Get the Feds out of our kids heads

While our president blames Bush for his own failed economic policy and claims the GOP’s “Pledge for America” is a “worn out philosophy” (NY Daily News), it appears his intention to divide and conquer is working. Not that the Obama agenda of government control over everything under the sun hasn’t been used and abused throughout the world (See Greece,Germany,France, etc). The “United” States of America may be as polarized as at any time in its history, with no assist from the Point-Guard-In-Chief.

Yet if there is one thing that the “ruling class” liberals and “Tea Party” patriots could agree upon, it’s that the Federal government can’t even run a lemonade stand successfully. Regardless of the party, it seemsWashington repeatedly fails to deliver, and that includes the mail. From the “war on poverty”, to Medicare, Medicaid, Amtrak, and yes, the U.S. Postal Service, government needs to stick to what it does best; building roads, bridges, and the military. We used to be able to say that it could protect our borders, but so much for that…

So let’s take a peek at a federal “institution” that gets very little attention relative to its very existence; the public school system. The U.S. Department of Education is perhaps one of the most inefficient and bloated government created institutions there is, aside from the F.D.A. or the Department of Agriculture. There has been more money thrown at education for failed programs than any other federally devised agency in the history of this republic…

Total real spending on education grew by 89 percent from 1965-66 to 1985-86. Yet during the same period, average Scholastic Achievement Test scores of college-bound high school seniors fell 16 points on the mathematics test and 30 points on the verbal test;(16) the percentage of 17-year-olds who graduated from high school fell;(17) and other measures of educational achievement also showed a downward trend. – Cato Institute

You won’t find any mention of “public school systems” in the Constitution, or an amendment claiming that meals should be mandatory for every student attending a government run youth indoctrination facility. Michelle Obama and her “healthy menu” crusade would be thrown out of my late Grandmother’s one room schoolhouse where she taught grades K-12. Believe me, “free lunch” programs weren’t the priority back then, even as our nation was recovering from a real depression, and several world wars.

The great State of Florida has done what all states should do, and separate themselves from the slavery imposed by federal mandates for public schools. A tax credit program for businesses that contribute to the funding of private schools is changing the landscape of education in The Sunshine State.

The tax credits support private school choice for low-income children by encouraging businesses to donate money for their education. A business’s tax liability is cut by a dollar for every dollar it donates to a nonprofit scholarship organization. The nonprofits use the funds to help poor families pay private school tuition. – Wall Street Journal

As teachers unions scream for more money, more benefits, and demand that cuts not be considered for their big labor union initiatives, students continue to graduate with skills lacking for this new world economy. My new hero, N.J. Governor Christie is one of the few leaders in this country saying enough is enough, and that although teachers are important, they are not above the rest of us…

They should ask their teachers, if they want to teach free thinking, why they’re in the throes of the dicta from their union, rather than resorting to common sense,” he said. “This is where they abuse their position of trust. Those are our children in that classroom. To be inundated with that type of propaganda – self-serving, self-interested, greedy propaganda – is reprehensible. And they know it. – NJ.Com

I guess it’s OK for the little people to sacrifice, scrimp, save, and try to salvage what’s let of the American Dream. But as the Federal government continues to spend like drunken sailors, with our anointed leader taking vacation after vacation, teachers unions expect exorbitant benefits and pensions while our children suffer the consequences.

The last time I checked, a monopoly was illegal. Yet it appears our government run schools have a monopoly on spreading the incompetence around. I’m not sure what they’re filling our kids’ heads with, but it can’t be any better than what’s already been said…