Rick Santorum questions the legitimacy of state-run public education

[tydas]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/us/politics/santorum-criticizes-education-system-and-obama.html

no words needed...

 

[Craig234]

It's shocking. As much as liberals say the right has radicalized, they keep doing more.

 

[trenchfoot]

In the very end, it's the teacher's unions that Santorum is really going after, while simultaneously going after any regulatory/oversight agency related to education. That would give private industry a free and open hand to run our educational system and influence our children to their liking, and guess who these private businesses would invariably be owned by?

Take away government oversight, and you take away the common person's influence and power over the legislators they put in office along with the businesses that corrupt them.

Even now the vast majority of the common people have been tasked by the very small but powerful and influential minority to fight one another using the classic divide and conquer strategy so that this elite minority can hold absolute power over the splintered majority.

 

[MovingTarget]

As someone who works in private education and is also a Catholic - Santorum is an idiot on both counts. How the right can even think about letting this turd become their nominee is mind-boggling.

 

[db]

1. Privatization means profit for a few and more cost for the many.

2. Private schools -- especially religious ones -- can and do teach revisionist history, so that the next generation will have contrived information to draw upon when making future decisions.

 

[Siddhartha]

Mr Santorum is talking to the GOP base. Attacking public education and Mr Obama, religious beliefs!!, is red meat to them. This is the same reason Mr Gingrich attacked the court system and the US Constitution, accussed Afro-Americans of being on welfare, etc.

I do not want the GOP base to choose the next or any other POTUS.

 

[shortylickens]

1. Privatization means profit for a few and more cost for the many.

2. Private schools -- especially religious ones -- can and do teach revisionist history, so that the next generation will have contrived information to draw upon when making future decisions.

1. As it is right now, schools are hideously expensive for the crummy job they do.

2. Public schools dont prioritize history at all, so the kiddies dont know much history or learned it so poorly its the same as having false information.


Really I dont see a good solution. I am pushing myself through community college right now and I feel like I'm getting a shitty education, and its costing me cold hard cash, in advance. If low level colleges cant even get it right, what the hell are we gonna do?

 

[boomerang]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/us/politics/santorum-criticizes-education-system-and-obama.html

no words needed...

So, are we to infer from your minimal commentary that our public school systems are humming along, very efficiently educating children in a manner that will allow them to effectively compete in a global society?

Presidents and those desiring the job for many, many decades have declared our educational system needed reform. No reform has occurred that has had any meaningful results. A whole lot of money has been thrown at the problem though. A whole lot.

I know the change in the status quo is scary to the liberal left, but when the system is not working, and throwing more money at it does not work, reform is needed.

The article was crafted to inform readers of some thoughts belonging to Mr. Santorum regarding education in our country and then it veered off to paint him as the devil. How a participant of a Q&A feeling that Obama may be a Muslim has anything to do with the article is beyond me. But I'm betting that it was written by a graduate of our public school system.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So, are we to infer from your minimal commentary that our public school systems are humming along, very efficiently educating children in a manner that will allow them to effectively compete in a global society?

Presidents and those desiring the job for many, many decades have declared our educational system needed reform. No reform has occurred that has had any meaningful results. A whole lot of money has been thrown at the problem though. A whole lot.

I know the change in the status quo is scary to the liberal left, but when the system is not working, and throwing more money at it does not work, reform is needed.

The article was crafted to inform readers of some thoughts belonging to Mr. Santorum regarding education in our country and then it veered off to paint him as the devil. How a participant of a Q&A feeling that Obama may be a Muslim has anything to do with the article is beyond me. But I'm betting that it was written by a graduate of our public school system.

Wasn't No Child Left Behind the reform that was needed?!

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

2. Public schools dont prioritize history at all, so the kiddies dont know much history or learned it so poorly its the same as having false information.

Someone not taught information is more likely to look up what it's about when he or she needs it than someone who is taught the wrong information. Many of those will still fail, but the one who thinks he or she 'knows' the correct answer while working with the wrong information will always fail.

 

[PeshakJang]

Wasn't No Child Left Behind the reform that was needed?!

No, not many people think so. It was a bad idea.

Fools like Craig still seem to think that if the government shouldn't do something, it means that nobody should. Obviously he believes that the government is doing an admirable job with our public schools.

