Comments on: Dear candidates,

By: Doug McCaughan

Doug McCaughan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:28:54 +0000

Apparently my link isn't working anymore. Try vote McCaughan here.

By: Doug McCaughan

Doug McCaughan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:26:46 +0000

Alright Morgan! Forget Obama! Forget McCain! Vote McCaughan!

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:48:35 +0000

Well I know very little about vouchers and stuff but it does anger me that the mother of a 6 ?month old with down syndrome is claiming they really know much at all about kids with disabilities and special needs. It seems she’s just barely begun her journey in that area.

I think you are 20x more qualified than Palin.

By: Missybw

Missybw — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:56:56 +0000

Guilty of being urbanite with private school step-kid, as well as special needs step-kid who was forced into public school because of his needs (Aspergers). That said, I do not begrudge the public schools any money they need in order to improve, and will pay whatever taxes are required in order to improve education for everybody. Because, remember, ignorance and poorly educated comes with a tax too. And we’re the ones who pay that on the back end. However, the system here is broken. I don’t know what it will take to fix it, but I do not agree that vouchers are an answer. Vouchers only work for middle to upper income households. For low income households they are more pie in the sky. Maybe allowing Teachers to actually teach instead of programming kids for yearly tests? There’s an idea… that seems to be out of date but still relevant.

By: Goldie

Goldie — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:18:03 +0000

I actually do know a plumber, he’s a family friend. His name however is Ilya so I guess he doesn’t fit the mold.
Count me too, my son who has Aspergers (and an IQ in a gifted range) was waitlisted from a private school for two reasons, 1) he was “in his own world” during class, and 2) he spent a total of 8 hours visiting the school over two different days two months apart, and did not make any friends during that time. You know what? Their loss. It was five years ago, he’s in 10th grade now, doing great, and his *public* school is proud of him. I saved a ton of money, and they saved themselves the trouble of educating an Aspie. I’m just saying this to agree with Cathy that yes, these things happen. In their defense, though, he was not yet diagnosed at the time. He was just a quirky kid with hardly any social skills who did well on their entrance tests.
Paula, I hear you, we house-shopped by the school zone too.

By: paula

paula — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:03:42 +0000

oooh no I don’t have a problem with people who send their children to private schools,if you can afford it that is great, I can not. I am a product of private schools(and a public one till 4th grade),my parents switched to Catholic school because at the time they were better than the public schools in my hometown. For my folks it was the quality of education. It was the same for me & my husband when we went house hunting, we literally shopped according to school zone. I think we can agree all schools in the area are not created equal? It would be nice if they were, every child deserves a chance. And I think if money could be found for vouchers why not improve the schools already open?
We’ve got an 8 year old and have been looking towards his future from birth as well, if you wait till the teen years it’s a little late

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:53:59 +0000

Sorry, meant to clarify that yes, teachers should be paid more and the system can use more money for that. I do understand that is one way more money can help alleviate problems. But they have to be respected by their students, the parents and administration for their skills and dedication to the kids. They’re often unappreciated and stress is high to do a noble job for little pay. But I think the need for more pay is lessened when the teachers feel better about the effect they’re having on the kids and that their work is appreciated.

In other words, raise the cultural level of their work environments and huge raises will be less of an issue. We won’t be merely compensating them for their troubles.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:50:24 +0000

Do you mean you don’t understand why parents who send their kids to private school wouldn’t rather put that money into the school system? Well, for starters it’s over and above what we’re taxed and why put money into a system that’s broken for reasons that don’t really have anything to do the amount of money it has?

If I have an up-coming kindergartner and I’ve set aside x dollars to send to private school, then I will see an immediate benefit to that child after a year. And after 2 years when first grade is over. And so on. If I just add my money to a growing pool of dollars distributed to the public schools to supplement what I’m already taxed for, how would that benefit my kindergartner in public school today? How would it benefit him when he’s a public school first grader next year? Do we truly believe extra money will solve all those problems immediately?

If I have a 5-yr-old, I have a responsibility to see to my child’s future right now, not starting 5-10 years from now.

(as an aside, I feel the same way about being asked to “contribute” to the school over and above the tuition I pay. If they can’t make do with the money they get from me, then they need to do better with managing what they have and don’t ask me for more as a “contribution”. This applies to general funds, not special projects like upgrading a playground or purchasing new computers)

If you want to change the public school system, don’t throw money at it – change the culture. Run for school board or heavily advise your local board member. Work to remove all political influence from curriculum decisions (both conservative and liberal), get involved in the working of the school, make friends with the teachers, meet the principals, volunteer to lead a club. Help find new resources the schools can use to supplement its materials. The solution is not more money, it’s time and attention and caring.

Cathy does all that, and I applaud her for it. She cares passionately about her kids and their education and I’m proud when I see her raising her voice for what’s right.

By: paula

paula — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:17:14 +0000

never quite understood why the people screaming for vouchers wouldn’t want to put that money to improving the schools we already have.

By: Barry

Barry — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:55:19 +0000

Then don’t make blanket statements about all private schools and all handicapped children. It creates the wrong message, based on your experience with private school admissions, and those of some people you know.