They think the schools where they live and the schools where their kids go are great. But they want to fix the OTHER schools, like the district in the nearest urban center.
Here is a piece from a right wing whacko here in this area who was homeschooled and has spent much of his time as a state senator talking about reforming education. I am not knocking homeschooling but I can't help but wonder how much he even understands about traditional public schools if he never attended one. And of course he says the schools in HIS district are great. It's the rest of the schools in the state that need fixin.
(By the way, this senator is a member of the church featured in the movie JESUS CAMP)
He wants to eliminate bad teachers by firing 15% of teachers, implement merit pay and add year-round education.
http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/17970#comment-53600So I did a little research. Turns out the schools in his district are NOT all that great. Their test scores are down. Oops.
So my proposal to him is to start those reforms in HIS district. Let's have 15% of the teachers fired who teach the kids who live in his district. Let's take tenure away from the rest of them. Put them all on merit pay.
Then he can get back to us and let us know how it worked out - in HIS district. :)