[OldManMac]

One of the things that's always amused me about those who argue in favor of privatizing education is that they haven't been educated enough to realize that the issue is not about public/private, but rather getting involved in your children's education, no matter who pays for it. That's because they're just sheep, who regurgitate the mantras they've been fed, by those who have two goals; make money off our children, and make nice little worker drones, so they have no competition.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by olePigeon 

They're not all English teachers, you're right. They could be grading history term papers, math assignments, chemistry or physics problems. Many schools in smaller or poorer districts require teachers to cover multiple subjects simultaneously.

First, this assumes there is a 60-minute class every hour which is certainly not the case. Second, they're apparently much more effective at time-management than you're giving them credit, per Bureau of Labor Statistics showing an average work week ranging from 38-42 hours/week.

No. I have been involved with education my entire life. My mother is a teacher, and I've worked within the California school system since I graduated from high school. I will give you an example. I currently work with a school district in the south Bay Area in Northern California. This is in the Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Cupertino area. Very rich people there. The state funding allocated to our school district makes up a little less than 5% of our operational budget. 5%. This is in one of the richest areas of our state. 95% of our money comes from local taxes and contributions from the PTA.

So when California slashed funding to state schools as they do every year (has steadily dropped from 70% in the 1950s to less than 5%), our school district was in the same predicament as every other district. We had to lay off 1/4 of our staff and teachers and close two schools in my district alone. This is in one of the richest areas in California.

State funding is nothing, at least it is here in California. Most districts survive on razor thin budgeting. Pensions and salaries make up only a small part of the budget. Teachers who have devoted on average 15 years of their lives to teaching, make a fraction of what they would be making had they gone into the private sector.

With regard to the State of California ranking 47th of 50 States for state-funding of education, I'll concede this point in part. Your State is broke and this is, but one of the many, many symptoms of California's fiscal irresponsibility.

Trash man doesn't need a master's degree.

Teachers don't need CDLs and most teachers don't need a master's degree. Otherwise be careful, you don't want to incur the wrath of besson for "ragging on trash men".

We know where the money isn't going. Somewhere between the Department of Education and the politicians coffers it gets lost.

You'll certainly get no disagreement from me on this.

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

First, this assumes there is a 60-minute class every hour which is certainly not the case. Second, they're apparently much more effective at time-management than you're giving them credit, per Bureau of Labor Statistics showing an average work week ranging from 38-42 hours/week.

I would question these sort of stats emphatically with this profession and others like it. You can't really measure the amount of work involved in a clock punching fashion, and you can't assume that the human body and mind is capable of the same number of solid, non-disputable working hours in each profession. For instance, in my field of programming, working even a 4 hour day of solid billable programming time is far more draining than flipping burgers for 8 hours a day. Flipping burgers is more physically draining, but how do you measure mental drain, stress, etc.?

I'm not countering your point really, other than to say that I don't put much stock into stats that measure total hours in professions like this, no matter what the numbers are.

Teachers don't need CDLs and most teachers don't need a master's degree. Otherwise be careful, you don't want to incur the wrath of besson for "ragging on trash men".

I have no wrath, I think you've been watching too much Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan since you seem to have wrath on your mind.

How's that for a snappy retort? Nailed it!