It's not you, it's me. I've been busy. Busy raising four wonderful, healthy, productive children. Busy starting a club for kids to express themselves. Busy establishing a gardening culture (I don't even know how to garden!) through an outside garden, a tower garden, and a grove of fruit trees (waiting final approval from central office). I am in over my head in my subject. I have forgotten how to teach American history. It is like riding a bike: You have to keep up the practice. While I was busy in my personal cave, the world changed around me. Wow, what changes.
Like it or not, President Trump is upending all the science that was established in Political Science classes. He is a game changer, but not a purposeful game changer. From a detached perspective, he is a study in where we have found ourselves as a nation. Democracy is hard, and it is easy to be an anarchist when everyone else is following the rules. I am not here to make predictions but only to put the system in to some sort of perspective. We will see what becomes of us. Good luck.
Friday, March 1, 2019
Sunday, June 24, 2018
St. Elizabeth's Graduating Eighth Grade Graduation Predictions, 2005 Edition
1. Teddy Hart- After marrying Ann Coulter, he begins a radio talk show program for his new wife and himself that puts the aging O’Reilly out of business.
2. Sarah McDowell will become a world renowned dancer, with her own troupe. She will inspire millions of young girls and boys to enter the world of dance, beginning a renaissance of dance fever
3. Paulina and Jacqueline will start their own sarcastic, slapstick comedy club, imitating the vertically challenged. The highlight of their show will be their contortion act against a backdrop drawn by Jacqueline. They will be twin twisted thespians, who call themselves, of course, “Twisted Sisters.”
4. Vince Harris will make a living as a movie critic. The movie industry will pay him as a consultant to test their movies, and then spread the word of mouth. In other words, he will own every movie ever made, and be willing to tell you all its great attributes.
5. Sherie will end up on the “Apprentice: Street Smarts Edition”, making her way into the Trump organization by the age of 20. She will be named the heir to the Trump organization at 27, and give new flair and attitude to the expression, “You’re fired.”
6. Devin will become a televised preacher, decrying the evil works of the devil in our popular culture, ie Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Banana Republic. He will found the New Goth Church of Christ. The devil is in the designer wear, he proclaims, to mass appeal.
7. Steven Beers will spend ten years in the Peace Corps, helping out in third world nations. He will later become an active adviser to Human Rights Watch, working hard to correct government abuses against oppressed peoples.
8. Peter will join the CIA after college, traveling the world on super-secret missions that he has trained his whole life to perform. After retiring from the CIA, he will enter the movies performing as the seventh James Bond in the franchise history. Finally, that roll comes in handy!!
9. Pat Fletcher will play baseball throughout his college years before joining the minors for the next five. The love of the game is strong in him, but he decides to move on, becoming a principal at St. Elizabeth, where he spends his mornings with his feet kicked up on the desk reading about his former team. He will instill his love into the school team, and they will go on to win state 17 out of the 23 years he is with the school.
10. Lauren will be hired by Barbie.com as a fashion designer. She will update the looks on the website and add new style to next generation of Barbie.com fans. She will parlay her love of fashion and of hard work into a lucrative business that will not only leave her looking her best, but with enough bling to blind out the sun.
11. Mike Wilber will become a mad scientist following his family roots. After his third attempt to take over the world, he will succeed only to be stopped by Peter. When Steven Beers finds out, he convinces Peter to let Mike continue because Mike’s sinister plan will actually benefit the people of the world more and bring peace and justice. His mysterious invention is happy joy bubbles, now sold in a facial crème in Sherie’s stores, Re-Re’s.
12. Bobby will go on to document his life in a Fox television show modeled after Family Guy and American Dad. He calls it American Guy Who hasn’t got a life. It is only semiautobiographical. As we know, Fox is willing to air anything. Bobby’s hero exposes simple truths in a sardonic and creative way on a weekly basis at 7:30 Pacific, 8:30 Eastern, every Thursday. It showcases his witty side, and his keen observations of human nature, all blended together with cartoon figures that were left over from a Simpson’s casting call.
