I disagree that teaching kids kids who can't excel because of mental limitations is a waste of money. I know children with those limitations and they are in school and doing the best that they can.
They get more then book learning at school.

I also disagree agree with your idea that if parents can't afford schooling, train the kid for an occupation. Every child should have an equal opportunity at education. Parents with money already have the option of private school, btw.

I understand where you are coming from with not paying school taxes when you don't have a child. But..those taxes paid for your schooling, why not give back?

I will say again. "If the public school system doesn't do well, the city goes downhill. People won't want to live in my city. There goes the value of my house too. People want to live in areas that have good schools. The kids in those schools are going to be working someday. We need them to work to keep our country going. They will work, they will pay taxes and FICA."

We need those kids to do well! They are our future!

I believe that public schooling through high school is a necessity. I believe that if a person wants to go to college, they will find a way. None of this government having to pay all the tuition crap. Banks give loans - if you have the grades to get into college, the college will help you find a way to pay for it.

However, with public schooling, I think there are several fatal flaws. #1 is the cost of the teachers' unions are placing on the system. The average school year here is around 180 days That means a teacher only works literally half the year. Figuring 2 weeks vacation and weekends off with 4 paid holidays, a normal worker would work just under 250 days a year. Many like myself do not have the luxury of weekends off and work saturdays as well. However, in CA, the average teacher receives over $43k a year with a BA/BS. Add the benefits and you get a substantially higher number.

Sure, teachers are important, the thing is that anyone with qualifications in that field can do it. It's not like teaching is a specialized skill. Not to mention the tenure rules set forth in the union contracts place no responsibility on the teacher for performance. That is why we are in the bottom 5 for school performance in the nation here.

Speaking of poor performance, I do believe that public education should be paid for. However, if any student drops out for any non-emergency reason, the family should get the bill for the entire education up to that point. it should go into the education general fund and the tax rate that should be lowered accordingly to save everyone else money.

Andrew,

You said, "However, if any student drops out for any non-emergency reason, the family should get the bill for the entire education up to that point. it should go into the education general fund and the tax rate that should be lowered accordingly to save everyone else money."

Right now the school only gets paid for the days that the student shows up. That's why the school gets so mad when students don't show up on the first day of school. The school loses money that day. No money is wasted when the student is gone.

Ms Winx,
I can appreciate your kids do well and you are an active participant in see to it they excel.
Not all parents share your enthusiasm. A lot don't even care if the kid shows up much less, how they do.
I feel, if the parents paid out the money for their kids to attend public school, there would be a higher quality of education for those kids who desire to learn

Willing,

I was explaining how the St. Louis Board of Education works here.
The public schools only receive money for the days that the student shows up.

My child goes to a Christian school, btw. Yes, I am an active participant. That's my job. I am BIG on education. One day I won't be here and my child needs to make it on their own. I plan on getting my child to college. I'm there for the field trips, musicals, parties, Scout activities, sports, and homework. That's my job.

You are wanting "parents to pay money for their child's education". Willing, many people are living paycheck to paycheck. Some don't even have enough food. What you are suggesting is impossible to me.

It's not the immediate funding that I'm worried about, it's the investment. education to me is there to teach you skills you need to know in the real world. It is a complete package that most jobs require for employment. I feel that if a child attends until, say, 10th grade and drops out, there is a large investment that has been wasted. Forcing the family to pick up the tab will 1. lessen the burden on the state to provide educational resources to those that will not utilize them and 2. will force parents to be more involved and supportive.

it may appear unfair at face value because poverty has a direct relation to dropout rates, but how is it fair that I pay for 10 years of school for your kid just so he can drop out? how will the poor ever make anything more of themselves without education? Sure, there are those lucky ones that are good at sports or have a musical talent, but for the other 99.99%, education is the only way to change.

We as a society have decided that a education is essential to every citizen, not only for the individual, but for the betterment of the country as a whole. It provides opportunities for everyone to get an education, not just the ones that can afford it, or 'excel' in education. Yes the world needs ditch diggers and unskilled manual labor
and I can guaranty there is always enough labor force to fill it.
Education provides many a window to ideas, concepts, processes, places, ways of life that are beyond what can be found in their own homes and neighborhoods. Should a child be condemned to a life of ignorance and illiteracy because his parents never learned to read beyond 6th grade level? The child may not be exposed to adults that read for pleasure, can understand a bank statement, a ballot proposal.

Interesting things to look at are country's where only the affluent can get an education. Is that what we want here?

I would just like the option, instead of being forced to pay for the Delinquent.
But as was stated. every head is money. Even if that head is a burden and will eventually drop out.

This is atypical "talking point". No one tries to leave education only to those affluent.

Education should be left only to those willing to pay for it. As to where they have gotten the money,through an inheritance or hard work, is no one's business.

i DO understand the frustration of someone without kids paying into the system. i have one son and he is about to graduate from high school. then i will have to pay for college. i don't know the solution

How about the frustration of those of us who work in public education when we hear that our elected representatives do not support it.

Yes I work in the "system". Yes I am a property owner. But do I have a child attending the system...NO.

Does the education system in this country in need of reform. Without a doubt it needs to be reformed. We are becoming a more technological society and need schools that focus on that.

Does the funding of schools need to be more equitable. There is no doubt. Schools in more well to do areas have much more that can be offered to their students then those in rural or less affluent areas.

We have charter schools that can select who their students will be and limit class size. This often means they have higher test scores on standardized test. While a public school, by law, has to accept any student who comes through the door. Unless they have been expelled or are a severe behavioral problem history from another school. Laws on this vary from state to state.

An Accredited School has to meet certain standards to maintain their accreditation. Which is good. However, the responsibility of a child's education should not lay solely with the school. Parents/Guardians also need to be held accountable. Unfortunately that is difficult to do.

My apologies for the soap box.

my aunt is a junior high teacher here with a child so what is your point? i kow it is hard for the teachers...but i can see the other side as well.

i am very active with my son's school. his teachers have always said how polite he was. because i raised him to be. the chools do NOT need to be a baby sitter for my child because i raised him to be a good adult

I can see willing's point and winx's. if we could combine the 2....buckle up pork chop...i'm for it

Your right, I wouldn't want that here.
Each of us has something we contribute that doesn't seem fair but when you put it that way. We have a choice, pay for the child in prison some day or pay to give them the chance to become productive adults. I get that...