From: VEAL@utkvm1.utk.edu (David Veal)
Subject: Re: Why can't the liberals just admit that public education has failed? (Re: The New Education President)
Organization: University of Tennessee Division of Continuing Education
Distribution: usa 
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 20:47:20 GMT

In article <bob1.726522040@cos> bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw) writes:

>In <1ihjjdINNnu6@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> cd651@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Wally L. Blume) writes:
>
>>In a previous article, mrh@centerline.com (Mike Huben) says:
>
>>  Decay and neglect by *which* recent administration. If I'm not mistaken 
>>all of D.C.'s issues are decided by the House Of Representatives which is
>
>No they are not, while the House has considerable financial control and
>even some veto power over city laws, the school board is totally a child
>of the city council. 

       Congress has final authority over D.C.  They have control over the
city school board in exactly the same way that most States have control over 
local school boards.  Specifically, as much or as little control as they
wish to have.

>So we might assume that the decay and neglect is
>that of the council, the businesses who run to wherever they will give
>them tax breaks (and then bitch about the quality of the students applying
>for jobs), by the parents (those that aren't working 10 hour days) who
>don't attend board meetings, or bother to vote in board elections, and
>that guy behind the tree.

        The fault lies with the parents and the voters.  Elected officials 
are mirrors or what the voters want.  Not what the voters *say* they want,
but what they really want.

>>controlled by democrats. If he opposes the educational proposals of his
>>own party then why hasn't he said so.  
>
>>Since Mr. Clinton has refused to represent his views about why he chose 
>>a private school we are forced to speculate. Just as you yourself have
>
>Why are you forced to speculate? Chelsea Clinton is a private citizen,
>she did not run for office, she did not ask to be scrutinized by every
>media a**hole in the USA, she did not ask to have her private life
>invaded, so what G**damn business is it of yours?

       To a great extent, it's nobody's business buy Bill and Hillary
Clinton.  However, it's not her decision, but her parent's decision
which is being called into question.
       While I disagree with virtually every thing Bill Clinton says about
the public schools, I can't fault his decision.  *I* wouldn't send my child
to the local school system, and it's a considerably different environment 
than DC's schools.  Add to that the fact that she is going to be the
President's daught, and I could certainly understand the decision that 
D.C.'s public schools would be unacceptable.
       However, it's time to understand that while the names and faces 
have changed, the arguments haven't.  There are going to be just as many
Clinton-haters who are going to denounce him regardless of his actions as
there were Bush haters.

>>when you said: 
>
>>" It strikes me as more likely that Clinton resents the decay and neglect 
>>of public schools by recent administrations, and is resolved to make them 
>>better."
>
>>While you accuse the original poster of twisting Mr. Clinton's actions to
>>support his views, you yourself are using them to poke at some un-named
>>other administration. And if your statement is true about his resolve to 
>>better the schools then this will be displayed by his transferring
>>his child to the public system after he has changed them. (i.e. if this
>>transfer to a public school doesn't happen then obviously he has failed
>>at solving the educational systems problems, or hasn't even tried.) All
>
>Please note the date on this post. Governor Clinton assumes the Presidency
>in 12 days. How in hell is he supposed to have cured the nation's schools
>already? 

      I can't help but remember several posts which credited Bill Clinton's
inevitable election with the "upturn" in the economy.  I suppose it's got
a lot to do with perspective.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Veal               University of Tennessee Div. of Cont. Education
                         Information Services Group
PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu  (Mail to VEAL@utkvm1.utk.edu will bounce.)
Xref: sparky alt.politics.clinton:20001 alt.politics.elections:24829 talk.politics.misc:66976 alt.politics.libertarian:3312