Letter to the Editor
Daily Press
March 23, 2009 (Published this Day minus henhouse reference)
As a long time Victorville California resident and taxpayer, this reader would like to express an opinion about public education. My familiarity extends to the practical experience of sending two children through this once great educational system.
The Daily Press has in recent days run an excellent and informative series of articles on the educational morass that we parents must navigate. As a faithful reader I am grateful for the clarifications expressed and hope that we all get the picture.
Regardless of the caring protestations of our elected officials and educators, their focus is not on the receivers of these public sector services but first upon money. Then the secondary priority becomes that of intellectual control over our children and what they learn. Because of these two public sector priorities, the possibility of parent directed change in education are practically nil, even though we pay the freight. After all, all of our children are both a revenue stream and wards of the state, are they not?
In true self interest style, the competition must be stifled by the public sector even before any form of voucher system is given credence. All this centralization might be acceptable if it produced the desired result, a young adult stimulated to begin a life long expanding awareness of his or her place in the universe. And, in addition, the possible positive shared experience that life offers to each of us. Our educators have touted less lofty goals that are easier to measure but have superficial value. Comparative numbers are easier to understandand more easily justify the bottom line.
Even by their own measuring system, California places last among all the states in educational success. That embarrassing data makes the public sector’s intransigence impossible to defend.
The funding equalizer, the voucher system, is absolutely essential to any hope of educational progress in California. Our system is failing most of the children, particularly those in less affluent districts. However, the public sector guru’s will not voluntarily allow competition for the above stated reasons. ( Henish reasons )
Rise up California taxpayers, demand change, but don’t get your hopes up.
GGoslaw
