A working Dad's take on public education...(or the public education offered around here anyway)

     That about says it all. Yep, our wonderful "top 5% of the country" magnet school system is causing problems again! Not only have they not kept the 'promise' of being able to handle the new programs and still give students the same quality education (by dropping the ball on tutorship for students with difficulties , letting core curriculum suffer to emphasize special programs, etc.) Now the school board is testing the waters about yet another milage increase to cover the 'extra' cost of the new magnet programs.

Back when they were selling the magnet idea the costs were supposed to be mostly minimal with the majority covered by special grants and funding programs. Well this like everything else these jackasses do seems to have changed. Now they are crying broke again! It seems our public school district is all about the money!! Its like we are asked to constantly fund a bunch of politicians that run for nothing 365 days a year every year. All they try to do is sell us these "used cars" and then call the parents that ask questions about where the money comes from or where it goes --Difficult! Typical answer you get from the school system is " Its for the children". The insinuation being that if you ask questions or don't support the way some funding is used you don't support the children. All the while my 1st grader can't pass the near congressional inquiry they have set up to see if he qualifies to get a tutor to help him read!! The public school system , at least around here, is nothing but a federal fund hungry, teach to test, egotistical joke!

Public education IS NOT a popularity contest!! It shouldn't be about how much bragging rights we have at all the national teachers meetings and in public school surveys, or if we've pulled in more money they the town up the road cause we taught our kids how take the federal test better than they did!! Its about our kids getting an education that gives them a chance in this competitive world that's getting more competitive and smaller everyday!! As a Dad who is very active in his kids development I will question anything that affects that development ! I don't give a damn if the money is for the kids!! That doesn't mean its being used right or the changes made are really ones with the most benefits!! I don't care how good we look in Washington or Newsweek !! I care if my kids are getting the best education possible!! I'll keep asking questions and being 'difficult' !! I wouldn't be doing my job as "Dad" if i didn't!!

With that being said..... Hell yes!! We are homeschooling our kids next year!! Someone has to teach the children ! Because our public school system certainly isn't competent enough to!! The more money they get the more excuses they make !! Its sad and all our children suffer!!