There are single parents who can’t do this. There are many grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and they can’t do this either. Getting rid of the DOE is a huge step in the right direction. Most of the BS comes from the federal level. Putting the states back in charge is a step in the right direction. School choice is a very good option as is homeschooling. Unfortunately, the rats will always find a way back into the system.
You just outlined the real issue. Schools are actually publicly funded babysitting so people can be separated from their children to have enough time to make money to survive. Education is secondary. Imagine flipping the script where single mothers could afford to spend more time with their children and homeschool.
Homeschooling means that the parents decide how to educate their kids. In addition to teaching the kids themselves, they can choose group classes, regular schools, etc.. This can be adapted to anyone's situation.
That might work to an extent. I would caution that school districts that are performing admirably are usually pretty full. I worked in a school district that was conservative and known for having high expectations and parent involvement. We had a number of students from out of district, our numbers were already at max, and when I retired a few years ago our classes were overly full. Maxxed out classrooms do not make for a good learning environment.
Out of district students, at the moment, are not paying vouchers. Expanding means building more schools and yes hiring more staff, but there is no expansion in the tax base to easily cover those costs. Schools are at max right now, at the moment, because of the influx of immigrants, who also don’t pay taxes. Also, it takes time to pass bonds to build and then it takes added time to build, if bonds to build are passed by the voters. It’s not as easy as you think. Teachers wind up having to share their classroom with other teachers, secondary classrooms are crowded and support staff is spread very thin.
There are single parents who can’t do this. There are many grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and they can’t do this either. Getting rid of the DOE is a huge step in the right direction. Most of the BS comes from the federal level. Putting the states back in charge is a step in the right direction. School choice is a very good option as is homeschooling. Unfortunately, the rats will always find a way back into the system.
You just outlined the real issue. Schools are actually publicly funded babysitting so people can be separated from their children to have enough time to make money to survive. Education is secondary. Imagine flipping the script where single mothers could afford to spend more time with their children and homeschool.
How would a single mother afford to stay home and home school?
Homeschooling means that the parents decide how to educate their kids. In addition to teaching the kids themselves, they can choose group classes, regular schools, etc.. This can be adapted to anyone's situation.
Let the parents decide.
Parents need vouchers so they can take their kids to whichever school they want, public or private.
That would quickly force public schools to perform or lose students in droves.
That might work to an extent. I would caution that school districts that are performing admirably are usually pretty full. I worked in a school district that was conservative and known for having high expectations and parent involvement. We had a number of students from out of district, our numbers were already at max, and when I retired a few years ago our classes were overly full. Maxxed out classrooms do not make for a good learning environment.
A school that is maxed out but receiving a constant inflow of money, will be able to expand and hire more staff.
They wouldn't be constrained by fixed or shrinking budgets.
Out of district students, at the moment, are not paying vouchers. Expanding means building more schools and yes hiring more staff, but there is no expansion in the tax base to easily cover those costs. Schools are at max right now, at the moment, because of the influx of immigrants, who also don’t pay taxes. Also, it takes time to pass bonds to build and then it takes added time to build, if bonds to build are passed by the voters. It’s not as easy as you think. Teachers wind up having to share their classroom with other teachers, secondary classrooms are crowded and support staff is spread very thin.