tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post4952501742841662901..comments2024-01-01T15:35:12.954-07:00Comments on Simple Utah Mormon Politics: Random Thoughts About Public Education in UtahFrank Stahelihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01822334061980912687noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-79402720699516953302007-08-10T15:04:00.000-06:002007-08-10T15:04:00.000-06:00150 students in a music class is called "an orches...150 students in a music class is called "an orchestra". Freshman college courses for basic math and physics have lecture halls that accommodate over a hundred people. When I was a student assistant at the University of Utah, we had a large lecture but also we provided individual assistance during a lab period. I thought it was much more efficient than interrupting the professor's lecture. <BR/><BR/>On diversity: Only a school district, with the monopoly power that lets it tell students where to go for school, has the ability to segregate schools. Historically, PUBLIC schools practiced racial discrimination for over 50 years (from Plessy v Ferguson to Brown v. Topeka Board of Education) among students. While some private schools served richer families (e.g. Sidwell Friends where Chelsea Clinton went!), parochial schools served minority and immigrant communities, NOT white folks fleeing public schools. <BR/><BR/>If you provide financial aid to parents so they can opt out of public schools, it will be harder for public schools to maintain a system where minority students are abused. The families will have a choice, and the money will generate a market for education services that people will serve. Parents are smart consumers for homes, doctors, cars, clothing, etc. They pick COLLEGES for their kids. They are smart enough to pick schools in the K-12 range for their own kids, especially because they can quit if the school does not deliver. <BR/><BR/>Since you still have to come up with your own money toward tuition, most people will use the cheaper option of public schools. But if a public school has failed your kid in some way, why should your kid have to suffer, just to subsidize the UEA union dues fund? The natural growth in student numbers in Utah will maintain jobs for all current public school teachers, and cut down on capital costs for new buildings. <BR/><BR/>coltakashi.livejournal.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-61034389669730076462007-08-10T07:01:00.000-06:002007-08-10T07:01:00.000-06:00The class size data is very misleading. Districts ...The class size data is very misleading. Districts play a lot of accounting tricks to make the number that low. My daughter had 42 students in her 8th grade geometry class and 150 students in her music class. All of her other classes had more than 35. These numbers are out of control and the poor teachers can't possibly work effectively under those conditions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25646979.post-32680007850720391352007-08-09T10:09:00.000-06:002007-08-09T10:09:00.000-06:00The argument that I keep hearing about vouchers is...The argument that I keep hearing about vouchers is that poor people will be able to send their kids to private schools with a voucher to help pay the cost. How much does a voucher off set the cost? How much do private schools cost anyway? Anybody have any numbers?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com