I just was reading somewhere, that younger kids K-6 seemed to better adjusted going into adulthood if they weren't in traditional classroom settings. This study was worldwide and even included children who were raised by a parent with less than low average intelligence. The key to the study was constant contact with a primary parent in those years. I am trying to find it now for something else..maybe it was in here? I worked while my kids were in elementary school, but I was fortunate enough to be an entrepreneur. I spent lots of time in that school. So did lots of parents. We were sort of lucky. But you had to be vigilant! I'll never forget a PTO committee meeting about school grading. Some parents wanted to move to number grading and no red pens used in correcting homework. Luckily the principal understood what it takes to build self esteem and character. but by the time my kids were on their way out, they picked a new principal and the awards and number grades were flying around everywhere. sigh
"Public Education was not a conspiracy." I'll tell that to my parents (high school and 5th/6th grade teachers) who were disgusted with curriculum and policy changes in the schools. For them, it was in the last ten years of their teaching. They retired sad about the Dept of Education and the NEA.

Thanks. The enemy is well organized, funded, and ruthless in eliminating opposition. I keep wondering how to convince enough people to take their children out of school even for a year to see how they cope with empty classrooms.

Have you been hassled by the EPA?

We don't have public minds! We have Individual Minds. Our MINDS are not a public utility no matter what Dewey says.

Point for:
"Public education was not a secret conspiracy..."
"The future may well bring some other modes of education, of course."

I did like LS's "private schooling online courses" idea. Not sure how that would work for younger kids. I don't know how important it is for kids to interact with their peers - that could be problematic.

I think it starts with having the problem on more peoples' radars. I also think once people agree these policies are destructive, they refuse to vote for candidates who support them. Building these huge new schools with bond issues is one way to start. sure, at first school systems will blackmail communities, but school boards change and kids learn whether in a bright shiny building or a bunch of houses in a neighborhood. School boards, representatives senators, all of those voting deals mean understanding politics at least enough so to make informed voting decisions. We can all screw up there-wolves in sheeps' clothing... Just because a certain district is highly ranked (what standard? what curriculum?) doesn't mean it isn't churning out socialist leaning young adults. This post was about schools.For any of us, we have to divide and conquer with the ideas. You have been doing that in here handsomely. we all have blind spots and inconsistencies we should work through

Thank you for this comment.

nope. trying to eat out the heart of the beast. There is no way any candidate for PResident in the next 20 years will abolish DoE. But vouchers? you can get people on both sides to agree to that. The more cards you hold in your hands, the better off you are. IN plain sight, charters are doing great things. My nieces and nephews attend this charter, along with Michelle Malkin's children-
http://www.cmca12.com/
The main adviser to the HS and the economics teacher is a former Reagan economic adviser. He also runs the pikes Peak Economics club:
https://pikespeakeconomicsclub.com/CMS/P...
in plain sight j, in plain sight

no. it starts a newer thread further down or sometimes further up. if you click on it it will throw you back to what you are replying to

Hell of an impressive thread you started here, BTW. My town is voting on a bond for a new school tomorrow. 65Mil, with no mention of what they are going to do with the old building. The campaign FOR the school is very organized and well funded. There is no opposition. I guess I will have to look forward to paying for that. lol

I took a similar path enlisting in the air force. While there I discover that my natural way of thinking was classically liberal. I took college classes I found interesting and went to a tech school after I got out. I started a brewery about 14 years ago and have been growing that ever since.

I'll get on board with a 5 year plan. Can we resell some of the infrastructure (property, buildings, busses, etc.) to private companies and pay off some debt?

Public water, sewer, garbage collection and recycling could be privatized much more quickly if we resold the infrastructure.

Aren't we talking about the tax problem?

What's with the 'in reply to this thred' legend? Does the permalink button reattach the post to its proper place?

"Disagreement makes the conversation more interesting." - yes

Being blasted with false accusations right out of the gate is definitely insulting. That's not to say I don't need it or that it's not good for me. I have little to no experience in public debate.

Admitting to "backpedaling and rationalization" stings, but it's not nearly as damaging as denial and/or evasion.

I hadn't really visualized an industrialized community with no public schools, no public water, no public sewer, no public garbage disposal, no public roads, no public traffic signs, no public stoplights, no public snow removal, no public parks, libraries, museums, fire departments etc. In essence, however, taxpayer funding for all of these things needs to go. How fast does it have to happen? How long will chaos reign before capitalism works its magic and we regain the benefits of industrialization?

I did the same thing in HS, I couldn't wait to get out. Life and the Army Reserves taught me that I needed more education. So when I went to college, in my mid-twenties, it was as a mature adult and I was able to ward off the evils of socialism.

Thanks...I like to hear kids singing. :) It's a work place plus.

Did I say I wanted to shut down the whole system cold turkey? No. However what is happening right now is moving things further and further into global socialist schools. Schools used to be run my neighborhoods/churches/parents....then run by the States, now they're run by the Fed...who coerce with funding (we could get into the free lunch program and funding for this by the fed is used as a manipulating money tool, but I won't go there.) Now, not only is the fed running the socialist school show, the UN has gotten in also with common core, which is being adopted by almost all States (48 I think), again via the promise of additional or removal of funds from the Fed. Do you really want the U effing N running your beloved public schools with YOUR money?? If the choice was to pull the plug on public schools and have parents teach their own kids or find a private school tomorrow, OR keep them as they are now for forever...I'd pull the plug. I say let's have a 5 year plan... give private schools time to establish, give parents time to research (choke), and ween the fed OFF and STOP taxing us to death. Want to talk about the tax problem now?

yea, it might be for the second reason...que sera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBrsYtSiu...

Thanks

Actually, I live in Texas but have friends who live in Canon City, whom I got to visit summer a year ago. Took a trip on my 1983 Honda GL 650 Silverwing Interstate. What a blast.

oh. you're probably going to complain about Hank's choice. He was trying to lay low...

ah, my husband did that too

okay then

Rocky isn't talking to me...because I spoke ill of Catholics...and you just crossed that line too (that's TOO.)

j, I call that "permalinked." it gets narrower and narrower and then it will move somewhere else. I hate it! well, relatively speaking.
Consider encouraging them to volunteer some time at the schools (if they can). Meet like minded people with common goals. But also, go to an economic club meeting (babies allowed) held in the high school.