody murder. Democrats in Congress (and their aids) are openly wondering how they can escape this abortion of a law. Many are retiring just to escape these healthcare rules. ... And answer me this. Why do the supporters of Obamacare ignore CBO report, after CBO report that states Obamacare is gonna cost a shitload of money, estimates that keep rising and rising? eh? This tells me Obama and Pelosi told a ton of lies and twisted a ton of arms for this gigantic failure.
I come from a long line of public school teachers. I'm actually one of the few in my family who didn't become one myself. So I have some wide-ranging and up close observations concerning education in the US in general.
The simple truth is that it isn't about Unions, students per classroom, no child left behind, or any of the other political talking points people bring up continuously. Want to know what it boils down to? Money.
Ed, no way. So do I. Many on both sides of my family (more on my Dad's side) were teachers in the NYC public school system. My Dad's biggest complaint was the unions. He was in the UFT, and yet did enjoy the benefits of membership during his retirement. He could have easily climbed the ranks into Superintendent and up, but he loved to teach, and did it for 40 years. His biggest gripe were the 'paper pushers' who really didn't have a clue on how to teach, what was really important; yet they wielded the most power in dictating to my Dad and others on how to teach. As the decades went by, these 'paper pushers' as a group grew in size, yet the school he taught in didn't get the attention in costs of infrastructure/sports/books/supplies. Plenty of money for the union 'paper pushers', but not for the kids. My Dad made decent $$ and wasn't a spendthrift. His Mom (my grandmother) was a teacher in the Bronx....... Another sad story...My aunt taught in a really crappy part of Queens (Bellrose?).... During the winter there wasn't enough $$ to heat the school (or fix it to hold the heat)... So my Aunt (the ballbuster that she was), told the kids to wear their winter jackets during class picture day; and specifically during the class picture itself. The principle had a shit fit. She told him to fuck off and fix the heat, or she was gonna take it up w/ the Daily News (the heat got fixed that week). Plenty of $$ for the fatcat UFT union assholes/paperpushers that live in Westchester county, CT, etc, but no $$ left to keep the kids warm in the winter so they can learn...... This is why I have a BIG problem w/ public unions.
Now- there is a catch-22 with spending on education. Everyone says they want good schools, yet time and again I've seen situations where a new tax or a new allocation for schools was proposed and then nothing happens because there is a public outcry over that additional cost. Here's the irony: WHAT is the very first thing that any family with children ask when they start looking to buy a house?
Ed, I understand this, as my town recently went through this battle. I went to the town meetings on this, and asked for a line item breakdown of the funding of the town's education costs. I specifically wanted to know the increase in administration (both headcount, and a % of the budget) compared to the increase of the student population. They wouldn't give me these #'s. When I asked what % of the increased cost that prompted the vote to exempt prop 2 1/2, would go towards administration, they wouldn't give me those #'s either. In pleasant double-speak they asked me to shut up, as they had more important topics to cover.
WHAT is the very first thing that any family with children ask when they start looking to buy a house?
i thought that's code for "white only neighborhood" or do they really refer to the school?
WHAT is the very first thing that any family with children ask when they start looking to buy a house?
i thought that's code for "white only neighborhood" or do they really refer to the school?
Its not unless "white" includes rich Chinese and Indians now
Actually, Bellerose is middle-class, on the eastern edge of queens bordering Long Island. Bellerose village (LI) is upper middle-class and Bellerose Terrace(LI) is middle class as well. All of the Belleroses are majority white with significant Asian population, esp on the Long Island side. This has been the case for at least 20 years. Surrounding towns such as Floral Park, NY and New Hyde Park, NY are also middle class with significant Indian populations.
If middle to upper middle class, predominantly white neighborhoods can't be bothered to fix the heat in school, it doesn't say much positive about the teachers union in NYC.
My aunt taught in a really crappy part of Queens (Bellrose?).... During the winter there wasn't enough $$ to heat the school (or fix it to hold the heat)
Now- there is a catch-22 with spending on education. Everyone says they want good schools, yet time and again I've seen situations where a new tax or a new allocation for schools was proposed and then nothing happens because there is a public outcry over that additional cost. Here's the irony: WHAT is the very first thing that any family with children ask when they start looking to buy a house?
The reason this is a big problem is due to the way schools are primarily funded, namely through the local tax base. This virtually guarantees a substandard education for the children of the poor and working classes. If we funded education through state taxes instead of local taxes and required equal per pupil spending, we wouldn't have such discrepancies between the children in neighborhoods with high home values and those with low home values. It would also give us better data for when we look at state education programs as we'd have a better picture of whether or not a program's success or failure was representative of the state overall or just choice districts.
f we funded education through state taxes instead of local taxes and required equal per pupil spending,
You want to take away power from all the local school boards with all their petty local politics and egos? Good luck with that.
The verbal lashings will continue until Obama's effectiveness improves
Right.
You and your heroes (the right wing) all predicted he would be terrible, and then at every turn you did everything you could to prevent him from doing anything.
