The Conservative Cave
Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: megimoo on July 28, 2008, 07:04:12 AM
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The profound failure of inner-city public schools to teach children may be the nation's greatest scandal. The differences between the two Presidential candidates on this could hardly be more stark. John McCain is calling for alternatives to the system; Barack Obama wants the kids to stay within that system. We think the facts support Senator McCain.
"Parents ask only for schools that are safe, teachers who are competent and diplomas that open doors of opportunity," said Mr. McCain in remarks recently to the NAACP. "When a public system fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children." Some parents may opt for a better public school or a charter school; others for a private school. The point, said the Senator, is that "no entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity."
Mr. McCain cited the Washington, D.C., Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federally financed school-choice program for disadvantaged kids signed into law by President Bush in 2004. Qualifying families in the District of Columbia receive up to $7,500 a year to attend private K-12 schools. To qualify, a child must live in a family with a household income below 185% of the poverty level. Some 1,900 children participate; 99% are black or Hispanic. Average annual income is just over $22,000 for a family of four.
A recent Department of Education report found nearly 90% of participants in the D.C. program have higher reading scores than peers who didn't receive a scholarship. There are five applicants for every opening.
Mr. McCain could have mentioned EdisonLearning, a private company that took over 20 of Philadelphia's 45 lowest performing district schools in 2002 to create a new management model for public schools. The most recent state test-score data show that student performance at Philadelphia public schools managed by Edison and other outside providers has improved by nearly twice the amount as the schools run by the district.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121720068489088381.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks
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Nice article. I didn't know McCain was that no board with school choice.
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It's a start, but I think it should be open to ALL, regardless of income level.
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It's a start, but I think it should be open to ALL, regardless of income level.
Are you kidding?!?!?!? The public schools would lose too much money!!!
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It's a start, but I think it should be open to ALL, regardless of income level.
Are you kidding?!?!?!? The public schools would lose too much money!!!
Good--then maybe my property taxes would go down instead of throwing them down that black hole of public education?
Oh who the **** am I kidding? The 'Rats will find something else to spend it on....
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It's a start, but I think it should be open to ALL, regardless of income level.
Are you kidding?!?!?!? The public schools would lose too much money!!!
Good--then maybe my property taxes would go down instead of throwing them down that black hole of public education?
Oh who the **** am I kidding? The 'Rats will find something else to spend it on....
Ok, this is my second warning on throwing around those racist terms! You aren't the first one to use this kind of language and if this board doesn't get back on track ..... Al and Jessie will be sent an email. :-)
KC
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It's a start, but I think it should be open to ALL, regardless of income level.
Are you kidding?!?!?!? The public schools would lose too much money!!!
Good--then maybe my property taxes would go down instead of throwing them down that black hole of public education?
Oh who the **** am I kidding? The 'Rats will find something else to spend it on....
Vouchers would come from that revenue stream.