Diane Pearl Gallagher left the following comment. I have advice for her. Do not give up. It is always darkest just before the dawn. We will win. We are many. They are few. We put children first. They put money and power first. We fight for the next generation, not to control them but to free them to be their best selves.
Gallagher writes:
“There is no end in sight. No light. Tunnel is long and winding. Will the snakes (plethora of them, which is growing insanely and rapidly) consume themselves? I am a survivor of the NYCDOE, where I witnessed educators carried out on stretchers, nervous breakdowns, heart attacks, trauma, etc. It became such a hostile environment that it was like entering another country. It continues….Students who bring mammoth issues into the schools, especially our urban schools (poverty in this century is a new breed of poverty) witness their teachers’ stress (test scores, oppressive management by incompetent leaders etc) and there is little for them to “survive” on or be nourished and educated in a way that allows social mobility. I am a public school advocate but at this point, there only remains a skeleton of what once existed as a place of learning and safety in our urban areas. For profit schools are demonstrating that they too are failing our children. Soon it will be blatant in the public’s eye and too many sacrificial lambs will have already been placed on the pyre. Our “little” voices still need to be heard. Resistance still needs to occur.”

“The Fall of the House of Reform”
A crack, a crack in outer wall
The House of Reform, about to fall
A house of test and house of VAM
Of fake “Success” and charter scam
A house of standards built on sand
With Core arranged by Coleman hand
A house infused with sickly air
The flatulence of billionaire
The House was doomed from very start
An empty place without a heart
Expanding crack, lets in the light
As daylight breaks the longest night
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I would write “Like”, but I think I can manage more than a single word as if hitting a button on Facebook. So, I really Like this poem, as I always do when you cover the classics. Some DAM thanks!
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Thank you, LeftCoastTeacher!
I really enjoy covering the classics — with mud.
And I especially like Poets.
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You’re welcome, but you’re not covering them with mud. If classic authors and poets were alive to see what Eli Broad and Bill Gates are doing today, we would see some real –eloquent — mud slinging indeed. You’re just reviving their spirit. And I am thankful for it. I’m sure they are too. …Now then, humility is an attractive quality; that said, stop being so humble! And keep it up (I like Romantics and Transcendentalists, by the way).
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If a Battle Can’t be Won,
Don’t Fight It.
Sun Tzu
Always keep your ultimate objective in mind. Don’t let your pride or anger interfere with your overall victory. I know that this is easier said than done at times, but it is a very important part of the game, and one that takes some self-discipline and practice to perfect. Have an overall plan for victory. Be willing to sacrifice a battle here and there in order to win the war in the end, and don’t expend energy fighting a battle which cannot be won at any cost. Be rational and deliberate.
Bohdi Sanders, Ph.D.
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Charles,
I am glad that oppressed black people in the South didn’t take that advice.
I am glad that the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto didn’t take that advice.
I am glad that the passengers on the doomed flight that crashed in Shankstown, PA, on 9/11 didn’t take that advice.
There are times when a cause is greater than yourself, and you fight against impossible odds because you must.
The tyrants always want you to believe your cause is hopeless and you should surrender without resistance.
I say stand up for what is right and don’t let them intimidate you. They are often standing in front of a house of cards.
I visited the Romanian dictator Ceaseacu’s palace about six months after he was assassinated. His palace stood at the head of a grand boulevard lined with impressive buildings. Every one of those buildings was a fake front, with nothing behind it.
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Likewise, according to Charles (or whoever on earth he is) those “fifth rate rice eaters with bamboo sticks” in Vietnam.
If they had listened to that advice, they’d never have defeated the most powerful empire in history.
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I just posted this information from Sun-Tzu and Dr. Sanders. Sun-Tzu’s classic “The Art of War”, is studied at Sandhurst and West Point, and other military academies.
People have the right to engage in battles which cannot be won.
I do not necessarily agree with the information presented in the book, but it is sage advice, notwithstanding.
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Why did we get defeated in the Vietnam War? Because our leaders thought that overwhelming force would cause the Vietnamese to give up. They were wrong. Watch Ken Burns’ series and learn how we lost.
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“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” -Sun Tzu
In Indochina, we refused to accept the knowledge of the enemy. Our side believed our own propaganda, and refused to see reality.
