Right-Wing Radio Host: Teachers Unions Are ‘Much More Dangerous’ Than Al Qaeda
Right-Wing Radio Host: Teachers Unions Are ‘Much More Dangerous’ Than Al Qaeda
Last night on Fox News’s Hannity and Colmes, right-wing radio host Neal Boortz claimed that teachers unions are “destroying a generation” and are “much more dangerous than al Qaeda.” He stated, “Look, Al Qaeda, they could bring in a nuke into this country and kill 100,000 people with a well-placed nuke somewhere. Ok. We would recover from that. It would be a terrible tragedy, but the teachers unions in this country can destroy a generation.” Sean Hannity agreed, noting, “They are ruining our school system.” Watch it:
The National Education Association, the nation’s largest teachers union, represents more than 2.7 million of America’s teachers and educators. In 2004, then Secretary of Education Rod Paige similarly called the NEA a “terrorist organization.” NEA responded to Paige’s remarks, saying it is “morally repugnant to equate those who teach America’s children with terrorists.”
Boortz also called to abolish the Department of Education and in the past, charged that public schools are “brainwashing” American children. Contact Boortz about his comments HERE.
(HT: News Hounds)
Transcript:
SEAN HANNITY: Alright, let me ask you. Because, you — when you said about the Department of Education — you want to abolish it — when you said that the teachers unions is more dangerous to this country in the long term –
NEAL BOORTZ: In the long term, yeah.
HANNITY: Than al Qaeda.
BOORTZ: Right. Look, Al Qaeda, they could bring in a nuke into this country and kill 100,000 people with a well-placed nuke somewhere. Ok. We would recover from that. It would be a terrible tragedy, but the teachers unions in this country can destroy a generation.
HANNITY: They are.
BOORTZ: Well, they are destroying a generation.
HANNITY: They are ruining our school system.
BOORTZ: They’re much more dangerous. We worry about al Qaeda and we should. But at the same time let’s not let the teachers union skate.
HANNITY: They destroyed our school system, and we don’t do anything. The parents — why there aren’t people rising up against it is unbelievable.
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So, Neal, are you advocating that we drop a few bunker busters on our nation’s schools?
February 20th, 2007 at 10:54 amI pay about $10,000 a year in property tax, most of that going to fund local public schools. I elect to homeschool my kids. (I am not a Christian).
It is unfair to compare teacher’s unions with terror organizations, but it is fair to ask: “If we are spending so much on public education, why is the quality of education so poor?”
The public education system in America is failing our children. The NEA bares the responsibility for that failure.
February 20th, 2007 at 10:59 amHANNITY: They destroyed our school system, and we don’t do anything. The parents — why there aren’t people rising up against it is unbelievable.
Let’s get this straight…
Hannity: Fox has destroyed our News system, & we don’t do anything.
The parents - why their aren’t people rising up against Fox & it’s lies called news is unbelievable.
Boortz is like ‘Insight’ magazine…throw crap out there, hoping no one notices it’s lies, & when called to produce facts, change the subject.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:03 amThe Rightards are anti-union to the nthdegree. They’re scared of rational people asking for equal & fair treatment from the Corporate whores they call the ‘business community’.
Just when you think that the Repukes can’t sink any lower, a gem like this comes along.
Boortz also called to abolish the Department of Education and in the past, charged that public schools are “brainwashing†American children.
Anyone else see the irony in this jackass being allowed to spout his filth on “Hannity and Colmes”, a propaganda outlet thinly disguised as a news and opinion show, with the opposition point of view (Colmes) being intentionally weak and ineffective? Brainwashing, indeed.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:03 amComment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 10:59 am
The NEA bares the responsibility for that failure.
Check your spelling, Mr. Homeschool. talk about a ruined generation.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:03 amConservatives have an agenda that is focused on privatizing our public schools. To them, it’s a great policy because (1) they get to funnel money towards education companies that donate money to them; and (2) they get to get tax breaks or reduced taxes they can use to pay for their kids’ private school education.
Why don’t we improve the public schools for the benefit of all instead of privatizing schools for the benefit of the wealthy? Another short-sighted Republican policy.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:04 amIs the column by Boortz based on an actual occurrence?
I notice it is from September 2002. Is there any more background to be found on this particular column?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:05 ampaul darlin, The reason our public education system is failing, regardless of the mone spent, is because we have a cabal of corrupt dumb as dirt politicians running the show. These people in power do not like the reasoning process…the real process of education. They prefer the canned variety and they are not at all ( truly) concerned with our children. They are concerned with power. Hope that clears it up for you sweets.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:05 amand then you have fools like this:
http://blogs.chron.com/ sciguy/ archives/ 2007/ 02/ warren_chisum_h.html
follow the links… you’ve probably heard about this…
another “it’s the jews fault”…
i swear, they want a generation of poor dummies to man their perpetual war for profit…
February 20th, 2007 at 11:05 amI am a product of public education. You’re making my point for me.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:07 amBoortz also called to abolish the Department of Education and in the past, charged that public schools are “brainwashing†American children.
Yet, in the State-adopted textbook for 8th grade social studies, the publisher continually refers to the 14th Amendment as providing protections only for citizens. That is a subtle brainwashing…the 14th Amendment provides protections to all persons. That’s a huge difference. Under the 14th Amendment, legal immigrants, and, yes, even persons here illegally, have certain rights. But with the publisher’s re-write, children are brought up to think it’s ok to strip those rights from all non-citizens. That’s brainwashing.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:07 ampaul sez:
That amount of property tax would put the value of your home at roughly $500,000.
I’m having a hard time feeling sorry for you.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:07 amHow many times have we heard that our nation’s schoolteachers are overpaid? Oh wait . . . never.
Republicans will argue till their blue that a CEO deserves a $400,000,000 severance package even where a company’s stock is in the toilet, but God forbid a schoolteacher gets a $1,500 dollar raise or a dental plan.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:07 amAll the greedy conservatives are welcome to go jump in and become teachers and fend this thing off…..
**crickets chirping**
Thought so.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:07 ams. I agree with you. If you really believe what you say, you would support privatizing education. Vouchers, etc.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:09 amFine comments above. Remember this, the Republicans don’t value questioning, the examined life, or the truth. They are cowards that would rather have the “certainty” of a false, easily constructed reality than honestly investigate the nature of reality. That should tell you all you need to know about how they view education. To them, education is about getting skills to best screw your neighbor out of A LOT of money and then learning how to escape accountability. Their favorite “courses”: “Introspection Is So Yesterday” …or……The less thought, the more money!
