The Jerry Baldwin Saga: 1998-2020

[CajunRebel]

First, I don't "hate" anybody. I'm severely disappointed in the current shape of our school system and those running it that have fought ideas for improvement because they weren't invented by them and required internal scrutiny as opposed to external blame.


I'm disappointed too. How can you not be? But again I would love for you to provide an example of a person who fought ideas for improvement and what improvement they fought against. Just saying "Intellectuals" or "They" could mean anyone.

Now, you get to work on a list of Louisiana public school system officials over the past 30 years that you wish to exclude from the responsibility of the regression of the Louisiana school system and I promise you your list will be shorter. If you doubt the self-professed intellectualism of these people, you don't know many. And no, I'm not calling out individuals by name on this forum.

In your opinion what makes someone an intellectual? And since most people consider it a compliment to be called intellectual why do you think it's a negative thing? And why don't you want to call responsible persons or groups out by name on this forum? Saying "They" narrows the list down to absolutely everyone! If you have a beef with the way someone handled a situation be a man and list names.

If in this post you're attempting to tell me that the Louisiana public school system does not "suck"... please provide me with an essay, single spaced, that defends the system and the current product. Start off by telling us who's been running the Louisiana school system. Then tell us how well it's functioning... and please don't do what they do... point to the gifted children that essentially learn on their own... only to help prop up the numbers. You may be able, by virture of this very simple connecting of the dots, come to the same conclusion as most of us.

Here's my essay (single-spaced): I think the public school system sucks. I think an expanded voucher program would do good things for the state. I also think the elimination of teacher's collective-bargaining rights as well as other rules that eliminate the incentive for teachers to do a great job. But I think by far the biggest problem is the fact that a sickening amount of parents in this state don't consider education to be a priority and don't push their kids to learn and get good grades. The under-performance has much more to do with the children who don't try than the shortcomings from our system. I also know that there are tons of kids who get good educations and are successful in these "under-performing" schools so it's not a complete system failure.

And to answer your other question the BESE board technically "Runs" our school system along with the local school boards. And a majority of the members of the BESE board over the past 25 years have been Republicans and/or conservative. So am I right in assuming that Republicans are the people you call intellectuals?

As for explaining "what" was done by the "intellectuals" that contributed to the destruction... I've already posted some of those in an earlier post. Go read it. You are at a substantial disadvantage if you believe our public schools are doing just fine. Oh, don't tell me... you believe they just need more money and "they" will "fix things"... again... by themselves. That's been tried. They "suck"... and the vacuum is only getting worse. Again, other than the effort given to fabricate results, or ignore the entire body of work, please explain how well the system currently works.

I don't think more money will fix things. See my essay above. And please tell me who is "fabricating results" or "ignoring the body of work." Again it would be helpful if you didn't answer "They."

And if you are one of these "intellectuals", please give us your background so that we can add you to "the list". I eagerly await "your" response.

I still don't know what you consider an "intellectual" to be so I can't answer your question.

[CajunRebel]

These "every kid gets a trophy" folks have almost destroyed American society. I was just visiting a good friend of mine in Lafayette over the Memorial Day weekend. His in-laws kids were staying over at his house. He pointed out how they've always praised their kids for the smallest things. Their kids can't even socialize with other kids normally. People love to point to a laundry list of reasons kids need this and that. They need the same basic fundamentals that we as humans have always needed. Things went wrong when public school system administrators allowed "social issues" to influence, then control, the education process. They don't get it. The rats just want to protect their ship of cheese.

So if we stop giving every single kid a trophy American society will improve? I didn't know we gave every kid a trophy in the first place. But it's an interesting theory you have there.

And what specific "social issues" control the educational system these days?

Again you are really good at making outrageous claims without providing anything specific to back up those claims.

[CajunT]

Careful T. I graduated from the public school system in Louisiana (Lafayette for that matter). I've watched my relatives, one at a time, generation after generation, struggle through a dilapidated Lafayette public school system. You don't even attempt to place your kids in a Baton Rouge based public school. It isn't about learning. It's about survival.

