RE: schools

["John Danahy" <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>]

Okay, I'll jump first, based on the proposition of "Know thy enemy"

Mr. Wilson, your suggestion that public schools be replaced with a series of
private schools, secular or not, would push this society over the brink of
class structure and eventually into class warfare.  We are perilously close
to the edge already, and taxpayer funded public education is one strong
force of resistance.  We need to recognize that the need here is to fix, not
replace.  By the way, public education also creates the need for private
education.

The whole language/phonics debate is still going on??  Sure, phonics can be
very successful for some students, and if you place a group of such students
together, you will get a high rate of success.  Same with whole language.
But quality research has shown the best approach is to meet the given need
of the individual student. Whole language does not create specially funded
programs.  The courts created them.  Public education failed to meet the
educational needs of all its students, thus laws were written that created a
special class of students that public education was forced to provide
specifically for.  For the small group of students this was certainly a good
thing.  Unfortunately, for those students who do not meet the criteria for
such programs, it is still a toss up as to whether or not their individual
needs are met.

Underestimating the abilities of students? Right on target!  There is no
more limiting label routinely used than "nth grader".  More importantly,
does society neglect the training of teachers?  Maybe it is time we trained
our educators the same way we train our doctors or our engineers!

Self esteem also comes from doing a job well.  Self respect and self esteem
should reflect a measure of effort.  Lack of effort followed by reward only
breeds contempt for a job well done.  This is why schools never use this
approach for varsity sports!

A bureaucratized neglect of the bottom line also results from state law
inhibiting the actions of local elected officials, and a voting populace
that responds to threats.  The unwillingness of public education, both
locally and nationally, to look at a problem squarely in the face and step
up to the plate and solve the problem is one endemic reason for the current
educational failures.

Neglect of discipline is a red herring.  Fixing the self esteem/self respect
issue will suffice.

Monopolistic arrogance Vs monotheistic arrogance?  Now there's a debate for
you!  For public education, it is simply recognition that change is needed
now.  If you meet student needs they will come.

No, Mr. Wilson, a good education recognizes that all answers only lead to
more questions!  If I came from goo, then where did the goo come from?  If
the universe started with a big bang, then who lit the fuse?

John Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com