"Second Class Schools and First Class Prisons" Jesse Jackson

[kohodog]

Just heard him say that on CNN. Perhaps the most profound sound bite I've heard recently.

Friday I had jury duty. In CT you go for one day and may or not be picked for a jury. There is plenty of waiting and I started a discussion about the number of prisons and prisoners we have in this country. Today it came full circle with Jesse's comment. No child left behind is not the answer. Pre-K programs have tremendous positive effect and real education is perhaps the best way to acomplish equality in this Country.

[MountainLaurel]

1. What does that bumper sticker say?

Something about how we need to build schools for the boys instead of prisons for the men? Both hit the nail on the head with regard to the issue.

[LizW]

2. True.

The city council in my town cut millions in support from schools two years ago and used it to lease a fleet of fancy police SUVs, equip a new jail building and build and equip a second police headquarters building. They did this in a sneaky special called meeting during the Christmas holidays when parents weren't paying attention. We fought them for months about it. They called us all kinds of names and pitted us against the police dept. They said we didn't support public safety and that people were going to die because of parents' "greed".

The Superintendent of Education called on them to restore the funding for schools (and got a standing ovation in a huge public meeting). In less than a year, they had appointed enough of "their" people to the school board to fire her.

Our school system (a very good, formerly well-financed system) is in a shambles now. Teachers and principals are depressed and feel completely unsupported. Parents who have fought and worked hard for good schools are giving up.

The sad thing is, a lot of people don't care. They are willing to sacrifice anything, including the children's future AND their own property values, as long as there's a cop on every corner and a huge jail.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Jails are moneymakers.

Every head in a jail bed is worth approx. $30,000/yr from the feds.