Comments on: A-PLUS for Reforming N.C.L.B. http://www.residualforces.com/2007/03/16/a-plus-for-reforming-nclb/ A Stream of Consciousness by Andy Aplikowski on His Life, His Politics, His Dogs, His Truck, and Whatever Pleases His Fancy Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:41:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: J. Ewing http://www.residualforces.com/2007/03/16/a-plus-for-reforming-nclb/#comment-37118 J. Ewing Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:58:34 +0000 http://www.residualforces.com/2007/03/16/a-plus-for-reforming-nclb/#comment-37118 I think this is another case of having to be careful what you wish for. The State platform is certainly correct that local control is best for education (and for as many government services as possible). There are just two problems with this in practice. The first is that there is no such thing as local control when school boards and legislatures are controlled, top to bottom, by the teachers unions. The unions dictate that we will continue to pay higher prices for lower quality, because they have a monopoly and that's what monopolies do. Which brings us to the second problem, which is that the unions are dead set AGAINST the ultimate in local control -- giving vouchers to every parent and letting them actually decide what it kind of an education they want their child. Just notice that when they start complaining about vouchers, their first statement is something like, "you'll destroy the public schools!" If you think about it, that is a clear admission that no one would choose public schools if they were given a choice, thereby providing proof positive that the public schools are failing and OUGHT to be destroyed. I think this is another case of having to be careful what you wish for. The State platform is certainly correct that local control is best for education (and for as many government services as possible). There are just two problems with this in practice. The first is that there is no such thing as local control when school boards and legislatures are controlled, top to bottom, by the teachers unions. The unions dictate that we will continue to pay higher prices for lower quality, because they have a monopoly and that’s what monopolies do. Which brings us to the second problem, which is that the unions are dead set AGAINST the ultimate in local control — giving vouchers to every parent and letting them actually decide what it kind of an education they want their child.

Just notice that when they start complaining about vouchers, their first statement is something like, “you’ll destroy the public schools!” If you think about it, that is a clear admission that no one would choose public schools if they were given a choice, thereby providing proof positive that the public schools are failing and OUGHT to be destroyed.

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