To some extent, our side refused to know ourselves.
There are a number reasons for the outcome of the conflict in Indochina. Refusal to see reality, was a big part of it.
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Not to mention Mahatma Gandhi and his followers in India. Not to mention Nelson Mandela and his followers in South Africa.
Sometimes a battle looks like it can’t be won, yet people persevere and win anyway. If they wait until it “looks like” the battle can be won before trying to fight it, then more people will die, more like people will be imprisoned, more people will be kept down and marginalized, until
“whoever” thinks that the battle can be won.
Don’t wait, act now.
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Nor did Atticus Finch take that advice.
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The only way one side wins is when everyone resisting them says we can’t win and they stop resisting. Determination and persistence mean even if it takes a thousand years.
That’s where we can learn from the Vietnamese. China occupied Vietnam for 1,000 years and the Vietnamese never gave up, and eventually, they got their country back.
Then the Vietnamese did it again with the French and again with the United States.
On Fri, Sep 22, 2017 at 3:54 PM, Diane Ravitch’s blog wrote:
> Montana Teacher commented: “Nor did Atticus Finch take that advice.” >
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Oh Charles….why do you even post here? Why do you even read this blog? You have no skin in the game since you claim your children are graduates of a fine charter school. The only interest you have here is to debate because you are a bored old man with nothing better to do. Get a life, get a job…..get something!…and leave us to our war…our war for our children.
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You are confusing me with someone else. I have no children. I am a taxpayer and a citizen, therefore these activities make me a participant. I am not going to just shut up, and pay my taxes, and trust the government to educate the nation’s children. No way.
I have a life, I work at an important job.
I have to live the society, that is populated by the graduates of our national school system, therefore, this means I have skin in the game.
I have to pay to incarcerate the criminals who are unable to work.
I have to pay the welfare costs, for the children of parents who have no education, and no way to be productive.
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Charles said, “I have to pay the welfare costs, for the children of parents who have no education, and no way to be productive.”
This is an attempt by me to teach Charles something – I suspect that will be similar to beating my head against a cement wall.
Politifact.com says, “The word ‘welfare’ has different meanings for different people. Many think it refers to cash payouts to people who aren’t working; others think it includes anyone who receives government assistance of any type.” …
“Roughly 60 percent of food stamp recipients who were of working age and weren’t disabled were employed while receiving benefits, according to a Census Bureau sample calculated by the liberal Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. …
“While the claim is based on real numbers, it’s a fundamentally flawed, apples-and-oranges comparison. The number of ‘welfare’ recipients — unlike the number of workers — is enlarged by the inclusion of children and senior citizens. The comparison also ignores that many “welfare” recipients actually work, so trying to separate the two categories creates a false dichotomy. We rate the claim False.”
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/jan/28/terry-jeffrey/are-there-more-welfare-recipients-us-full-time-wor/
“Walmart Wages Are the Main Reason People Depend on Food Stamps
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a means of survival for families earning minimum wage.” …
“A few years ago, I wrote about my experience enmeshed in the minimum-wage economy, chronicling the collapse of good people who could not earn enough money, often working 60-plus hours a week at multiple jobs, to feed their families. I saw that, in this country, people trying to make ends meet in such a fashion still had to resort to food-benefit programs and charity.”
https://www.thenation.com/article/walmart-wages-are-the-main-reason-people-depend-on-food-stamps/
52 Percent of Fast Food Workers Need Government Assistance to Make Ends Meet
“For many restaurant employees, having a full-time job doesn’t mean they can make ends meet. Not only do 40 percent of fast food workers live in poverty, a new study by the Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education shows that nearly 52 percent of all fast food workers are dependent upon public assistance programs such as food stamps, Medicaid, and child care subsidies. The report adds that some states like California and New York spend over $3 billion on public assistance a year.”
https://www.eater.com/2015/4/13/8403905/52-percent-fast-food-workers-public-assistance-food-stamps-study
Food Stamps
“SNAP eligibility rules require that participants be at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. Recent studies show that 44% of all SNAP participants are children (age 18 or younger), with almost two-thirds of SNAP children living in single-parent households. In total, 76% of SNAP benefits go towards households with children, 11.9% go to households with disabled persons, and 10% go to households with senior citizens.
