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lvmachead

I love how everyone marches out A-Tech as a shinig example of what all schools should be. What they never say is students must keep a C average and any discipline problems are returned to their neighborhood school. They are also able to keep class sizes down to a manageable level. This isn't an option at most schools.
Let's do some real reform in our high schools. Put in a realistic curriculum with useful vocational opportunities for those students who aren't college bound and elevate the college prep curriculum back to a challenging level for those who need it. Class size reduction would help also. 40 kids in a high school class are never going to get the attention or help they need to succeed.

I am so tired of smoker's rights. Less than 1/4 of Americans smoke. Why do we have to cater to them and their disgusting habit? The people voted. I thought that that was what people wanted. Unfortunately, once again our votes are over ridden by the power of lobbyists.

Let's see. No real vocational education and a repressive exit exam. Where is the incentive to stay in school if you don't offer the classes students want and then tell them if they can't pass a test that's comparable to a college entrance exam they won't get a diploma? Fixing this is a no brainer, but it takes money and the courage to admit every student isn't going to want to go to college. If we were to offer some basic math classes with algebra being the top required course for graduation along with some basic English classes, then the college prep track could become more intensive and really prepare students for college.

I'm disheartened that these reforms continue to depend on testing to measure student achievement when it fails to measure true learning but relies on short term memorization. True reform would be to pass and fund a law that would require no teacher ever see more than 30 students at a time in secondary schools and 25 in K-5. This simple but expensive solution would vastly improve test scores and learning in the classroom. Instead we are looking at increasing class sizes to totally unreasonable levels and cutting days from the calendar. Go figure out what really matters. Check out the videos on this page: http://zaidlearn.blogspot.com/2011/04/in... to see what good education looks like.

OK. How's this for an idea. A straight across the board business tax for any business in the state that makes more that $1 million. Now we've protected the small star-ups and Walmart and Home Depot can begin paying their share.