tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post6673339961804578649..comments2023-12-15T07:51:27.673-08:00Comments on Betrayed - Why Public Education Is Failing: Yes, vote for kids by asking the adult questions about school leviesLaurie H. Rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-65752799911494918982012-01-27T09:44:59.817-08:002012-01-27T09:44:59.817-08:00Rob, I am not one of the “main supporters of the ‘...Rob, I am not one of the “main supporters of the ‘Vote No’ campaign.” The group agreed yesterday to clarify that a) they obtained my permission to repost my copyrighted material, b) I am not affiliated with them, and c) I haven’t publicly endorsed their campaign. My goal is to provide real information to the people, not to tell people how to vote on the levy. Although I’m not affiliated with the “vote no” campaign, I support the group’s constitutional right to advocate against any ballot proposition, and its efforts to inform. Rob, I would do no less for you.<br /><br />Meanwhile, my name has been thrown around in connection with the “vote no” campaign. I asked for a copy of something sent recently to SEA members; my request was rejected. So I am labeled and misrepresented – and no one went through the bother of talking with me.<br /><br />You said: <i>“…this levy (which is NOT a new tax) is one quarter of our yearly budget because the state puts that responsibility on local districts.”</i> <br /><br />Each piece of that statement is only partially true. Please read my article: http://betrayed-whyeducationisfailing.blogspot.com/2012/01/yes-vote-for-kids-by-asking-adult.html<br /><br />You said: <i>“… to specifically say that stripping a quarter of the budget in one year is the best way to help educate our kids, that kind of logic is both fallacious and dangerous.”</i> <br /><br />I did not say that. You put words in my mouth and then disagreed with them. I asked voters to question what they’re being told.<br /><br />You said: <i>“Such a move would, without a doubt, throw our system into utter chaos, and who would suffer? The clearest answer is the school children--you and no one else can deny that fact.”</i><br /><br />You used emotion, not fact, to support your argument. I asked the district to support its claim that 800 jobs are at risk. (Just three years ago, it was supposedly 300.) The answer was that it was their best guess. They wouldn’t identify which jobs, in which departments, or whether full- or part-time. <br /><br />Many homeschoolers and private schools teach efficiently and effectively because they focus on what matters (teacher, student, curriculum, learning environment). Our public schools lack efficiency and effectiveness. They suffer from a massive bureaucracy, ineffective programs, intrusive and expensive state and federal initiatives, disruptive “professional development,” increasing expenses, and issues with those who dissent. Remove the bureaucracy, provide teachers with good materials - <i>and the respect and room to move</i> – and watch the children soar. Children would not “suffer” from a refocus on academics, they would benefit. As would teachers.<br /><br />You said: <i>“.., it seems that this fight has become far too emotional and far too personal for you, thereby clouding your sound judgment into an absolute fog of a mess.”</i> <br /><br />Ah, the old ad hominem argument – and a particularly annoying one used against women for generations. I am passionate about saving our children. Aren’t you? Considering that I take pains to support what I say, in my book and on my blog, with links, provable data, and actual district emails – what is your support for “absolute fog of a mess”?<br /><br />You said: <i>“Please remove me from future email correspondences.”</i> <br /><br />I see I didn’t really have a chance to offer a rebuttal. I wonder why you feel the need to <i>publicly</i> renounce Laurie Rogers. That, along with your perplexing article last November ("Spokane school district is on the right path"), leads me to wonder if you are under some pressure. You wouldn’t be the first dissenting teacher to feel heat from the district and/or union. If so, I sympathize. It takes courage to stand up for the children, and it’s easier for me, I’m aware, than for you.<br /><br />Rob, I doubt your public flaming of me will do what you might think – for you or for me. But I have no axe to grind with you, and I wish you well. I appreciate all you tried to do, in the past.Laurie H. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-85860939278421761852012-01-27T06:19:16.247-08:002012-01-27T06:19:16.247-08:00Laurie,