“According to demographic data, 39.8% of SNAP participants are white, 25.5% are African-American, 10.9% are Hispanic, 2.4% are Asian, and 1% are Native American.”
https://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/snap-frequently-asked-questions/
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Lloyd,
I just heard the sound of your head bouncing against a concrete wall.
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And that concrete wall was hollow, empty inside but it still had a hard shell.
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Just finished reading “The Art of War”. Had been on my list to read for many years.
I wasn’t impressed. Perhaps it was the translation, but most of it seemed like fairly common sense advice.
Perhaps because few in charge, few at the top of social hierarchies have much common sense but have lots of hubris and arrogance his advice seems sage.
Not too long ago, I read about a recent encounter between two soldiers, an American and a Viet Cong when the former went to visit Viet Nam. They had fought against each other in a certain battle. The VC told the American that the great “superpower” was bound to lose that war. Why? Because the Vietnamese had the numbers and the fact that they were defending their homeland. It might have taken 500 years but the Vietnamese were going to eventually win, according to that Viet Cong soldier.
Common sense (truth) and numbers can eventually win.
When will teachers understand that concept?
And stand up and fight against the lies, falsehoods and monied powers of the edudeformers and privateers?
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Duane,
Like you, I believe people should pay more attention to common sense than to Ancient Chinese Philosophers and other Ancient books of wisdom.
And war is most certainly not “art”. Artifice, but not art.
Anyone who believes that death and destruction are “art” has a very warped sense of reality.
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“You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace.” – General William Tecumseh Sherman
Sun Tzu also said, “All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”
Yep, the greed-is-god, corporate reformers of public education are tricky masters of deception.
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Just remember: even though the deformers have DeVos, they are panicking. She embarrasses every time she opens her mouth. The NAACP turned against them. The people of Mass rejected them. They are all dressed up and there is no party
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Johnny Cash undoubtedly understood Sun Tsu
Sun, this world is rough and if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough
And I know I wouldn’t be there to help you along
So I gave you that name and said goodbye
I knew you’d have to get tough or die
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong
….I’m the sun-of-a-bitch that named you Tsu
Yeah, what could I do, what could I do?
I got all choked up and threw down my gun
I called him my pa and he called me his Sun
And i come away with a different point of view
And I think about him now and then
Every time and every time I win
And if I ever have a sun, I think I’m gonna name him
Bill, George, anything but Tsu
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I guess it’s spelled Tzu.
Shows how ignorant I am about Chinese warriors.
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According to the book I have the gentleman’s name was Sun Wu, also known as Sunzi, but there was a second “Art of War” written by a Sun Bin also known as Sunzi. For the purpose of the name of the author of the book the translator uses Sun Tzu which is evidently a Romanization of the name but he uses Sunzi in the text.
And there is no singular definitive first text in Chinese.
Confucious, eh! Oops I mean confusing, eh!
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I disagree. The 100th anniversary of the end of WW1 is in 2018. The Allies (Britain/France/USA) did not “win” WW1, as much as Imperial Germany just reached the breaking point. WW1 was a war of attrition, and Germany just did not have the manpower and will to continue.
“The ultimate military purpose of war is the destruction of the enemy’s ability to fight and will to fight.” -Clausewitz
The manpower and logistical ability of the North Vietnamese, was not inexhaustible. With continued bombing, and mining/closing of N. Vietnamese ports, and the termination of all imports of military hardware, the North Vietnamese could have been broken. All of their military hardware was provided by other nations, the North Vietnamese did not even manufacture their own rifles.
The USA accomplished nearly all of their military objectives (unlike the French, who were humiliated at Dien Bien Phu).
The North Vietnamese did not “win”, as much the USA just did not pursue the conflict to conclusion.
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The US could not “win” in Vietnam. Never.
We cannot “win” in Afghanistan. Never.
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“The USA accomplished nearly all of their military objectives (unlike the French, who were humiliated at Dien Bien Phu).”
“The North Vietnamese did not “win”, as much the USA just did not pursue the conflict to conclusion.”
For someone who quotes Sun Tzu to support his wrong headed thinking, you got those two wrong … again.
That first quote up there tells me that you don’t know crap about the history of the Vietnam War.