Now you complain he isn't more effective, and get excited at every possible percieved government injustice that you think (hope) can be pinned on Obama.
It's pathetic really.
Bush had flaws other than being a fiscal wus. Obama took that one flaw to a new hideous art-form.
That's where you have no clue.
Is it that the stimulus should have been more that bothers you ? Or was it that he increased spending so much less that any of the previous recent presidents ?
Let me guess. It's because tax revenues decreased in the depression, relative to all the spending that was already put in motion before Obama even got there.
If it's that he didn't let the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010 like everyone said they would, then I would agree. He was a wuss about that.
You want to take away power from all the local school boards with all their petty local politics and egos? Good luck with that.
Compared to a state legislature, local boards have no power. All they can do is whine to the press and even there the state reps would have more juice. The real opponents would be those who own homes in high value districts, those who profit directly from the status quo, and those who wish to eliminate public education altogether.
Also, I didn't say you take the power from local school boards, only collect taxes and distribute the money at the state level instead of the local. This would be about equitizing educational funding between districts in the same state.
Compared to a state legislature, local boards have no power. All they can do is whine to the press and even there the state reps would have more juice. The real opponents would be those who own homes in high value districts, those who profit directly from the status quo, and those who wish to eliminate public education altogether.
Also, I didn't say you take the power from local school boards, only collect taxes and distribute the money at the state level instead of the local. This would be about equitizing educational funding between districts in the same state.
First off, I used to serve on the local school board. I know a little bit about all this.
In California, school funding is not based on local taxes. It is based on ADA, or Average Daily Attendance. Schools get funded based on how many kids are in seats. There isn't a huge disparity either between districts in poor vs rich areas, due to the Serrano v Priest Case from the 1970s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrano_v._Priest $300 is the max per student discrepancy from one district to another. (that isn't counting federal aid poorer districts receive in Title I and Title III, Economic Impact Aid, etc money).
As for the biggest problem in public education, to me one huge problem is local school boards. Many times, you get PTA parents, especially stay at home or retired women, that don't have much business or other experience. They have never managed people, let alone a budget north of $60-$100 million. I can't tell you how many times I have met other school board members, and walked away unimpressed by their caliber.
You get school boards with no experience hiring superintendents that aren't good leaders, hiring administrators with poor documenting skills, managing teachers whose evaluations are incomplete, or worse, non-existent.
And there's your biggest problem right there. It's not necessarily the unions, although firing bad teachers and admins should be easier. Lack of parential involvement too adds to the problem.
Also, I didn't say you take the power from local school boards, only collect taxes and distribute the money at the state level instead of the local.
That has to be the most naive thing I've ever read. The money is the power. Local school boards would fight any state control of funding tooth and nail. Have you ever had any contact with a local school board, it's very enlightning to say the least.
You get school boards with no experience hiring superintendents that aren't
good leaders, hiring administrators with poor documenting skills, managing
teachers whose evaluations are incomplete, or worse, non-existent.
And there's your biggest problem right there. It's not necessarily the
unions, although firing bad teachers and admins should be easier. Lack of
parential involvement too adds to the problem.
While that's true, look at the biggest bugdetary items(overhead) and how they aren't even related to teaching, and yet if they're threatened to be done away with, the howls and screams come out in force.
Sports, or the cost of programs/equipment related to them, and it's for a very tiny percentage of the enrollment that uses/participtes in them.
While that's true, look at the biggest bugdetary items(overhead) and how they aren't even related to teaching, and yet if they're threatened to be done away with, the howls and screams come out in force.
Sports, or the cost of programs/equipment related to them, and it's for a very tiny percentage of the enrollment that uses/participtes in them.
Salaries and benefits are 85-90% of the budget. This goes for either public or private schools. It doesn't matter because school is a people-centered business. Until we get computers to teach students to the same level as humans, it will be this way.
I can tell you our school district is extremely well run. I've been in business for almost 25+ years, and have worked at Fortune 1000 companies. While your statement may ring true at some districts, there are districts that are well run. Which goes back to my original statement...school boards. Good school boards make teaching and programs a priority, and cut fat in areas away from the classroom. You name a subject that you think affects the quality of education and I can link this to a good or bad school board.
The problem is partly underfunded schools, or rather adequate funding. When you are eliminating programs left and right, this will have an impact on the quality of education kids receive.
Also, I didn't say you take the power from local school boards, only collect taxes and distribute the money at the state level instead of the local.
That has to be the most naive thing I've ever read. The money is the power. Local school boards would fight any state control of funding tooth and nail. Have you ever had any contact with a local school board, it's very enlightning to say the least.
Federalism empowers states over local municipalities just as it gives power to the federal government to impose its will on the states. If we passed a federal law that made school funding a state issue, the boards could scream all they wanted. The same goes for state legislatures taking over these school boards by themselves. Many states have done this on other issues. I don't see why funding should be different.