February 20th, 2007 at 11:11 amComment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 10:59 am
How does the NEA bear responsibility for “the failure of the public school system”?
Do you know the sole purpose and legal responsibilities of labor unions?
You best look that up before you make any more false statements.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:11 amPaul, why do you hate America?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:14 amHaving been a teacher and a school board member, I saw the real ruin of public education coming from the public, both parents and non-parents. Not supporting the educational system in terms of discipline and financially slowly drove dedicated people to other professions. A huge percentage of teachers leave the field after five years due to a lack of respect and pay relative to other professions. The erosion of support filtered to the children who get the message that schools and teachers are not valued so education itself is not valued. Then, the effort on the part of students decreases.
Teachers should be held accountable for teaching. The students must be held accountable for learning. Parents and the public must be held accountable for support. Teachers are being used as scapegoats.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:14 am#2 paul
I say they bare only partial responsibility since there is a whole pile of factors that cause the problems in our education system, which are not endemic throughout.
The big problem I have is the tenure clause, which typically will allow teachers to slack in their duties and not be punished for it. If a teacher is not doing their job and should be fired for it, then a structure for such actions must be in place. I’m not saying remove all protections teachers have for job security, just be practical about it.
Another problem is that this country is finding it difficult to fill teaching positions. Why is this? Because teachers, with their education, can typically get into other fields that pay more and do not come with as much stress. The argument that they are paid enough and get the summer off just does not cut it. Typically, a teacher is at the school 5 days a week from 7 - 3 at the very least, often until 4 or 5 because they stay after school to help students with their school work, or help with other after school activities. On top of that they have to create lesson plans every day, not to mention grade the work of students, so typically they are working at the very least a 10 hour day.
Another problem is the fact that parents shirk all responsibility. If the kid is bad, it is the schools problem, but discipline that works is no longer allowed. I say end in school suspension. Make the parents deal with them at home for a week or two. Then that may solve some of the discipline problems.
Also, there is the lack of respect for education in this country. Look at people like Limbaugh and Coulter who scoff at academics. Their outlook is passed to many conservative parents who pass it to their children. So, getting this claptrap about minimizing the importance of education and academics must be removed from the perception of our society in order to have any chance at improving our public education system.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:14 am#2 “If we are spending so much on public education, why is the quality of education so poor?â€
I’m a former private school brat. And frankly, what gets spent on public school is peanuts compared to private schools.
That said, if you look at schools in wealthy districts, they have excellent performance, and high per-student spending. If you look at everywhere else, they’re cash-starved, and their performance sucks.
It’s a cheap and dishonest rhetorical trick to point to how much are spent on the rich suburban districts to complain about money going into the system, and then to poor districts when looking for the results of that investment.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:14 amOn C-SPAN I once saw a talk by Grover Norquist, shortly after the 2004 election, in which he acknowledged that No Child Left Behind was mainly intended to destroy confidence in the public school system so that voters would support its being replaced with state-funded private for-profit schools. He said that the strategy was essentially the same as the Social Security privatization campaign: convince the public that an institution “isn’t working” so that they will scrap it. Someone needs to find this clip and put it online. It’s important–a real key to the motives behind comments like these.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:15 amThere is an unchallenged premise here; that the public school system is failing.
I suggest the opposite premise. The public school system in the United States is providing exactly that which it is designed to provide. Paul is living proof of that. People educated such as he are easily malleable by the ruling class.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:15 amFrom their point of view, for what they want to happen, their claim is true. They want a facist totalitarian dictatorship, so teachers unions are more dangerous to them. Al Qaeda provides the fear they need to accomplish their goal.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:17 ampretty funny, functional illiterates complaining about education!
February 20th, 2007 at 11:17 amThey are both just mad because they CLEARLY didn’t have a good education themselves.
I assume they hate the teachers unions because of the liberal slant they bring… like history, facts, and science.
Because normal teachers don’t teach strict catholic teachings, then what they are choosing to teach instead must be wrong. I wonder if Hannity also hates teachers worldwide - ANYONE who teaches anything other than unquestioning loyalty to Republican presidents only, global warming is a myth, and God is real.
Lunatics.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:17 am‘Conservatives have an agenda that is focused on privatizing our public schools.’
No its about getting rid of public education so that only those who can afford it will be educated. Stupid people are easier to manipulate. people who say ‘common sense is all you need in life’ are the conservative politicians best friends. Think of life before the New Deal and you’ll get an idea of what the conservatives want. These are people who didn’t want to fight King George (the actual one not the president) and believe in an aristocracy.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:18 amIf you really believe what you say, you would support privatizing education. Vouchers, etc. — Comment by paul
Why would one support that? Charter schools have been shown to be less successful than public schools (why do you think Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” program exempts them from measurable goals?) Also, Edison Schools, the largest private school administrators, have been kicked out of many districts for poor performance. Why should I pay a private company a profit on top of what I’m already paying towards public schools when they’ve been shown to be less effective?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:19 amI believe that the government, as our founding fathers defined it, IS the people. With more people, eyes on the ball, you get more accountability. Privatisation of education puts something very fundmental to freedom in the hands of those who’s number one aim is profit. Privatization and Education cannot and should not mix. The same goes with health care. The Cons that mistrust government do not understand what Democracy is aiming for…is all about. For them, everything seems to be about profit. They fear government but trust profiteers. Go figure. We only have to run from government like the plague when folks like BushCo are in power. Even then, the solution is not to turn things over to people like them in the private sector–”for profit folks” The answer is to pull together as a society and provide education for all that is not controlled by a few, and thus corrupted and shaped to further the aims of money and power. Let’s face it, the rich have no problem keeping the poor dumb. Or for that matter, sick. Get it?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:20 amThe public education system in America is failing our children. The NEA bares (sic) the responsibility for that failure.
Comment by paul
Next you’ll be blaming the UAW for all those layoffs at the Big Three. It’s a labor union. They represent the workers in a capacity that they try to get the best working conditions possible. If you want to blame the administration of monies and policies that are ruining our schools I would suggest you look elsewhere.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:20 amI work as a substitute teacher in several public school systems. Every work day, I observe other teachers and their interaction with students. I can’t speak for all teachers and all school districts in the country, but you will never meet more committed, dedicated people anywhere.
