tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post2960366452301130057..comments2023-11-03T06:49:09.136-05:00Comments on Heretic at the Gates: More on our crappy public schoolsWill McBridehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05742233928328747756noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-90965797505753495192007-01-23T21:50:00.000-05:002007-01-23T21:50:00.000-05:00Megan,
1) Yes, like most privatization/deregulati...Megan,<br /><br />1) Yes, like most privatization/deregulation programs, the voucher program in DC is a half-measure. It gives both sides something to blame when it fails. I'm for fully privatizing schools.<br /><br />2) I don't see how the burdens would be any worse than they are now. Firstly, I think many of the "disabilities" are created within our public schools. Secondly, it's not clear that those with real disabilities, eg birth defects, also have parents that don't give a shit. I figure their parents care too, and they have money, and so a private school would arise to accomodate them in the absence of "free" public schools, and it would serve them much better. Even if we do assume that kids with disabilities tend to have parents who don't give a shit, and that they'll leave them with whatever sorry public service is available, then under vouchers, the sorry public service should have more resources available, since the able kids go to private schools.<br /><br />3) Don't know about Boston, but again, I bet it's a half measure. If it were completely private, then there would arise numerous schools in each neighborhood, at different price points and different quality levels. There would be no reason to rely on a car to get across town, just as you don't currently need a car to shop for clothes downtown. Don't underestimate the creativity of free people.Will McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05742233928328747756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-39348906664627135632007-01-23T07:35:00.000-05:002007-01-23T07:35:00.000-05:00I'm being a devil's advocate here, but there are s...I'm being a devil's advocate here, but there are some valid points behind the arguments against school vouchers/ school choice:<br /><br />1. The voucher system, at least currently in DC, isn't a fully open market, as many private schools won't participate because the current system is lottery-based and the schools want the right to handpick the students they want to admit. <br /><br />2. The fear exists that the private schools will refuse to admit students with learning, emotional or physical disabilities, leaving those students stuck in public schools who are legally obliged to educate them. This would place undue burdens on the student, their family and the school system.<br /><br />3. Has anyone looked closely at Boston, where all the schools are open enrollment? Yes, the active parents do get their children into the best school possible. However, many parents send their children to their neighborhood schools because their home situation creates barriers to sending them anywhere else. My brother taught 1st grade in Boston for a year in a not-so-great school and some of his students' lives were just flat out chaotic. Something as simple as getting the kids to a school outside the neighborhood was too much for many parents because they didn't have a car or the time to accompany them on public transportation.Turtleduckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12721787472705476504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-4589095530705329752007-01-21T23:45:00.000-05:002007-01-21T23:45:00.000-05:00OK, that may come across as strongly pro-life, but...OK, that may come across as strongly pro-life, but, I stress, it is a weakly held opinion. Just don't kill me.Will McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05742233928328747756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-66980925139640061392007-01-21T23:39:00.000-05:002007-01-21T23:39:00.000-05:00Whoa, Joanna, that's plain crazy! Amy did not cha...Whoa, Joanna, that's plain crazy! Amy did not change my mind, she hasn't commented yet. I'm merely eager to hear her side. I'm still with you on individualism, but I've never been a strong advocate either way on abortion, both because it's a mess and I really don't have strongly held beliefs. But here are some comments I left on marginal revolution regarding abortion and discount rates:<br /><br />First, here's the link:<br />http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2007/01/someone_who_sou.html<br /><br />I, like many of you, claim not to be a utilitarian. But it seems only Jane and John are appealing to a procedural theory of justice, while the rest of you are maximizing some social outcome, be it population size, or average utility, etc. Individual rights do not extend to a right to abortion, not completely anyway, for the same old reason claimed by the wacky pro-life crowd: it impinges on the rights of another individual, the fetus. Even assuming, as Michael does, that a fetus has no preferences, the effect of the fetus on the mother's preferences is important. Isn't the mother the best judge of these factors? I'm not sure. To me, that is equivalent to assuming the murderer is the best judge. Murder is worse than abortion, I suppose, but only because norms against murder are well established.Will McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05742233928328747756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-71607573201308114242007-01-21T22:41:00.000-05:002007-01-21T22:41:00.000-05:00Wait - so did Amy change your mind? Or are you emb...Wait - so did Amy change your mind? Or are you embarrassed about your pro-choice stance being known by church members?Joanna Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04912765545528311025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-53229834145377091292007-01-21T15:07:00.000-05:002007-01-21T15:07:00.000-05:00Yes, Sushi Dave has some great stories. Like the ...Yes, Sushi Dave has some great stories. Like the one about his last day on the job. He said he got so stressed out in class that he thought he was having a heart attack. The principle excused him and he never went back.Will McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05742233928328747756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-72705130695289557582007-01-21T12:49:00.000-05:002007-01-21T12:49:00.000-05:00McBride, I'm glad to see you've found something to...McBride, I'm glad to see you've found something to do with your free time besides drinking beer and sleeping until noon.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02968813963451133114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7364586410437298556.post-45762449113075928512007-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:002007-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:00Have you ever talked to Sushi Dave about his exper...Have you ever talked to Sushi Dave about his experience teaching Middle School in DC? It's pretty hilarious.Maxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14705791952150703408noreply@blogger.com