One of my great nieces is leaving the Lafayette public school system to go to a private school next year. You wouldn't believe the stories. Amazingly, as much as my little niece is a motor mouth (don't know where that came from) our family thought she wasn't all that bright. She got a tutor and after taking the entrance exams at the private school, they all said how smart she is. Little did we all realize, she was just regressing due to the pathetically run public school system. This was the same elementary school I went to in Lafayette. It was a great school back when I was there. They have absolutely no discipline. Of course, they've internalized everything and went only to the "intellectuals" for help. That help was less than worthless. It is the cause of the regression.

These "every kid gets a trophy" folks have almost destroyed American society. I was just visiting a good friend of mine in Lafayette over the Memorial Day weekend. His in-laws kids were staying over at his house. He pointed out how they've always praised their kids for the smallest things. Their kids can't even socialize with other kids normally. People love to point to a laundry list of reasons kids need this and that. They need the same basic fundamentals that we as humans have always needed. Things went wrong when public school system administrators allowed "social issues" to influence, then control, the education process. They don't get it. The rats just want to protect their ship of cheese.

My comments weren’t directed at you Matt. I just found it ironic that the person that attended private school would be here defending the very educational system that he avoided. Oh, I’m aware of the public school system. I attended public schools as well in Lafayette but that system has evolved into a jobs program right now with very little accountability when it comes to faculty and administration. My oldest graduated from a private school, but I made the mistake of allowing my middle child to attend public high school. Believe me, there is a huge difference between the two in the conduct that is allowed from the students, faculty and administration. Sadly, I’ve dealt with several comments from teachers that would not be tolerated in the private system. They are allowed to voice their biases in the classroom without fear of accountability because they are protected by layers of bureaucracy and teachers unions. I’ve met some really good educators, but they have endured the intolerance and unprofessional conduct of the majority to survive.

[CajunRebel]

My comments weren’t directed at you Matt. I just found it ironic that the person that attended private school would be here defending the very educational system that he avoided.

Just want to point out that I did not defend the public school system. Just trying to get Just1More to be more specific about who "They" is and what "They" does.

And as I said in another thread I feel a private school education is much better than a public school education. But you can still be successful and prepared for college and/or life if you attend a public school. I'm sure many successful public school grads on this board can attest to this.

[Just1More]

Just want to point out that I did not defend the public school system. Just trying to get Just1More to be more specific about who "They" is and what "They" does.

And as I said in another thread I feel a private school education is much better than a public school education. But you can still be successful and prepared for college and/or life if you attend a public school. I'm sure many successful public school grads on this board can attest to this.

Let's take your last paragraph first. There's a difference between the past and now. And, I "know" you can "go through" the public education system and come out well educated. For the most part, you are learning pretty much on your own. There are exceptions to very good public schools and teachers... but they are not the norm.

I never stated that my derogatory use of the term "intellectual" denoted a Republican or Democrat. Although, in 84.6% of my pseudo-intellectual usage, I'm referring to liberals. I'm not going into a diatribe on the reasoning behind that. If you don't like it, just say so. I'll live with your objection. I probably should have used the term "pseudo-intellectual" in this instance... I made the mistake of taking a shortcut. True intellectualism, as I refer to it, is complimentary. A pseudo-intellectual is a highly educated individual lacking in common sense and a practical application of logic. They, unlike most true intellectuals, move around the political arena referring to themselves as "intellectuals".

I asked you to read my former post on where I believe "they" contributed to the destruction of the current public school system. I am not removing the blame for the deterioration of the parental component of education on the school system. But, I am firmly blaming the pseudo-intellectuals. They are the "everyone is a winner", "no school prayer or moment of silence", "less dress code and hair restrictions", "less or even no corporal punishment", "less fundamentals of education, more social learning", "ebonics has a place", "standardized testing is bias", "we know better in teaching sex education", "history revisionism", "evolution, but no intelligent design", the list goes on.

You wish for me to name names. Why is that necessary? First, I believe some people in specific positions of authority in the Louisiana school system are puppets. Why call out the puppet? They are manhandled by other entities. Also, just to be clear... when did it become inappropriate to make a point using "they"? Are you taking personal offense to my comments? Then you go to the trouble of telling me who doesn't apply.

Not only do I agree with T that the teacher's union (and you've agreed with that point) has overstepped protecting the unqualified teacher, but I know quite a few public school teachers and they tell me of the ridiculousness of the school system and it's administrators. So, why am I out of line calling out the public school system exactly?

