One reason Western govs r failing is b/c of how gov funding is distributed to existing programs. If a program is successful, govs everywhere, sometimes partnered w/ private philanthropists, increase its funding. But this is precisely the wrong approach to take... [continued]
Allow me an example. Before @Schwarzenegger was @CAgovernor, he popularized K-12 afterschool programs across America. As u might expect, these programs emphasized physical & mental fitness, so kids whose parents couldn't pick them up at 3pm could play sports or read til 6 or 7.
These programs were fantastic & improved edu outcomes. Teachers & parents would volunteer & students saw a softer side to teachers who had to be disciplinarians classrooms. Kids were either moving (playing sports), reading, or doing HW in the library under adult supervision.
Fast forward 15 yrs. Afterschool programs received more $. More kids decided to participate, even ones whose parents could pick them up at 3pm. Volunteers became paid & local nonprofits became interested in a piece of increasing gov rev. Xboxes appeared & programs lost structure.
Yes, some middle schools bought Xboxes w/ increased $, thereby defeating original purpose of improving physical fitness. Kids were no longer strictly supervised b/c numbers exploded, and quality of paid workers--no longer necessarily affiliated w/ the school itself--declined.
Corps also wanted advertising deductions & made donations. Some of the changed dynamic relates to the natural difficulty in handling growth but u have to think: why not just leave the program as is & ensure no cuts? If the original volunteers needed something, they could ask.
Overall, gov invites waste by not focusing enough on poorer districts while giving too much $ to richer districts & also by funneling so much money through local police depts. (My city funds school traffic crossing guards thru PD.) Segregation is guaranteed under existing model.
Some Californians will argue since Jerry Brown's last term, funding model has become more equitable. Sure, but that doesn't change overall flaws w/i funding model.
I didn't go to "rich" 6-12 schools (LG, Saratoga, etc.). But I wouldn't have noticed the difference if I had.
I didn't go to "rich" 6-12 schools (LG, Saratoga, etc.). But I wouldn't have noticed the difference if I had.
The only time I realized my high school was weird was when my wrestling team visited a rich school for a friendly practice. Their gym was incredible. But if u think about it, books, chess sets, & even basketballs r the same everywhere. What matters is the quality of teachers...
as well as their ability to point u to the right direction. R current public K-12 schools hiring consistently high quality teachers? Probably not, or rich parents wouldn't be spending 10 to 30K annually for private schools, esp in poorer districts.
Like everywhere else, if you want to succeed, quality of people is paramount, and sometimes, too much money can reduce quality as the money attracts the wrong kind of people. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.
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