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This Charlie Baker “Yes on Question 2” commercial is really grinding my gears this morning:
“Imagine if your kids were trapped in a failing public school.”
If I hear the phrase “failing public school” one more time my head is going to explode. Let’s just be very clear about this – there is no such thing as a “failing” public school. Students fail, not the schools they attend. When a kid doesn’t pass a class it’s not because their teacher is a deadbeat who isn’t doing their job. Kids are not failing because they come in every day well-rested, well-fed, and eager to start learning, but their greedy unionized teachers won’t do their jobs and impart knowledge onto them. This is just a lie that’s been perpetuated by anti-union assholes like Charlie Baker so they can throw red meat at their anti-union base. Keep in mind, Charlie Baker served as the head of the board of directors at the Pioneer Institute – a privately owned pro-charter group.
There’s a million and one reason kids fail in school:
- they come from shitty homes
- they don’t get enough sleep
- they’re hungry and Mom traded in the food stamps for heroin
- they work jobs to support their families and aren’t studying and doing homework
- they come from homes where Mom and/or Dad don’t speak English
- they don’t have a single book in their homes
- they’ve grown up watching the Kardashians instead of Sesame Street
- they have crazy amounts of absences because getting to school is not a priority
- they don’t see education as an outlet
- they join gangs
- graduating from high school is not a priority
- they are socially promoted and every year they start off further behind
- they have undiagnosed learning disabilities
- they don’t get in trouble for failing
- parents don’t communicate with teachers or come to parent-teach conferences
And that’s just a start. Not one of those factors has ANYTHING to do with the school they go to or the teachers who are magically supposed to overcome all these societal hurdles. So every time you hear some asshat like Charlie Baker give this “failing public school” rhetoric bullshit, just understand that he’s lying for political gain.
Oh yea, and then there’s the fact that Charlie Baker is the head of the state. If the schools are “failing” then fix them. Creating more charter schools is nothing more than big government. You’re not fixing the problems in the public schools. You’re making them worse. Plus, you’re spending money that you weren’t previously. Since when did bigger government become part of the Republican ideology?
My question for Charlie Baker is, what the hell does he know about public schools? He graduated from Needham High School, an affluent school that couldn’t be further removed from the day to day realities of urban public schools. How many times has he actually sat in on a classroom in Worcester or Lawrence or Dorchester? Has he ever actually spoken to a public school teacher about what they need to help their kids succeed?
Nope. His answer is to take money away from their schools so they can create these magical schools that don’t “fail.” Of course it’s pretty easy not to “fail” because the mere fact that parents signed their kids up for a lottery shows you that they’re invested in their kid’s education.
Look, Turtleboy went to a school that Charlie Baker and the Yes on 2 folks would consider “failing.” And indeed, plenty of kids at Worcester South High School dropped out after failing for a year or two. To someone looking at the aggregate data they could reach the conclusion that South High teachers weren’t doing their jobs because of the high amounts of failing students.
But it’s simply not true. Don’t think for one second that there was not quality education going on inside that wall-less building. Every single year schools like South and North send kids to Ivy League schools. They offer tons of AP classes and they have faculties of teachers who want nothing more than kids who ACTUALLY want to learn. So if you live in one of these “failing” school districts, your kid will still get a great education and they will be greeted with great teachers who are enthused about seeing them on a daily basis.
But if your kid goes to North High and they’re failing English and Math, that’s a reflection on YOU as a parent. It’s up to you to know why your kid is struggling. It’s up to you to keep in contact with the teacher, because when they have 130 other kids it’s simply not reasonable to expect them to track you down. It’s up to you to make sure your kid is doing his or her homework, getting to bed at a decent hour, and studying for tests.
Counting on Turtle riders to do the right thing and vote No on Question 2 next Tuesday. Here’s 14 reasons why:
Top 14 Reasons To Vote No On Question 2 Because Charter Schools Are A Scam
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59 Comment(s)
How much did you pay to hire Tracy Novice to blog for you?
TB, based on a bunch of blogs in the past year it would seem the Spencer/North Brookfield schools are failing. In that case it is certainly the administration and not the teachers who are to blame. Regardless, a charter school option would be a godsend for the parents that have to put up the deficiencies in that school system.
I’ll get my friends to vote no on 2 if turtle boy sports votes to legalize Marijuana. ..deal
Surprised the charter opponents and marijuana supporters haven’t aired ads stating this deal. It would be right up the unions’ alley to make a pay-to-play deal like this. ‘Cuz it’s for the children, right?
Wow. You must be a retard. Imagine a school with pressure to pass everyone so their standards were so low that in 8th grade… they were still covering material that should have been covered in 2nd grade. Yes. The kids who are capable of doing 8th grade level work in 8th grade are still getting good grades while doing 2nd grade level work in 8th grade… but they are falling far behind kids from other schools where the 8th graders are doing 8th grade level work. and it’s not the kid’s fault . it’s not the parents’ fault. It’s not the teacher’s fault. It’s the school’s fault. You clearly aren’t as smart as you think you are, if you don’t understand this concept, so turn the snark and condescension down a few notches and turn your brain activity up a few notches. Alrighty?
