My family is made up of many teachers and preachers. These are two professions in the intellectual world that are open to families who come from low income backgrounds. We are a literate people, and exchange many messages about many topics. One constantly recurring topic, unfortunately, are attacks against teachers, and the education system in general, in the U.S.  Below, some recent epistles.

Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Joel
To: Manfred, GK, Walter, Thad, Don & Deb

Check out this Reuters story. An excerpt:  
"I think we've pushed this to the limit," Durbin told the "Fox News Sunday" television program as Congress and the White House prepared for another week of showdowns that threaten a government shutdown.

"To go any further is to push morekids out of school," Durbin said. "It stops the investment of infrastructure, which kills good-paying jobs right here in the United States."

NOTE: Emphasis on the "more" totally mine. Notice that it's FINE to push SOME kids out of school. But pushing MORE kids out of school? Totally unacceptable!

Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Manfred
To: Joel, GK, Thad, Walter, Don & Deb

With every new cut to education in every new budget proposed, be it on a federal, state, or local level, I think to myself, "I thought I lived in a country that valued the education/school/teaching systems.  How is it that everyone I have ever spoken to about this would do the opposite and add money to this section of that given budget and yet that budget cuts it?" 
 
Joel recently passed along polling results that showed the significant disparity between what 'the people' want for their money and what monies are, in actuality, allotted.  So my question, extended to all of you well informed folks, is if you know of a land where education is valued and funded sufficiently?  Where both the public at large and the purse strings above are in sync in this respect?

Manfred
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Joel
To: Manfred, GK, Thad, Walter, Don & Deb

For the interested, here's the info on that poll. An excerpt:
The most dramatic differences were for job training and higher education. The public increased job training a whopping 130%, while the House cut it by a stark 47%. The administration nicked it 3%. For higher education, the House cut it 26%, the administration increased it 9% and the public increased it 92%. 

Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: GK
To: Manfred, Joel, Thad, Walter, Don & Deb
 
To answer Manfred's question, Finland.  At least I think so.  As a matter of fact I am about to embark on a little research project about the school system in Finland.  (I have decided to write my own research paper along side my seniors.)  I will let you know what I find out.  From what I know already, every teacher in Finland has a Master's degree, which the government pays for; and the teachers are 100% unionized.  In fact, teaching is actually a well respected profession.  Also, schools that are struggling or which contain higher numbers of struggling students actually are allotted MORE funds!  Think of it!  Here in the US if your test scores are low we take AWAY your funding, because that will help you learn better.
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Joel
To: Manfred, GK, Thad, Walter, Don & Deb
 
Yes. It's kind of like when you have TONS of money in the bank, the bank gives you MORE money! It's called "interest."
 
And when you have NO money – when your bank account is in the NEGATIVE – they charge you even MORE money! It's called an "overdraft fee."
 
So again: If you have money: here's some more money! And if you don't have money: give us all your money!
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Thad
To: Manfred, GK, Joel, Walter, Don & Deb
 
Well, I shall beat this dead horse once again.  Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin, union buster, and teacher hater, never finished college.  Bill Gates, billionaire, education expert, and all 'round smartest man in the world, never finished college.  We are not really a nation that currently values education.  With the ascendency of the "tea party" we value bootstraps over education.  It doesn't really matter how you got elected or rich.  Education in itself is not important.  What is important is that you have a platform from which to pontificate.  The good people are the ones who have power or wealth no matter how it was obtained.  The bad people are the ones who seemingly rob the rich and powerful in some small way of their riches or power, e.g. unions, teachers, professors, and assorted educational elites.  But remember – whether it is Chris Christie, Bill Gates, Scott Walker, Paul LePage, etc., etc. they are eliminating teachers, increasing class sizes, cutting medical benefits and whatever else all "for the children".  They are doing it for "the children" and "the voters and taxpayers" who handed them the mandate.  
 
I also thank Joel for clarifying why we bailed out GM, GS, Citibank, etc., etc., (they have money) but have to cut teachers (they have no money) benefits and strip them of those dirty little laws that allow them to have a say in working conditions and how they teach.  God forbid that we ask teachers how to educate "the children".  Leave those decisions to administrators who haven't seen a classroom in decades and never had "tenure" because they never taught more than two years; leave that up to politicians and school board members who never entered a classroom as an adult; leave that up to politicians who care only about getting re-elected or padding their resume and salary after politics.
 
It is an irony that the new hot campaign promise (that we need to insure that every child goes to college) is being used by people who know nothing about education and really don't value education.  It is just another hollow campaign plank.
 
That's it for now – brain is tired and stressed.
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: GK
To: Manfred, Thad, Joel, Walter, Don & Deb
 
By the way, to get back to that Reuters article Joel sent which started off this whole string, I had a conversation with a student a few months ago about the US budget.  (He, and his parents, are let's say right leaning.)  We concluded that it would be interesting if people could, when they paid their taxes, tell the government what they wanted their tax money spent on, and what they did not want it spent on.  (I printed Joel's article for that student.)  In other words, what would this country look like if it was democratic about its government's money?  What if the people got to make real decisions about their own money, as Republicans are always telling us we should be able to do?  I am not surprised that the survey revealed that the people would cut military spending, and raise education and job training spending.  People want good schools, the possibility of employment, all that "hope" that Obama promised.  We're not asking for much!
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Joel
To: Manfred, Thad, GK, Walter, Don & Deb
 
Anyone see that Providence "fired" all its teachers?
 
Take that, teachers! 
 
Tue, Mar 8, 2011
From: Walter
To: Manfred, Thad, GK, Joel, Don & Deb
 
Even more awful then letting the city teachers go, Providence College fired their basketball coach!!!  No tenure for him. Three years and he's out.

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