Using teachers as scapegoats for the nation’s ills is just more shamless right wing propaganda whining. From what I’ve seen in the schools I work at, people like Boortz and Hannity should be ashamed(of course, they appear to have no conscience or sense of morality..just a need to inflate their egos and make big paychecks slandering other people who have no access to mass media).
Don’t blame the teachers. Don’t blame the NEA. Not unless you have some smoking gun evidence. Again, the teachers in the districts I work in are wonderful people. I teach in suburban Rochester, NY. Here teachers make a good living and are required to have Masters Degrees. Sure, there’s probably a few bad ones. In some parts of the country…well, I don’t know…but I bet there are some pretty hard working dedicated teachers there too…who probably don’t make much money.
Don’t knock teachers in general. That is prejudice. Prejudice. That means “pre-judging.” Very bad. Weakens your character. You could wind up a totally delusional slimball - like the Hannity and Boortz.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:21 amIt doesn’t help the school system when we get countless news stories of young female teachers taking advantage of their students. Will those stories effects schools the same way stories of priests abusing boys has hurt the church?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:21 ampaul sez:
If you’re as damaged by our public school system as you say, perhaps you’re not the best choice for teacher of your children.
Just sayin’…
February 20th, 2007 at 11:22 amRepublicans are cut-n-run on education. They don’t have a plan.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:22 amWow, Fox News had an ignorant douchebag on? Whoda thunk it?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:22 amfox accusing public schools of brainwashing wins the
February 20th, 2007 at 11:23 am‘projection/unintentionally hilarious palme d’or’.
when’s the new fox business channel starting up!
20-21-22—-great comments. So true
February 20th, 2007 at 11:25 amAnd this is EXACTLY how nazism started… George Washington set the example of what we must do to our own government when we cannot wait for justice any longer. Step by step they are goose stepping their way to that point.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:25 amThat’s beautiful!
February 20th, 2007 at 11:25 amWas this on the 1/2 Hour News Hour? I tried to watch some of that but I counldn’t get through it all.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:27 amPaul,
You and people like you bare the responsiblity for the failure of public schools.
You listen to the non sense of GOP and run around like a chicken with its head cut off.
You want to cut taxes for the rich which in turn pushes more of the tax load onto the local tax payers in the form of property taxes. You want lower taxes force the rich and corporation to pay their proper share of taxes.
The GOP has sold you and other Republicans a bill of good that are corrupt in their principle and rotten to the core.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:28 amGood thing no-one watches this crap anyway.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:28 amFox Noise Channel makes much more sense when you add a laugh track like Keith Olbermann did last night.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:28 amThis is a red herring, a despicable and slimy one, but a red herring none the less. This boortz character is irrelevant and only the truly ignorant would listen to him (which is why hannity looks so enthralled and why paul is sporting such wood).
Everyone knows that a key hot button for progressives and democrats is equitable, valuable, and available education. Someone is pushing this button to try and detract from the following:
- Iraq invasion shut down
- Abandonment of veterans
- The lyin’ and cheatin’ administration
- IRAN!
If you fall for this then you too will be “homeschooled” by the likes of paul.
By the way, Chevrolet and BMW are both sponsors of boortz. If you own either brand of vehicle, be sure and spit in the teacher’s face the next time you go to pick up your child.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:33 amnot to distract from the fox war on parody, but didn’t the previous sec. of ed. call the teachers terrorists as well?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:35 amI tried to watch the 1/2 Hour News Comedy Show just to see what they were saying. It was like a mean spirited Hee Haw without the pretty sluts and no country music, to break up the bad jokes.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:36 am#23 - “the public school system is failing.”
EVERYTHING IN AMERICA IS FAILING! Health care, our environment, widdling down the number of homeless, increasing our stance in the world, competing with the world (in terms of things like car exports, etc…)
Kids are more stupid than I’ve ever remembered - now that we have stores and songs and everything else in the mainstream being spelled wrong on purpose. We have kids not realizing that they are writing “ur” instead of “your” in school papers.
We’re a nation that turns on the TV to watch crap like American Idol, Americas Funniest Home Videos, and Real World to keep us like vegetables. We’re overweight slobs. Lazy. Idiotic.
The look and mindset of our government represents the American people fairly accurately. Stupid, pasty, lying, drug using scum.
America and Americans suck - the world knows it.
When was America ACTUALLY the greatest nation? Hasn’t it always been a myth? Our ancestors came and killed the native Americans. We had wars of all kinds with other countries and ourselves. We enslaved Africans, we kept women from voting.
We STILL have sexism and racism running rampant in many parts of the country. We elect Arnold Shwartzenegger and George W. Bush to positions of power.
Our girls go wild, our boys are raped by clergymen.
We settle for the Windows operating system, no matter the viruses and freezing. Because we’re lazy and cheap, and don’t want to work for something better.
We’re snobby and stuck up, and at the same time illiterate. Malnourished. We want to teach ID instead of natural selection. We listen to Clay Aiken.
We still have countless ghettos and poor people. New Orleans has never been repaired as promised.
We spend $7,000 on minerals from the earth, but refuse to spend any money to keep the earth in good health.
We’re gas guzzling, fast food eating, science disbelieving jerks. We’re childish - we name French Fries Freedom Fries even though fries are from Belgium.
We spend money pimping our cars, but put nothing into helping our community. We kill each other for a necklace.
The list goes on, and on, and on, and on and…..
I am not saying that all Americans are like this. Nor am I saying it’s only Americans. But… when looking around at the US and then other countries - we don’t look too good, do we?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:36 amSomeone didn’t like reading hour in grade school….
They say “Do well in school so you don’t have to work construction. But if that doesn’t work out you can always do FOX news.”
February 20th, 2007 at 11:42 amHere’s another dose of reality:
The amount of red-tape and hurdles one must go through to become a teacher in California has convinced a lot of people to choose other careers.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:43 amregarding #31 from Chuck
Which suburb are you in, if I may ask? My dad retired from the Fairport schools a while back.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:44 amAnother thread with great post’s….I agree with you (s) and many others….What I find very disterbing is the constant use of terrorests terms from the reich…..According to all of them any thinking person that does not believe and agree with their garbage is an alquida or terrorests….They are using these word’s on every one these day’s…What the hell is that all about.?….Blessings
February 20th, 2007 at 11:44 amYeah, it’s really a bitch that our kids are learning critical thinking skills and taught the scientific methods that drive their curiousity to explore and seek answers.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:44 amA real bitch that they’re not robotic automatons that are ready to swill whatever kool-aid Rush, Bush and Jimmy Jones tell them to.