School boards have little power outside their local communities and states could easily crush them, especially if they had public support. Teacher's unions would need to be won over as they could help counterbalance the board's influence over the local community in many districts. It could be done. It's just a matter of gaining momentum and working top down.
School boards have little power outside their local communities and states could easily crush them, especially if they had public support. Teacher's unions would need to be won over as they could help counterbalance the board's influence over the local community in many districts. It could be done. It's just a matter of gaining momentum and working top down.
Do you actually believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny also? World peace could also be done, it's just a matter of gaining momentum and working from the top down. It's clear you've never seen local politics in action.
I don't see why funding should be different.
Because school funding affects absolutely everyone. Think realistically for a minute. Who would get funding reduced? The upper third of school districts. Who would get funding increased. The lower third. Who do you think puts state politicians in power and keeps them there? Yep, the people living in the upper third districts. Populist issues only get tackled with the consent of the people who pull the politicians strings.
While that's true, look at the biggest bugdetary items(overhead) and how they aren't even related to teaching, and yet if they're threatened to be done away with, the howls and screams come out in force.
Overhead ? Electricity, water, heat comes from County/City and they are not charged the same rates as any other homeowner/commercial owner. No one would expect a fire house to foot the bill of water used either.
Overhead is charged at a very low rate...
I would say - Nobody forced you to send your kids to private school. If you don't like what the private school does, you shouldn't have fucking sent your kid there. A big clue might have been when they made you sign a contract saying you weren't going to wear anything extra to graduation. Then a light bulb should go on in your head and you should think: "Hey, this school is a bunch of Nazi fucks, why am I paying good money to send my daughter here?"
I'm trying to figure out if Homeboy worked in a Union government job and posted the picture above on his Facebook page, if he would get fired or a promotion.
I'm leaning toward a promotion.
Vic, I think this is the first time that I actually agree with you. "No Child" like many laws, have good intentions w/ shitty results that nobody thought about. When Bush signed this into law, many conservatives were annoyed....
It's also very annoying that Obama hasn't gotten rid of "No Child Left Behind" yet.
Salaries and benefits are 85-90% of the budget. This goes for either public or private schools.
I'm guessing that the salaries and benefits % are much higher in public schools.
Salaries and benefits are 85-90% of the budget. This goes for either public or private schools.
I'm guessing that the salaries and benefits % are much higher in public schools.
No, it's almost the same:
http://www.nais.org/Magazines-Newsletters/ISMagazine/Pages/The-Independent-School-Financial-Model-is-Broken.aspx
"Given that the typical independent school spends 75 to 85 percent of its budget on people, they have focused their cost-cutting measures on the other, non-personnel expenses. "
So maybe 5-10% higher in public than private. And that's because they pay private school teachers so poorly.
I went to both public (K-8) and private (9-12). My best teacher ever (and that's including undergrad and grad) had to quit working at a private school because he was as poor as a church mouse. The only benefit they get is being able to send their kids for free or a discount.
Why do people post links from obviously biased sources and expect any real discourse?
If an article is from foxnews or mother jones I'm tuning out immediately.
While that's true, look at the biggest bugdetary items(overhead) and how they
aren't even related to teaching, and yet if they're threatened to be done away
with, the howls and screams come out in force.
Overhead ? Electricity, water, heat comes from County/City and they are not
charged the same rates as any other homeowner/commercial owner. No one would
expect a fire house to foot the bill of water used either.
Overhead is charged at a very low rate...
One of the biggest expenses is for fuel for the buses and it changes with prices and not sure where it's at currently. But it's lumped in with all the operating expenses, and they're switching to propane fuel to cut the fuel expense by a little more than half. The freakin pool costs roughly 40,000 a year in maintenance. The gymnasium is in use every weekend during the school year, and most weekends in the summer.
It's also very annoying that Obama hasn't gotten rid of "No Child Left Behind" yet.
I thought that was Congress job.
One of the biggest expenses is for fuel for the buses and it changes with prices and not sure where it's at currently. But it's lumped in with all the operating expenses, and they're switching to propane fuel to cut the fuel expense by a little more than half.
seriously when did you ever see a school bus or any other county auto/truck use the same public pumps we use. They have their own sources and facilities.
Nope.. they have their own! they order it wholesale at fixed prices months in advance, transferred to their facilities and pumps. They dont even come close
to paying what you or I pay.
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http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/13/nyu-reportedly-kicking-out-blind-chinese-activist/
Is NYU a Liberal school? I don't get it, if the guy is a self taught lawyer, then what in the hell does he need those useless nutsacks at NYU for?
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/06/06/american-indian-graduate-fined-for-weather-feather-at-alabama-graduation/?intcmp=obinsite
This I don't get, when my Daughter graduated a few weeks ago, her sister made a joke to her on the way to the ceremony. "Are you going to throw your hat in the air?" She said, no I was told that if you toss the cap, then they will keep your diploma. and you wont graduate.
I said "they can't do that!" She told me, that they were told this over and over again in the past weeks.