could Moral Monday go viral, or is it stuck in N Carolina?

[djAdvocate]

www.newsweek.com/n-carolina-progressive-group-kicks-2014-massive-march-228585

this movement is getting very big.  any chance that it could go national?

[Angel!]

Wow

Since taking over a majority in the legislature in 2010, and the governor’s mansion in 2012, Republicans eliminated Medicaid coverage for 500,000, enacted a voting law that requires voter ID and cuts early voting, repealed an earned-income tax credit for 900,000, shifted $90 million away from public schools to voucher schools, amended the state constitution to ban gay marriage, and passed a measure requiring women to "listen to the heartbeat of the unborn child" before an abortion.

I guess there is a tipping point at which you have gone too far & pissed off too many people.  I like it, but don't see such a movement coming to my state. CO is becoming more liberal every year.  Not much to protest against. 

[Tennesseer]

I like it.

[The Captain]

This bothers me:

"...shifted $90 million away from public schools to voucher schools"

If a voucher school can educate better than the public school for the same amount of taxpayer money - what is so wrong or evil about that?  Parents are pushing to get more vouchers/choices in my state but the teacher's unions are honestly afraid of the competition.

I'm not sure how giving poor parents the same school choices, that those who can afford private tuition have, is evil or immoral?

[djAdvocate]

Feb 10, 2014 18:58:17 GMT -5 The Captain said:

This bothers me:

"...shifted $90 million away from public schools to voucher schools"

If a voucher school can educate better than the public school for the same amount of taxpayer money - what is so wrong or evil about that?  Parents are pushing to get more vouchers/choices in my state but the teacher's unions are honestly afraid of the competition.

I'm not sure how giving poor parents the same school choices, that those who can afford private tuition have, is evil or immoral?

private schools are far more costly than public schools, so the "voucher" doesn't do a poor family any good.  furthermore, it accelerates the decline of marginal schools- meaning that the quality continues to decline.

however, it is gravy for the rich.    they are going to private schools anyway, and now they get their tax money back.

this idea is great, if you hate public education, like Paul.  it is terrible, if you like public education.

[The Captain]

djAdvocate - don't know if this situation is set up anywhere but what if a voucher school was required to accept the voucher as payment of tuition in full?

As far as private schools being far more costly, not always the case.  FWIW - my DD's grade-middle school spends about 40% per pupil in educational costs (yes there is a lot of parental involvement/volunteering involved).  They would have to more than double their tuition to meet state spending levels per pupil.  The local private HS would have to charge 50% more than they currently do to meet state spending at the HS level.  

How horrible it sounds that parents who care about their kids would get choices and that would accelerate the decline of marginal schools.  What could cause that to happen?  Or it is better to sacrifice a few kids who give a damn to pull up the rest who are indifferent or really don't care?

If you lived in a marginal area would or did you send your kids to public school?  This topic is personal to me because due to school re-districting I am now in a very poor performing district.  DH and I can afford private tuition for DD and we do.  Many parents do not have the same options/choices we do and I think it's a shame for those who actually give a damn about their kids but can't afford to move.

[rockon]

Maybe they will start the Moral Monday Party and take over congress or maybe they will all move to CO or CA. Either way it's their right to protest in any way they see fit or feel necessary. It seems every time one party gets too much control anywhere they just can't help going to far. Remember Washington 2009-2010?

[rockon]

Our public education by almost all accounts is a very inefficient and ineffective system that needs serious changing if there is any real hope of it surviving into the next century. So anyone who likes it should support major reforms to it or it will continue to become less relevant in our society.

[EVT1]

Wow-look at that crowd-and compare it to a tea party rally.  It is like the past vs. the future.  Not to many old white guys in there- probably wouldn't set foot near those folks without being armed.

[Angel!]

Around here you can go to any school. I really think it should be that way everywhere. You wouldn't need vouchers for private schools because you can send your kid for free to the public/charter school of your choice.

DS goes to one of the top school in our city, but we don't live in that district. It does create a problem where marginal schools suffer, but I don't know what you do about that.

I would also add that it isn't just cost that keeps poor people out of private school. It is also the interest in their child's education and having the time/money to get their kid to and from school every day.

[EVT1]

Think DJ is correct- the real intent of school vouchers is to pay out to people that can afford better schools- kind of a rich parent rebate for sending your kid to a 30K/year grade school.  They don't need it, but it galls the shit out of them that their tax money goes to the 'little people' for education. 

[djAdvocate]

Feb 10, 2014 19:56:16 GMT -5 The Captain said:

djAdvocate - don't know if this situation is set up anywhere but what if a voucher school was required to accept the voucher as payment of tuition in full?

that would be brilliant, but it will never happen.

[djAdvocate]

Feb 10, 2014 20:10:26 GMT -5 rockon said:

Our public education by almost all accounts is a very inefficient and ineffective system that needs serious changing if there is any real hope of it surviving into the next century. So anyone who likes it should support major reforms to it or it will continue to become less relevant in our society.

i support the Finland model.  when we start talking seriously about that, then i will know that the conversation is not just two sides sitting around blowing smoke out of their backsides.

[Opti]

Feb 11, 2014 0:08:45 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

Feb 10, 2014 19:56:16 GMT -5 The Captain said:

djAdvocate - don't know if this situation is set up anywhere but what if a voucher school was required to accept the voucher as payment of tuition in full?

that would be brilliant, but it will never happen.

The Captain, I like that idea. It would truly subsidize those exceptional
charter schools and not support the majority of charter schools/and or they
would learn to live with a mix of paid in full via a government and private.
Much like certain health facilities take both private insurance and Medicare.

I hope DJ is wrong. I think it *can* happen. Whether it will? IDK.
I see it most likely to happen in a liberal state or a red state where
someone thinks they'll get the bill passed if they limit government
funding of private schools to paid in full, less than equal to public
school costs.