And the freak show marches on.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:46 amsick stupid f*ckers…..the minute they roll out non-union teachers is the minute i start homeschooling my kids.
deregulation, by any other name, is a screwing for most of us. has been in every other area, and sure as hell will be with education.
i’d like to see boortz and norquist beaten against each other until music comes out or they shut up, whichever comes first.
the “our schools are failing” argument is nothing but bullshit. parents with kids in school all know this, because all our kids are getting a better education than we did, especially in math and science - are we behind some other countries - yes - but that’s because of deep cuts by REPUBLICAN’TS to education, not because the teachers belong to a union.
if you think unions are a “problem” for anyone, you’ve got your head twisted on backwards from lapping up propaganda - i’m sure your teachers told you to do a little more research before coming to dramatic conclusions.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:47 amThe right wing War on Intelligence continues…
February 20th, 2007 at 11:53 amYeah Sharon and RUcurious. I agree. There are different views, to be sure, about what it means to be truly alive. Some think it means to BE ALIVE. To live in the present moment fully, to be responsible, to search, to love, to work. Others, due to their own obstructions and fears want to claim a spot where they can feel “untouchable” by the uncertainties in life. ( impossible of couse but that doesn’t stop them) They are the destrucitve head in the sand folks. I feel that the lust for power is really about this-a desperation for some kind of safety..to hell with everyone else. And people like this view others as “product” or “threats” or “just plain IN THE WAY” These people cannot be entrusted with the education of American children.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:53 amOk, first Boortz is not a right winger. He is a libertarian. When was the last time you heard a right winger support gay marriage, was for the legalization of drugs and prostitution, or that was pro-choice?
Now, how about if we let the public school system teaches our children Math, English, Reading Comprehension, and Civics. Spanish Class should be an elective, not a requirement, as it is here. They can stop teaching about “family values” and “morals”. I am in the best position to tell my kids why “Heather has Two Mommy’s”, not the schools.
Teaching social issues detracts from the purpose of the schools. Public schools feed our kids high carbohydrate meals for lunch, then do not give them sufficient time to (recess, Phys Ed class) to burn it off. Then the same schools complain about childhood obesity. Anyone else see the irony here?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:53 amAh - so first I am a terrorist, now I’m worse than Al Queda simply because I’m a teacher and I encourage my students to think rather than blindly listen to blowhards such as this aptly named BOORtz.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:54 amI see the threat that thinking might have on Faux “news” ratings, as well as far-right wingnut radio shows. Guess I’m more dangerous than I thought.
s- Great post.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:57 amComment by Anonymous By Choice
Do you live in the US? If so, I will help take up a collection so you can relocate to a place more fitting.
and yes, I am serious.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:57 am#47 AMEN
February 20th, 2007 at 11:58 amBob, I thought you were in Iraq?
February 20th, 2007 at 11:58 amIs spanish a requirement for Iraqi kids?
Uh,…. Bob…
February 20th, 2007 at 11:59 amWhy aren’t you packing your kid a nutritious meal in a lunchbox?
TripMaster Monkey. Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m okay. The issue is the amount of money we are spending on education and its relation to the end product. Many lament our academic standing in the world despite the relative high per captia spending.
The concern I have is not for me or my family. It is for the future of America. Concern for people of all income levels to have choice. I contend that the answer is not more money, but competitive forces.
Think about it. Image if the government mandated there be one significant car manufacturer that was subsidized by your tax dollars. The size and color of your car was determined by where you lived. Sure you could buy a privately produced car, but the only options cost $70,000 and up, and you still pay the taxes for the inferior car that you won’t drive because it isn’t safe. You could complain to the dealership, but they understand your complaints don’t matter. No matter what you do, they’ll get your money. Why should they work to make better cars, there’s nothing in it for them.
The lack of incentive to perform in our education system is the real limitation to improving it. Public education is as close to communism (not a negative slight, but a real assessment) that we have in this country. What made/makes our society great are free market forces. Let’s apply them to public education.
By the way, I don’t begrudge anyone living in a half a million dollar house. They worked hard and earned it. I’ve got a nice house I like, but half the taxes are paid on rental properties. I feel good about providing people with a place to live. I could manage more properties, if the tax burden wasn’t so great.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:00 pmThe only “problem” I see with public schools are the layer upon layer of administration. That’s not a union problem. There are some great school administrators, but the ratio of admins to teachers is pretty hosed up.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:04 pmComment by RUCerious — February 20, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Who said I was in Iraq? I am at Camp Lejeune, NC. I have done 2 tours in Iraq. I think you may have misunderstood something.
Uh,…. Bob…
Why aren’t you packing your kid a nutritious meal in a lunchbox?
Comment by RUCerious — February 20, 2007 @ 11:59 am
3 out of 5 days I do. The wife and I also fix breakfast for them and we all sit down to dinner together every night I am home.
Strange thing, I actually do what a parent is supposed to do.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:05 pmThe only “problem†I see with public schools are the layer upon layer of administration. That’s not a union problem. There are some great school administrators, but the ratio of admins to teachers is pretty hosed up.
I do agree that there is way too much administration in the school system.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:06 pmSorry Bob, I thought you were still over there.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pmSo if you are packing your kids lunch, why are you all fussed up about the lunch menu?
What have you, as a parent and participant, done about your perceived problem?
#64 paul
there is a difference between communism and socialism. communism is a form of socialism, like a square is a rectangle, but socialism is not communism, the same as a rectangle is not a square. Public schooling is inherently socialist, not communist.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pmTo be successful, a country needs a balance of capitalism and socialism. A little socialism is good in our society, especially in schools because it allows everyone an equal chance at acquiring the tools they need to become successful in society. Applying market forces to every system in society is dumb and will just create part of a population which is more money grubbing than currently, and the other part will be locked out of a chance to succeed because they cannot afford an education. The moment you create a system of privatized schools, dependent on market forces and allow profit will mean the top priority of those schools will be profit and not education, and the price of education will soar far beyond what public schools needed to operate.
What is this guy drinking? Are you kidding me? How twisted these reighwingnuts thought processes are! They’re precisely the ones to be worried about - not the teachers - unless, of course, the teachers are teaching children about what “democracy” is all about - something these nutcases abhor. Too much!