And the 2nd Charles quote is more ignorance when you said “The USA just did not pursue the conflict to conclusion.”
Ahh, China invaded and conquered Vietnam in 111 B.C. and held it for 1,000 years while the Vietnamese fought back to gain the right to rule themselves for the entire 1,000 years until the Chinese decided they’d had enough and left.
Is that how long you think the U.S. should have stayed in Vietnam, more than a thousand years or would you advocate doing to the Vietnamese what the United States did to the American Indian and that’s known as genocide – kill them all if they don’t surrender to what we want and then colonize that empty land with our own people?
That is exactly what the citizens of the United States did to the American Indians. For instance, when President Jackson broke the treaty with the Cherokee nation and threw them off their land forcing them into the Trail of Tears.
Vietnam: Since there was no declaration of the war, exact dates are sketchy. However, it is now widely accepted that the Vietnam War started on November 1, 1955 and lasted until April 30, 1975, which is roughly 20 years, or 19 years, 180 days to be precise
So, to your thinking, almost 20 years of violent conflict in Vietnam wasn’t enough time. We should have stayed until we achieved the U.S. goal to crush Communism even if that meant genocide because the majority of the Vietnamese didn’t want the U.S. there in the first place?
Vietnam is still ruled by the Vietnamese Communist Party today.
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A better principle to follow: “if a war can’t be won, don’t fight it”
MLK and Gandhi both understood that you could lose many battles and still win the “war”, which is perfectly expressed in the song “We shall overcome”.
They wisely chose their wars (and rejected others)
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One concept that must be understood. It does not matter how many battles you win, it matters which battles you win.
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Is Charles saying teachers should quit teaching? Is that his point? Just give up on universal education because billionaires have so much power? Rheely! Well, Charlie, your flaccid argument is going nowhere here. As Sun Tzu said, Chucky, just give up. You can’t win. Take your own advice and go find someone gullible to listen to you.
I will not teach gentle into that goodnight.
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Charles is here as a provacateur
Where else can he get so much attention?
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Do people still use soap boxes in the Park?
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It made me laugh imagining the boy named Tzu saying “Chucky, just give up!” with a Chinese accent.
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Ha!
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I have never said that teachers should quit teaching. I am the grandson and brother of public school teachers. I am certified as a substitute teacher.
I am a Freemason. The Freemasons were one of the principal driving forces, behind universal tax-supported education in the American colonies. The great reformer, Horace Mann, was a Freemason.
I support several changes in the current system of publicly-financed education in the USA.
I am in agreement, with many (but not all) of the concepts which the participants post here.
Especially, that the current financing of public education, based of property taxes, robs children in economically-depressed areas, and results in “educational apartheid”, where the public schools in affluent areas are excellent. This is a disgrace to our nation.
I support providing more support, to the non-college bound youth. Germany has an excellent apprenticeship program, and provides superb vocational/technical education to their non-college youth. There are many concepts in nations such as Finland, which our nation could emulate.
I support increased education in civics and constitutional law for young people. This concept has wide support from all across the political spectrum.
I support increasing adult literacy. So many high schools sit empty every night, that could be used to provide instruction to adults who cannot read.
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And you support public funding of anything that is called a school, whether private, religious, for-profit, etc. exactly like DeVos.
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I support education, that is appropriate. If parents can obtain the proper education for their children, from a non-government source, including home-schooling, I am for that.
States are coming with new, innovative ways to assist parents in selecting the appropriate education for their children.
This is an exciting time for anyone who supports education.
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I am for it too, but the government should fund only public schools. Too much fraud in the private sector, which is unaccountable for public funds.
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Maybe there is room for compromise. We trust the private sector to produce many things, and provide many services. People can obtain government payments to secure medical care, through Medicaid, and Medicare. Without private sector participation, these programs would be impossible.
I believe sincerely, that people (parents) can obtain government payments, and use them to secure education for their children through non-government providers. (Just like people use BEOGs to secure university level educational services).
Public-school advocates, should be supportive of giving parents of special needs children, additional educational services, and providing the parents with substantial control over the selection of services.
Public-school advocates, should be supportive of giving parents of gifted/talented children additional educational services, including withdrawing their children from regular schools altogether. The state of Illinois runs a state academy, operated by public school teachers/administrators, that provides gifted/talented children the special educational services, that will enable them to achieve their fullest potential, who could not be supportive of this noble objective?
