99 replies to this topic

[Parizienne]

Mr. EDF,

You're right. This is self-serving. I am a teacher and I want to keep my job. But I also believe in making education a priority. I believed that when I was a reporter. I believed that when I was a consultant. I believed that when I worked for a Fortune 50 company. Now that I have had my dream job for the last ten years, I'd like to keep it for many years to come -- and no, not because I am getting a free government ride as some here might assert. I believe in pubic education as central to a free society, and I love my students.

However, I am also a parent, and I don't want to see the problems of the state affect my kids' education here in Folsom. I understand that we have a mortgage crisis and that has affected revenues. I know the wildfires tapped our resources. These things happen. It's unfortunate that they happened all at once. And now we have the national fiscal meltdown. However, I PAID my taxes. I expect to get a quality education for my kids! Don't cut CSR. I paid my taxes expecting CSR would remain intact. I have no choice in the matter. I feel when these things are revoked, that it betrays all of our trust. Whether you blame the board or the state, it's a betrayal. I am looking for alternatives -- more reliable ones.

As for teaching the homosexual lifestyle -- last time I checked there was nothing in California State Content standards that mandates teaching this at any grade level.

Aww... I luv ya back, ya big lug!

;-)

Pari.

Miss Pari...

You are right... I do not support any kind of tax increase...

However...there was a solution proposed by those of us involved in Folsom Education issues back in 1995...

and that was the "split of the school" district...

many of us thought it would be a great idea because we sure could have combined resources and you wouldn't need to have the assistant to the secretary to the assistant vice principle... etc... get the point...

The problem was the people in the Education Establishment didn't want anything to do with the City of Folsom, because just like any "government worker-bee" they wanted their own "turf" to run...because after all...? they were the "professionals"...

The solution was to split the district because we just might support some tax, but we know the district would somehow be slipping some of that dough over to the Rancho side....

and... I am always amazed at you "education/governmenet" types... you always want more money from us the stinking taxpayer....

my income has gone way down... many people have been layed off... but for some reason... government never seems to shrink...

no what happens in government is that they call a "cut in the rate of growth" as a cut....

I call a cut in spending as a figure that is less than what you spent last year....

Now... Pari... I appreciate that you are a teacher... but I'm not a big fan of Government Run public schools, because you have a "liberal" agenda, such as teaching the "homosexual" lifestyle... man made global warming which is unproven and less and less about what a great country we have"....

So... don't look to me...because this is one issue that I think people have strong feelings for...

We have passed bonds to put up some great buildings and you teachers are lucky to be working in a town that has a lot of "parental involvement"... so my suggestion to you is to work with the local school PTA's and get those bake sales going... car washes... etc... and quit this crap of always coming to the taxpayer like it's some noble thing we are being asked to do... why...?

Because many of us think it's very "self serving" of you to be asking...

I love you though....

Now Get back to me... with something outside the box....

[Parizienne]

Folsom Guy --

I appreciate the backup! You and I weren't here for that suggested split, but it appears there are LOTS of hard feelings in its wake even 13 years later. Understandably so.

Indeed, realtors DO benefit when schools perform well. It's kind of a chicken and egg thing. The schools are good because the parents support the kids. That in turn helps schools' overall performance because the school-to-home connection is strong. So more people who value good education move to the area and in turn are supportive of their children which strengthens their performance which reflects on the school. And so it cycles. But if the schools started to founder, then the property values would certainly suffer. So, it IS all interrelated. And no, it's not solely parent involvement thatdrives this cycle, but it's definitely an important component.

I understand the tax issue isn't going over well. And if the economy crumbles, it may all be a lost cause anyhow. I wish we could find some kind of solution, though.