February 20th, 2007 at 12:09 pmKeep talking, Wingnuts! Help America see you as the loonies you truly are!
February 20th, 2007 at 12:11 pmI wuz homeskewlt en I ternt out jes fine. I wuz edumacated to some good ol cuntry twangin, woooo dogggy! Me hot sis went to dat der public skewl were their is some teachas dat thunk theys outta get paid er sompin, dad blame dem dare commie pinkos!
February 20th, 2007 at 12:12 pmI’d like to see Boortz say that in front of the NEA annual meeting. Coward.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:19 pmRE: Paul’s statement: “The concern I have is not for me or my family. It is for the future of America.” Right Paul. Uh huh.
You wouldn’t know what America is really about if it bit ya. You don’t listen, you don’t think, you don’t question.
You don’t even understand what real freedom is. It is not the kind of “freedom” our coroporate masters are presently offering and spinning. You are not educated on how the corporate, conservative masters, spin and maniuplate the game so that the middle class is squeezed out. You still think it’s a “free” market place. Get an education. Please
February 20th, 2007 at 12:20 pmThe problem with the school system is that it’s basically a government run monopoly. What do you get with big monopolies? Mediocre results.
Without competition and accountability, nothing will change. The school system is a beast that consumes money for the sake of consuming money. They’re also trying to guarantee outcome instead of guaranteeing opportunity. Because lets face it, not all kids are going to achieve the same results.
Lots of noise has been made about the exit exam, but what about having an entrance exam? Instead of promoting kids automatically from grade to grade, lets test them to make sure they’re ready to be in the same classroom as other kids. Why hold back the other kids who are ready?
February 20th, 2007 at 12:21 pmAnd another thing PAUL!!!……
“No man is an island.” That probably doesn’t make much sense to you. Anything that has to do with community efforts….is “commy” to you. There don’t seem to be any grey areas guy. Let me explain a bit: You drive on a road that the government ( in the best of times…. that is we the people) , with all of our dollars, provided. Everything you do all day is dependent on the efforts of others. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are independent. In a sense, yes. But the whole conservative NONSENSE and cowboy mentality is DEAD. I’m not advocating the scene in Dr. Zivago (which you probably don’t know about cause of your education level) where Zivagos’ home was taken over by the masses either.
God I’m sick of people that are too lazy to think and thus cause so very much damage to everyone else.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:25 pmThis is why americans are so fucking stupid!!! Why do guys like this get so much attention in this country?? This man added NOTHING to the debate. Iraq is the issue and what’s being done in Iraw in our name is what going to come home to roost!!!
February 20th, 2007 at 12:28 pm[…] Neal Boortz) Would Sean Hannity work with Osama bin Laden to destroy teacher’s unions? What’s worse: A teacher’s union or al Qaeda? SEAN HANNITY: Alright, let me ask you. Because, you — when you said about the Department of […]
February 20th, 2007 at 12:29 pmThis thread would not be here at all if more money was spent on our school’s, teachers and education system instead of the industrial war monger’s…..Our senior’s and poor are strugeling, schools are crumbling, teachers are leaving the profesion and our vet’s are being kicked to the curb…The cause is the reich winged thieves that have stolen from all services to feed the top 2% more profit and bulging bank account’s….Can we work together to return sanety and non violance to our society.? I hope so….Support teachers and all the good causes..Dump the republican’s and the war mentalety..Let’s work together to rebuild our nation..Blessings
February 20th, 2007 at 12:29 pm#64,
Your ignorance has just blossomed into total absurdity. What’s best about it, is that you did it to yourself.
You want a “privatization” of education because “competitiveness” solves all. Then, you start using the auto industry as an example not realizing how great an example that it is.
How is the auto industry doing, by the way? For the last 15 years the US auto industry has gone balls out for profit. SUVs and other environmental catastrophes have dominated their line up.
Were they thinking about the best interests of their customers or society? No.
Were they looking forward. No.
Were they even providing the best product for their consumers? No.
All that they were after were profits. And look what it got them. 100,000’s laid off. Billions of dollars lost. Companies collapsing and looking to desperate mergers to save themselves. Who is the number one automotive manufacturer in the US market by the way? (I’ll give you a hint: It starts with a “T” and ends with an “oyota”)
That’s the model that you want for an education system? Good lord!
February 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pm[…] nutjob Neal Boortz claims that teachers unions are “much more dangerous than al Qaeda.” This is encouraging because, typically, teachers have been on my side in most matters, and […]
February 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pmIt would not be much of a stretch to compare the current administration to Al Qaeda.
I’ll lead off. The current administration has done more harm to America and Americans than Al Qaeda. It would take a very long time for Al Qaeda to kill us all or even do significant damage. However, the current administration can wreak havoc in a matter of days. There, see how easy it is.
The only difference being that the current administration and its neocon underpinnings actually wish to relegate all Americans to it’s dictatorial power. At the moment the administration is lining up all of the ducks so the purse strings of liberty can be drawn tight, extinquishing your liberty and mine.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:37 pmComment by RUCerious — February 20, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
First, I live on base, so my children go to school on base. The education is more about academic education and less about social education. They do teach the required science, civics/social studied, math, etc. But they leave out the “lets talk about gay penguins” stuff. That is for parents to teach, not the schools.
So, I basically took my kids out of the public education system. That is how I solved my problems.
Oh, and my oldest has received the Presidents Award For Academic Excellence, placing her in the top 10% nationally for her grade level.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:39 pmTuber. You are delusional. The issue is about choice. Let me sum it up with an example.