13.Will Tombaugh will go on to host Comedy Central’s nightly news program, ”They did what in Washington today?!” Sadly, none of the news will have to be made up. His incredible insight into the oddities of the human relationships will be played up nightly against reruns of the Cosby Show on Nick at Night. He will claim Jon Stewart as his protégé, before wiping Jon off the map with his ratings.
16. Margo will learn four languages before she graduates college. She will use her easy smile and kind words to spread good will around the globe while working to bring world peace.
17. Victoria will go on to start her own advice column. She calls it, “Please!” She puts it straightforward, with no extra jazz. If you’ve got a problem, no one else can solve, and you don’t mind a bit of realism, talk to Victoria.
18. Alexandra will invent an instant messaging software that is not blockable. She will make a fortune selling the software to spammers, third parties, and boyfriends who don’t realize the relationship is over. She will take the money and settle into a nice beach front property on the opposite coast from Victoria.
19. Ryan will continue to take care of his mother, before striking it rich with a business partner who enjoys Ryan’s easygoing personality, leaving his entire fortune to Ryan. Ryan will use it to outfit his mother class and the entire ECC with new computers, buildings, and anything else they could ever want. He puts the rest into an endowment to take care of students and schools in need.
20. Clarke will make his way through Rockhurst University, before returning to St. Elizabeth to teach 4thgrade and coach the school’s baseball team, with Pat as his principal.
21. Paul Jensen will go on to form his band, the Ungrateful Dead. They will tour the country, looking for groupies. While taking a break from the band, he organizes an anarchist organization, the Black Band, threatening to overthrow the government. The plot is discovered when Paul forgets to return his library book, “How to overthrow an unjust government”. The library police get a warrant to search his house for the book, and things go downhill from there. Stephanie will pardon Paul.
14. Alex Keeling will go on to manage bands, such as Paul’s. He will go on to launch the careers of some of the biggest boy band groups as some of the most influential folk groups of the 21stcentury. During his free time, he travels the world bringing to humanitarian causes with Mr. Beers. He will be knighted by the Queen of England.
22. Susan Jenkins will develop her own line of makeup products. She will market it successfully under the product name of Mary Sue, underselling Mary Kay’s product line. Of course, once she has the monopoly on the eyeliner market, the prices skyrocket. She did learn something in history class.
23. Brett will enter politics for the thrill of the argument. As a junior senator, he will set the record for a filibuster (which he put back into place with a little help from Bob Dole), holding the floor for 4 days non stop.
He will cap his career with a run for the presidency. Unfortunately, we all know, senators rarely win a bid for the presidency.
24. Stephanie will run for president in 2040, after a successful career in the business world. She will never forget the friends she made here, and will continue to encounter them throughout her years in business and public life.
15. Alex Roschitz will become a diplomat during Stephanie’s presidency. He will spend many years abroad, talking to foreign diplomats about the greatness of U.S. policy. Thanks to Alex, the U.S. manages to broker peace in several large armed conflicts, saving millions of lives, and reestablishing the role of the United States as global leader.
25. Molly will become a writer of children’s and young adult books. Knowing the pleasure she got from these types of stories, she will go on to create similar stories for future generations. She will never sway with the culture of the time, or the values of the day, but will remain true to her own nature. She will do write what she feels, not what sells, and that is why her works will become classic literature.
26. Kolbe will complete his time at the art academy before moving back into his private life, where he will continue his creative endeavors. He will be responsible for a new school of art: new contemporary fundamentalism, displayed across multiple media. It’s called Skiism. He will complete his book, illustrate himself, and photograph the cover, also.
27. Mike and Paul Burkhart will take their years of military training from their front yard and put it to good use in civil wars throughout Africa. After graduating high school, and buying a copy of Soldier of Fortune magazine, Mike convinces Paul to become a mercenary. They help to stabilize Uganda, allowing Steven and his people in to assist the people. Retiring from the hired soldier life at 31, they purchase Manchester United, and enjoy futbol the way it should be played. With a soccer ball.
28. Frank will move to China after college. He will wander the countryside on a skateboard, getting to know the people. After spending seven years in Tibet, and after attending the funeral of the Dalai Lama, he will be tapped to take his place, being honored greatly by the likes of Richard Gere before touring the world on a mission of peace.
