• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

1985 vs 2015

Was America better off in 1985, or are we better off today in 2015?

  • 1985 was better overall

    Votes: 25 50.0%
  • 2015 is better overall

    Votes: 25 50.0%

  • Total voters
    50
Our charter schools are zapping money from poorer schools so that is an issue. The positive is our well trained profession. Maybe you didn't read my post.

If they are zapping money because they are a better product, dumpt the poorer schools or replace them with a better model. But also allow private schools, vouchers, etc.

Here in CA home schooling far outperforms public ones. And what do the teachers unions do? They try to get them banned. They are on the wrong side on this.
 
We largely do-but you can roll a poo around in glitter and it is what it is.
The outcomes wont make you happy-people do things differently. Life turns out differently.

Of course life turns out different for everyone. It's like a box of chocolates isn't it?

I just know that I would rather be picking candy out of the education box of chocolates, than picking poo out of your glitter box.
 
Outskirts of LA, so it was all kinds of students.

Im not saying deny anyone opportunity-Im saying its its not being utilized, why not try another path that might be helpful?

That's what I am saying also. Instead of getting rid of a terrible public school system, we could just make it better by getting rid of the bad stuff you speak of.
 
Of course life turns out different for everyone. It's like a box of chocolates isn't it?

I just know that I would rather be picking candy out of the education box of chocolates, than picking poo out of your glitter box.

I think we all would. But I think the disparity in schools will always exist.
 
Yeah I remember spending hours everyday studying calculus. Then somebody wants me to give them answers? Sorry.

I remember spending hours drinking the night before the calculus test.

That was the semester I decided I needed to change my major.
 
That's what I am saying also. Instead of getting rid of a terrible public school system, we could just make it better by getting rid of the bad stuff you speak of.

For the moment assume I agree (I do), can you explain how to do that when unions oppose any substantive reforms? Here in CA all they do is ask for more money, in LA they spend 16K per student per year. At that price you could higher a private teacher to come teach your child at home one on one.

Utah spends near the bottom per student per year, and they always do well nationally.

Its not always a money problem, and its not always poor poor overworked teachers-but thats not what the unions say.
 
1985/86 I was at the top of my career, Expo 86 was in the works here and I was lead gun at my station, covering first an unexpected leadership campaign and then a six week election, I was on the road most of a year.

I miss being able to simply board an airplane or enter the US with a driver's license, I do not miss the play of the Canucks in that era. I do like the convenience of cell phones, but not the intrusion they have become. I would not give up the internet for anything in that era. I did like the fashions of that day over what I see here now, and back then women had grace and charm; they have become hard and often cynical, at least here.

I do not find the threat of terror to be much different than the threat of global nuclear warfare with a president making jokes about "we will bomb them at noon".

I would like to make today's money in that era.....and know now what I didn't know then about women. Had that been the case then I would not have been at top of my career.

Women have become hard and cynical here too. After getting looks of disdain from younger women for holding doors open for them, I stopped doing it-now I only do it for older woman, who appear to appreciate it.

Hipster jeans have got to go.
 
Well I benefited-my mother was a teacher, and she had ways to get me into the better teachers classes.

What you describe is a concept I described to my mom years ago, but I used the term "educational triage".

Her, and several other teachers (many mine, as my mom is friends with them to this day) I ran the idea by essentially said some mix of its being not fair, bad for self esteem, or it didn't provide roll models for the less capable students. I asked how it was the better performing students job to do that-and never got a cogent answer.

Educating children isnt an insurmountable task, we've done it better before. Thomas Sowell says he received an excellent education in Harlem in the 40's and 50's. Yes, the home environment is a critical factor-but one schools can't control.

We need to change course, where we are headed isn't working.

Both my parents were teachers.
 
For the moment assume I agree (I do), can you explain how to do that when unions oppose any substantive reforms? Here in CA all they do is ask for more money, in LA they spend 16K per student per year. At that price you could higher a private teacher to come teach your child at home one on one.

Utah spends near the bottom per student per year, and they always do well nationally.

Its not always a money problem, and its not always poor poor overworked teachers-but thats not what the unions say.

I get that. I also don't support any public sector unions, and only marginally support private sector unions.
 
I remember spending hours drinking the night before the calculus test.

That was the semester I decided I needed to change my major.

Yeah calculus will do that! It's nothing compared to some higher level physics classes tho.
 
Please. One Direction is so much cooler than New Kids on the Block.

New kids on the what? Sorry but I do not know that band.

Guns and Roses, Van Halen, Duran Duran, 1980's U2, 80's Iron Maiden, Ozzy, Queen, REM, Talking Heads, Dire Straits, Kiss, the Police, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Prince, Billy Joel, Metallica, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Genesis, Red Hot Chili peppers, Chicago.

And that is just the mainstream bands, I also have Slayer, Death Angel, Ronnie James Dio, the Cult, and many more.
 
There is nothing wrong with teachers having a union. It allows us to have a voice at the educational table. The reason the business community does not want teachers to have a voice is because it is perceived as a threat, especially when it comes to school reform.
 
Last edited:
The scope of the thread was national, but even in MA Im sure not all districts perform as stellar as yours.

In my district, some schools perform better than others. Can you guess the number one factor that contributes to the flucuation in scores?
 
There is nothing wrong with teachers having a union. It allows us to have a voice at the educational table. The reason the business community does not want teachers to have a voice is because it is perceived as a threat, especially when it comes to school reform.

Its about the teachers own interests, not the publics. At least some prominent educators can admit it.
Its NOT about education in an of itself or helping children-its about self interest.
 
Its about the teachers own interests, not the publics. At least some prominent educators can admit it.
Its NOT about education in an of itself or helping children-its about self interest.
My profession is my self interest. Not sure your point.
 
Back
Top Bottom