Would you rather be limited to driving a Yugo or would you rather be able to choose from hundreds of automobiles, and drive the one that best suits you needs. Arguably, every one of those choices would be of better quality than any automobile produced by communism.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:40 pmPaul is a sucker for the top boys. He doesn’t know he’s been played but those that have fed him his belief in the “free” market. Home School away P.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:44 pmDespite some of your sorely misinformed opinions about Microsoft I do agree with most of the other opinions on here about our schools… once I look for solutions just like Microsoft does… and stuff like what is in this article is what we need to be doing. Totally changing the concept of schools. Instead study how humans can best learn in this modern world…
http://abcnews.go.com/ Technology/ Business/ story?id=1049526&page=1
February 20th, 2007 at 12:45 pmI had a similar conversation with a right wing friend of mine several years ago. He is the type to say that he does not support Bush 100% but defends every action Bush makes. Anyhow the substance of our discussion was that I said Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Fox News, Ann Coulter etc… were a greater threat to America and our way of life than OBL and AlQueda. My position is that the rightwing propaganda machine has the ability to completely subvert our national identity and convert view we have of many long held American values and absolutely undermine them to a point where the government could alter those ideals with barely a whimper of protest. On the other hand all AlQueda has the ability to do is kill our citizens. They have no ability to overthrow our government, subvert our system, take us over in any fashion. This was back in 2001/2002 long before we invaded Iraq. In hindsight I would say that as of today my position is holding more true than his. Torture, invading non-threatening nations, lack of personal responsibility in our leaders, the death of habeus corpus, domestic warrentless spying, detention without charge or trial etc… and many other topics are far more acceptable today than they were 6 years ago. I attribute this as much to the rightwing propaganda machine as anything.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:45 pmI have said this before about Boortz and will say it again every time he insists on making an idiot of himself — if you remove the fifth and sixth letters from his last name, it describes him perfectly. He’s a BOOR.
The country is in greater danger from teachers’ unions than it is from al-Qaeda?!? Puh-leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze…give me a break already!! Granted, teachers have a lot of power to influence children — but they don’t have nearly as much influence as the children’s parents (and/or primary caregivers) do. It’s convenient for conservatives to heap all the blame for the so-called “destruction of a generation” on teachers, but at least some of the blame belongs squarely on the shoulders of parents who seem to have abdicated their own responsibilities as teachers. As an example, I think that one of the most important lessons a parent can teach their child is how to love learning and appreciate education for its own sake since this will help encourage a child to do well in school and make it that much easier for the teacher to do his or her job.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:50 pmCost vs Score
February 20th, 2007 at 12:51 pmhttp://bp1.blogger.com/ _CQyU4ayBifw/ RdTqTOgvq5I/ AAAAAAAAABI/ y4xpt0wAVzw/ s1600-h/ spending_schools.jpg
It is unfair to compare teacher’s unions with terror organizations, but it is fair to ask: “If we are spending so much on public education, why is the quality of education so poor?â€
Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Because:
1. Parents aren’t doing their jobs in many cases. They let their children run the home, and that means that many teachers end up dealing with behaviour problems more than they should - which impares the quality of education in the classroom.
If I suggest my students read something of tehir own volition - they groan. 90% of them go home and play video games, watch television and goof off. As long as most parents condone this, work ethic suffers in the classroom.
2. No Child Left Behind and other standardized testing that plays to the lowest common denominator. It teaches kids to memorize pointless facts that they will forget after the test and wastes their time. We need to be teaching them critical thinking skills instead.
3. The job pays so low that people who study teaching in college generally have the lowest SAT scores. I’ve heard horror stories, and after two years in the profession, I can tell you that the teachers are as much of a product of the low quality education as the students are.
4. Your taxes don’t go to the kids as much as you would like to think…. Go to a few Board meetings to find out where it does go (will require critical thinking skills to read beyond the obvious).
Just my two cents…
February 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pmPaul its not about driving a car.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pmBobbo, congrats on your daughter’s excellence!
Are the teachers at the base school involving you in your children’s education to the level you are satisfied with?
February 20th, 2007 at 12:52 pms. These are your words:
paul darlin, The reason our public education system is failing, regardless of the mone spent, is because we have a cabal of corrupt dumb as dirt politicians running the show. These people in power do not like the reasoning process…the real process of education. They prefer the canned variety and they are not at all ( truly) concerned with our children. They are concerned with power. Hope that clears it up for you sweets.
I may be a sucker for the top boys; but I am having a little trouble reconciling your lament of the current state of the public education system without appreciation for the circumstances that caused it. The NEA opposes choice, as it challenges the power of the NEA. In a free market, it’s the consumer that guides choice. If parents were allowed to take the money from the ‘cabal of corrupt dumb as dirt politicians running the show’ and take the money to school’s that addressed true needs of the children, wouldn’t that solve the problem’s you are so cognizant of?
February 20th, 2007 at 12:55 pm#80,
You say I’m delusional, interesting. You want education to be run as businesses. Here are a couple of undeniable facts about businesses:
- Their prime motivation is profit, not producing the highest quality product for the consumer..
- Businesses fail. And when they do, the customers are left without a source and the employees are screwed (Enron anybody?)
Education is not a “product”, it is an obligation to our children. You want to whore out the nation’s children for profits. You might as well start pimping your kids off to the Foleys and Haggards and Limbaughs of the world. I’m sure you can make a bundle.
It’s disappointing that you cannot see this. But, quite frankly, I am most sorry for your children. If it is a delusion that children should always be put before profit, then I will gladly remain “delusional” in your eyes.
May your children survive your arrogance and avarice.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:55 pmSharon. Right on.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:55 pmIt’s a freakin disgrace how this society values (pays) its teachers, from K-12 through CCs.
You can tell a lot about a society from how it values different professions.
In West African tribes, the griot (story teller) and musicians are revered professions.
In this country lawyers and doctors make the most money, but professional sports players and “rock stars” are what are paid the most.
What a freakin set of values.
Wow, that is a good one! The teachers union is a terrorist organization because they work very hard to try to get provide a decent education for all children in this country.
The thing that is ruining our schools is Bush’s so-called “no child left behind” underfunded program. The teachers are now required to basically “teach to the test”. They spend so much time teaching to the test, they don’t have much time left over to teach students things they will need to know to survive well in this world.
February 20th, 2007 at 12:59 pmunbelievable. I appreciate what you do. I will also concede that it is a societal problem that teachers are being saddled with parental responsibilities. I just believe choice and free market are the answer.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:01 pmBut, as many here are fond of pointing out, you can support the troops without supporting the mission. The best thing we could do for teachers is to abandon the failed effort.
Yes, they can beat your ass with your rulers, really dangerous.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:01 pmI thought of another factor:
5. Football
While I love football, it dictates a lot. It eats a lot of tax money money, and the coaches are rarely decent teachers (since they are there to be coaches first). Plus the coaches get too much input into school policy.
Also, we treat high school students like elementary school children. 86% of students who drop out of high school are not failing any subject. They leave because of the irrelevancy…
February 20th, 2007 at 1:03 pmPaul, it’s not worth discussing with you. In my view, you don’t get it. I will say this. The public education system, in order not to fail, needs more money, federal support, and less restrictions such as mandatory testing put into place with No Child Left Behind, which is a covert way of destroying an open educational system. Tried to sneak “Brownie” somehow into the post but I’ll leave that to you.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:03 pmThey are concerned with power.
