Beauty

[scatcat]

I have a friend who grew up in a very dysfunctional family - 1 brother murdered, 2 od'd, dad was town drunk, literally drunk in the park. No college. He is the best husband, father of 4 and highly successful. I also have a neighbor who went to Notre Dame with failure to launch. Barely making it. Soooo, to say the school makes the man is generalizing. We are outside of Chicago and I know the struggles of the city schools from reading the paper. I am thankful for the public schools our kids attend. They are not perfect, but that is life. Our alternative is Catholic school and I would home school before I went that route.

[bells4me]

I worked in the public school system for 25 years and paid for my daughter to go to a private school. I couldn't use a voucher or deduct it on my taxes. Is this new?

[JavaQueen]

On 2/5/2014 maestra said:

This subject matter is better suited to Viewpoints than here at a beauty board.

I concur.

But apart from that is a lack of concern for the common good. This selfishness is a big problem. The whole idea of public education was to an educated electorate and provide a way for people to better themselves. I am not so sure when that attitude disappeared and along with it, the "common good" from discourse. Instead, you have helicopter parents, mediocre teachers who can't think outside the box. It's problematic. And unfortunately, parent's don't always have good ideas about education. Just like consumers don't necessarily understand design.

There is a delicate balance between self reliance and the common good. We educate children for the good of the whole country.

I think this is turning political. Not allowed

[Crv]

no matter how much money you dump into the public schools it will never be enough.

Free tokens, free lunches, free babysitting, free condoms, teachers unions, etc. It is a shame because there are some great public schools out there. It all starts in the home.

need I same any more.

[muttmom]

When our children were entering school, we struggled with our choice not to send them to our parish school. What it boiled down to was the fact that many of the lay teachers were not qualified to teach in public school. Our public school district was top notch and our children thrived.

[bunjetto]

On 2/7/2014 Dagna said:

On 2/6/2014 bunjetto said:

On 2/6/2014 annabellethecat said:

Right after I posted this someone brought it to my attention that I should have posted on another subject post.

I agreed then and I still do. I have thought about it and wondered why I sometimes do this. The first reason is because I really do like the way the 'Beauties" as I call them respond to posts. They are always thoughtful and most of the time they aren't out right mean (that I see anyway).

I also think I post in the wrong subjects because when I click on community I always click on the subject matter that includes ALL posts (I like a variety).

I apologize for posting on the wrong subjects and will work at not doing it.

The subject is not meant to cause problems. I honestly do not understand why we need to continue Public School. I went to public school and got a great education. I don't think it is close to the way it was when I went.

I see having Vouchers as saying, "The Public System isn't any good so you can opt out if you want".

Unfortunately, lower income children are the ones who loose. Often their parents aren't involved enough to deal with vouchers. The children continue to go to some of the terrible public schools.

I live near Washington, DC. I see this all of the time there.

Same with the thread about your encounter with the waitress and single parenting? Just asking.

Interesting article on the Real Clear Politics site today called "Reading is Hard, Calling People Racist is Easy" - about how when you read/hear facts you don't like (as in the DC public schools are badly failing students), rather than actually discuss that reality, it's much simpler to label the messenger racist or mean or hateful or insensitive or even - stupid.

It's sad to me that many of those who claim to be so very well educated themselves resort to this tactic rather than take on the actual issues - or even admit that there are any issues.

Did not "label" anyone racist, mean or hateful. Just think this type of discussion should be elsewhere. Seriously?

[LinnieLou]

Oh boy. This is quite a topic to stumble on on a Friday afternoon.

I don't have a solution. I think it's way bigger than me. But, I am of the opinion that it is such a waste in this country to take a free public education so lightly. This is why it is failing. We put $ into a mediocre system for all and let it fail because our society as a whole doesn't make education a priority. It's the parent's job to instill it in their children and a community's job to make sure we all make it a priority so one kid doesn't see that their parents are any different than their friends' parents as far as expectations where education is concerned. I grew up not knowing any other way but to take it seriously. No excuses. No choices. No, sports are not the priority.. neither are sleepovers with friends, or trips during spring break. These are rewards and perks in addition to school. My parents worked their *#@$ off and we didn't have money for those things, maybe that is why it was so easy to focus on school.

I am fortunate now to be able to spend money on private school if our local schools are not performing to standards. Luckily, we have options and don't have to. Our kids to go a charter school (public) which focuses on college prep. I have to drive them 25 minutes each way since there is no bussing (outside our district). The biggest difference I see is that the EXPECTATION of them is so high...and the kids who are there have parents who support that high expectation, no excuses. And the money. You can't discount how much money plays a role in the success of a school. Some might say it's not important, but it is. It's ALL about the money. Teachers need tools, salaries, time, and support that $ CAN buy. Our school has a whole department that focusses on fundraising to make up for the shortfall in funding they don't get from the district. Still, the teachers do an amazing job with or without the resources they need, though. They are amazing!

I'm sure some will disagree with me. I don't see the end solution to this problem. All I know is that it's not the kids' fault. They don't know any better. We as parents shape them more than we think. We had better step up to the plate because the alternative is really scary for our kids. Think about how many other countries who would absolutely die for the opportunities that we squander over here. They will take our kids' jobs and opportunities if we don't do something about it.

Ok. That's it. I think I wanna talk about lipstick colors or somehting else now...LOL...

[sarpy]

We have been married 52 yrs. On an average of $2500 per yr. taxes that makes $130,000 we have paid into the school system. That's just school taxes. And we are not wealthy. Makes me shake my head.

[terrier3]

One thing that set America apart from European countries was that we had a strong system of free education for all our children. That was how everyone had a chance to succeed in life.

People weren't broken down into the haves and the have nots when it came to education. Even if your parents couldn't afford private school education, you had a great chance, thanks to public education from kindergarten through college. (Remember when public colleges were AFFORDABLE?)

Vouchers are a round about way to dilute our public system of education...same as charter schools.

We need to work to make public schools as good in the cities as they are in the suburbs and take into account that poverty, homelessness and lack of food and healthcare in cities affects students' ability to learn.

[KateChopin]

On 2/6/2014 occasional rain said:

On 2/6/2014 lilac lover said:

On 2/5/2014 liliblu said:

On 2/5/2014 Snowpuppy said:

On 2/5/2014 Jaspersmom said:

Vouchers divert tax money to private institutions. Private institutions can be and are exclusive. Public schools educate everyone.

Not in decades.

Nonsense!! Public schools may vary in their results but the mission of all public schools is to educate every child that walks through their doors. Some schools lack the resources they need. Some schools are in need of repair or replacement due to age or a growing population. Still others are overcrowded. But that does not diminish the good work that most teachers do. Many go above and beyond the call of duty for their students. The demonizing of teachers and public education needs to stop. When did teachers become the enemy?

Totally agree. My husband taught in public schools for 30 years. Our children were educated in our local public school system, went to college and are successful adults. If you have the desire to learn and want to succeed, you can do it at a public school or private school.

If one's parent is a teacher then they didn't just get a public school education.

Ridiculous.

And teachers became the enemy when politicians wanted to deflect attention off themselves. And it worked. Again...what does your senator make? Congressman? What are his benefits? Her perks? You would be shocked, but I'll bet you won't even look into it. Teachers and their unions---in fact, unions in general are necessary to protect our middle class from unscrupulous politicians. Sad how well this worked.