This is why we should privatize our schools in the US - Page 4 - Politics and Economics

jah7_fsu1 · 08-08-2012, 09:50 PM

Thread is too focused hypotheticals and not focused enough on the sheer craziness of the ideas being championed in the article. I don't really give a **** what one supports and why, but the idea that public tax dollars are going for this type of insanity is nuts.

I know plenty of Bible beaters who believe this stuff, but usually the really nutty ones want to homeschool so they can shield little Johnny from the horrors of the rest of the godless society.

Aytumious · 08-08-2012, 11:20 PM

Quote:

"Several of [Emily Dickinson's] poems show a presumptuous attitude concerning her eternal destiny and a veiled disrespect for authority in general. Throughout her life she viewed salvation as a gamble, not a certainty. Although she did view the Bible as a source of poetic inspiration, she never accepted it as an inerrant guide to life."—Elements of Literature for Christian Schools, Bob Jones University, 2001

What a bitch.

valenzuela · 08-09-2012, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomCollins

We just need the right people in charge to force them to do it the right way.

Not really, but it would still be an improvement.

adios · 08-09-2012, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreakDaddy

Not everything in everyone's world is about money. My wife is a teacher. She is someone who left the corporate world as a 6 figure executive to go back and get her masters and teach elementary. She wasn't motivated by money (and actually won most inspirational teacher this year), and these are the teachers we need in our society.

Masters in education is important, because you'd be amazed what a 4th grader asks about in class. You want people who can give kids good information right from the start. Show them how to think and solve their own problems.

If that's the justification that you present for having a Maters in Ed. then it's pathetic. I was actually willing to give you the benefit of the doubt about having the Masters in Ed. even with your "collective" solution comment until this.

Ray Horton · 08-09-2012, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pvn

If you're worried about having knowledgeable teachers, then a masters in basically anything other than education would be EVEN BETTER. Unless fourth graders are asking questions about how to get a masters degree in education.

knowing stuff is necessary but not sufficient to teaching well

adios · 08-09-2012, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul D

I think collectively we should set aside Wyoming, Utah, and Montana for people who want to live like pioneers.

When's the last time you were in the Salt Lake City area?

Ray Horton · 08-09-2012, 02:23 AM

I hear it's vibrant and bustling with intellectuals

Ray Horton · 08-09-2012, 02:26 AM

re: post 43

That Rocketship program will put math teachers out of business.

adios · 08-09-2012, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aytumious

Quote:

"Several of [Emily Dickinson's] poems show a presumptuous attitude concerning her eternal destiny and a veiled disrespect for authority in general. Throughout her life she viewed salvation as a gamble, not a certainty. Although she did view the Bible as a source of poetic inspiration, she never accepted it as an inerrant guide to life."—Elements of Literature for Christian Schools, Bob Jones University, 2001

What a bitch.

And this proves what exactly?

Huehuecoyotl · 08-09-2012, 03:19 AM

Another good thing about Christian fundamentalist schools. No set theory.

Quote:

"Unlike the "modern math" theorists, who believe that mathematics is a creation of man and thus arbitrary and relative, A Beka Book teaches that the laws of mathematics are a creation of God and thus absolute....A Beka Book provides attractive, legible, and workable traditional mathematics texts that are not burdened with modern theories such as set theory." — ABeka.com

Quote:

Set theory, particularly the stuff about infinity, has a bit of that wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey flavor to it. It doesn't make sense on the level of "common sense". It's dealing with things that aren't standard, simple numbers. It makes links between nice, factual math and floppy, subjective philosophy. If you're raised in Christian fundamentalist culture, all of that—every last bit—absolutely reeks of modernism. It's easy to see how somebody at A Beka would look at set theory and conclude that it's really just modernist propaganda. To them, set theory is just a step on the road to godless atheism.

Add in the historical fact that Georg Cantor's ideas weren't terribly popular at first, and they can easily create a narrative where true math is being suppressed so that false, modernist math can corrupt the minds of children.

If this sounds crazy ... you're right. It's pretty crazy. In fact, it's this kind of thinking, and my realization that it was based fundamentally on lying about everybody who wasn't a member of your religious tribe, that led me away from religion to begin with. Ironically. But there is a coherent thought process going on here, and I want you to understand that. If all you do is point and laugh at the fundies for calling set theory evil, then you are missing the point. This isn't about them being stupid. It's about who they think you are.

Hero Protagonist · 08-09-2012, 03:34 AM

I'm all for privatizing education, but won't vouchers create a sort of bubble in private education, where the costs increase and you get added fees on top of the voucher? Are there any current voucher systems in place you can describe as an example?

AlexM · 08-09-2012, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreakDaddy

Hypothetically, let's say privatized schools "outperform" public schools in math, reading...

Do we want to be teaching people things like this:

3. "God used the Trail of Tears to bring many Indians to Christ."

5. Slave masters were nice guys

6. The KKK was A-OK:

11. Abstract algebra is too dang complicated:

And before you argue, just to argue, can you really give it some honest thought?

"We" aren't involved. It's none of our business.

I definitely don't like teaching children those things, but I don't think that gives me the right to force others to do things my way. If I did, I would make it illegal for you to teach your children:

1. That there's a jolly fat man dressed in red who breaks into your home and gives you free stuff.

2. That there's a fairy that gives you money if you leave your teeth under your pillow.

3. Religion.

4. Conservativism.

5. Liberalism.

Etc.

Do you propose outlawing religion? That's the logical conclusion of your position.

Do you agree with forcibly taking Christian children and making them go to Muslim schools? That's entirely equivalent to forcing them to go to secular schools in my book.

The only reason you started this thread is because you're an arrogant jackass who is so certain that your beliefs are "right" and "better" than everyone else's that you think you're justified in using force to impose your beliefs on others....

... and that makes your behavior equivalent to that of a Spanish Inquisitor.

Feel free to preach your beliefs to the world all you want, but when you decide that you're going to use force to make people follow them, GTFO.

[Phill] · 08-09-2012, 04:16 AM

You dont see the difference between teaching untruths that are disprovable and those which arent?

13ball · 08-09-2012, 06:42 AM

He doesn't care because parents should have complete freedom to force their children to learn wrong things while the state pays for it. Think of the freedom!

raradevils · 08-09-2012, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomCollins

Need to get more Asian students IMO. You can have school choice without vouchers. A lot of Euro countries do that. Seems like a better idea than a single school based on where you live that you are stuck with.

It's good for the property values.