You know I have numerous issues with the ...Laurie,<br /><br />You know I have numerous issues with the distrist and you know that I have enjoyed your "keep-the-district-accountable" stance for several years now; however, my understanding is that you are now one of the main supporters of the "Vote-No" campaign for the upcoming levy. If this is true, I will respectfully ask to be removed from your email list.<br /><br />Since you like reasons, I will try to be brief:<br /><br />Yes, the district (like our government itself) needs to be held accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars. I, too, am a taxpayer and want my money spent wisely. That being said, I also wish to note that this levy (which is NOT a new tax) is one quarter of our yearly budget because the state puts that responsibility on local districts. Now, I'm all for making sure every nickel and dime is accounted for, but to specifically say that stripping a quarter of the budget in one year is the best way to help educate our kids, that kind of logic is both fallacious and dangerous. Such a move would, without a doubt, throw our system into utter chaos, and who would suffer? The clearest answer is the school children--you and no one else can deny that fact. Sure, adults would lose their jobs as well, but that number would be miniscule in relation to the number of children we would be directly affecting in their daily educational lives. If you try to argue that fact away, then you are the one who is fooling herself. <br /><br />Once again, I have enjoyed what you have done in the past, but it seems that this fight has become far too emotional and far too personal for you, thereby clouding your sound judgment into an absolute fog of a mess.<br /><br />Please remove me from future email correspondences.Rob Archernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-17133316223043781132012-01-21T19:37:55.141-08:002012-01-21T19:37:55.141-08:00With respect to Anonymous (Jan. 21, 6:03 p.m.):
I...With respect to Anonymous (Jan. 21, 6:03 p.m.):<br /><br />It's disturbing how often arguments in support of the district/union/newspaper tend to fall into one or more of three camps:<br />1. We like it this way.<br />2. We want it this way.<br />3. Dissenters are poo-poo-heads.<br /><br />How nice would it be if those people could articulate their thinking in a well-reasoned, well-supported, well-argued manner?<br /><br />The district appears to have violated state law; has stubbornly refused to teach arithmetic, grammar and cursive writing to our children; and has presented deceitful information to the people. This is Anonymous' main line of defense: to call us "idiots" and "the problem."<br /><br />Rather supports my point, I think.Laurie H. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-14104710989372870062012-01-21T18:03:49.485-08:002012-01-21T18:03:49.485-08:00Not an interesting post...You are an idiot. You b...Not an interesting post...You are an idiot. You believe you are trying to improve public education, yet you and the Alton's are the problem!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-17900630020012044052012-01-21T15:45:08.523-08:002012-01-21T15:45:08.523-08:00Interesting post, this was really useful. thanks!Interesting post, this was really useful. thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-48003980010475236462012-01-15T18:32:26.442-08:002012-01-15T18:32:26.442-08:00That's true, Ryan. Tying the levy base to stat...That's true, Ryan. Tying the levy base to state funding also means that increases in state funding can provide a double whammy in the other direction. <br /><br />And keeping the levy base the same regardless of revenue decreases ends up removing the schools from the taxpayers' ability to pay, from the taxpayers' willingness to pay for failing systems, and from the realities and implications of drops in enrollment. That's what we have now.<br /><br />The important question is this: What does it take to properly educate a child? Administrators don't seem to know. For one thing, they aren't properly educating the children. For another, they can't or won't articulate a figure. I've asked.<br /><br />Last year, I asked that question of Spokane board candidate Deana Brower, and she didn't know, but she was certain that more money is needed. That's the education mentality. "We don't know how much is enough, but we definitely need more."<br /><br />Schools should be funded based on the true cost of efficiently, effectively and sufficiently educating a child. We need administrators who value efficiency, effectiveness, sufficiency, thriftiness, truth, and transparency.<br /><br />They'd have to eliminate a huge portion of the bureaucracy, stop flipping curricula in and out, and jerk a knot in the de facto federal takeover of public education. <br /><br />Who in education leadership is motivated to make the necessary changes? Fortunately, we, the people do still have the voting power to make it happen.Laurie H. Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18367210923946752695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762201600804179432.post-68332420011176278692012-01-15T12:44:13.562-08:002012-01-15T12:44:13.562-08:00I think your complaint about keeping the levy base...I think your complaint about keeping the levy base the same, regardless of state budget cuts, is a little misguided. Changing it would create a double whammy where a reduction in K-4 class size funding would also mean a reduction in the levy available, which makes the cut even deeper.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01136112516250432897noreply@blogger.com