And why not give some parents, especially lower-income parents, additional flexibility to obtain services like tutoring, and computer services, which are not available from the publicly-operated schools?
Is there no room for compromise, beyond having only a government-run publicly-operated school system for all children, regardless of their needs?
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Charles,
We have many choices in schools. Public money is dedicated to public schools, as public money is dedicated to police and fire services.
Do you think the public should pay for private security services and private fire fighters?
This is the 87th time you have said exactly this and the 87th time I have given the same answer.
If you prefer a private service, pay for it yourself
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Public funding implies public accountability and public standards. The fastest way to end religious liberty, is to seek public fu ding for churches and their schools
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Q The fastest way to end religious liberty, is to seek public fu ding for churches and their schools END Q
Why do you claim this? I believe that I can follow your reasoning, that if public funding went to a church/religion, then public control would follow. This is self-evident.
But the second part of your claim defies reasoning. People redeem their BEOGs at religiously-operated universities like Notre Dame, and the Islamic University of Minnesota, and religious liberty still flourishes.
The Supreme Court held in the Zelman case (2002), that parents can redeem their school vouchers at religiously-operated schools. Parents in many states continue to redeem vouchers (and use ESAs), at religiously-operated schools, and there is no diminution of religious liberty.
People use food stamps at religiously-operated food pantries, and there is no loss of liberty. People use Medicare at religiously-operated hospitals, and the First Amendment stands as strong as ever.
Do you have any concrete evidence, that reveals a lessening of our religious liberty, as a result of people using public money to obtain services from a religiously-operated institution? (University, hospital, food pantry, school, etc. ?)
I would like to see it!
If using public money to obtain services from a religiously-operated entity is damaging our religious liberty, why has no one been able to get a Supreme Court ruling in a case asserting this erosion of liberty?
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Charles, the government seldom sets academic standards for institutions of higher education. They set detailed standards for K-12 schools.
In New York state, when the state provided tuition money for religious schools, they had to agree to become a-religious. The Catholic university removed their crosses.
Do you think that is a good tradeoff for money?
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Charles,
Knowing how much you adore religion and how fervently you believe that it should be subsidized by government, I am sharing with you the livestream of the Rosh Hashanah services I attended at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The music was beautiful. The brief sermons were beautiful.
The congregation–not more than 600 families–recently raised the money to pay for their own synagogue. It didn’t ask the state or federal government for a dime.
That’s the meaning of religious freedom.
Please watch the whole service. It is quite beautiful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHIz7aNi-6Y
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Q Do you think the public should pay for private security services and private fire fighters? END Q
The answer is an unqualified YES! There are many cities, which are contracting out their fire protection services. One of them is San Mateo, California. See
https://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=19529
Cities are outsourcing garbage collection and recycling see
http://www.advanceddisposal.com/whywasteblog/exploring-privatizing-waste-services-doing-more-with-less-money/
All over this nation, cities/municipalities are discovering that some (NOT ALL) services can be obtained more effectively and economically, by outsourcing.
As far back as 1962, when I was in the second grade, in Lexington KY, our public school system outsourced some instructional services to the private sector.
There was a girl in my class with a speech impediment. The school did not employ a speech therapist. The parents were referred to a private speech clinic, and the costs were borne by the school system (the public).
I believe sincerely, that some educational services, can best be provided by non-governmental sources.
This applies especially to special-needs children, and gifted/talented children.
Here in Virginia, (which does not have school choice/vouchers) has outsourced some educational services to the private sector. see
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/outsourcing-education/497708/
The important focus should be on the children. If the government/publicly-operated school cannot provide the appropriate educational services to the community’s children, then does it really matter, if the school system outsources the services to the private sector which can?
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Charles,
you no doubt love the idea of outsourcing the war in Afghanistan to Betsy DeVos’ brother Erik Prince and his mercenary army.
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Q the government seldom sets academic standards for institutions of higher education. They set detailed standards for K-12 schools.
In New York state, when the state provided tuition money for religious schools, they had to agree to become a-religious. The Catholic university removed their crosses.
Do you think that is a good tradeoff for money?