QUOTE from Folsom Guy:

You are in real-estate business and you shud kno better than anyone else - genarally speaking, property values have a direct correlation to the quality of schools. So, who shud we look to for funding - Peruvians? Who's most concerned about our property values? Folks in Timbuktu? Pari made a suggestion for having a tax to support Folsom schools exclusively to ensure minimum level of standards....if done right, why should it be off the table? Especially, if it helps preserve property values?
[/quote]

[EDF]

Mr. EDF,

You're right. This is self-serving. I am a teacher and I want to keep my job. But I also believe in making education a priority. I believed that when I was a reporter. I believed that when I was a consultant. I believed that when I worked for a Fortune 50 company. Now that I have had my dream job for the last ten years, I'd like to keep it for many years to come -- and no, not because I am getting a free government ride as some here might assert. I believe in pubic education as central to a free society, and I love my students.

However, I am also a parent, and I don't want to see the problems of the state affect my kids' education here in Folsom. I understand that we have a mortgage crisis and that has affected revenues. I know the wildfires tapped our resources. These things happen. It's unfortunate that they happened all at once. And now we have the national fiscal meltdown. However, I PAID my taxes. I expect to get a quality education for my kids! Don't cut CSR. I paid my taxes expecting CSR would remain intact. I have no choice in the matter. I feel when these things are revoked, that it betrays all of our trust. Whether you blame the board or the state, it's a betrayal. I am looking for alternatives -- more reliable ones.

As for teaching the homosexual lifestyle -- last time I checked there was nothing in California State Content standards that mandates teaching this at any grade level.

Aww... I luv ya back, ya big lug!

;-)

Pari.

Missy Pari...

did you catch the debate tonight when the "moderator" asked the education question... he pointed out that as a country we spend more per student than any other nation, but our scores in math and science are among the lowest in the world...

McCain pointed out the Washington DC schools which finally allowed some vouchers and even though they spend the most per brat per year than anywhere else in the nation, they have the lowest performance...

So Pari my dear... it's not the money...

It's the teachers and administrators that run the system that are at fault and we need a whole new approach to learning...

How about something new besides throwing money at the problem.

By the way... did you know that about 25% of people employed in the public education system don't send their brats to public schools...?

Maybe it's because they know it's a sh*tty deal for their kids... cause they would know... Barry "O" doesn't send his brats to a public school does he...?

Get back to me with "La A game"

Love & kissus...

[Folsom Guy]

Don't know how long you have been in California (or US) for that matter, but, does seem like you have been in Folsom longer than me 'coz you know more about the split....

But, the course content is revised every 10 years and is done in a very open way...lotsa lawsuits occur before it's all said and done. The teachers are supposed to teach from the prescribed course material. And it is my understanding that Folsom teachers have been doing exactly that. Now, there's a teacher in Folsom Middle who uses some extreme language when referring to Hillary Clinton that turned off lots of girls including my daughter. I explained to her that while her teacher was not being polite in her ways, but, was entitled to her opinion.

So, I don't really understand your gripe about agenda of educators here in Folsom?

[Dustyzz]

No tax increases until the system is fixed and accountable.

AMEN!!!! Throwing more money at this problem WILL NOT FIX IT! True reform is badly needed and it needs to start at the top... we need to clean house with the multiple layers of bureaucrats who do nothing but perpetuate the status quo, stop the never ending stream of special interest mandates, and immediately remove any programs that aren't directly associated with the school systems #1 mission... educating the children.

[Bill Z]

AMEN!!!! Throwing more money at this problem WILL NOT FIX IT! True reform is badly needed and it needs to start at the top... we need to clean house with the multiple layers of bureaucrats who do nothing but perpetuate the status quo, stop the never ending stream of special interest mandates, and immediately remove any programs that aren't directly associated with the school systems #1 mission... educating the children.

I second that!!!

[Folsom Guy]

AMEN!!!! Throwing more money at this problem WILL NOT FIX IT! True reform is badly needed and it needs to start at the top... we need to clean house with the multiple layers of bureaucrats who do nothing but perpetuate the status quo, stop the never ending stream of special interest mandates, and immediately remove any programs that aren't directly associated with the school systems #1 mission... educating the children.

