Have you heard This American Life episode 550: Three Miles?

[GaryM]

Here is a link https://m.thisamericanlife.org

I found this to be a moving story about education in America.

But is it true that there is such disparity in education? I’m sure there are private high schools that cost $50k a year in tuition. Is it also true that there are public schools without a library or standard courses for college prep?

If so, why is this allowed to continue?

[elleng]

1. 'Allowed to continue' because it's been in repugs' interest to see to deterioration of the populace,

so their 'owners' can own EVERYTHING. They've worked hard for a long time to see to this.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. The two schools in the show are both in the South Bronx, hardly a Republicn stronghold.

To simplistically blame Republicans for the poor schools in this country (and despite the popular myth, not all public schools are awful) completely misses the point that this country has long had a history of not being willing to pay for education. It's more noticeable in places like the South, which were much slower to establish free public education, but it's an undercurrent almost everywhere.

Over and over again you'll hear people, who ought to know better, say things like, "When I was in school we didn't have all these computers and I got a good education!" Which totally misses the point about changing technology.

What would bear researching is which school districts vote for higher taxes for the schools, compared to the ones which typically don't. There will probably be not so much a party affiliation connection as an SES connection.

[elleng]

3. I attended public schools, I know the 'myth' is not universally accurate.

Clearly this country is unwilling to pay for education, and getting worse all the time.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Another myth is that there is some one easy fix

that will magically make all schools great, and all kids scholars.

[elleng]

5. Repugs accuse Dems of suggesting there is an easy fix.

I don't know anyone who does.

[YvonneCa]

6. Yes. Emphatically YES. n/t

[GaryM]

7. Do democrats have a plan to fix this?

We talk about education all the time, but is this something we’re willing to fix?

Totally agree that this cannot be blamed all on republicans.

I was shocked that a young person with such potential and a clear vision for her life ultimately accepted “being educated to serve the privileged who can pay $50k a year for high school.