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doesn't mean that we cannot look back. Unfortunately, this administration of deceit has used this as their mantra. We can't look back at all of the illegal activities perpetuated by our government and elected officials. We can't put the most important things "on the table." It sure sounds like the same shit we heard from the village idiot for 8 years. We can't look back at the constitution and see that a "unitary executive" was never intended. Amazing how being a "wartime president" can give you literally unlimited power and SECRECY.
Yet, here we are. A proper mandate for a free public education guaranteed to all, yet that word "free" bothers the hell out of even our Democratic president?
Just reading the "American Institute and Newt Gingrich" mentioned as leaders in our countrys' education is horrifying. Obviously Arne Duncan fits right in with these "profit at all cost" mercenaries. Obviously if there is a "race", then by definition there will be winners and losers. I fear that our children will continue to be the losers and the "for profit charter schools will be the major winners. It won't be long until "chain schools", like McDonald's will be the norm. just like our "privatized prisons" have become owned by a continually dwindling amount of companies. Some may argue that there are already monopolies in this privatized prison endeavor and they would be right.
Besides inferior services, what do these privatized institutions give us? Smaller salaries so the profit margin can be maximized. Of course, as in our prisons, this inevitably leads to overcrowding and reduced attention given to our children, just like the absurd ratio of minimum wage prison guards per inmate. These grossly underpaid guards, who continually fear for their life and safety in the prisons are much more susceptible to bribes (good old capitalism) or threats to allow the inmates to get contraband and basically run the prison. How long will it be before (already happening I'm sure) wealthy parents bribe grossly underpaid teachers so their children can get good grades and be accepted at the best colleges. Look at Bush...Yale material?
Now, lets break the new rules and look back. In the 1950's and the 1970's (random choices) before government sponsored Charter Schools (and privatized prisons too), America's free educational system was considered world class. Our Unionized teachers earned a meager, but "collectively bargained for", salary. Our students were generally well informed and motivated by an under-appreciated group of passionately purposeful educators, who were secure in their jobs and although underpaid, they were given respect in their neighborhoods (and at work) and they were secure in the knowledge that they had chosen to educate children, not for great profit but as a calling. Yes, even though they were underpaid, they were secure in their jobs and collectively bargained as a unit for a lower middle class wage, but they were doing what they loved; molding young minds. There were societal rules which enabled them to do this in a much less hostile atmosphere. The FAIRNESS DOCTRINE for the media, ensured that their pupils were exposed to differing world views and honest information.
Looking back again, this was before the government required that you had to have an "education degree" to become a teacher. Teachers were basically people who were fascinated by their individual subjects and therefore would major in English or Mathematics out of their love of that subject. It is much easier to teach a subject that you are passionate about, rather than having a degree in education, which guarantees you the possibility to teach but not necessarily a subject that you love. You need to know how to position the window blinds to minimize distractions and someone Else's theories about the best way to ensure your students are learning. things that you previously learned what worked best for you, by experience and reasoning skills. Hey, why not a standardized test? The land of the free, teaching to a standardized test that threatens educators with job loss if their students haven't performed uniformly.
No more teachers who are hired for their particular expertise in an individual subject. Now we have teachers who want to teach but cannot concentrate on their field of expertise, too much paperwork and don't forget that standardized test or you'll be fired.
In the meantime, free market capitalism marches on. No more FAIRNESS DOCTRINE which exposed students to the indispensable tool of reasoning. Yes, they were no longer allowed to hear differing viewpoints and use their reasoning skills to deduce the truth. Now, the law states that "news outlets" are not required to be honest or allow people to share their viewpoints.
Now, Schools must turn out automatons, not individuals with the capacity to reason. Of course, since reagans misguided (at best) belief that only profits are important, these still motivated and now indoctrinated teachers are required to produce these automatons and compete for lower wages and benefits. Forget the unity of collective bargaining and its innate fairness.
Reagan not only totally fucked up Americas moral compass. He legislated profits before people. He and his predecessors, whose corporate ownership guaranteed their unquestioning capitalistic "morals", have just come to the obvious next step. Privatize the schools. Profits are to be made. Who wants a citizen who can reason and realize that people should come before profits? They are dangerous. No more collective bargaining. Now it's who you know (or screw) not what you know.
Teachers, they have brought along slowly to the point of their demise. They did it to the proletariat factory worker much quicker. Next? Maybe the pharmacists or another vocation that they feel they can profit off of while "giving" you a smaller piece of the pie. Profits baby, Indian pharmacists are much cheaper....
These are the same types of legislation that have led to the demise of most failed states, with the wealthiest 5% of our nation owning over 90% of the nations wealth, we are far along the path of failure and unless we look behind us, at history, we are bound for the same inevitable demise.
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