Education Not a Priority?

[Marlow]

The big news (again) in Florida is the big budget cuts in Public Education. Schools are laying off teachers (creating more classes with higher numbers for already overwhelmed teachers), cutting programs (like athletics and art), and providing far fewer resources than in recent memory.

Luckily I teach in a private school that doesn't have to deal with very much of this, but is not education one of the most IMPORTANT things we can spend public money on? I look at some of other the state and federal programs that are still funded and I just gotta wonder where our priorities are.

[marknhj]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

You may want to consider launching a campaign to have State income tax in Florida...

[Marlow]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

You may want to consider launching a campaign to have State income tax in Florida...

Between the State Lottery and the tourist-oriented sales tax, we HAVE the money.

[marknhj]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

You may want to consider launching a campaign to have State income tax in Florida...

Between the State Lottery and the tourist-oriented sales tax, we HAVE the money.

You have $3 billion less tax revenue than the last fiscal year. While in agreement that it's very unfortunate that education is hit, we all know that less revenue equals less spending (or should do).

[rasb]

Apparently, Marlow, you don't have the money, or your poiticians are evil idiots, or some combination of the above.
If one chooses to take a bit of time, and see how the Nations of the World are ranked in terms of areas such as Public Education and Public Health Care, you would quickly notice that countries whose taxes are a few % points higher are able to lead the World in those areas that some might consider critical for a healthy future. I know.....socialism.....some will say. "Others" will say that quality education and health care are a human right. I believe the "others" just spoke.

[MJR]

If you have an ignorant populace you can rule over them however you wish. Our nation has been in a slow return to the Middle Ages feudal system for decades now. An annual reduction in the relative money for public education has been happening for years. Standards are lower than ever. Kids can't perform basic critical thinking tasks. It won't be long before we're a complete Walmart McNation.

[Cooter Brown]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

Luckily I teach in a private school that doesn't have to deal with very much of this, but is not education one of the most IMPORTANT things we can spend public money on?

Be glad you're not in Texas.
"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country." Rep. Debbie Riddle, State Rep (R-Houston)

[gm]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

Luckily I teach in a private school that doesn't have to deal with very much of this, but is not education one of the most IMPORTANT things we can spend public money on?

Be glad you're not in Texas.
"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country." Rep. Debbie Riddle, State Rep (R-Houston)

Of course you wouldn't offer any context for that outburst. I wouldn't expect it from you. According to news reports at the time (2003, by the way):

"Her comments came on the heels of questioning at a Border and International Affairs Committee hearing about how much state money is being used to provide health care for undocumented immigrants."

[Marlow]

Apparently, Marlow, you don't have the money, or your poiticians are evil idiots, or some combination of the above.

What a great example of the logical fallacy called False Dichotomy. We do have the money, our politicians are as good/evil as every other states', but the problem is that everyone wants a piece of the revenue pie, and the pie is smaller now. My point is that we need to feed the kids first (or at least early on), but too many fat cats want to feed themselves and their pet projects first.

[Jack Slocombe]

Getting cash is easy. Put a $1.50 p/gallon state tax on fuel with the funds designated for education only. All sorts of positives here.

1. Folks will gripe but they will pay.
2. Folks will drive less. Get those old geezers off the road.
3. Folks will start buying more fuel efficient cars. A hummer is a good sex act but a ridiculous car.
4. Pressure will be put on auto manufactures to develope alternate fuel sources.
5. Less reliance on foriegn fuels.
6. It will spread to other states.
7. Buckets of moola for education.
8. Exempt commercial truckers from the tax.
9. Give rebates to the retail dealers who will suffer higher credit card fees.

Life is easy.

[paulthefan]

Re: Education Not a Priority?

The big news (again) in Florida is the big budget cuts in Public Education. Schools are laying off teachers (creating more classes with higher numbers for already overwhelmed teachers), cutting programs (like athletics and art), and providing far fewer resources than in recent memory.

Luckily I teach in a private school that doesn't have to deal with very much of this, but is not education one of the most IMPORTANT things we can spend public money on? I look at some of other the state and federal programs that are still funded and I just gotta wonder where our priorities are.

Yes we need to spend more and more $$ in the public schools to ensure that our kids spend less and less time studying reading,writing, math and science. This will guarantee high enough taxes so that the middle class can not afford to send their kids to those pesky private schools. Lets also make sure that the country continues to believe that their children need to be fed by the government and not by their mothers and fathers, repeat after me: it is all about the children.

Thank goodness for the public schools without them we could never have dumbed down the nation as we have.

[gm]

Ridiculous idea, Jack. You would punish the poorest drivers, who could least afford it.

Marlow -- Is Florida school funding a state function, or more local? Do property taxes primarily fund the schools?

[lonewolf]

I have a cousin in Dallas whose twin, teeny bopper daughters are attending a private school they could not otherwise afford on "soccer scholarships".. Is that a common practice?

[LopenUupunut]

If you have an ignorant populace you can rule over them however you wish. Our nation has been in a slow return to the Middle Ages feudal system for decades now. An annual reduction in the relative money for public education has been happening for years. Standards are lower than ever. Kids can't perform basic critical thinking tasks. It won't be long before we're a complete Walmart McNation.

The really big problem with this is that it eats away at the T&F fan base. Let's think for a while about the qualities typical of a T&F follower:

- Ability to think individually and go against the flow of soccer/baseball/football/basketball/hockey/whatever fans.
- Picking a sport that can't be followed just by looking at the numbers on the big screen. You have to look at a dozen corners at once and use your brain to tie the bits together. (This is what's behind all those "ridiculous" to changes to Euro Cup format and others: trying to make T&F watchable without having to use one's brain at any point. Sadly, if we aim to be a first tier sport in popularity, that is necessary - not that I think it will succeed.)
- Perhaps most of all, what Marlow calls being a "marks snob": we have to deal with loads of numbers and statistics, more than in any other sport, and that's not doable with no brain. All the more of a problem in the US where you have to deal with conversions from messy to metric and vice versa as well.
- The list goes on...

[Jack Slocombe]

[quote="gm"]Ridiculous idea, Jack. You would punish the poorest drivers, who could least afford it.[quote]

You do not finance governmental systems on the concept of the "lowest common denominator". There are alternate forms of transportation for the "earnings impaired". Don't ya love being PC?

Europeans, who have a far superior education system to ours, survive just fine on $7.00 to $8.00 p/gallon gas, and have done so for decades.

In the big picture, "sub-prime" housing loans benefitted no one, in fact, it nearly brought our country down.

I finish with...."Driving is a privledge, not a right".