The federal government has NO place to be running education. The state government, otoh, should have some role I believe. With that, allow people to choose public vs private (vouchers) to force public schools to actually perform.

Afraid that a private school will teach something you don't want your kid learning? Hey.... You get to choose to send the, somewhere else. Can't do that now if you are a struggling family.

I thought liberals were all about choice? Or is it, that when you think one choice is so good, you have to make sure nobody has the option to pick something else?

Bottom line, enact vouchers. We will see the effect soon in WI, and hopefully they will serve as a model for the rest of the nation.

 

[tydas]

" Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be! "

 

[tydas]

1. As it is right now, schools are hideously expensive for the crummy job they do.

2. Public schools dont prioritize history at all, so the kiddies dont know much history or learned it so poorly its the same as having false information.


Really I dont see a good solution. I am pushing myself through community college right now and I feel like I'm getting a shitty education, and its costing me cold hard cash, in advance. If low level colleges cant even get it right, what the hell are we gonna do?

Your statement is a little too broad, there are many school systems across the country that do a great job and John Q Public couldn't afford a similar school if it was private..of course there are system s which need improvement, but each community has to take action to address.

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Maybe he should have had a state-run education, then he would at least have had some form of education. Because at the moment he makes even Sarah Palin look like less of a retard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yn-eejMcmuA

 

[ch33zw1z]

No, not many people think so. It was a bad idea.

Fools like Craig still seem to think that if the government shouldn't do something, it means that nobody should. Obviously he believes that the government is doing an admirable job with our public schools.

The federal government has NO place to be running education. The state government, otoh, should have some role I believe. With that, allow people to choose public vs private (vouchers) to force public schools to actually perform.

I agree, my question was rhetorical.

Afraid that a private school will teach something you don't want your kid learning? Hey.... You get to choose to send the, somewhere else. Can't do that now if you are a struggling family.

I thought liberals were all about choice? Or is it, that when you think one choice is so good, you have to make sure nobody has the option to pick something else?

Bottom line, enact vouchers. We will see the effect soon in WI, and hopefully they will serve as a model for the rest of the nation.

who said anything about liberals not wanting people to choose private education? I graduated from a private christian school. I was at a disadvantage in the areas of science due to lack of money at that school. I'm not saying that all private religious schools will do the same, that's a gross generalization, it definitely depends on where you live and how much $ you are comfortable paying

That being said, it will not endorse private religious schools in general, and especially those that refuse to teach topics like evolution vs. creationism for fear of losing believers. Fear is the mind killer. I was taught a great deal of history, but looking back on it I know a great deal of subtle brainwashing was instituted. The real problem with that is the leaders don't view it like that because it's just part of what is done. Freedom of choice is viewed in a negative light, as well as questioning beliefs when there's just no real answer but "faith". Onward Christian Soldiers...

 

[Anarchist420]

I don't think vouchers are a good idea. Nothing should be funded by theft.

Anyway, he's just saying this hoping people will forget that he voted to at least double the size of the Department of Education.

Anyone with a functional brain knows that he would never abolish the Department of Education.

Dr. Paul 2012! Everyone else running is a socialist.

 

[Thump553]

You do know by making Santorium's craziness more widely known you are lessening the chances of him getting the GOP nomination, don't you?

I'm perfectly willing to sit quietly by and watch that ship hit the iceberg.

 

[MotF Bane]

1. Privatization means profit for a few and more cost for the many.

2. Private schools -- especially religious ones -- can and do teach revisionist history, so that the next generation will have contrived information to draw upon when making future decisions.

Prove it.

 

[Jhhnn]

Ricky will stroke each and every right wing touchstone of delusion before the game is over, pander to every implanted misconception among the Faithful of the Repub base.

No stone will remain unturned, and no crust will form on the turd bucket of what they believe in.

 

[Bowfinger]

[ ... ]
The article was crafted to inform readers of some thoughts belonging to Mr. Santorum regarding education in our country and then it veered off to paint him as the devil. How a participant of a Q&A feeling that Obama may be a Muslim has anything to do with the article is beyond me. But I'm betting that it was written by a graduate of our public school system.

Are you home-schooled, by chance? That might explain why reading is so hard for you.

