Scary stuff-parents, you need to be paying attention

[mstng86]

I've lived in this house 4 years, my condo before that 7. That is about 25k in taxes I've paid into public schools. Which is probably about 22k more than the value of the education I received. In fact, just doing that quick math and really thinking about how much I've paid in to in the time its taken me to make this post is making me a little sick.

Think of the CHILDREN man, the CHILDREN.

[ELVIS]

I've lived in this house 4 years, my condo before that 7. That is about 25k in taxes I've paid into public schools. Which is probably about 22k more than the value of the education I received. In fact, just doing that quick math and really thinking about how much I've paid in to in the time its taken me to make this post is making me a little sick.

Jr. says thanks Eric!

god bless.

[Chili]

I've lived in this house 4 years, my condo before that 7. That is about 25k in taxes I've paid into public schools. Which is probably about 22k more than the value of the education I received. In fact, just doing that quick math and really thinking about how much I've paid in to in the time its taken me to make this post is making me a little sick.

You paid school tax in an apartment!?! Damn, now I understand why you're pissed!

I also cringe everytime I hear someone say "I have to pay for schools and I don't even have kids!" That may be true but IMO you are thinking about it wrong. Those of YOU who got a public education are just paying back what you consumed.

I've lived in this house 4 years, my condo before that 7. That is about 25k in taxes I've paid into public schools. Which is probably about 22k more than the value of the education I received. In fact, just doing that quick math and really thinking about how much I've paid in to in the time its taken me to make this post is making me a little sick.

[juiceweezl]

In a poorly run district, the school doesn't die either. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!

Take any school in South Dallas for example.

Problem: Kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

Solution : Lower the Standards and give the schools a bunch more funding.
(Keep in mind DISD's funding this year topped $1.1 Billion That's 1.1 with eight zeroes behind it.)

End Result : kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

Hey, Mr. Private School. You do know the proper word to use is "poorly" since it's an adverb, right? I learned that in middle school during my public education that is apparently subpar.

As for the point you're making, it's not for private school as much for better administration or privatization of school management. Why close a school that has a perfectly good building to work out of? Change over the administration, make staff changes as necessary, and weed out the students that don't want to be there and don't put forth effort. Eliminate the NCLB crap and the requirement that they attend school, and you'll fix the problem.

[Zfan]

Problem: Kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

Solution : Lower the Standards and give the schools a bunch more funding.
(Keep in mind DISD's funding this year topped $1.1 Billion That's 1.1 with eight zeroes behind it.)

End Result : kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

Lazy, uneducated hood rats for parents, that's the first hurdle, second is poorly run schools who hold nobody accountable! If you are lazy and show no effort, out you go! Let your parents babysit your lazy free loading asses!

[sc281]

In a well run district, the school doesn't "die on the vine." However, the administrative staff will turnover very quickly if it doesn't perform. It does happen, just not often enough.

In a poorly run district, the school doesn't die either. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!

Take any school in South Dallas for example.

Problem: Kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

Solution : Lower the Standards and give the schools a bunch more funding.
(Keep in mind DISD's funding this year topped $1.1 Billion That's 1.1 with eight zeroes behind it.)

End Result : kids do poor, Teachers do poor.

[Sean88gt]

My kids are white! How is this possible?!

[juiceweezl]

So, what is the life cycle for a bad Public School to die on the vine? I'm sure it's shorter than a Private entity going belly up, right?


Oh, wait...

In a well run district, the school doesn't "die on the vine." However, the administrative staff will turnover very quickly if it doesn't perform. It does happen, just not often enough.

[sc281]

But the lifecycle for that to happen will be too slow and too much damage will be done in the mean time.

So, what is the life cycle for a bad Public School to die on the vine? I'm sure it's shorter than a Private entity going belly up, right?


Oh, wait...

[juiceweezl]

First, You are assuming that every private school is better at educating children than all public schools, but that is a big assumption. There are some pretty crappy ones out there.

Then you still have to worry about creating standards and overseeing those private schools. Otherwise what is to stop them from simply selling diplomas? Isn't that what people always complain about with some of the newer private universities like University of Phoenix?

When a school becomes a business the school is going to be more concerned with the bottom line than the actual education of the kids.. That is the way business is. Every company I have ever worked for was more concerned with shareholders' value than employees or customers. And those are not the type of people I want educating my kids.

Oh, and as for private school supporters, I can tell you to slow that train down too. They are some absolutely horrible private schools and some of the worst teachers ever. My brother taught at one when he got out of college (mainly he was there to coach baseball). They had terrible teachers. Private schools don't pay squat either. A few years back when things were booming and districts were struggling to find enough people, a lot of private school teachers were brought on board to ISD's. Want to guess who the worst teachers on the current ISD staffs are???

[sc281]

Fact is, the school situation is a classic example of what happens when you give someone a handout. People who pay taxes support scumbags who don't. Those scumbags then send their kids to school for free and don't give a shit whether they pass or fail. The kids suffer and don't get the opportunity that they should. Fact is, the scumbags should have a stake in the game just like I should.

Agreed.

[juiceweezl]

New Stadium in Allen ISD was a cool $65 million or so. You should look at the cost of the new Prosper High School. Fuck, go look at the building! It's absurd! Though I understand some of it was private funding, the old high school was only around 5 years old and now sits empty.

Cutting football programs is shooting yourself in the foot. That's a lot of revenue. There has been wasteful spending for decades. This news isn't exactly groundbreaking. Everyone saw it coming. If the govt has proven anything, it's that it can't run anything lean, or efficient.

The Prosper high school is absurd, but I think they funded it with their own tax base and a ton of private money. I know Deion gave a large chunk of coin to their athletics program too. Their baseball field is field turf as well, so they don't have to worry about rainy conditions, etc. They have an unbelievable setup at that school. However, if you think that's overdone, cruise north about another 8 miles up 289 and look at the new Celina high school. It's crazy nice and large, and I think they only have 350-400 kids in the school.

For those of you bashing the school system and teachers and ragging on the quality of education, hold off just a bit. The current system is flawed, and I agree that private sector would be much better for managing education. However, don't lump all teachers and educators together. My wife teaches, and is in her 14th year spread across 3 districts and 2 states. She probably logs close to 60 hours per week between after school tutoring, team planning, and grading papers at the house. There are a TON of teachers like here out there. Her students perform better because of that effort as well. The problem is that the current system doesn't reward her outstanding performance. The crappy teachers at her school make just as much, and the students in those classes suffer.

You can't tell me that the gym teacher should make as much salary as a math teacher for example. A lot of people gripe about teachers being underpaid, but many (my wife included) will tell you that isn't the case. If you factor in that they have 2 months a year off, then the pay turns out to be fairly decent in many districts (she's in FISD now). Now if you made say 20% of pay based off performance, then she'd max out and other teachers would wash out. Successful teachers win, the students win, and the districts win by attracting better prospective teachers.

Oh, and for the record, if you really want to fix the education system, then start with the No Child Left Behind crap.

[Chili]

When the schools are more worried about getting butts in the seats to fill a quota for state funding, there is a problem. They shouldn't have to be worrying about getting money. That shouldn't be their priority, but unfortunately that is todays reality. The schools will put off to the last minute to close these days. They contemplate the risk of getting the money for the attendance over the welfare of the kids and the parents dropping them off.

What I am saying is, people that run schools should not have to worry about money. Their main function is to educate, and the way the system is setup now, the money is more important to keep the school running.

That's an entirely different issue that I don't disagree with.

[Chili]

High School and College Grads nowadays can't seem to get off their butts and find work despite their 'education'.

But to Silverback's point, is that a problem with the educational system, or the kids themselves?