[CajunT]

Just want to point out that I did not defend the public school system. Just trying to get Just1More to be more specific about who "They" is and what "They" does.

And as I said in another thread I feel a private school education is much better than a public school education. But you can still be successful and prepared for college and/or life if you attend a public school. I'm sure many successful public school grads on this board can attest to this.

Yes, and there are examples of successful grads in every school district. The problem remains and continues to be a larger percentage are failing or dropping out. You have rightly identified that the parents, faculty and administration share in the blame for the failure of public education. I don’t consider it a Republican or a Democrat problem, but let’s be honest in saying that one party has more of a vested interest in keeping the status-quo than the other. The majority of unionized cafeteria workers, janitors and educators are not voting Republican. So when I hear that the voucher program is taking away money from public education, my question is how? If it cost an average of $12,000 per year to educate a student in the public system compared to $9,000 in a voucher system, then that is an average of $3,000 in savings per student to the tax payers every year. In addition to that, what about all the people that send their children to private school, but are still paying the taxes for public education? Every year I sent my children to private school; the public education system pocketed my taxes and spent it in the system without having to spend one dollar on my children for the cost of education.

I don’t think anyone that is calling this voucher idea bad and would rather keep the status-quo is making that argument from higher moral ground. While I’m sure it’s great to run around at election time boasting that they didn’t vote to cut education, the fact remains that the system they protect is unleashing large numbers of children into society uneducated and ill-prepared for the job market. Statistics support the conclusion that an overwhelming number of those children end up on public assistance or suffer high incarceration rates. None of that has anything to do with the underfunding of education, but the failures of the current public education system and society in general. I see no moral high ground in that record.

Will the voucher system work here in Louisiana? Time will tell, but I’ve seen the product of the current system and we are all suffering the consequences as a society because of it.

[Boomer]

My New Orleans life long resident brother told me one day that they had one of the best school systems of education in the USA-----He then explained that he was talking about the New Orleans Catholic/private Schools!!!! They compete against each other and within each school for intellectual achievement and the alumni/ae of these school become the community leaders and basically the professionals of the area!!!

[CajunSaint]

Just want to point out that I did not defend the public school system. Just trying to get Just1More to be more specific about who "They" is and what "They" does.

And as I said in another thread I feel a private school education is much better than a public school education. But you can still be successful and prepared for college and/or life if you attend a public school. I'm sure many successful public school grads on this board can attest to this.

i'm just not sure what this "teacher union" business is all about. here? in LA? maybe the northeast or the midwest. but, in LA? teacher unions? please remember a couple of other things: public schools do not have the luxury of selective admissions, and, there is no state accountability for private and parochial schools. so, how do we as the taxpayers footing this bill, know for certain that the parent of the child in the "f" public school is enrolling his child in a "b" or "a" private school. because of the perception that private is better? the state knew better than to force the privates to accept accountability, but there should be some accountability or else in most cases we're just dealing with perception in the end.

[Just1More]

So if we stop giving every single kid a trophy American society will improve? I didn't know we gave every kid a trophy in the first place. But it's an interesting theory you have there.

And what specific "social issues" control the educational system these days?

Again you are really good at making outrageous claims without providing anything specific to back up those claims.

You didn't know that the public education system went down the path suggested by sociologists that kids needed constant affirmation and that it was detrimental to children to participate and be denied a "trophy" or "ribbon" just like the actual "winner"? How old are you? This was a huge implementation in the U.S. public school system. It isn't a "theory".

Are you completely unaware what social issues are infused in modern public schools? Take a child out of the public school system and place them in a private school. Then, ask them to show you their course work and what the teacher focused on. My "claims" are outrageous? Prove me wrong instead of making the accusations that my claims are "outrageous".

And as for parents being such a major factor in education... neither of my parents ever did homework with me. They only asked me if I had done it. I did fairly well because they taught me personal responsibility at an early age. A typical conservative value. Is that specific enough? Gee, that's my personal childhood experience. How much more direct and specific do I need to get?

[Duggie35]

If you want to fix the education system in this State, you can start by putting a big azz paddle in each class room and allow teachers to use it, no questions asked!!! I am certainly no intellectual, but I know that the paddle worked on me and many of my class mates back in the day. As far as I know, we all ended up OK, no worse for the wear and tear on our rear ends and are leading fairly productive lives! But what do I know.