Comment by s — February 20, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Nail on the head!
February 20th, 2007 at 1:04 pmComment by RUCerious — February 20, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
For the most part. There is an “Open Classroom” environment and parents are encouraged to drop in unannounced (provided they check in with the office.) From my 5 year olds class, we get DAILY feedback in a folder and a weekly newsletter announcing what will be covered that week.
My 12y/o (award winner) brings home a planner daily that we are required to read/sign as well as progress reports and quarterly conferences. We are also allowed to “opt out” of any subject matter we feel is inappropriate.
There is a lot of give and take between parents and the schools. More than I experienced when my kids were “out in town”.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:07 pmAll the greedy conservatives are welcome to go jump in and become teachers and fend this thing off…..
Comment by ForTruth — February 20, 2007 @ 11:07 am
If I had a dollar for every greedy neocon who insulted me for doing just that, I wouldn’t need a pay increase :)
Seriously… They look at me like I’m crazy for leaving a $75K a year job for one that pays $30K less, even though I hated the better paying one and love teaching… All they care about is hoarding money.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:07 pmEducation is not a “productâ€, it is an obligation to our children.
At a private school, education is a product.
Let me ask you this. If you could educate you kid at a private school without having to pay any more for it, would you?
The education is better, because the administrators have to perform to meet enrollment.
Free markets are not evil, despite what you have been told. Ask eastern Europeans how good the alternative is.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:08 pmIf you really believe what you say, you would support privatizing education. Vouchers, etc.
Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 11:09 am
No paul - the way to fix the system is by fixing it - not abandoning it…
Private education is inferior. Go do the research. Private teachers get paid even less and are held to no professional standards… So they can make up anything they want, teach it and not be held accountable for spreading misinformation.
No - the solution is to fix the system we have.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:10 pmA huge percentage of teachers leave the field after five years due to a lack of respect and pay relative to other professions.
I heard it was 1 in 5. 20% attrition rate in the first five years is not a good sign, and so what does the DOE do to fix it? Make it worse… We got timeclocks this year…
Teachers should be held accountable for teaching. The students must be held accountable for learning. Parents and the public must be held accountable for support. Teachers are being used as scapegoats.
Comment by PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) — February 20, 2007 @ 11:14 am
Well said!
February 20th, 2007 at 1:14 pmOK, neocons, see if you can answer these:
1. What factor has been shown to be overwhelmingly predictive of student performance in school?
2. Why can’t private schools and public schools be meaningfully compared in terms of student performance?
February 20th, 2007 at 1:16 pmRUCerious, Yup! and Thank’s for the notice…..When I had children in school it was a partnership and when voting for school’s it was a must….Sadly to many parent’s do not support teachers and treat them like baby sitter’s..These same parent’s often do not parent either….Our society has become lazy and that has caused a lot of our problem’s like the reich taking over everything and robbing us blind…
On another note summers on the way and You, Krazny and I must figure out where we can join up for a glass of wine and polatics..How did your viset with the representatives go the other day.? Sorry to be OT…Blessings all
February 20th, 2007 at 1:18 pmIt’s not a monopoloy. There are plenty of private schools- and public schools. And believe me, they all compete. Moreover, it’s the teachers that matter!!! Up their salary and there is the competition you desire. I hate it when people use communism like it’s some hot-word but not really applicable to the situation (by the way, check out Cuba’s educational system). Education should be available to the public , and teachers should be better paid. Also, this constant testing has damaged teacher’s abilities to teach creativity in addressing problems rather than simply crunching numbers.
And with all who compare the right-wing propoganda machine to AlQueda- no shit.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:19 pmFree markets are not evil, despite what you have been told. Ask eastern Europeans how good the alternative is.
Comment by paul
And where do we find these mythical free markets? Surely you’re not referring to the American system? Need I go through the various instances when govrnment stepped in to protect businesses and stifle competition? Or the instances in which capitalist entities colluded to suppress the “free market?” What country do we go to to find this outside-influence-free environment? Or admit that your free market faith is based upon a lie; that we have a so-called free market environment in the US.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:20 pmOf course right-wing radio hosts believe teachers unions are much more dangerous than Al Qaeda!
Groups that teach people to use their mind and think are extremely dangerous to right-wing radio hosts, because that means they will have fewer possible listeners!
February 20th, 2007 at 1:23 pmI appreciate what you do.
Thanks
I will also concede that it is a societal problem that teachers are being saddled with parental responsibilities. I just believe choice and free market are the answer.
Of course you think that’s the answer - you haven’t worked in the school system to see that it’s not. We want to keep it under the eye of government where there is accountability - and money is not the priority.
The best thing we could do for teachers is to abandon the failed effort.
Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Being a teacher, I disagree. Because the problem isn’t teaching - it’s our culture. And good luck in changing that over night…
February 20th, 2007 at 1:25 pmFear knowledge, and build on ignorance.
The Republican mantra…
February 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pmRUcerious, I’m glad about your oldest but you know that doesn’t necessarily mean anything about the school system. I consistently was scored in the top one percent in the nation, and I was a public school kid from the ghetto. Plus, others tend to catch up in college. The real problem for me was that public school was such a damn waste of time (many bad teachers, teaching to the test), and parents (and the media) weren’t instilling their children with a value of and love of education. It’s hard for teachers to deal with a huge classroom (oh, there’s funding, too! why do they have 40 kid classes again?) of children who don’t respect them and what they’re trying to do… thus things get dumbed down quite a bit. I wouldn’t mind of public school rules were more strictly enforced… in that, kids can be failed, instead of passed up through the grades without having to try at all. With the type of slacking that goes on, repeating years should be common experience until kids learn to take their education seriously (again, they would also probably not slack as much if the classes were smaller).
February 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pmAt a private school, education is a product. Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
So is compost, but you wouldn’t serve it on your dinner table. Calling something a product doesn’t make it better.
Let me ask you this. If you could educate you kid at a private school without having to pay any more for it, would you? Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
That depends on the needs of the child, the particular school and whether the child could get enrolled. You really don’t know anything about private or public education do you? Typical conservative. You want to throw out a system you don’t even understand.
The education is better, because the administrators have to perform to meet enrollment. Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
The education is not better. Private schools can often restrict enrollment, including not accepting poor performing students or disruptive students. These are the students that bring down the standard averages - yet we commit to educating them in public schools. In statistics, this is called the student-level covariates. The NCES in the US Government did an exhaustive study on this topic recently, and guess what they found.
