In the distant past it was called "New Math" and was beyond comprehension (I learned "Old Math"). But now, even more, educators are funded by the Federal Government. Its not just getting rid of Common Core - its getting rid of the Department of Education!
Local school boards are union-dominated. If the schools were privately owned, they would have to make the parents happy just like the car companies make their customers happy - one at a time.. As it is now, only the unions are happy with the status quo.
I understand your position, and I am mostly sympathetic to it.
But it takes the ability for the local community to tax all of it's property owners, to raise the necessary funds to provide a good education to EVERY school aged child.
If all local schools were privately owned, only the parents of the students attending would be footing the school's bills. This is a very small demography, so the per student fees would be extremely high...just as private schools are today. This leaves an extremely large percentage of school aged children unable to attend.
Maybe the local government can subsidize those families that cannot pay the fees. This could look a lot like the charter school situation that we already have in Florida (thanks Jeb). This would leave the schools independent, and competing for their students. But it would still need a large tax base to work....
Home schooling is one option...but only for the households that have someone free to do the tutoring. The majority of today's parents are both working, so the logistics become overwhelming. In the minority community, the latest single parent household statistic answers that question....
Locally funded schools seems to be the answer, and I suspect that every community already has this up and running. What they need to do is say "no" to Federal funding, and adjust their budgets accordingly.
I agree with you that funding private education is not going to be easy. The problem with public funding is that there is no free market competition to force the boards to "... adjust their budgets accordingly". I believe that privately-owned schools would operate just like the car companies. The Treat-Every-child-Alike approach just isn't working. I read somewhere that 7000 students per day drop out of high schools and America;s global rating in math and science is dismal.
Charter schools answer your concerns...they compete for their students, and will only survive by being fiscally responsible. They are also free of union oppression.
Let me add that in my area, we had at least one charter school have to shut their doors for failing to attract enough students to make their budget. They failed just like any private business can....
Florida's charter schools are the envy of the other states....
"We're going to decompose our 6..." Can we just decompose Commie Core already!? The best way to do that is to get the government entirely out of the ed business. We're paying for this crap!
That decomposing 6 smells a bit off...perhaps we should just stick to 'I have 9 apples, then I pick 6 more, how many apples do I have?'. I think that is how we have learned addition since the invention of agriculture.
My professional life is built on a foundation of math. When I learn new facets of Common Core math and, interestingly, have a teacher try to defend it I literally get sick to my stomach.
Local control of public education is how it all started...and that is what we should return to.
I understand your position, and I am mostly sympathetic to it.
But it takes the ability for the local community to tax all of it's property owners, to raise the necessary funds to provide a good education to EVERY school aged child.
If all local schools were privately owned, only the parents of the students attending would be footing the school's bills. This is a very small demography, so the per student fees would be extremely high...just as private schools are today. This leaves an extremely large percentage of school aged children unable to attend.
Maybe the local government can subsidize those families that cannot pay the fees. This could look a lot like the charter school situation that we already have in Florida (thanks Jeb). This would leave the schools independent, and competing for their students. But it would still need a large tax base to work....
Home schooling is one option...but only for the households that have someone free to do the tutoring. The majority of today's parents are both working, so the logistics become overwhelming. In the minority community, the latest single parent household statistic answers that question....
Locally funded schools seems to be the answer, and I suspect that every community already has this up and running. What they need to do is say "no" to Federal funding, and adjust their budgets accordingly.
Charter schools answer your concerns...they compete for their students, and will only survive by being fiscally responsible. They are also free of union oppression.
Let me add that in my area, we had at least one charter school have to shut their doors for failing to attract enough students to make their budget. They failed just like any private business can....
Florida's charter schools are the envy of the other states....
Federal government: GONE.
Local government: 100% in control.