I’d say you pretty much plateaued at the 2nd grade education you mentioned above, Danny boy. Time to put the phone down, turn off Jerry Springer and posting selfies on Farcebook, and read a book or newspaper so you can some day contribute in a meaningful way to adult discussions. Parroting liberal propaganda is not a good look for anyone, especially those too stupid to know how stupid they really are .
Charter Schools are and have always been public schools. Odd that a few still fail to grasp that. Now vouchers, voucher programs that have succeeded in Cleveland and DC would be a game changer for achievement.
I realize that charter is still considered a public school. BUT, they don’t have the same rules as townie punk public schools. At a charter school, a crappy teacher can be let go and students that misbehave are thrown out.
So why is that fair 1776??? Have you ever worked In an inner city school with kids who are violent and parents who don’t give a shit? No? I didn’t think so.
“Kids who are violent and parents that don’t give a shit ….”
Question: Why would you WANT this for ANY child??
Which is why I am pro Charter schools. Parents want their kids OUT of the insane environment of thug public schools.
Buddy, look at the success of Harlem Charter schools. They are the poster child for what Charter schools can do for the inner city population. Those students are killing it right now, and good on them. When the schools become incentivized to provide a quality education, they do so. There is no incentive for a traditional public school teacher because they know they’ll have a job for life.
Fuck you until you work Ina public inner city school. Let’s see how you do ass hat
NO they Are not. That is bullshit. Let them deal with the behavior problems and give public the cream of the crop. ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT
So basically, you are saying let everyone sink to the least common denominator?
Saying there’s no such thing as a failing school is like saying there’s no such thing as a failing American auto maker. That beast is so large, the government will make it impossible… Unless it wants it to fail.
That’s what Baker has done! By telling the general public that some public schools are failing, then they must be! People are so damn dumb. Sheep!
As opposed to all those stupid parents that want their kids OUT of all those wonderful inner city “schools”, right? The dumbing down of America is quite evident in the comments that support keeping the urban minority students down on the plantation – all while spewing deliberate misinformation about charters to ease their consciences. I don’t know how you people sleep at night. I really don’t.
Amen. These asshole no nothing’s in suburbia couldn’t imagine their prescious little gem in school with the average inner city school thug. Bring back reform school. You don’t want an education or your parents don’t support one? Reform school until you decide differently… You are fucking over every other inner city kid that wants an education
Clive?
I worked in an after school program where the kids were supposed to do their homework and then have educational activities while their parents worked adn picked them up later. After about a month I couldn’t wait to leave. The kids are obnoxious, don’t listen, violent, talk back, and don’t care. The only reason I didn’t quit was becuase of the teachers that were trying so hard to get them to sit down and be quiet for 5 mins. I stayed to make sure they were able to handle things or else they would have had no assistance. Most of the other employees left. Charter Schools get to pick off the best kids and leave these creatures behind. And you get to pay more for it!
Sorry. I am 100% for charter schools. Parents want a better choice for their children – ANYTHING to get them OUT of pussified public schools.
This is nothing more than the teachers and the union shaking in their boots because of competition. I have seen too many wasteful things happen AT the school.
Too many gangs or troubled kids?? DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT and quit whining!! The district should send them to a school for troubled kids. Make the school a place that parents/kids WANT to be!
If a district allows school choice, they can also bring students INTO their school to replace the ones that choice out. The money follows the student. If I hear one more person say that it takes away from their school, my head is going to explode from their astounding stupidity.
You need to get a clue! 1776 obviously has no clue what is really going on in public education.
Oh…. I most certainly do know. Two sides to every coin. It’s unfortunate you can only see your view.
Such a simpleton response! Just do something. You don’t know what the hell you are even talking about. You think teachers want to deal with some of this bullshit? Your contempt for teachers is palpable.
Simpleton? Such irony. So much non self-awareness.
Deflections, deflections. Such a good little lemming. Shouldn’t you be out holding a sign for Sarai or some other McGovern soldier?
My concern is not the teachers – who are ADULTS and have the union speak for them. My concern are the students who have parents that don’t want their child in the thug public school environment. They deserve a choice for their education.
You must live in Utopia you Fucking know nothing loser
You have. I Fucking clue what you are talking about
As long as you don’t mind your taxes skyrocketing
Very easy ballot
No
No
No
No
Turtle is right here. If you’re kid can’t tell you what he did in school today, you have the problem, not the school
” If you’re kid “
I want to vomit when I see that commercial. Charter schools send behavior problems back to public and they don’t take too many special needs children. So what is left? A bunch of kids who misbehave and Charlie think it is the schools that are failing? I would love to see him spend a few days in my school and then go on tv and tell the rest of the state that the schools are failing. Never ever the parents fault. Meanwhile teachers are crying every day and being assaulted and sworn at. The public has absolutely no clue what is happening in some of these schools .