29. Josh Muraski will go on to work his way through school in a one man show at the carnival. He will perform a ventriloquist act with his dummy, Pat. A television producer out with his kids will hear Josh’s voice and cast him for a new cartoon, “Mr. AmIAnnoyin’yayet?”. Josh will go on to marry, his wife skipping the traditional look, and wearing instead camouflage with a bright orange veil and train. The service will be conducted in silence on a deer stand, as it is deer season, and he has not yet filled his tag. Their honeymoon will be spent turkey hunting. Gifts of Winchester shotgun shells, 12 gauge, can be sent to the home of the groom’s parents.
30. Pat Lesage - Pat will stumble across Josh at the carnival one day, joining forces to create an unstoppable ventriloquism team. Problems arise not from Pat having to sit on Josh’s knee during performances, but from Pat’s door being labeled, “the dummy.” Alas, the team splits, and Pat takes over the Dave Chappelle Show.
31. Abby goes into business with her father, before getting her own tv show on the Oxygen network, “You go girl,” a home improvement how to guide specifically for women. She will combine beauty and power tools to prove that tool time is not just a guy thing.
32. Alex Cecena will go on to fall in and out of love with many young ladies in his life. He will join the army, where he meets his wife. Making a career of the military, they will raise a family together, living a long, fulfilling life.
33. Andrew will become a political strategist for a more balanced, more thoughtful, more meaningful third party. He will help redefine politics by bringing common sense back, driving out extremism and bringing balance to the force. When asked about the rise to power, he credits to his collection of holy cards.
34. Emily will be a fashion designer, opening her first store in New York at the age of 25. She will show her outfits on the runways in Milan and Paris, jetsetting around Europe. Her clothing line will become a house hold name. After all, don’t you want to wear Bull Shirts?
35. Erika will reach out to children in need in other countries. Adopting and raising orphaned children, she will travel the world fighting for children’s rights. She will work to close down sweatshops and the companies that benefit from the labor. She will not go down in the history books, but she will adored by millions whose life she effected.
36. Javaun will go on after college to join the NBA draft. He will spend ten years in the league before taking a desk job on ESPN and debuting with his own fashion line, “My Style”.
37. Kaeleb will open a school of dynamic public speaking. He will go on the road with his motivational speeches and make his fortune bringing comfort to the millions willing to shell out $100 to hear another fellow’s sad story of life turned into success. Great job, Kaeleb.
38. Matt will go on to finish George Lucas’ work on Star Wars, Episodes 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. His dedication to the series and love for Jar-Jar Binks drives him to develop fully Jar-Jar’s turn to the dark side. We were hoping to find out about the children Chewbacca and Yoda have, but alas, that relationship started to late in episode 11, and Matt has said there is no way he will do another three episodes. He is happy with his work at this point.
39. Dominick will spend his high school years learning about aircraft, before gathering the money to buy his own build it yourself kit. He will open a hotel resort in Cozumel and transport guests back and forth in his plane, to his own Fantasy Island.
40. Nicolette will purchase farmland, running one of the largest farms in Missouri. She’s no longer a city girl, but those designer name clothes aren’t lost on the cattle.
41. Stephen follows his mother to her next job, asking for handouts for his friends. He and his sisters purchase Hershey Chocolate’s Kisses Division, after winning the lottery. They rename the company, “Kisses and Hoag’s.”
42. Anna will complete her schooling and move into the world of teaching. Her warm spirit and willingness to reach out to others will win her many awards and effect many lives. She will raise a strong, happy family that will be supplemented by all the many lives she has touched.
43. Mika will continue to delve into her Mexican culture. She will open a school of Hispanic heritage where the language and culture will be stressed. This will provide a much needed bridge in our society between different cultures and help us grow together.
44. Bridget will marry a man who truly believes himself to be Legolas. They will buy themselves some land in the country, heavily wooded, and disappear from the world. Sometimes, a little bit of make believe beats a lot of reality. Dream your heart out, Bridget. Never stop striving.
45. Benny will continue to try to convince young women to dance with him by offering free 100s for class work. He convinces the Smithsonian Institute to accept the Ritz family donkey costume from the preschool Christmas program, as a piece of American heritage. He will end up serving in the United States army with his Cousin.