What are those mandates that our schools in Folsom are spending money on?

[mylo]

What are those mandates that our schools in Folsom are spending money on?

How about paying teachers, who simply bounce the money to their union, to take up election causes. To me, that's the government funding political agendas.

[dori2u]

How about paying teachers, who simply bounce the money to their union, to take up election causes. To me, that's the government funding political agendas.

Ahh, yes. Those pesky teachers!

[Dustyzz]

What are those mandates that our schools in Folsom are spending money on?

Here's one mandate that the cost is estimated to be more than 3 billions dollars:

http://www.sacbee.co...ry/1072678.html

[EDF]

Ahh, yes. Those pesky teachers!

no... It's the stinking "pesky teachers unions".... the most corrupt and evil organization ever....

and I'm in a good mood now... wait till I get PMS... then watch the nice words flow...

[Folsom Guy]

Here's one mandate that the cost is estimated to be more than 3 billions dollars:

http://www.sacbee.co...ry/1072678.html

Well, hows this a liberal agenda/mandate?

[Folsom Guy]

no... It's the stinking "pesky teachers unions".... the most corrupt and evil organization ever....

and I'm in a good mood now... wait till I get PMS... then watch the nice words flow...

If you are looking for serious corruption, then start looking into the Pentagon/US military...that's were you will find 7, 8 figre boondoggles...

Teachers union is chump change comparatively speaking....

[Bill Z]

Well, hows this a liberal agenda/mandate?

While I don't recall mandates as being labelled liberal agenda, in general, I believe the majority of those in the upper echelons of the Dept of Education are liberal. But I know all of my posts about mandates have been, get rid of them and the part of the bureaucracy that creates them and get back to funding education and making decisions at the local level.
Not once have I labelled the mandates as liberal, they are a result of excessive government and I can blame both major parties for contributing to excessive government.

[Parizienne]

I did catch the debate. It's more complicated than just out-spending and underscoring. The scores are like comparing apples to oranges. Other countries report only scores for the kids on the college track -- because they do track students. We don't track kids here anymore ( meaning we don't place kids on the "smart" track from K-12 if they score a high on tests in pre-k or at the end of middle school.) We assess in multiple areas at different times and adjust what instruction and curriculum the student gets according to a variety of indicators. That will bring overall scores down because we report all kids' scores. In some European countries, if you don't score highly enough on your high school entrance exam, you get placed on the vocational track. Those kids don't even get the same curriculum as the ones against whom our scores are compared. Our scores show everyone's achievement - regular, gifted, special ed, vocational, college prep - etc. And the money? Well, that's also a different story. Many children in foreign countries aren't educated in the public system. If you've got money, your kid goes to a private school. If you don't, your kid goes through the underfunded public system -- if it even exists at all. Depends on the country and the politics, naturally. In Europe, I know for a fact that they track and report only the scores of the college-bound kids. Some schools are strictly for profit in Asia. Too bad for you if you're smart and poor (or not so smart and poor).

I do agree that administration at the state and county and some district levels is bloated and needs to be revamped and trimmed. It's a huge waste of money. We need local control back. Prop 13 destroyed that.


Pari

Missy Pari...

did you catch the debate tonight when the "moderator" asked the education question... he pointed out that as a country we spend more per student than any other nation, but our scores in math and science are among the lowest in the world...

McCain pointed out the Washington DC schools which finally allowed some vouchers and even though they spend the most per brat per year than anywhere else in the nation, they have the lowest performance...

So Pari my dear... it's not the money...

It's the teachers and administrators that run the system that are at fault and we need a whole new approach to learning...

How about something new besides throwing money at the problem.

By the way... did you know that about 25% of people employed in the public education system don't send their brats to public schools...?

Maybe it's because they know it's a sh*tty deal for their kids... cause they would know... Barry "O" doesn't send his brats to a public school does he...?

Get back to me with "La A game"

Love & kissus...