In English paul, when you remove the poor performers and special needs children, and those students that the private schools won’t teach - the test scores are basically identical.
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2006/ 07/ 15/ education/ 15report.html?ex=1310616000&en=abe9690ed35b306f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
http://nces.ed.gov/ nationsreportcard/ pdf/ studies/ 2006461.pdf
The study also found that students in Conservative Christian schools lagged significantly behind their counterparts in public schools on eighth-grade math. Great huh? I’m shocked that Christians would fall behind in math, considering it’s about logic, and reason - especially based on your posts *cough* NOT!
Free markets are not evil, despite what you have been told. Ask eastern Europeans how good the alternative is. Comment by paul — February 20, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
They aren’t evil, but they aren’t perfect, or even better like you believe them to be. I suggest you ask the poor Eastern Europeans how their education is paul.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:28 pm1. What factor has been shown to be overwhelmingly predictive of student performance in school?
Answer: parental involvement and investment in eduction. You don’t like the outcomes of public education? Blame the parents for the bulk of the problem and quit taking money from the schools which are providing for those parents and students who do care.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:30 pm2. Why can’t private schools and public schools be meaningfully compared in terms of student performance?
ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus has the answer and it bears repeating: Private schools can often restrict enrollment, including not accepting poor performing students or disruptive students. These are the students that bring down the standard averages - yet we commit to educating them in public schools.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:36 pmIt doesn’t help the school system when we get countless news stories of young female teachers taking advantage of their students.
Comment by Anonymous By Choice — February 20, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Countless? There have been a few. And most of those women were mentally ill.
Besides, I’ve seen high school juniors and seniors pursue their teachers. It’s a conquest for them…
February 20th, 2007 at 1:36 pmWhy do conservatives bash public schools? Because the teachers and administrators are more often progressive and liberal people whose organizations back Democratic political candidates. They don’t care about the education, they care about the power.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:36 pmI suggest you ask the poor Eastern Europeans how their education is paul.
Comment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — February 20, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
Excellent post!
February 20th, 2007 at 1:40 pm#19 - Right on the nail. I couldn’t say it better myself.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pmPrivate schools can often restrict enrollment, including not accepting poor performing students or disruptive students. You assume that in a marketplace where more specializes schools can compete and make money by educating poor performing or disruptive students, that they will forego the opportunity? That’s naive. Don’t you also understand that if those student’s needs were better served by profitable specialized schools, the dilemma of ‘teaching to the lowest common denominator’ of today’s more generalized (one size fits all/yugo) schools; abates?
February 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pmThe Conservatives in charge of my state have made teachers unions illegal.
Georgia is less “educated” than all of the states with teacher’s unions except California…
http://www.morganquitno.com/edrank.htm
February 20th, 2007 at 1:44 pmIf you want to KNOW the agenda of the NEA and many public school administrators, check out a little book called “None Dare Call it Treason” by John Stormer (1964). The agenda includes is subtle, steady and subversive. The book highlights the goals of the Left, using their own words with regard to: labor, education, religious institutions, the media, parental authority, etc. (After reading the book, I finally understand why the Left has adopted the “progressive” moniker.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:47 pmEveryone, be they parents, non-parents, religious or non-religious, has a stake in making sure our republic is an educated republic. Our economy, national defense, public safety, political system, industrial might, healthcare, scientific communities and high technology all depend on competent, educated people.
Instead of working to improve and maintain the educational system we have, in which everyone pools resources for the common good of a well-educated public, the conservative right wants to dismantle it altogether in favor of a system where presumably only those who can afford to educate their children may do so.
I wish I could have seen the rest of the interview, because I really want to see Boortz to cite evidence on how destructive to society our public education system has been. If teacher’s unions are more dangerous than Islamic terror, why hasn’t our entire social system broken down into complete, chaotic mayhem? The whole of America should resemble the streets of Baghdad or Pinoche-era Chile if Boortz’s assertion held any water.
Declaring education to be a privilege instead of a right, as the conservatives want to do, is the real danger to our social system. It’s not surprising, given their overall view that America is better off as a two-class system of haves and have nots.
The big question that conservatives need to answer is this: What kind of effects would a conservative, privilege-based education system have on literacy rates, our skilled labor, our economy, and our competitive edge in the world marketplace?
February 20th, 2007 at 1:48 pm[…] to last night on Sean Hannity’s Fox News program: SEAN HANNITY: Alright, let me ask you. Because, you — when you said about the Department of […]
February 20th, 2007 at 1:48 pmLet me match up these two. Both pro public school, progressive posts. You still won’t get it, but here goes.
Why do conservatives bash public schools? Because the teachers and administrators are more often progressive and liberal people whose organizations back Democratic political candidates.
paul darlin, The reason our public education system is failing, regardless of the mone spent, is because we have a cabal of corrupt dumb as dirt politicians running the show. These people in power do not like the reasoning process…the real process of education. They prefer the canned variety and they are not at all ( truly) concerned with our children. They are concerned with power. Hope that clears it up for you sweets.
You recognize the problem. You recognize the ideology that is responsible for the problem. But, when you realize the solution doesn’t marry up with the progressive agenda, you resist it at all costs. In ten years and much more money, when you wonder why are schools are still failing, there’s your answer.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:49 pm“None Dare Call it Treason†by John Stormer (1964).
Comment by valiant venus — February 20, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
I hate to break it to you - but this is 2007.
February 20th, 2007 at 1:50 pmIf you want to KNOW the agenda of the NEA and many public school administrators, check out a little book called “None Dare Call it Treason†by John Stormer (1964). Comment by valiant venus — February 20, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
I was expecting Ann Coulter’s Anorexic shadow, and here you are!!! I suggest you check out a little book called Mein Kampf, as it will help explain to you where your values come from.
The agenda includes is subtle, steady and subversive. The book highlights the goals of the Left, using their own words with regard to: labor, education, religious institutions, the media, parental authority, etc. (After reading the book, I finally understand why the Left has adopted the “progressive†moniker. Comment by valiant venus — February 20, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
The agenda of Mein Kampf is anti-union, calls any unions, labor or free thinking ’subversive and subtle’. Yet you don’t understand where your own ideology comes from! Amusing grasshopper! With such a big mouth, you’d think you’d find time to eat, and