Saturday, April 29, 2017
2017 -- A Brave New World
I had dinner with a former student, Alex Keeling, in Washington, DC, over the summer. Alex is extremely intelligent, and leaves me in his dust. We spoke of the coming election, and he predicted a win for Clinton. I appreciated that, but did not want anything to seem so easy. It never is. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. . . etc. We spent several hours at a Afghan restaurant, talking politics. He works for the government, but was curious what a Trump presidency would look like. Me, I was worried. It didn't seem to phase him. This surprised me very much. What comes, comes. I could not wrap my mind around such a thought. When the election came and went, my daughters were very upset. My family was quietly excited. My friends were in shock. The world turned upside down.
We are now 100 days in to a presidency that defies all traditional logic. With all the lessons I shared about how government works, I am reminded why the social studies is an art, not a science. You can tell yourself that the world makes sense, that it can be quantified, but I am telling you right now, there is a human side to this world defies logic. Above everything, we strive to remain human. And, everyday we learn something knew about the human nature.
We are now 100 days in to a presidency that defies all traditional logic. With all the lessons I shared about how government works, I am reminded why the social studies is an art, not a science. You can tell yourself that the world makes sense, that it can be quantified, but I am telling you right now, there is a human side to this world defies logic. Above everything, we strive to remain human. And, everyday we learn something knew about the human nature.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Date Rape and College Campuses
On this first day (with students) of a new school year, NPR ran a piece on date rape. In a further step to curb the crises, app developers have several new tools out for smart phones. One mentioned on the program was "Circle of Six". I think this is a great idea, and I highly promote it. I am curious, though, to take it to the next level. The idea behind the app is that you preprogram six friends numbers into the phone, with a message of "I need help with a bad date", and in a bad situation, you hit one key, and the message goes out. That is great, and I don't want to deride from the potential power to help this will be. I am curious about the psychological effects of the six if they miss the text. Again, this is not to say the product should be redesigned or taken off the shelf. Simply asking questions. What if you miss the text, out on the town, unable to effectively think straight. What if you have your phone turned off? What if? I guess that is why it is six people, in the hope that one will be around. What if the attacker is in the circle of six, as most date rapes are associates/friends?
The app is being tested on a college campus for two years. That has got to be tough for the school to allow the program to come in, as it requires that the school admit that date rape exists. We all know, logically, that date rape happens at major institutions, including colleges, high schools, and the military, as well as in every day life. Saying that publicly does not mean that a school is willing to do the same. No school publishes their level of attacks. There is an incentive to get the numbers down, but you still don't want to brag. The organization in no way allows or encourages the action, but they still take all responsibility, and are expected to work to curb the actions. But to do it discreetly. That is what intrigues me about a school choosing to pilot the program. Colleges (school) are very risk averse. On the surface, every parent agrees that they want their child's school to do more to protect the students. But, to openly admit you have a problem is to put an active bug in the mind of every parent that there is a need in the first place. Mental illness is a major issue in the world, and everyone is willing to reach out to others to share phone numbers and encouragement, but ultimately, how many of us are willing to take the long journey for treatment and support that our friends require when they do admit to it? The stigma attached to these issues is so large, it is a surprise that anyone is willing to take on the task. Great work, William Woods.
Another app just out (I don't remember the name), allows a victim to catalogue the incident, then do three things: Report immediately, save the details for later (time to process, understand, cope), or to put the perpetrator on the radar, and report if another issue arises with the same person. Interesting. Power is shifting. And I am glad.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Our Poor Children. . .
