November 5th, Ron Paul Options

[Psykopath]

What makes a good president then?

Hasn't been one in a while. I've forgotten what it's like...If I was even alive when there was a good president.

And leaving education to the states/local arena?! Haha, some towns will hand out the Bible as the ONLY textbook while others will burn it as part of recess.

[Testm0nkey]

getting rid of federal involvement in education - you people SERIOUSLY think thats a good idea? its not just about no child left behind. the department of education existed for a long time before that ever passed

[Seeker]

The Federal government dumbs down education to the lowest common denominator. We need to let education rest in the hands of State/Local governments and that way we'll have states that excel at education and would crank out the smartest people in the world and some states that just crank out dumbasses.

The dumb states would quickly model the highest perofrming states and balance itself out.

Quit dumbing down education for minorities and retards... let the smart people excel.

[Psykopath]

The dumb states would quickly model the highest perofrming states and balance itself out.

Wow, you state that so matter-of-factly.

How quick are you talking here?

[Spectatrix]

With public education standards and regulations in the hands of federal government, feedback from the people that really matter -- the parents -- goes virtually unnoticed. The closer to home it's controlled, the more impact the voice of the people has. Why do private schools typically have higher quality graduates than public schools? It's not just about money (though, admittedly, teachers do need to be paid more). It's about parental involvement and pressure. They can effect change there because it's run locally.

It also gives states a little more room for experimentation. If they try some technique or setup and it fails to give the results they wanted, other states benefit from that experience and, in turn, the state with failed policies gets to learn from the states that are doing well. As is, with failed policies like No Child Left Behind, everyone suffers and has to scramble to find the next thing to propose and try.

I would actually propose not that the Department of Education be abolished altogether, but that its role change from that of a regulatory agency to an observer that facilitates communication between the state education departments for the betterment of all.

This post has been edited by Spectatrix: Nov 6 2007, 02:45 PM

[Spectatrix]

Oh and for those who don't know, getting rid of the Department of Education is not a new idea. From Wiki:

President Ronald Reagan promised during the 1980 presidential election to eliminate the Department of Education as a cabinet post,[1] but he was not able to do so with a Democratic House of Representatives. In the 1982 State of the Union Address, he pledged, "The budget plan I submit to you on Feb. 8 will realize major savings by dismantling the Department of Education."[2] Throughout the 1980s, the abolition of the Department of Education was a part of the Republican Party platform, but the administration of President George H.W. Bush declined to implement this idea.

In 1996, the Republican Party made abolition of the Department a cornerstone of their campaign promises, calling it an inappropriate federal intrusion into local, state, and family affairs.[2] The GOP platform read: "The Federal government has no constitutional authority to be involved in school curricula or to control jobs in the market place. This is why we will abolish the Department of Education, end federal meddling in our schools, and promote family choice at all levels of learning."[2][3] During his 1996 presidential run, Senator Bob Dole promised, "We're going to cut out the Department of Education."[3] A 1997 survey conducted by Congressman Ron Paul found that 54% of his constituency wished to abolish the federal Department of Education.

Historic GOP opposition... yet ironically, it's President Bush who has dramatically expanded the scope of the department, with NCLB....

[blaarg]

Historic GOP opposition... yet ironically, it's President Bush who has dramatically expanded the scope of the department, with NCLB....

Yeah that is another thing that Ron Paul hits hard on is how he is running on a platform which other republicans have had the same position (no world policing, fiscal responsibility, etc...) in the past (most noticeably Reagan). It's kind of funny how people think of his ideas as "extreme" especially in the republican party...

[jonathan83]

just like spec, lance, and i said previously, private schools offer more competition. parents can control more of what goes on, some schools may go out of business while others excel. eventually what would happen is there would be a large amount of really good schools that compete with each other year in and year out. kind of like ivy league schools, but for high school, etc.

this is exactly what it's like in south korea (where i taught for a year) and they have one of the best education systems in the world.

[FORSAKENR320]

if it ain't broke, don't fix it. OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION IS FUCKING BROKE, SO DO SOMETHING AND FIX IT!


whatever we do, we have to try something new. because the way things are right now is unacceptable.

and just so you know, i fully agree with lance. if you're fucking retarded, or just don't take your education seriously, then you deserve to be head fry chef until you are 50.

[Spectatrix]

this is exactly what it's like in south korea (where i taught for a year) and they have one of the best education systems in the world.

Are their schools all privately funded?

[Jim]

Are their schools all privately funded?

I'm pretty sure Japan's is and they come out with some brighties.

[jonathan83]

Are their schools all privately funded?

well they do have government-backed public schools, but in addition they have privately funded schools which far outnumber the public schools. the public schools are provided free of cost, just like ours. the private schools can vary in price.
also, i believe most kids do a combination of the two. they'll go to public school, but also go to a private school on the side for extra classes.

I'm pretty sure Japan's is and they come out with some brighties.

yeah i'm pretty sure japan has the same system as korea

[Spectatrix]

Are there any problems with parents not being able to afford school for their children? Or does the competition keep prices down to a reasonable level?

[griseyeux]

I have an opinion !!!! Oh wait.........


no I don't .

[jonathan83]

Are there any problems with parents not being able to afford school for their children? Or does the competition keep prices down to a reasonable level?

I don't know all that information really. I taught in a very affluent area where it cost $1500 a month just for preschool education...mind you, my school was a top name in the business and most students were the kids of extremely wealthy people. That's why I don't know information for the less wealthy areas. However, I know it's very common, so I'm sure there are different levels of prices, depending on city/suburb, etc.

Anyway, there is a lot of money in South Korea, and parents spend A LOT on education. It's almost ridiculous, but it works.

As for high schools, you actually have to take an entrance exam to be admitted (so it's competitive). There are all sorts of different high schools to go to.

some info i found on the web: http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/education.htm
http://www.teachkoreanz.com/teaching/students/parent.htm