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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Opus 2014-29: Headlines: The Cure for Education

We always want the quick fix.

On Monday my wife had the TV on as I was getting dressed.  There was a story being presented about a law suit being pressed against the L.A. Unified School District involving teacher tenure and seniority policies.  I just caught the general sense of it but I could tell that it was just another political smoke and mirror show.  These people want to look like they are doing something while they ignore the real problem.

Although the teachers have a share in the failure of education, blaming the teachers is like blaming the auto workers of the 70's for the loss of market share to the Japanese.  You can’t make high quality machinery with pot metal parts.  The workers on the line did not design the product or choose the materials that went into them.  It is like blaming the soldiers under McClellan at the beginning of the Civil War for making no progress.  It is like blaming an unmilked cow when the udder runs dry.  There is an old saying, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” 

The problem is not really the teachers.  The problem is not really the text books.  The problem is not lack of funds.  The problem is in voters who continue to elect the same types of people to school boards, legislatures and chief executives.  The problem is you people that continue to vote the same way and expect different results.  The problem is you people who think there is some magic elixir to substitute for hard work and discipline. 

Education needs radical reform.  In California we need to start by throwing out the Education Code and doing away with compulsory education.  Nation wide we need to  impeach activist judges, return federal funds and turn the responsibility for educating children over to local parents.  A basic philosophical change is needed.  We need to put the responsibility to learn on the children.  If they don’t want to accept that duty, fine, let them go play on their smart phones.  Get them out of the class and into menial jobs if they insist on eating.  There will be plenty who want to get ahead in life.  Someday they will wake up and be hungry enough to put in the effort to get ahead.

I have no problem with providing public schools.  Education should be available, but not required.  I am not sure it should be as “free” as it is.  We tend to want other people to pay for what we get. 

I am a public school teacher.  I am lined up at the public trough, sucking down your tax money.  It is no more hypocritical that being a teetotaler and eating in restaurants that serve booze.  At the same time I have never voted for a tax that increases funds for education.  We home schooled our children.  I am a squeaky wheel at faculty meetings.  They get tired of hearing that the emperor has no clothes.

To paraphrase Marie Antoinette, “Then let them go naked.”

homo unius libri

2 comments:

  1. Like most things in America, I don't ever expect education to improve. I think the Lord will come back first, be it sooner or much later.

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    Replies
    1. When I read the Declaration of Independence I am reminded that Jefferson, at least, thought it would take violence to achieve reform and preserve freedom. The problem that history teaches is that most revolutions produce a tyranny worse than the one they fought. Ours was the exception because of the unique set of leaders we had. I don't see those kind of leaders today.

      But people had the same despair before the Wesley revival, so hand in there. Education is symptom of the disease.

      Grace and peace.

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.