As I write this, I am 38. I dated in high school. I took the car on Friday nights, and I did what I liked. I had a curfew, further reinforced but the fact that I had to work Saturday morning at 530 AM. Just the same, I spent time out. I did things that I shouldn't have. I explored. I adventured. I misled my parents. I was a kid. And the key to it all, there was only one way to get caught. My mom or dad had to catch me. They had to get in a car, and track me down. If I came home late, I could argue that I misunderstood the curfew time before I left. If I said I was going to the movies, but decided to park instead, who would know? Not anymore. When my children begin dating, they will presumably have a cell phone. With a cell phone, I can call them at any point. If I call them, I will expect a response. Not a text, not an email. I will expect my phone call will be answered. I expect to speak to whatever friend they are supposed to be with. The technology will be so effective that I will be able to pinpoint the location of the phone my child is talking to me on down to the house on the block. I can look up who lives in the house. I can check to see if that person is hosting a party (via social media outlets, because who wouldn't publicize a party). With modern technology, I can track the speed, driving habits, and location via an app. WIth social media, my children will be encouraged to share their private lives with all their friends, unwittingly tipping me off to things they may not want me to know. And truly, some of it may be things I didn't want to know, either. Life was a lot different when I was a kid. For better or worse, the world has changed.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Duck Dynasty Faux Pas
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/gop-politicians-defend-39-duck-dynasty-39-star-184932178--abc-news-politics.html
So, Phil from "Duck Dynasty" stated his personal beliefs to a national magazine. Should the magazine have censored his comments, as they were possibly hurtful and damaging to his career? Did it benefit the magazine to ask questions that led him to make comments that were seen as crude and destructive? Who is responsible for his words? In this society, a free society, with freedom of speech and freedom of the press, Phil solely is responsible for his comments. What he says in an interview to the press is his responsibility. Once it is out of his mouth, the magazine has a duty to its own profits to print what might catch attention, regardless of the consequences to Phil and his own income source. No one would disagree with that.
Phil is entitled to his opinion. If this is how he feels, no one thinks they can truly change his heart. But, as a public figure, his words have power. When he makes a comment like what he did, comparing homosexuality to bestiality and multiple partners, his words carry more weight. If he said this in his church, a bar with his friends, or in his own home (without cameras rolling) he has every right to speak his mind. Unfortunately, when his thoughts become public, he is responsible for them. Again, no one attempted to censor him. No one has tried to block the publication of his words. What he said is inflammatory because we are in a time of change, and the nation is trying to find a way forward. The past is easy to go back to, because we know where we came from.
This issue is being framed as an attack on religion and on free speech, both protected in the Constitution. The only problem with this line of attack is that the Constitution was designed to protect individuals (through incorporation) and states (originally the purpose of the Bill of Rights) from federal intrusion in these areas. As an individual I am allowed to say what I choose without the government acting against me. I cannot, however, criticize another man without the threat of him acting against me. If I criticize my boss, he has the right to punish me. As a student, freedom of speech is limited somewhat. Students cannot cuss or disparage other students. There are numerous examples of freedom of speech carried out. But, it can only be protection from a public (government entity) punishing an individual or group. The government is not stepping in to restrict the thoughts or words of either Phil or other conservatives that may find comfort in his words. The government has remained silent on this. While private organizations (A + E is a private company) have spoken out about their disagreement with his words, GQ, A+E, GLAD, and the NAACP are all private organizations, and have as much right to publicly criticize his views, both public comments and religious views, as he does to criticize others. Ultimately the buyers money will decide who is right in this. It is not the choice of a few to misuse the Constitution to their own personal benefit.
Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the controversy by comparing it to Miley Cyrus. No one has censored Miley Cyrus, he argues, but they have a religious man like Phil. Miley Cyrus does not have a long term contract with a television company. She (I assume) has a contract with a recording company. That company found her performance at the VMAs beneficial financially to themselves. There was a lot of public outcry both from the mainstream media, the left and the right about Miley Cyrus' performance. But, record sales stayed high. In the case of Phil, there was outcry from many sources for his comments. The company that holds his contract (A+E) felt they wanted to distance themselves from this controversy. They chose to suspend his contract, and they had the contractual right to do so. If Miley were still working for Disney, presumably they would do the same. Miley was just working for a company that allowed greater latitude. That is the difference. This is and never was an issue of the First Amendment, and freedoms from government intrusion. It is the freedom of companies to choose what is in their own self interest. Please don't muddy the waters.
So, Phil from "Duck Dynasty" stated his personal beliefs to a national magazine. Should the magazine have censored his comments, as they were possibly hurtful and damaging to his career? Did it benefit the magazine to ask questions that led him to make comments that were seen as crude and destructive? Who is responsible for his words? In this society, a free society, with freedom of speech and freedom of the press, Phil solely is responsible for his comments. What he says in an interview to the press is his responsibility. Once it is out of his mouth, the magazine has a duty to its own profits to print what might catch attention, regardless of the consequences to Phil and his own income source. No one would disagree with that.
