local politics rant

[rootofnewt]

I'm going to go vote this afternoon, but I'm going to have to abstain on the School Board ballot. Why? The candidates aren't saying jack about WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO DO. I've listened to the forum in which they spoke last month. I've read articles. And none of these say *anything*. They just say, "I want our students to achieve more." "I wants fewer students to drop out." "I want to encourage at-risk students." "Our schools need adequate funding and proper budgeting."

This tells me diddly squat. THEY ALL SAY THIS.

And the questions about charter schools? They all waffle. The only issues in which there is any difference is in separate classes for boys/girls and in school uniforms. And I don't consider those pressing issues.

Comments

[thekdog.livejournal.com]

I thought the election was next tuesday.

I too will be withholding my votes for the school board unless my mother, a school board employee endorses one. I do not have children and I also have distinct reservations about elected school boards.

The last thing you want is the school board to be like our city council.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I'm flying to Indiana tomorrow, so I'm voting early.

I don't necessarily think an elected schoolboard is bad, but I want an outlined/bulleted statement of each member's platform. And I want to know if they voted for anyone who thinks the SoL bullshit is a good idea. :p

[thekdog.livejournal.com]

but are they professional educators or professional politicians or amatuer politicians?

um... all have their drawbacks but I would rather educators be in charge of education. Which I admit is a very parochial point of view.

[dwolfe.livejournal.com]

Vote for me.

I want to replace history class with Ninja Skill class.

I think lobsters should wander the halls freely in public school.

And I think half assed jackasses afraid to take a stand should be used as practise dodge ball targets.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Now THAT is a platform.

[radiantdaffodil.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiousity, since it is something we've talked about in Education classes...how do you feel about charter schools?

[krasota.livejournal.com]

It depends on the charter/proposal for each individual school. I think they can be done very well and I think there's potential for great things, but I also think they can do very poorly if the folks who start it are short-sighted and inexperienced.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I didn't answer your actual question. In general, I think charter schools are a good idea. I pretty much follow the NEA's stance on this.