From: me@vikings.austin.ibm.com (Michael E)
Subject: Re: State Income Tax
Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1993 00:24:02 GMT
Distribution: tx
Organization: Why yes, I'd like some...

** My opin only ***
The CHIEF problem of the school system concerns the issue of quality teaching.
MOST teachers do not know how to teach, much less know their subjects well.
Why? The American teacher training system as a whole does not bother to 
evaluate their methods and adapt. The money factor remains a moot point 
until we have a good ADAPTABLE teaching system and good teachers to throw 
money at.

Also, parents allow school district administrators to hire and retain
pathetic "teachers". Parents that don't care about the schools 
deserve what they get.

On to the running subject:

In article <1993Jan12.141207.29526@rpp386> jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II) writes:
>In article <ZOmhs*ly1@caleb.UUCP> jdp@caleb.UUCP (Jim Pritchett) writes:
>>Would YOU really want your kids to go to DC public schools?  Slick Willie is
>>just as hypocritical on most of his positions - however, at least THIS one
>>he has a valid reason to do so.
>
>If I was the President of the United States?  I'd INSIST that my daughter
>go to public school.  What message is he sending?  "My daughter is better
>than all of those poor hapless souls that are forced to go to public
>schools."

"Forced"? The last time I went outside (lunchtime) I didn't see any soldiers
pointing guns at parents and kids...

So what if Clinton sends his kid to private school?
 From the economic point of view, he made his money so what do you care?
 From the "political message" view, this is HIS family, HIS private issue.
Would you sacrafice your control of your family issues to "send a message"?
I think not. The president needs to run the nation, not
make token and vague gestures. 
 From the education system point of view, the law allows him to choose
freely. So what do you care?

Besides, if Clinton sent his kid to public school, I might think his
message is "private schools threaten to destroy public schools". 
TRYING TO READ POLITICAL MESSAGES INTO EVERY DAMNED MOVEMENT OF 
PUBLIC FIGURES MAKES NO SENSE. Let's concern ourselves with their legislative
actions and documented stances.

>
>The public school system is broken, badly.  The solution is not to have
>a two class system when the rich and privileged get one education and
>the poor get another.  This is why I support a voucher system - let the
>poor black kids in DC that are STUCK in public schools have a chance at
>the same education that one rich white guy's daughter is going to get.

Vouchers will not make a difference because the rich still will have more
economic power than anyone else. The idea that bad schools will disappear
or even decrease in substantial numbers under the voucher system will not
happen because of human nature. Eh? Yes, the wonderful ultra-capitalistic
philosophy, which promises a land of milk 'n honey for all, will run schools 
in a manner where money reigns as the chief motivator. Quality education
will become one of many tools to lure customers (not parents) along with
bargain basement prices, religious beliefs, political correctness, gender
bias, sexuality bias, glitter, sports, ad nauseum. 

Refer to the turn of the century American capitalistic business market.
Quality products- yeah, right...

-------
"History- a strange, foreign, undiscovered land."
Newsgroups: tx.general,austin.talk