Pink Slips

detaildoc · 03-12-09, 05:16

Hey guys, not sure how many of you in California are aware of this, but today and tomorrow Friday, thousands of teachers in California will be receiving pink slips. I'm a former elementary school teacher myself and my wife is also a teacher. We also have many friends who are teachers. Tomorrow, people will be wearing pink to show support for teachers and for our kids' education. I can't believe that our government is spending billions of dollars to bail out wealthy bankers, yet they are cutting education and letting go of teachers. I am sure this will be happening in other states as well. If you are not threatened by wearing a little pink, please do so tomorrow and show your support for teachers and to support our kids and their education. Remember, IF YOU CAN READ THIS FORUM, THANK A TEACHER.

jdoria · 03-12-09, 05:26

And if you are reading it in English, thank a Veteran.

Bunky · 03-13-09, 01:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdoria

And if you are reading it in English, thank a Veteran.

This is the interesting parts. The states should be responsible for education yet they always want the federal handout. All these handouts out from Washington are covering items that states are not willing to invest in. Yeah, there is waste but the majority the earmarks actually do some good like paying for local fire, police, etc. equipment. If you have anything from the government, thank a democrat....8-)

jcandiman · 03-13-09, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunky

This is the interesting parts. The states should be responsible for education yet they always want the federal handout. All these handouts out from Washington are covering items that states are not willing to invest in. Yeah, there is waste but the majority the earmarks actually do some good like paying for local fire, police, etc. equipment. If you have anything from the government, thank a democrat....8-)

and, if you write sentences like the sentence you wrote you probably flunked English.

Bunky · 03-13-09, 02:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcandiman

and, if you write sentences like the sentence you wrote you probably flunked English.

Sorry. I was using Babel Fish to translate perfect English to something less perfect. I wanted to be sure I could communicate with the Rush fans. 8-)

Showroom Shine · 03-13-09, 06:22

If you are reading period ,Thank God for your sight! Thanks to all the Service Men and Woman too!

Zatara · 03-13-09, 06:27

My wife is a highschool teacher in florida. At the beginning of the year the school let go of all the teachers that didn't have a permenant contract there. We are getting worried about next year. I am going to end up switching from the National Gaurd to active duty and my wife will teach at the DOD schools until we retire or decide the economy is going to get better. That won't happen until people pull thier head out of thier butts (politicaly), and start doing whats best for this contry. Instead what is best for thier respective parties (both dem. and rep.) and thier wallets.

Scottwax · 03-14-09, 07:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcandiman

and, if you write sentences like the sentence you wrote you probably flunked English.

IRONY....

Heatgain · 03-14-09, 08:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcandiman

and, if you write sentences like the sentence you wrote you probably flunked English.

Personal attacks are so unnecessary and such a waste of everyone's time.

XRL · 03-14-09, 12:44

I'm going to try to take the high road and avoid all the political nonsense that will likely eventually flood this thread and leave nobody happy.

I feel bad for the teachers losing their jobs, I really do. But personally, I feel like California (and many other states, my own included) have gotten themselves into this mess on their own. Any reasonable person could have seen that our construction and housing markets were going to burst, and the states should have been responsible about their spending to counter this pre-emptively. Many states did this and so are only faced with minor cuts in relation to the states who did not plan for tomorrow.

I do think that our education systems are bloated. IMO, public education should entail allowing people to go to school for free. That does NOT include books, etc. I think we should model our lower educational systems after our higher education system. If you can't afford books, housing, etc. you can get either a loan or financial aid of some sort, there is ALWAYS a way. It might not be the easiest or best way, but there is a way. It weeds out people who don't REALLY want to succeed. I think that in lower through high school, you should be required to buy your own books, not the school system. Buses should be set up like public transit buses, if you don't want your child to walk that far then you have several options, walk with them, drop them off, etc. If your child is special needs and cannot be taught adequately in a normal classroom, then you will have to seek n alternate method of education.

Many students are educated in either Private Institutions or Home-Schooled, if you feel your children aren't getting an adequate education at public school, then there are two very good options for you.

If all those cuts were made, public schools could easily keep teachers on. IMO, the system is only responsible for providing teachers and material to cover. Some teachers prefer to teach out of lectures, some do hands-on, some use hand-outs and never use the book. I've had classes where the book was completely unnecessary (and in some cases actually made the course harder).

The point I'm getting at is we need to trim the fat from our systems, not just make cuts. The average middle class family that is concerned about their children's education can afford to buy their school books. They may not be able to spend money on frivolities if they're at the low end of the spectrum, but such is life. Lower income families could apply for financial aid if they needed it as they genuinely could not afford to pay for them.

It's not just in the school system either. Imagine the cost that "Octo-Mom" is going to offload on the taxpayer. She is unemployed and living off her mom, who could barely make ends meet before. Those children are now the financial responsibility of the taxpayer, as opposed to the irresponsibility of many parties involved. Personally, I feel that the doctor who performed the operation should have to pay for them as if they were his own. Do they not require a credit check to have embryos implanted into you? There's issues with the jail systems too. Just because you're mentally unfit for trial does not mean you should be let off for whatever crimes you commit, and putting someone in a mental hospital for the rest of their life is NOT an answer. They should be subject to the same rules as everybody else.

Life sentances should take a backseat in cases where there is overwhelming evidence. Like say DUI related deaths, or if you are apprehended at the scene of a murder, there is huge DNA evidence, etc. The most blatant of cases should be capped to a certain number of appeals after having been sentenced, so that the cost of an execution can be brought down. The firing squad is a much better way to execute as well, and the majority of these criminals do not deserve anything more "humane" like the electric chair, etc.

American needs to trim the fat off it's programs, not just make cuts to the people who are just there to do their jobs. We needs to make cuts all over, whether it's healthcare for convicts, or spending accounts for politicians, we should be trimming the fat, not adding more. Only then can we start to re-establish a healthy system.

wannafbody · 03-14-09, 12:57

Get the federal government out of education and allow state and local government to deal with the issues. States rights need to be strengthened.

JuneBug · 03-14-09, 02:19

Wannafbody is 100% right. I might add that get rid of teachers unions too - after all the unions have done so much to send the big 3 to the crapper, and this is far more important than just a car to drive. Ya'll see where Obama stepped in and let the kids in his daughters school that would have had to go back to that sh!t hole public school stay - he wouldn't have to if school vouchers were the norm. It's time to take back our schools and tells the Feds to butt out. Sad to say that George W, really screwed up with the "no child left behind" good idea, lousy way to get results. Like everything else, products and services are best if the guv-ment gets the hell out.

It's too bad that untill 2010, the whole wonderful big government is great crap will be the norm, not sure they'll be anything left to salvage by then.

To all the liberals with their panties in a wad - I challange you to name one country where socialism worked, where productivity increased and where people have more freedoms. Got one? ok - then leave!