We need an education revolt. Among other things.

[Ilsa]

Yes, it is true: disabled, autistic, learning impaired, all of them have to take the same stupid fucking reading and math tests as everyone else. And if the school has a inordinate amount of disabled children concentrated there for specialized teaching, that school will suffer the financial consequences of having a lower assessment score.

Furthermore, it won't be any time at all before the rest of the school population will want to "off-school" these kids so they don't affect their overall performance. They'll be learning the advantages of bigotry towards those with less ability than them. My oldest child, who is autistic, will probably bear the brunt of this. Remember Forrest Gump's mother sleeping with the principal to get him into school? I wonder who's gonna be doing me in the behind to keep my son's rights intact.

The amount of homework second graders take home frequently exceeds that of high school freshmen. Other parents are telling me this while I try to explain to a 7 year old why he has to spend two fucking hours every night on homework and still not get done. My child is learning to HATE school by second grade. But they are assessing these kids to see which ones to weed out and hold back so they don't make to to third grade where they have to take the TAKS test (third grade proficiency exam).

I wonder if JEB and Neil are making money off the Texas proficiency tests?

This administration is taking us down a long, ugly road. And that is just with respect to public education.

[MadMaddie]

1. It's not just public education...

They are attacking the Scientific community every chance they get whether it's weather related or genetics even technical....

They are pushing this country to the back of the pack when it comes to advancement in these areas....

Scientist are leaving the country so they can conduct their research....

This is dangerous territory......

Remember many of the scientist for the Manhatten project were from Europe....and they came to America....we are seeing the Reverse of this now....and it's scary....

[Ilsa]

3. I believe you on this...

"Scientist are leaving the country so they can conduct their research...." Do you have any links for this? I'd like to shovel this shit right into the faces of some RWers who think everything is hunky-dory and the US is still the premier science center of the universe.

I am scared also, for alot of reasons, especially if Rove and Mehlmen get their wish for a 30 year reign of terror, setting back US education, social advancement, etc. Some days I don't want to live here any more.

I can't believe we have so many people over the last century who have fought and died for us to see Bush turn this country into an imperial clown car filled with fat-fingered, oil worshipping, self-indulging global rapists.

[MadMaddie]

5. I will look for those links for you....

I hope that Rove gets prosecuted for Treason....and Mehlman I hope he is outed to his Neocon population so he can suffer the wrath of his followers...

[MadMaddie]

6. Here is an interesting article about Stem Cell Research

and the Scientist leaving...

http://feinstein.senate.gov/06speeches/cr-stemcell0717.htm

[Ilsa]

7. Thanks, MM! nt

[MadMaddie]

9. You are welcome...

Also this was on another DU string..

Richard Clarks new Website.....

http://www.goodharborreport.com/

[pooja]

2. They have been dumbing down America for a while now.

They have taken the responsibility away from the community and put it into big govt...A long time ago, school teachers were paid by the town to teach writing, reading and arithmatic. And then towns grew and cities grew and people couldn't handle paying the teachers by property tax alone. But really if you think about it, if each child is designated a figure for expenditure in learning $6000.00 for instance. Multiply that out by 30 kids and that equals $180,000.00 for the year spent on that classroom right? Does it make sense? Where is all the money going? Just take a look at the schoolboard and superintendant take home salary.

[Horse with no Name]

4. You can be assured that someone in their cabal

is making money on this.
It's all about privatization. That is it in a nutshell.
Set up unrealistic expectations and then when they fail (and they will), and that will open the door for them to make untold billions at the expense of our kids.
Than wa-la...no more need for the tests. As long as Republicans can make money, they are happy.

[Initech]

8. It's truly scary what this cabal is doing to education

And I fear for this future. Hell, the vision portrayed in Mike Judge's new movie Idiocracy about a future America where everyone is really stupid doesnt seem that far off.