Slightly Sarcastic

This Kansas school closing is unbelievable. Where will all these kids go? I never thought I would be living through times like these, it’s frustrating and terrifying. I only see worse times coming down the road as truly, no one seems to have a clue how to get this country back on track. Maybe we need to hit the bottom of the barrel before we can start to recover.

buggys – What scares me is that it will be my kids who will suffer form the idiocy of our government – they just keep digging the whole deeper and deeper.

Yesterday and today all of the Minneapolis public schools and a handful of the private schools in St. Paul were put on lock down. My son goes to a public school in St. Paul so his was not. However, one of the private schools that was closed is where I went and where my niece goes now. They were put on lock down because someone sent a threat to the school in an email. I get a call from my son’s school (not on lock down) once a month notifying me that yet another child has brought a gun to school.

I don’t know the answer but homeschooling is looking pretty good.

My son’s school does periodic drills for a Columbine type scenario. The kids are shuttled to the back of the room and told to stand against the blackboard. Not under a desk but lined up against the back of the room. Who’s brilliant idea was that? Let’s line them all up to make it easier for the kid with issues.

I still don’t have an answer, but there are a lot of people messing things up out there.

Every single cent I earn goes to two private Catholic schools. Our neighborhood schools are HORRIBLE. My kids would be KILLED in those schools – and NO ONE learns a thing in them, that’s for sure. Well, maybe they learn how to get pregnant, deal drugs and dodge the police…. the Catholic schools are the best bet for us. Excellent education, I like that the kids can say JESUS during the CHRISTMAS program… oh YEA, I said it… Christmas Christmas Christmas…. but darn it all… I am BROKE. Sometimes I don’t know how I will feed the kids a few days b/4 payday… but it is worth it.

What’s going on with the Kansas City School’s is appalling. I am very concerned about the future of our country, for many reasons, but the state of our education system tops my list. It seems that many people feel that the answer to our education crisis is to abandon the public school system. Having an educated elite is not the answer to our long term success as a country. If we want to compete in this world economy, going forward, it’s going to take all of us, as a country. If we are not careful, we might find that one day, our educated elite will have to move to other countries to find work.

I believe we need to work together, as Americans, to figure out how to fix our public education system. AND then do it. Our future depends on it.

One thing that just tickles the s*%t out of me, is that the same “I don’t want my taxes going to the public schools, I’m sending my kids to private school” are the same folks always quoting Thomas Jefferson… he’s probably turning over in his grave.

Katherine – God, I feel ya – Our neighborhood school WAS awesome until they started bussing in kids from other neighborhoods – now, in the middle of this awesome neighborhood, is a virtual prison – metal detectors, police on duty all day – full of kids that scare the crap out of ME – and I’m sending my kids there. Makes me feel like I’m abusing my kids.

John – you’re right – and the scary thing is that the people who send their kids to private schools (not all but quite a few) don’t care what happens to the 90% who attend the public school system. But it’s a vicious circle because those are the people who make a lot of the decisions because of the screwed up system of electing officials. Instead of cutting back on schools they should be tripling their money and teaching ability – create a country of brilliant people who can turn this country into the amazing place it should be. Instead the elite few are going to drag this nation down because they can’t see beyond their own bank account.

Keep dreaming, girlie…until people start to adopt the values that our founding fathers had, government will never get better. No more hand outs, no more BS….people are responsible to take care of each other. Everyone complains that the government is too far in their business, but where do they turn to first when they need help?!

Lisa – AMEN!!!

Just be thankful you don’t live in Nevada. Not only do we have the dubious pleasure of being 1st in being last in education, but the legislature thinks by cutting even more teachers is the way to go. They do not give a rats behind for education in this State nor its citizens. I agree with you – everything I read makes me mad nowadays. Even Dear Abby is p___ing me off with her dumb advice. Not to mention the people who write in with stupid questions even a 7 year old could give advice on…. sorry rant ending now.

It really falls on our shoulders to take care of our families in the manner we see fit. Home schooling is definitely an option and there are more and more resources available to make that possible. Placing our children into private schools is also an option. Many families think that option is much too expensive. Before making this judgment call though parents should first actually call around to see what the costs actually are then do an honest assessment of finances to see if in fact it is beyond their means. How do you put a price tag on what you are willing to spend when it comes to the futures of your children? Another way to go about getting things to swing our way is by coming together to create a voice louder than that of those groups pushing for the dismantling of our kids futures. We have to be in control of what we allow to affect our families. Take a stand and fight in a manner that you can understand and stand behind. ;o)