First, this story is NOT just about education, but about the "highlights" of Santorum's appearances in Ohio. This is noted in the very first paragraph:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — With his candidacy surging, Rick Santorum on Saturday questioned the legitimacy of state-run public education systems and suggested that President Obama’s agenda sprang from a “phony theology.”

Which was exactly what the second half of the article covers:

At another stop in Ohio on Saturday, Mr. Santorum waded into what he called the “phony theology” of Mr. Obama’s agenda.

“It’s about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology,” he said. “But no less a theology.”

In later comments to reporters, Mr. Santorum said while there are “a lot of different stripes” of Christianity, he believes that “if the president says he’s a Christian, he’s a Christian.”

Note how Santorum, when talking to his Republican flock, keeps hammering his innuendo suggesting Obama's not really Christian, what with his "phony theology" and all. But later, when challenged by reporters, tries to hide from his own words by allowing that “if the president says he’s a Christian, he’s a Christian.” Way to go Rick, that's really generous of you.


And that brings us to your failure to comprehend, "How a participant of a Q&A feeling that Obama may be a Muslim has anything to do with the article is beyond me." You see, this purportedly public-schooled NYT reporter saw an insightful comparison you could not. He contrasted Santorum's sleazy innuendo with McCain's classy rebuke of those in the GOP base who ignorantly assert Obama is not Christian:

Assertions that Mr. Obama is not a Christian, or that he is not an American, were rampant in the 2008 campaign. It got so bad at one point — in the opinion of the Republican nominee, John McCain — that Mr. McCain took back the microphone from a woman at one of his rallies who asserted that Mr. Obama was “an Arab.” Mr. McCain then corrected the woman.

This year, Mr. Santorum has passed up similar opportunities to correct misstatements about the president’s background.

Last month, a woman at one of Mr. Santorum’s campaign stops in Florida declared during a question-and-answer session that Mr. Obama was Muslim. According to an account by CNN, Mr. Santorum did not correct the woman’s statement, and he later said it was not his job to correct such statements.

So, let me summarize in short, easy to digest bullet points for you:

• Story is about Santorum's appearances in Ohio
• While talking to the faithful, Santorum uses sleazy innuendo to attack Obama's faith
• Santorum flip-flops when pressed by reporters, weaseling away from his words
• Reporter astutely contrasts Santorum's sleaze with McCain's integrity

All the dots connected now? Maybe you can get a public high-school student to walk you through it.

 

[Jhhnn]

All the dots connected now? Maybe you can get a public high-school student to walk you through it.

A middle schooler could do it, provided they weren't already indoctrinated with lies...

 

[PeshakJang]

I don't think vouchers are a good idea. Nothing should be funded by theft..

So if I use UPS instead of the post office, I'm stealing from somebody?

Even for you, this is a dumb statement.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So if I use UPS instead of the post office, I'm stealing from somebody?

Even for you, this is a dumb statement.

Absolutely not, but does USPS provide you a voucher to pay for UPS? After all, it's your choice...

 

[sportage]

Santorum, today on FACE THE NATION. Poor Bob Schieffer "trying" to give Santorum a break and explain himself. TV just doesn't get any better than this...!

And if you turned down the volume on your tv, and opened a window, and listened quietly, no matter where in America you live you could hear president Obama praying "PLEASE PLEASE OH PLEASE GOD, LET SANTORUM BE THE ONE".

IF republicans want Santorum, vote Santorum, then all I can figure is "someone" is either holding a gun to their head? Or Santorum is really Jim Jones in disguise mixing up the koolaid. And I would tend to believe the latter.

If you missed Santorum on face the nation, you need invest in a tivo.

 

[fskimospy]

1. As it is right now, schools are hideously expensive for the crummy job they do.

2. Public schools dont prioritize history at all, so the kiddies dont know much history or learned it so poorly its the same as having false information.


Really I dont see a good solution. I am pushing myself through community college right now and I feel like I'm getting a shitty education, and its costing me cold hard cash, in advance. If low level colleges cant even get it right, what the hell are we gonna do?

That's too bad, I finished the first two years of my undergrad degree at a community college and I was actually pretty pleased with the quality of education I got out of it. (not to mention the incredibly low price)