Well, the system could be modified, but I would contend that the reason that
there is a cell phone in every hand, and a television in every home, and a
computer in every house is the result of the ingenuity and industriousness of
every American working within our free market economy that responds to the needs
of the consumer, rewards success, and punishes failure.

Here is an example of the "responsiveness" of the current system. I started a
parents support group for children with dyslexia. I sent out 200 emails to
teachers and principals telling them the group existed and how we might be able
to help. I received one reply. Everyone else did not even bother to even
acknowledge they received the email.

So, I'd ask, with 35% of children unable to read at a basic level nationally,
and with poor children even worse off, what would be your suggestion? We've
tripled the amount of money spent per pupil with little success and now people
are advocating more hours in the school day! Why would we leave children in
schools that underachieve for more hours?

Right now, I need all the hours after school to give my children time to read
books that challenge them and tutoring in math because their school doesn't
teach them the cognitive concepts behind math. I just didn't want them to be
part of the huge number of students in 8th grade that find they cannot handle
algebra.

I don't know what state you live in, but if you start looking at the test
scores you might be surprised at the dismal state of things. One promising
program is KIPP, the knowledge is power program. You can take a look at
kipp.org. They run charter schools in Houston and I've begun donating monthly
to one of them.

David

don_nairn <no_reply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
So with this system the academically gifted child will receive
$11,000 and the academically challenged child will receive exactly
the same.

The child born into wealth will get $11,000 and the child born into
poverty will receive exactly the same.

Clearly this system suggests that the child somehow chooses to be
born a certain way.

This is a very new medical concept for me I would be delighted if
you could share the science behind how children get to choose their
circumstances.

Silly me thought that babies were made by adults having sex clearly
it is more complicated than this.

While Milton Friedman may have been a great economist as a student
of economics it is well acknowledged that economics is very poor at
addressing social equity issues.

Regards

Don

--- In dyslexiaclub@yahoogroups.com, David Smith <plexusmaster@...>
wrote:
>
> I would suggest Oprah since she has an interest in education. And
let me also suggest the following.
>
> The United States has one of the most innovative and excellent
medical systems and university systems in the world. But, the
public school system is lacking and unresponsive to the complaints
of the parents. Why the difference? There is no competitive
pressure from the consumer of the system.
>
> I am a doctor, so I usually make this analogy. Assume about on
average 40% of children struggle to read. Now, here's the analogy.
Lets say you came to see me as a doctor, and I told you only 6 out
of 10 of my patients lived after treatment. Then, I said, that you
could leave and see another doctor if you wanted, but I would keep
your money if you went elsewhere, and you'd have to pay an
additional amount out of pocket for the other doctor who had 9 out
of 10 patients surviving.
>
> This is why we should argue for vouchers. In my area,
approximately 11,000 dollars is being spent per pupil and 35-40% of
the children do not score above a basic level in reading and math.
What if the state gathered a portion of all property taxes and place
them in a fund, and distributed a voucher worth 11 thousand dollars
to each child. You could spend it on ANY public school, or
parochial school, or private school, or materials for home
schooling. THE PARENT is the only one in the system who truly
advocates ONLY for the child, so the parent should decide where the
child is sent.
>
> Don't you think schools would be more responsive to the needs of
the children if the parents not only could take the children out of
the school and send them to a better place, BUT THE SCHOOL WOULD
ALSO LOSE THE MONEY. Once the principal and teachers felt that
competitive pressure, they're would be a REASON to perform better
because their lives would begin to be effected, not just the lives
of the children and families trying to get a better education.
>
> So, if the petition is a mass emailing advocating a voucher
system for public education, sign me up!
>
> David Smith, MD
>
> PS By the way, Milton Friedman, the nobel prize award winning
economist was a great advocate of school vouchers because he knew
that it would encourage innovation through competition just like in
the rest of our economy.
>
> Brenda Beebe <beebe30@...> wrote:
> I am in the process of trying to see how much interest
would be in people from these groups participating
> in a mass email to the media.
>
> I currently have posted this question on two other email groups
and received a fairly positive large response.
>
> There is a common theme all of us share, it is not what labels are
children have it is the struggles we go through
> with the schools and insurance companies. The system is not
working and the children are suffering. It is not really that the
> laws aren't there for these kids it is the schools don't follow
them and no one holds them accountable.
>
> To raise eyebrows and get exposure through the media, we need
massive emails. These emails should all be
> titled the same in the subject line and then we can give a brief
personal story about the struggles we all have gone through.
>
> Please let me know if you are interested and I will keep you
posted of the subject line title and to whom we will
> email.
>
> Although it looks like Oprah and/or Anderson Cooper.
>
> Brenda
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Need Mail bonding?
> Go to the Yahoo! Mail Q&A for great tips from Yahoo! Answers users.
> http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396546091
>
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>
>
>
>
>
>
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>






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