Public schools

[live love laugh]

I attended public schools from kindergarten to highschool. I had the best teachers and I wasn't just lucky. Public schools a few decades ago were all very much like mine. My teachers were professional, well respected and made a good living. My teachers inspired me and gave me hope. They were dedicated.

When I was in kindergarten in the '60's my teacher, the beautiful Mrs. Hunter, played the piano and taught us french. When I was selected to play Goldilocks in the school play, I had a gold yarn wig and a doll of an outfit all ready to go the morning of the play. Except, that morning I woke up with itchy red bumps all over--chickenpox. My teacher came to my house to see about me.

I loved school. I loved reading. I loved the friends that I made. It was a wonderful time. The courses that I took enriched my life--from band, to carpentry to drafting. I fell in love with English and sentence diagramming. Loved science too. We went on field trips, camping during the summer. It was rich. I cherished it--I never thought for a minute that what I was given would disappear or that those who followed would not get the same gifts.

In contrast, today's kids in public schools pass through medal detectors daily. Police are often present. Teachers...I don't know that they are as inspiring to say the least. Of course there's little to be inspired about with low pay, lack of supplies, etc. My best friend's kids had to provide supplies throughout the year down to toilet paper in their public school.

My niece who is graduating in June recently had to take the mandatory No-child-left-behind-inspired PSEA exam to basically rate the school and the teachers to determine if the school should be put on probation. (I actually advised her to eeny-meeny-miney-mo it...why should she be responsible for the school's future?)

I heard on the radio a few weeks ago that 47% of the people in Detroit are illiterate--that they cannot even read their own prescription bottles. Drop out rates are atrocious and for good reason. Even without privatization, public schools today are shells of what they used to be. I thank God that I received the education that I did. I would probably be a Freeper if I were in school today--or at least I would write like one.

I wish there wasn't a full-on assault on public education and the kids who attend. The state of public schools parallels the state of the demise and dismantling of our government as a whole.

It's a shame. I abhor those who have done this to our country.

[virgogal]

1. I agree. I went to public school,my 6 kids went to public school,and

that's where my 7 grandkids go.The young ones happen to be in good systems------so far.

One son teaches in public school.

I find the entire mess very sad.

[RKP5637]

2. I went to public schools and the state university. All had exceptional

teachers/professors. This was decades ago, I had a fantastic education because of public institutions.