I don't think it is any secret that our public education system is terrible, but I haven't heard any of the candidates talk seriously about fixing our broken system. Spending isn't the problem, we spend the most money per student, which means there is something wrong with the system where the money goes.



What do you think can help fix our system, or do you not think it needs to be fixed at all?

Completely eliminate the public school system in favor of privatization and/or home schooling, drastically reduce income taxes and allow parents the opportunity to choose the schools their children go to.

If a local community chooses to provide public schooling, let them figure out the funding and criteria for determining success.


Public Schools Suck!

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Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. -Barack Obama

Amen BillyBob. Make public education optional, allow our youth to work if they want. They will learn by working more than in these terrible public schools that are in fact more like prisons than schools. Those that truly want an education will be better able to get it when those who do not are not interfering.

A fantastic book about public education: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/toc1.htm

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Qur'an:8:39 Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.
Qur'an:8:67 It is not fitting for any prophet to have prisoners until he has made a great slaughter in the land.
Qur'an 8:12 I will terrorize the unbelievers...Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes.
Qur'an 9:5 Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, torture them, and lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.

That, and remove the feds from public education. The states and local communities should be involved with education, not Washington DC.

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For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security.
Thomas Jefferson

I'm not sure how things are in the US but I've heard of a "voucher" system being aired as a possible solution. My understanding is that such a system would let parents choose whichever school they wanted for their kids, public or private. I must admit that sounds like a great way to get some competition into the school system and hence a good idea.

Views?

It's a great idea that the libs hate because it takes money and control out of their hands.


The Conservatives hate it because there are [usually] stipulations attached which still allow the federal [liberal/commie/socialist/fascist] government authority.

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Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. -Barack Obama

If both parties hate it, it must be a good idea!

Seriously, could you expand a bit on the arguments the sole two viable parties in the US make against it? Thanks!

Libs hate it because money and control of education is taken away from them.

Conservatives love it as long as the government has absolutely no control over education [something they are not likely to give up].

Instead of vouchers, just cut taxes extensively and eliminate the federally governed public school system. Let the market sort it out, education will improve dramatically and the cost will be lowered as dramatically.

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Race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. -Barack Obama

Vouchers are a good idea because it allow people to decide their own schooling and the states can control their own schools, but the federal government needs to oversee the funding for those schools for the system to work for everyone.

If there is no federal funding for schooling than it will degrade into a free market system for education, and education is one of the few buissineses that doesn't work for everyone if the free market won't let it work. If would just allow inner city schools to get worse and worse while also penalizing the children of poor families by not allowing the smarter poor children to get a good education.

If you think that non-federal schools could be cheap enough for everyone to go to the best school that they are qualified for, than I would agree with you.

I would support a federal voucher system that would pay for all of the costs of a school while also outlawing the price to go above the money that the vouchers supply. If some schools in a certain area do escpecially well than they can recieve more money to allow for a few more elite free schools for better students. That way the students would gravitate to the better schools, because cost would not be an issue, and every house would be close enough to one of the better schools if the student excelled.

Absolutely correct. Its too bad others can't see this fundamental truth simply because it sounds harsh. It isn't. Recognizing the difficulties of life transcend them, to paraphrase the greatest man to ever walk the planet.

__________________
Qur'an:8:39 Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah.
Qur'an:8:67 It is not fitting for any prophet to have prisoners until he has made a great slaughter in the land.
Qur'an 8:12 I will terrorize the unbelievers...Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes.
Qur'an 9:5 Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, torture them, and lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.