Surprise! D.C. gets it wrong

The Washington Times ^ | 11/17/04 | Tom Knott

[Old Phone Man]

Fix the schools.

That appeal has become the self-serving mantra of the anti-ballpark brigade in the city.

The purpose is to disarm those who embrace the vision of a publicly funded ballpark along the Anacostia River waterfront in Southeast.

[Old Phone Man]

DC schools have been failing for years. Now the powers-to-be are using them again to stop the Expos from coming to town. It would be fine if the money that poured into the schools for the past 40 years did any good. At least baseball exhilerates the human spirit. DC politicians sap that same spirit.

[2banana]

DC spends more public money per pupil (over $13,000/year) than any other school system in the country.

Sometimes, with socialism, you don't get what you pay for...

[NZerFromHK]

Speaking of bad public school and the myth that more money poured in ust guarantee better results, I'm reminded a senior teacher in history at my old high school (in New Zealand - it is a public school in name but run like a private school) remarked, after visiting one of the best public schools in the New York Tri-state area:

"The school was modern, the kid were rich, the resources fantastic, but we didn't see much work being done."

This is the crux of the problem for failing schools. If teachers refuse to teach, teach poorly, and students aren't properly taught, even if Bill Gates donates his entire wealth to a trust to fund all schools of the Washington DC area will not solve the problem.

[NZerFromHK]

Have a look at my post #3. I think much of the libs want people to ignore this problem.:)

[palmer]

DC spends more public money per pupil (over $13,000/year) than any other school system in the country.

I don't think that's correct. D.C. is higher than most states, but about the same as most big cities.

[bvw]

Would there ever be perchance a couple new north-south superhighways routed one to the west and one to the east of DC? Maybe that could be part of the greater stadium planning.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The libs never heed the lesson of Kansas City.

[ladylib]

Well, at least Washington, DC, has some sort of voucher plan now for parents who want it. The public schools are a lost cause and should be ignored. I know that sounds "insensitive," but enough is enough. They've had all the time and money in the world and it's all come to naught.

[sgtbono2002]

It is my belief that most of the teachers in the DC school system couldnt pass a High School Equivalency test.

[Old Phone Man]

Well, like I've said before , I came from San Francisco ten years ago and ended up setteling in DC..We lived in Cleveland Park part of the time and think that it is better than anything SF had to offer...We also lived in Brookland and were mugged several times

. DC has a lot to offer but ya gotta guard your rear...We live in a rural part of Pa. now and love it.