Then the school should do something about the students that misbehave. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. Simple as that. Why the hell are they pussy-footing around those thugs?? If the schools can’t figure it out or do something about it, then charter schools should be a choice.
Make the school a good place where parents/students WANT to be.
Yes I agree but what??? These kids are running the schools with no consequences. The parents don’t care and it is against their civil rights to even take away their recess. The state created this mess with their ridiculous laws.
If they don’t have the smarts or the cajones to do something, then I suggest charter schools as the solution for now. Parents are sick of inmates running the asylum and the teachers union sticking up for ineffective teachers that shouldn’t BE teachers to begin with. The liberals and unions made this mess — they can drown in their own mess. The good students will bail. Can you blame them?
BINGO!
The law won’t let them.
The schools can’t do anything about those kids because people like Charlie Baker blame the school teachers instead of the “thugs” who create the problems. Teachers hands are tied. Suspending students gets the school in trouble.
Right – because the unions (teachers’ and others) elect the Democrats that have tied the hands of the schools. See how that works?
Fuck the liberals and fuck the Democrats. They are producing a society that none of us will survive in. AND FUCK THE USELESS UNION. THEY ARE A FUCKING JOKE THAT SUCK $40/week for NOTHING.
So everyone should be forced to go through that? No schools should be able to be run well? A true socialist attitude of failure.
Instead of lifting the cap on charter schools, we should let regular public schools do what charters get RIGHT, which is lift the cap on discipline so students fighting or ruining class for their peers trying to learn can expect an in-school suspension and their peers can expect a good education. Though, like lifting the suspension cap and getting cops into more schools to break up fights would ever pass without a bunch of hippies in the burbs complaining about that being “bigotry” or “bad for self esteem”. And if everyone grows up with there actually being rules in school, who’ll Turtleboy be able to make funny rant blogs about in 5 years?
As Governor, Chicken Charlie has the authority to actually do something to improve the regular public schools. Ban the teachers’ unions (even though there are some good patriotic teachers in the unions). This would be a good start. Hire teachers who want to teach and care about education. Without teachers unions underperforming teachers can be canned regardless of seniority. Allow principals to have the sole authority on hiring/firing in their buildings. Allow the expulsion of students who disrupt school (especially if the cops have to be called) and don’t offer them alternative ed. (Not fair to the kids who want to be there.)
So you want Massachusetts to become Mississippi… because the education is great down there. Oh… and principals? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA… just wow, talk about having no clue whatsoever.
Yeah fuck workers’ rights! Goddam unions never done nuffin for nobody!
Workers?! LOL.
That’s why in Right to Work states, people aren’t FORCED to join a union in order to make a living – right Einstein?
JFC – The private marketplace works. Unions there are done. Only place unions have survived is in government – which is like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. What party lives (and is dying) with the unions?
Facts above should be enough for even the nit wits amongst us to figure out why unions still exist in the modern era.
Sorry TB, this is a loser. Just look at the success rates of Charter schools in Harlem, NY. Remarkable difference in grades, college acceptance rates, and simple graduation rates. Spend per student has never been higher in MA and testing, graduation, and acceptance rates in traditional public schools have stayed the same or declined. Where is the money going? Bloated administrations, diversity committees, etc etc. Public school kids need to shell out money to play sports too. Again, where is all this added spend per student going? It’s clear that the monopoly doesn’t work. Competition and choice is a good thing.
yup, that’s exactly what turtleboy said, you people are clearly part of the problem with the world needing to be black or white.
These morons that think charter schools are going to fix education are hilarious.
Pretty sure it was the author of the article that tried to make it black and white. Wasn’t it numbnuts?
To simplify- teachers are magical employees that are exempt from the same attitudes and job performance that get other people, in every OTHER job in America, fired every single day.
Hands down one of the most moronic blogs I’ve ever read here.
Hands down the most moronic comment I’ve ever read
Kids want charter school parents , the ones that care, want charter schools. Only some west side dooshnozzle or suburban wipe would force kids on the east side to only have Worcester East Middle as a choice.
you don’t like worcester public schools move. i’m not paying for your kid to go to a charter school. we got room out here in suburbia.
How exactly are you paying for a Worcester student when you’re living in suburbia?
The above is an example of school failing someone. Not only can he not put a logical statement together, he buys into lib Turtleboy’s shilling for the unions while he sells the poor kids down the river. Typical hypocrite libs – shafting their minority constituents by ensuring they stay illiterate and down on the plantation.
School choice is a thing
So what you’re saying is that no teacher or school system would ever fail because teachers are all without fault. It’s all on the kids. Missed the mark on this one it seems.
I think the blog said it is all on the parents. Your parents must not have followed up with your teachers to make sure you learned how to read.
Southbridge is a failing school system. 5 (or was it 6) superintendents in 5 years is a fail. The school committee was a joke. Hopefully things will improve now that the state has taken things over.