END Q
The federal government should not set standards for academic instruction at any level. This is another good reason to abolish the federal Dept of Education. Education should be a state/municipal effort because these local governments are more responsive to the people. Also, what works in Idaho, may not be appropriate for New Jersey.
If a religious institution has to alter their operations and policies to meet the requirements to accept government money, that is the decision of the institution. I have no real opinion either way. As far as it goes, if the public money is provided to parents in the form of vouchers, the question is moot. Are you now supporting vouchers, so that religiously-operated schools can maintain their independence from government intrusion?
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Charles,
In New York, the public money is called Bundy money (for the Ford Foundation President who designed the program). The institutions of higher education remove any religious symbolism from their classrooms and buildings.
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Q you no doubt love the idea of outsourcing the war in Afghanistan to Betsy DeVos’ brother Erik Prince and his mercenary army. END Q
That is beyond ludicrous. I have served in Afghanistan, as a civilian contractor. The Army/Navy/Marine Corps has outsourced some of their operations to civilian contractors. Mail service, food service, fuel delivery, computer operations, are all primarily provided by civilian contractors, because such services are more economical when the uniforms are out of it.
Furthermore, the function of the military is to fight. Support and administrative services are more efficiently provided by civilian contractors.
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All that energy fighting those deformers. So sad.
Diane, thanks for the encouragement.
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Diane Pearl Gallagher,
I feel your pain. I am implementing my own gracious exit. My district is being taken over by charter operators under the guise of return to local contol. I agree. We are not winning anything.
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Diane Pearl Gallagher and Abigail Shure. You have not lost your voice and integrity. That is beyond the reach of your employers and the dumpsters who want to demean you. Leave the job if you can. Regain your strength so you can work in education with integrity, joy, and enough determination to fight for equitable education.
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In the spirit fighting against oppression, power and greed, Bob Marley and the Wailers had it right. We may change our strategy, but we cannot quit. We owe to the young people whose futures are at stake.
Get Up, Stand Up
Anuhea
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight!
Preacher man, don’t tell me
Heaven is under the earth
I know you don’t know
What life is really worth
It’s not all that glitters is gold
‘Alf the story has never been told
So now you see the light, eh!
Stand up for your rights. Come on!
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight!
Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight!
Most people think,
Great God will come from the skies
Take away everything
And make everybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You will look for yours on earth
And now
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKuUKHmTHPk
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Charles allegedly is a perfect example of how the Alt-Right thinks and how they work to demoralize. For instance, cherry-picking phrases from Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” that supports what he wants us to do.
It is a fact that we are not yet at a place where this war to save the public schools and public sector can’t be won, but that is exactly what the Alt-Right wants us to think because it is another tactic they are using, a clear sign they are desperately grasping at straws and using PSYOP tactics as they see that gigantic pot-of-gold they are chasing in their greedy day-and-night dreams, they don’t have hearts, they don’t have empathy, that they now fear is fading like a water mirage in the desert.
Psychological operations (PSYOP) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals.
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Sun Tzu may have understood war.
But war is very different from non-violent resistance.
Non-violent resistance as practiced by Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Diane Ravitch and teachers, parents and students is a very powerful tactic against which traditional war tactics, including propaganda are largely ineffective.
The talk of battles is misguided in the current context.
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Non-violent battles. Words and not bullets. Peaceful protests and not bombs or bottles filled with gasoline.
But non-violence tends to only work where the majority of voters have power through their votes, and if the U.S. Constitution and the Constitutional Republic it supports is replaced with a neo-libertarian Koch style theocratic oligarchy, non-violent resistance will not work.
History shows us repeatedly what tyrants do with those who resist them even peacefully. They are crushed. They are mowed down. They vanish without a trace.
Those with the courage to protest through non-violent resistance will be rounded up and locked away in prison camps if they are fortunate.
I knew someone who said she was a libertarian but she said the libertarianism the Koch brothers are pushing is nothing like the original concept she believes in.
While the U.S. Constitution is still there as the guiding principals and law of the United States, peaceful protests will continue to work.
Maybe a better term for what the Koch brothers want is a form of dystopian libertarianism where the only people that are safe are billionaires that can afford their own private armies. They become the law and improvise their law daily based on how they feel when they get out of bed every morning.
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