Phil is entitled to his opinion. If this is how he feels, no one thinks they can truly change his heart. But, as a public figure, his words have power. When he makes a comment like what he did, comparing homosexuality to bestiality and multiple partners, his words carry more weight. If he said this in his church, a bar with his friends, or in his own home (without cameras rolling) he has every right to speak his mind. Unfortunately, when his thoughts become public, he is responsible for them. Again, no one attempted to censor him. No one has tried to block the publication of his words. What he said is inflammatory because we are in a time of change, and the nation is trying to find a way forward. The past is easy to go back to, because we know where we came from.
This issue is being framed as an attack on religion and on free speech, both protected in the Constitution. The only problem with this line of attack is that the Constitution was designed to protect individuals (through incorporation) and states (originally the purpose of the Bill of Rights) from federal intrusion in these areas. As an individual I am allowed to say what I choose without the government acting against me. I cannot, however, criticize another man without the threat of him acting against me. If I criticize my boss, he has the right to punish me. As a student, freedom of speech is limited somewhat. Students cannot cuss or disparage other students. There are numerous examples of freedom of speech carried out. But, it can only be protection from a public (government entity) punishing an individual or group. The government is not stepping in to restrict the thoughts or words of either Phil or other conservatives that may find comfort in his words. The government has remained silent on this. While private organizations (A + E is a private company) have spoken out about their disagreement with his words, GQ, A+E, GLAD, and the NAACP are all private organizations, and have as much right to publicly criticize his views, both public comments and religious views, as he does to criticize others. Ultimately the buyers money will decide who is right in this. It is not the choice of a few to misuse the Constitution to their own personal benefit.
Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the controversy by comparing it to Miley Cyrus. No one has censored Miley Cyrus, he argues, but they have a religious man like Phil. Miley Cyrus does not have a long term contract with a television company. She (I assume) has a contract with a recording company. That company found her performance at the VMAs beneficial financially to themselves. There was a lot of public outcry both from the mainstream media, the left and the right about Miley Cyrus' performance. But, record sales stayed high. In the case of Phil, there was outcry from many sources for his comments. The company that holds his contract (A+E) felt they wanted to distance themselves from this controversy. They chose to suspend his contract, and they had the contractual right to do so. If Miley were still working for Disney, presumably they would do the same. Miley was just working for a company that allowed greater latitude. That is the difference. This is and never was an issue of the First Amendment, and freedoms from government intrusion. It is the freedom of companies to choose what is in their own self interest. Please don't muddy the waters.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Like a breath of fresh air. . .
Having worked in both public and private schools, I can see their is so much more than just the basic argument of cost that is so often made. Private school tuition for a high school is approximately $8000 in the area. The prices go up, but rarely lower than that. Public schools report spending approximately $12,000 per student. So why does it cost so much more at a public school? Are private schools just that much better? Let's break down some of the variables that account for the differences. This is completely anecdotal, but I hope to show how the simplistic arguments can be deconstructed.
--- Typically, private school teachers are paid less than public school teachers. They trade uniforms, conformity, and the ability to kick out students that don't conform (a little discussed secret) out of the school. The pay tends to be a 20 to 30% difference. That is a huge tradeoff. To help offset it, often there is a discount for the children of teachers to go to the school.
--- Private schools tend to ask a lot of their teachers, giving extra assignments (extra teaching loads), coaching duties, and different assignments. The compensation will not be equal to a public school teacher, but the sense of commitment will be used to guilt. In public schools, a union restricts the work hours, work load, and assignments.
--- Public schools service everyone. EVERYONE. Documented or undocumented. All students in a district are served. Whether you have money or don't, public schools provide opportunities. Whether you have special needs or you are an over achiever, public schools serve you. Private schools are able to pick students, refuse others, and can ask any student to leave. Offenses leading to expulsion may be drugs, fighting, language, disrespect, or just non-compliance. It doesn't take a lot to be removed from a private school. Public schools don't have that luxury. They must handle every student, regardless of the home situation, the stressors, the choices families make. Bruised, angry children, from broken homes, lashing out at a system that they feel has failed them are beside students from picture perfect homes. Both deserve an education, and only public education commits fully to caring for them.
