This is in response to the reader(s) who believe that parents opting their children out of standardized tests is democracy in action ["Parents don't have much school choice," Letters, April 23].
Democracy depends on well-informed citizens making intelligent decisions. Misinformed citizens making emotional decisions is called mob rule.
Let's see, we've opted out of getting tickets for speeding in school zones. We've opted out of educating immigrant children except in the poorest districts. Maybe all of us without school-age children should opt out of paying school taxes.
I don't have a problem with parents opting their kids out.
It's their kid.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Mob rule became a problem for me here when the County set up speed cameras in school zones,
active from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. , and ticketed people exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph. (31 in a 20 mph school zone).
People , some of whom collected 8 or more tickets, claimed that (1) they didn't know where the school zones were / are
(the yellow signs weren't flashing ... How could they know?) and
It's not about safety, it's a "money grab".
A number of angry serial law breakers complained louder and louder, and the stupid politicians caved in. Program stopped.
The next uproar is going to be about the school bus cameras that will record the cars that pass the bus while the red lights are flashing and the "stop" signs are out on the side of the bus, while kids are getting on or off.
They did a three day trial run with a few buses, and sent warning letters to the 43 drivers who drove around the buses.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
People complained about getting tickets? Shocking. The politicians were stupid to cave. But, hey, they were elected, right? Getting re-elected is more important than doing the right thing.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
A lot of people in my school district no longer have kids in school.
We should be able to opt out of paying those pesky overblown school taxes, right?
No. That is part of the cost of owning property - and good schools increase your property values. School taxes benefit everyone, unless you want stupid people walking around.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Although, really - paying school taxes is no different than paying any other kind of taxes. I've never been on welfare, and yet my tax dollars pay for that. I've never been to Mount Rushmore, yet my taxes help pay for that. I've don't give a damn about the sleeping habits of squirrels, and yet I'm sure some of my tax dollars have funded a study for that.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
A lot of people in my school district no longer have kids in school.
We should be able to opt out of paying those pesky overblown school taxes, right?
Why? You had either the benefit of a public education--or the option to do so. So did your children. Other people largely paid for that. It's time to give back.
A free public education is the cornerstone of a free society.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
A lot of people in my school district no longer have kids in school.
We should be able to opt out of paying those pesky overblown school taxes, right?
Why? You had either the benefit of a public education--or the option to do so. So did your children. Other people largely paid for that. It's time to give back.
A free public education is the cornerstone of a free society.
Exactly.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I see that sarcasm isn't working, so let me be clear:
I think the people who "opt out" of the educational testing, just like the ones who insist on their "right" to speed through school zones,
are bullies and creeps.
Why? These tests are becoming ridiculous. Ours changed this year and had all the teachers and the kids freaked out. We took the test, but I'm REAL sick of school being all about these stupid tests.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I see that sarcasm isn't working, so let me be clear:
I think the people who "opt out" of the educational testing, just like the ones who insist on their "right" to speed through school zones,
are bullies and creeps.
Why? These tests are becoming ridiculous. Ours changed this year and had all the teachers and the kids freaked out. We took the test, but I'm REAL sick of school being all about these stupid tests.
"Mob rule". Um, talk about gross hysteria and overreaction. That is why it is hard to take anyone seriously anymore. If you have a legitimate disagreement about something, then you are promoting Nuclear Holocaust and Nazis.
a : a blustering browbeating person; especially: one habitually cruel to others who are weaker
So please explain to me how using a non-violent method of protest makes someone a blustering, browbeating bully, who is being cruel to those who are weaker.
And also explain to me how you can equate the parent looking to protest this new set of standards, curriculum, methods of instruction and testing that have either been scientifically shown to be detrimental to their child(ren) to someone who puts said children in physical danger.
Yeah...your point holds little to no support or value.
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“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”
C.S.Lewis
Do we not give people a chance to VOTE and elect their school boards and other politicians, including the people who approved these tests and the school zone speed cameras.
Circumventing the elected representatives by violating the law (refusing to get their children tested or vaccinated; speeding through school zones) --- isn't that mob rule?
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
I remember those standard tests. How you spent days taking them. It was mentally draining.
And the "it's determines if you pass or not" always made it worse.
I understand needing to make sure certain benchmarks are being met.
But there has to be better ways.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
There are consequences in Mass. if you don't. I don't know about other states, but in Mass., you have to pass the 10th grade MCAS test in order to graduate from high school.
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No matter how educated, talented, rich or cool you believe you are,
That's a graduation test. I have no issue with kids having to pass a graduation test. But the annual tests given every year are too much, and require too much focus on testing.
However, the point being made is that it is not "mob rule" to opt out of testing. That's not a valid name for it. At most, it would be civil disobedience, which is the preferred method for effecting change in this country.
And NO, I do not think that simply because people are elected that we then have to do everything they want us to do.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
We had graduation tests for while. They were ridiculous. On top of all the other tests.
And if you didn't pass the grad test, even if you had straight As, you didn't graduate.
They did away with them here.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Do we not give people a chance to VOTE and elect their school boards and other politicians, including the people who approved these tests and the school zone speed cameras.
Circumventing the elected representatives by violating the law (refusing to get their children tested or vaccinated; speeding through school zones) --- isn't that mob rule?
Actually, my Gov ran on an Anti CC platform, but once voted in had our State Education Dept adopt a State Standard/Cirrulum pretty much written by one of the Companies that wrote CC.
Now, why would I allow my child to take a test that, for all intents and purposes IS EXACTLY WHAT I VOTED NOT TO HAVE?
Not to mention, Common Core has never been LEGISLATED. There is no NATIONAL LAW directing the states to adopt the program, The Dept of State and Obama Administration has used the good old "carrot and stick" of funding to get the states to adopt the Standards.
Oh...and the Obama children don't have to follow the curriculum or take these tests.
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“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.”
C.S.Lewis
