Equality?

[Lion]

Isn't public education a form of equality?

[oww-that-hurt]

Isn't public education a form of equality?

In the U.S. at this time, the sad answer is no. There isn't even any equality between the dozen school districts in my COUNTY. Take a location, such as Montana, that has local school districts being ran by local school boards with the local taxpayers voting on issues and if approved then the property owners pay taxes for those issues. The more affluent school districts have more educational and sports choices, by voter approval, than the less affluent. Some school districts have swim teams, some school districts don't even have a pool within 100 miles.

The environment for the public schools are very far from any equal footing, as well. Urban, suburban, rural and remote public schools are so unequal in many facets that they really can't be in the same conversation. That is one reason 'nickle-be' will never work; one formula for such a diverse group of circumstances is unreasonable, as noble as some people may feel it might be.

Many school districts are too small to reasonably be required to have a Chemistry teacher, for example. But many times those kids are too far from a school district that has a Chemistry teacher to be bused to. And, since the school district that has the Chemistry teacher isn't supported by taxes for those other school district kids to attend their school, if they decide to accept a limited (key word) number of out-of district kids, they charge tuition. They must. Their budgets aren't built around other school district's kids. I know I sure don't want MY property taxes to pay for school kids from another district. I didn't vote for that. Like Thorne said previously, and I feel the same way concerning this issue "And I don't share." Thanks, Thorne!

So, as it stands now, public education isn't a form of equality. Yeah, we all have the equal opportunity to attend, but that is the end of it.

Damn husbands (me) of long-time school teachers are opinionated!

[DuncanONeil]

Some, repeat "some", of you examples are not germane. Yes it is an opinion but the high school I attended did not have a pool either, nor a football team. Baseball and track we had but they competed for the same athletes, I surmise that the best went to Baseball as Track only had one meet. Our Basketball team was best in conference, Track second best, baseball I never heard.
But having said all of that these are not necessary for education, and yes I was involved in sports. Even lettered.
Education is what goes on in the classroom. Of course the population of an area is going to have a direct result on how much is available for the schools and their spending. Something else that needs to be reformed!

In the U.S. at this time, the sad answer is no. There isn't even any equality between the dozen school districts in my COUNTY. Take a location, such as Montana, that has local school districts being ran by local school boards with the local taxpayers voting on issues and if approved then the property owners pay taxes for those issues. The more affluent school districts have more educational and sports choices, by voter approval, than the less affluent. Some school districts have swim teams, some school districts don't even have a pool within 100 miles.

The environment for the public schools are very far from any equal footing, as well. Urban, suburban, rural and remote public schools are so unequal in many facets that they really can't be in the same conversation. That is one reason 'nickle-be' will never work; one formula for such a diverse group of circumstances is unreasonable, as noble as some people may feel it might be.

Many school districts are too small to reasonably be required to have a Chemistry teacher, for example. But many times those kids are too far from a school district that has a Chemistry teacher to be bused to. And, since the school district that has the Chemistry teacher isn't supported by taxes for those other school district kids to attend their school, if they decide to accept a limited (key word) number of out-of district kids, they charge tuition. They must. Their budgets aren't built around other school district's kids. I know I sure don't want MY property taxes to pay for school kids from another district. I didn't vote for that. Like Thorne said previously, and I feel the same way concerning this issue "And I don't share." Thanks, Thorne!

So, as it stands now, public education isn't a form of equality. Yeah, we all have the equal opportunity to attend, but that is the end of it.

Damn husbands (me) of long-time school teachers are opinionated!

[steelish]

Isn't public education a form of equality?

All Americans have the equal right to pursue an education and we have free public schools. Unfortunately, the Department of Education is so top heavy and has drained educational funding. Not only that but the federal government keeps cutting back on education, yet I don't see them cutting back on their own spending.

Obama speaks specifically of spreading the wealth economically. I have never seen evidence that it is possible for a country to contain people who are "equal" in terms of economic wealth. It is impossible to bring poverty level or "poor" people up to the middle class or upper/middle class level and have everyone at that level. In doing so you would have to also bring upper class and rich down to middle or upper/middle class level.

In doing this, what we will end up with is a nation of bitter, unhappy people looking to overthrow their government because in essence, what the government will be doing is "forcing" charity, which doesn't really make it charity. Charity comes from the heart and is given freely. I know many countries frown upon America and even hate us. We are one of the most charitable nations on earth so I find it quite ironic that we are being viewed as "hating the poor". In my opinion, the people from other countries who feel this way see sensationalized stories on mainstream media and think they know the "real" America.

[DuncanONeil]

I agree with your "hating the poor" comment.
Ever notice how there is never a concrete definition of what constitutes "poor"

All Americans have the equal right to pursue an education and we have free public schools. Unfortunately, the Department of Education is so top heavy and has drained educational funding. Not only that but the federal government keeps cutting back on education, yet I don't see them cutting back on their own spending.

Obama speaks specifically of spreading the wealth economically. I have never seen evidence that it is possible for a country to contain people who are "equal" in terms of economic wealth. It is impossible to bring poverty level or "poor" people up to the middle class or upper/middle class level and have everyone at that level. In doing so you would have to also bring upper class and rich down to middle or upper/middle class level.

In doing this, what we will end up with is a nation of bitter, unhappy people looking to overthrow their government because in essence, what the government will be doing is "forcing" charity, which doesn't really make it charity. Charity comes from the heart and is given freely. I know many countries frown upon America and even hate us. We are one of the most charitable nations on earth so I find it quite ironic that we are being viewed as "hating the poor". In my opinion, the people from other countries who feel this way see sensationalized stories on mainstream media and think they know the "real" America.

[DuncanONeil]

In a manner of speaking, yes it is. However it is not an equality of outcome but of opportunity.
That is the problem with "share the wealth" equality. It is equality of outcome.
We have, what some 16 football teams in the US, with a little over 22 on the roster, paid exhorbitent salaries in my estimation. This is also equality of opportunity, since those that want to play can try for the job. Equality of outcome would mean that these guys get to play only one season or game so everyone else can also be a "football hero".

Isn't public education a form of equality?