Re: sharing wealth

[Robert Probasco <rcp@uidaho.edu>]

On Wed, 5 May 1999, bill london wrote:
> Our discussions of schools (cuts in Moscow, violence seemingly everywhere) 
> also are discussions of resources.  Counselors, new classes in anger 
> management, fewer students per teacher, increasing teacher salaries, 
> etc.--many of the suggestions about "fixing" school problems cost money.
> 
> And that discussion is stymied by the wave of cut-taxes mentality that has 
> dominated our government lately.
	[snip]

Since our governments have demonstrated a regrettable ability to
exacerbate problems by throwing money at a problem, I submit we should
not continue to subsidize ineffectiveness by raising taxes.

The ability to reduce prison spending in probably more closely tied to
educational philosophy than to educational spending.  Many persons would
accept the limited monetary rewards of teaching if they did not have to
tolerate the Byzantine rules and customs of the modern public school.

Until the public schools halt social promotion and instill real
discipline and solid requirements (especially in the elementary grades), I
choose not to throw good money after bad.

It has been a few years since Willard Daggett excited the local
educational community with his presentations, but I have yet to see any
results of his visit.  Whenever I inquire, I hear a burst of enthusiasm
followed by a lament over the difficulties.  What's the latest?

   Robert Probasco    rcp@uidaho.edu