The Cost of Education

[sag38]

I've always enjoyed reading Stossle's articles. He's right on about the stupidity of our education system in the United States.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/09/16/stupid-in-america/?test=faces

 

[exscentric]

Our public system is - no real words for it - broke, spend money on ipads to give to kids but laying off teachers due to lack of funds. Kids can't meet the standards set by the system itself so they lower the standards and the kids still can't meet the standards.

Near majority can't read at grade level, many HS grads can't read when they leave.

College cost is out of reach for most unless they opt for tremendous debt. Both private and public tuition is out of sight.

They spend every cent on everything but infrastructure (like the cities/counties/state does) then cry because the public won't pass "special" debt for them.

Not sure it is education that is stupid as much as the administration of education.

When teachers strike it is never about the money, it is always about the kids - right! Haven't seen kids issues on the bargaining table yet - only money, days off etc.

 

[seekingthetruth]

Here in Maine

Here in Miane, they have made it mandatory for 4 year olds to go to school.

Now they have pre-K, K, and then 1-12. 14 years of school.

I only went 12 years, and we scored much higher on our ACT and SAT tests than these kids today.

If we are paying for 2 extra years of school then why aren't the kids better educated?

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Education is less expensive than ignorance.

 

[Salty]

Education is less expensive than ignorance.

The problem is what educations are they receiving. Its getting to the point that kids are only learning to take tests. Think NCLB

Here in NY, the State Board of Regents requires all public HS students to take a State prepared Regents exam in selected subject. I would guess that in 4 years of HS, a student would take about 8-14 Regents.
A local Christian HS does not require its students to take the exams, since the school would rather teach the subject, than teach how to pass the regents.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Education is less expensive than ignorance.

So, so true. I remember hearing years ago a line that Ben Franklin said: "The only think more expensive than education is ignorance". I do believe Ben was right ... as he was about many things.

Salty wrote:

The problem is what educations are they receiving. Its getting to the point that kids are only learning to take tests.

That is also true and the reason is the "No Child Left Behind" places so much emphasis on testing and ties testing to funding it forces system and teachers to "teach to the test" and that is fatal to learning.

 

[sag38]

The "No Child Left Behind" has created nothing but a big fat mess. Expecting kids with low IQ's and learning disabilities to test the same as average kids is insane. And, yet that is exactly what they are doing. Many schools would do much better with the testing results if this were not the case.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Education is less expensive than ignorance.

Not true. You can send your kid to a public school, pretty cheap. But all studies show, the parents who spend the money to send their kids to private schools, or sacrifice the second job to homeschool them, raise better performing students.

The more money we sink into public schools, the worse they perform.

 

[InTheLight]

The more money we sink into public schools, the worse they perform.

So true, and the solution to failing schools is always a call for more money. In Minnesota, spending on public schools (per student) increase 102% between 1994 and 2010, yet graduation rates and test scores are not improving.

 

[Crabtownboy]

So true, and the solution to failing schools is always a call for more money. In Minnesota, spending on public schools (per student) increase 102% between 1994 and 2010, yet graduation rates and test scores are not improving.

yet graduation rates and test scores are not improving.

What is the possibility that the problem also lies with the parents of many of these kids in not making them study and emphasising education?

 

[Mexdeaf]

I work in education and the dumbing-down at the college/university level is appalling.

 

[Salty]

What is the possibility that the problem also lies with the parents of many of these kids in not making them study and emphasizing education?

I would say it is a very high possibility. And what is the probability that these parents are themselves dropouts - and were teens when they themselves became parents?

 

[righteousdude2]

Whatever the Cost of Education is....

....The American public is being "royally ripped" off! And our children are being cheated out of 12 years of precious time! If they have the money and good sense to go beyond the required twelve-year education system, depending on the Institute of higher education selected, many more will end up throwing their parents/personal/federal grant money away for a liberal, socialistic slanted degree! :tear:

NOW - Before those on this board (who are fantastic teachers) jump all over me, let's just make it clear: In general, the American school system is as broken as our economy and the Judicial, Legislative and Executive branches of our government are! :tear:

While I wholeheartedly support home schooling and Christian schools, I can only pray that some day our government allows some form of a voucher system to be implemented in order to allow more parents to have a choice to access a better form of education for their children!

Shalom,

Pastor Paul :type:

 

[seekingthetruth]

Not rich parents

Both of my older kids, aged 28 and 31 have graduated from college. I was lucky, one was a college athlete, and one was a scholar, so both had plenty of scholarships to go to school on. They didn't cost me a dime...well, almost.

But Alas, in my early retirement stages, I have a 6 year old. The idea of public school is completely unbearable. We are poor. I get SS retirement and my wife works at Walmart. But we have made the decision to trust God and put our son in a Fundamental Baptist Christian Academy.

Luckily, here, it is only $2400/year. I hear of tuitions triple that elsewhere.

Anyway, he loves his school. It's like combing regular school with VBS. And we could never even think about moving away because this is so special that we could never replace it.

God is good. He is not good to me because of me, He is good to me in spite of me.

John

 

[Salty]

Both of my older kids, aged 28 and 31 have graduated from college.
Luckily, here, it is only $2400/year. I hear of tuitions triple that elsewhere.

< thinking out loud > wouldn't it be nice if his older siblings help pay some of the school tuitionraying:

 

[seekingthetruth]

< thinking out loud > wouldn't it be nice if his older siblings help pay some of the school tuitionraying:

Good idea, but they both have kids of their own,

It's true that I never had to pay room and board or tuition because of their scholarships, but still they both have their own kids to raise.

Salty, thank you

John

 

[sag38]

I've told my son since he was very young that he better do well in school if he planned to go to college. His mom works at home raising him and God provides a preacher's income. Now God may choose to provide but for now there is no savings for his college nor will there be any extra to pay tuition. So far, he's in the seventh grade, he's making mostly A's. No C's as of yet.

 

[InTheLight]

yet graduation rates and test scores are not improving.

What is the possibility that the problem also lies with the parents of many of these kids in not making them study and emphasising education?

Most likely it is the most important factor, so why don't the teacher's unions have an awareness campaign to improve parental involvement? Instead they just ask for more and more money.

 

[Crabtownboy]

Most likely it is the most important factor, so why don't the teacher's unions have an awareness campaign to improve parental involvement? Instead they just ask for more and more money.

I think they should and where I live they do and meet with varying responses. Far too many parents are just not concerned enough to give of their own time ... even for their kids.

 

[Borneol]

John Stossel has another nice article on education today that was good reading.

"Exciting Schools"

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/stossel/blog/2011/09/21/exciting-schools-0