--- Special education has never been a priority for private schools. The cost is too high, and the law has not mandated them to do anything. Public schools, on the other hand, have a legal obligation. Special education teachers are often overloaded, and work diligently to care for those most vulnerable in our society. But, because of their special situation, they often act as a second teacher in a classroom, or deal with fewer students. Often, public schools bring in aides to help out students with extra needs. All of this drives up the cost of education, and is unique to the public sector. A private student with a Individualized Education Plan is by law required to be transported to a public school by the public school for anything that the private school can not offer.
--- Public schools have social workers, Student Resource Officers, and numerous people to help bridge the growing gap between the haves and the have nots in society, and the children caught in the middle. This is just good business, but again, drives up the price.
--- Technology is better in public schools, usually, and the variety of programs offered (at a loss) is much greater. Technology classes, real world skills, vocational technologies, etc. are offered at public schools, but are not at private schools. Most private schools call themselves college prep, and have no courses in vocational technologies. The cost is too high. But, not all of our students are college bound. Some have skills and interests that aren't college specific.
Enough of a rant. Understand that my descriptions were large, and wide. They won't fit every situation, but they are for the most part accurate. Both school systems have a purpose. But the argument is not as simple as private does it better. They do a lot of fundraising, a lot of cherry picking, and a lot of demanding. Teaching has never been about the money for teachers. Don't reduce education down to a simple argument over money. It is so much more complex.
--- Typically, private school teachers are paid less than public school teachers. They trade uniforms, conformity, and the ability to kick out students that don't conform (a little discussed secret) out of the school. The pay tends to be a 20 to 30% difference. That is a huge tradeoff. To help offset it, often there is a discount for the children of teachers to go to the school.
--- Private schools tend to ask a lot of their teachers, giving extra assignments (extra teaching loads), coaching duties, and different assignments. The compensation will not be equal to a public school teacher, but the sense of commitment will be used to guilt. In public schools, a union restricts the work hours, work load, and assignments.
--- Public schools service everyone. EVERYONE. Documented or undocumented. All students in a district are served. Whether you have money or don't, public schools provide opportunities. Whether you have special needs or you are an over achiever, public schools serve you. Private schools are able to pick students, refuse others, and can ask any student to leave. Offenses leading to expulsion may be drugs, fighting, language, disrespect, or just non-compliance. It doesn't take a lot to be removed from a private school. Public schools don't have that luxury. They must handle every student, regardless of the home situation, the stressors, the choices families make. Bruised, angry children, from broken homes, lashing out at a system that they feel has failed them are beside students from picture perfect homes. Both deserve an education, and only public education commits fully to caring for them.
--- Special education has never been a priority for private schools. The cost is too high, and the law has not mandated them to do anything. Public schools, on the other hand, have a legal obligation. Special education teachers are often overloaded, and work diligently to care for those most vulnerable in our society. But, because of their special situation, they often act as a second teacher in a classroom, or deal with fewer students. Often, public schools bring in aides to help out students with extra needs. All of this drives up the cost of education, and is unique to the public sector. A private student with a Individualized Education Plan is by law required to be transported to a public school by the public school for anything that the private school can not offer.
--- Public schools have social workers, Student Resource Officers, and numerous people to help bridge the growing gap between the haves and the have nots in society, and the children caught in the middle. This is just good business, but again, drives up the price.
--- Technology is better in public schools, usually, and the variety of programs offered (at a loss) is much greater. Technology classes, real world skills, vocational technologies, etc. are offered at public schools, but are not at private schools. Most private schools call themselves college prep, and have no courses in vocational technologies. The cost is too high. But, not all of our students are college bound. Some have skills and interests that aren't college specific.
Enough of a rant. Understand that my descriptions were large, and wide. They won't fit every situation, but they are for the most part accurate. Both school systems have a purpose. But the argument is not as simple as private does it better. They do a lot of fundraising, a lot of cherry picking, and a lot of demanding. Teaching has never been about the money for teachers. Don't reduce education down to a simple argument over money. It is so much more complex.
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